Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: •Grab your current read •Open to a random page •Share two (2) “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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser for the week:

“Maybe now Candace will realize that you can’t treat people like crap. There are consequences.”

The List by Siobhan Vivian

Review: Such a Rush

Such a Rush
By Jennifer Echols
Release Date: July 10, 2012

Description:
A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.

High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever.

But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business — until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers — and the consequences could be deadly.

Review:
I was enthralled from the second I started reading this book in the lives of these characters.  My heart would race when theirs raced, it would hurt when they hurt.  This book was simply perfect.  It had so many different elements to it that I literally stayed up until three in the morning wanting to finish this book as soon as possible so that I could read it again more leisurely. 

We start out when Leah was fourteen just moved to yet another trailer park with her mother by yet another airport, but this time she lucked out because she was able to get a job at this small airport.  There she met Mr. Hall and a deep friendship grew.  He was like the father she never had and their friendship and relationship was just something relate able and beautiful to see the rawness and realness of how much they really needed each other.  Then enter his three sons who would only come during school breaks or summers.  She was automatically drawn to the more daredevil son Grayson, but throughout Mr Halls life they never really spoke and she just dreamed from afar.

After Mr. Halls death though the boys came back, minus one as he died in the military.  So there were just two broken brothers but she just didn't know how broken they really were about losing both their brother and father so close together.  She was heart broken as well and there are points where even I cried with them because it was all so much.  Echol's really makes you feel for her characters and I love that about her books. 

After the three of them are together (at the age of eighteen now) and throw in Molly, Leah's best friend there are lies and secrets between all of them that eventually all come out and it's all really such a rush.  You feel like your flying one of those ancient planes carrying the banners around with all the highs and lows and all those special moments shared between the characters.  I was in love with Leah and Grayson from the very beginning of the book and it was beautiful to see their relationship and hardships fall into place.

I can't really say enough good things about this book.  The setting was great because I could totally picture it in my mind, the characters were all relatable and real which is always a plus in my mind.  The story and plot was just amazing as always reminded me of the perfect combination of Echol's earlier books Going too Far and The Boys Next Door combined together like a perfect concert.  The daredevil and excitability of The Boys Next Door and the perfect story between the two main characters like in Going too Far.  I'm in love with this book and I hope you all give it a try.

I think I would probably read anything Jennifer Echols writes there is something about her style that just always gets to me right in the gut where it matters most.  I get butterflies, I gasp, I laugh, I cry and just every emotion possible she makes me feel it through her writing and I already cannot wait for her next book.  But alas I will have to wait until 2013 to read Star Crossed!

Review: The Goddess Legacy

The Goddess Legacy
By Aimee Carter
Release Date: July 31, 2012
Series: Goddess Test

Description:
For millennia we've caught only glimpses of the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Now Aime e Carter pulls back the curtain on how they became the powerful, petty, loving and dangerous immortals that Kate Winters knows.

Calliope/Hera represented constancy and yet had a husband who never matched her faithfulness....

Ava/Aphrodite was the goddess of love and yet commitment was a totally different deal....

Persephone was urged to marry one man, yet longed for another....

James/Hermes loved to make trouble for others-but never knew true loss before....

Henry/Hades's solitary existence had grown too wearisome to continue. But meeting Kate Winters gave him a new hope....

Five original novellas of love, loss and longing and the will to survive throughout the ages.

Review:
Aimee Carter took us on a journey throughout the lives of all the characters in the first book.  We were able to see their history and why they are the way they are now.  It was fun and exciting and sad all at the same time.  As you started to learn more in depth about each character you grow to respect the characters in a different way.  You begin to feel for each of them.

The first story explores the relationship between Hera and Zeus, her being the goddess of marriage it hurts when all Zeus does is cheat on her.  You really begin to feel bad for her, but she made her choice.  Every woman knows deep down that a man will never change, but she thought he could.  I feel bad for her but at the same time I don't. 

Then we move on to Aphrodite, which I like her as a character but she is the goddess of love and sometimes doesn't care who she hurts as long as she's spreading love.  I actually liked her story because ti bought in the relationship of two brothers who are in love with her and would do anything to be with her.  The lengths they go to are rally great to explore.

Persephone, I don't know about her, I know she wants to be happy but sometimes I think she is just the tiniest bit selfish but that is who she is.  Not my favorite character but that might be because I'm quite partial to Hades.  It was good to see what their relationship was like and why Hades is that way about her. 

Hermes was a great story too, I really felt for him, I definitely teared up in this section of the book.  But you know that saying what goes around comes around, that's definitely part of his story and never fun for the person but it was a great story to experience.

Last but not least of course there was Hades, where he first meets Kate it's perfect.  I love them together so I really can't wait to see what happens in the next book in this series.

If you like to read more about the characters and their past then this is definitely the book for you to read.  It's worth it to find out more about them. 

Disclaimer:
I received this book from NetGalley and Harlequin, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Giveaway: Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

With Chloe Neill's new book coming out August 7, Biting Cold, the sixth book in the Chicagoland Vampires series, I got a great giveaway from the publishers, a copy of the first book Some Girls Bite.  Once you read this book you will be absolutely addicted and hooked on the main character Merit.  It's a really amazing series with witty conversation and a great vampire story.  You need to read it!  Here's the book you will win in this giveaway:

Some Girls Bite
By Chloe Neill

First in a brand new series about a Chicago graduate student's introduction into a society of vampires.

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was Merit's. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker-and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she's traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan "Lord o' the Manor" Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries' worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude- and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan's attitude are the least of her concerns. Some one's still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war-and there will be blood.

Remember the new book comes out next month.  I'm hoping to get it real soon because I know I can't wait for it to come out.  Oh Merit and Ethan! Love them!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm "Waiting on":

My Name is Rapunzel
By: K.C. Hilton
Release Date: 2013

Description:
Fairy tales are for children. My name is Rapunzel and I will tell you my story. I will tell you the truth.


Why I'm Waiting:
Ok ok I know that there is really no description, but look at the cover and who doesn't know the story of Rapunzel.  I have always always loved that story and I can't wait to find out the "truth" hehe.  Aren't you excited?  I know I am!!!

Vacation, Here We Come!!!

So finally, it's the long awaited vacation time.  Do I bring actual books on this vacation or just depend on my Kindle Fire.  Which if anyone has it knows it's not the best for the beach because of the glare, hmmm tough questions.  What to pack, what to take, what to read, what to do?  If you were going or are going on vacation what would you take on your trip to the beach?

I'm super excited because it will be my first family vacation with only my kids and their daddy.  It's the first time we've had a vacation with no one tagging along.  It will be an adventure upon itself because at least we will not have to depend on anyone else.  That's always what makes us not do the things we want to do.  I'm super excited though. We are going to Virginia Beach so luckily it's only a 6 hour drive so it shouldn't be too bad.  After all ...

This is what our plan is ... please let me know when I'm going to be able to read lol.  Jack's Pirate Ship adventure, Living Museum, Aquarium, and Kings Dominion.  I know why not Busch Gardens right?  Well Kings Dominion you get two parks for one price (gotta keep that budget).  So anyone from Virginia is there anything else we should do?  I was contemplating maybe doing the Natural Bridge because honestly just imagine the photos for that, super beautiful.  But that would be on the way home.  Definitely lots of pool and beach too of course.  The girls love the sand and I bought them lots of sand castle tools.  So I won't be on this upcoming week at all, other than prescheduled posts.  Ahhh I'm off for vacation woot woot!!!

Blog Tour: The Doorknob Society - Review/Excerpt/Giveaway

The Doorknob Society
By: M.J. Fletcher
Release Date: February 9, 2012
Series: The Doorknob Society

Description:
Chloe Masters’s world changed in a heartbeat - and all she did was touch a doorknob.

When she was young Chloe’s mother vanished. Wracked by feelings of abandonment and anger she lost herself traveling with her father's magic act, where illusions were part of her everyday life. Yet everything changes when they are pursued by a mysterious man in black out to kill her father. Touching a doorknob activates abilities she never knew she had and she finds herself thrust into a world of ancient societies and secrets.

When her father disappears it is a race against time to find answers before she loses what is left of her family. Now Chloe must choose who to trust, the man who will do anything for her or the one she can’t stop thinking about.

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Review:
I was very drawn to this book by its description, just seemed like something interesting and that I haven’t read yet, and I was right and this book did not disappoint. We meet Chloe at the beginning of the book where she has no clue what her family’s secret life is about until one day she tries to run away and once her hand touches the doorknob she’s transported to a different location. Completely confused and still on the run her father takes her back to her childhood home. Since they are always travelling to begin with it’s all new to her. She has a million questions to ask her father about everything that is going on, but he goes missing.


Now it’s her mission to find him. She now attends a special school for the Old Kind, which is what she is, where there are different societies and they don’t get along, even though there is a truce. We meet Edgar from the mapmakers, Sloane from the Engineers, then there’s of course Chloe (undeclared but family is doorknob society) and now there is Jess and Slade whore are Skeleton Key. Between the five of them they set out to try and find the mystery that is her father.

It’s all very adventurous and exciting with lots of mystery thrown into the mix. In regards to the characters, I love Edgar he just seems like the underdog, the smart one though that you can see his feelings on his sleeve. He’s the one you want as a bff. Then there’s Michael Slade who I don’t really particularly like. Maybe it’s just me but he seems a little machismo crybaby and I can’t stand that. Jess is a pleasant surprise. Nightshade, that’s where my eye is, there’s something about him. You can tell something happened in his past and you want to bring out the good in him, I know you know what I’m talking about. The bad boy everybody wants to have and turn them good while still being bad. Then there’s Chloe who is a little mouthy and I like it, but she’s got major trust issues, she’s spunky and confident.

The plot of the story was good, very mystery, Sci-Fi steam punkish scenery and gadgets with a little romance, possible love triangle. I liked it. It was very interesting and about ¾ of the way through it was action on top of action on top of action with some emotion threw in and that was great. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series to find out what happens next. I'll have to go run out and get The Impossible Engineers


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Excerpt:
I grasped the knob and twisted it. The feeling that ran through me were amazing; the turn of the world beneath my feet, the dance of the planets through the universe and the taste eternity on my lips as it all opened up and poured through me. I pushed the doorway open and the glow of a portal bathed the kitchen in its welcoming light.

“You did it.” Jess seemed impressed and surprised, her eyebrows arching.

“Noooo!” Gran’s scream startled us both as she came hurtling into the room, crashed into the island and crumbled to the floor. Blood poured from a gash along her hairline. She tried hard to get to her feet but it was no use. She had spent all her energy and finally slumped in defeat to the floor.

Her head lolled to the side and with a terror-filled glare that sent chills up my spine, she whispered, “Run.”
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About the Author:
MJ Fletcher is the creator of the comic book series Adam Zero: The Last Man of Earth published by Ronin Studios. He's also been published in Hope: The Hero Initiative and Digital Webbing Presents. The Doorknob Society series is his fist book series and he's thrilled about it. He lives near the beach with his wife, daughter, dog, and a crotchety cat.

Contact Links
Website
Twitter: @fletch125
Facebook: doorknobsociety

Links to Buy
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

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Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE –

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

From the Review Pile

From the Review Pile is a meme hosted by Stepping Out of the Page every Thursday.

The aim of this meme is to showcase books that you've received for review, but haven't yet got around to reading, in order to give the book some extra publicity.

This week from my Review Pile:

Burn for Burn
By Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
Release Date: September 18, 2012

Description:
BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY...


THEY GET EVEN.

Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.

Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.

Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.

Booking Throuh Thursday

Booking through Thursday:

A weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. Hosted at Booking Through Thursday.

This weeks question is:
Series or Stand-alone?


This is a toughie because sometimes I just want to keep reading to see what happens next and a stand alone can't offer that, but then there are some series that really they just need to end already, but then again I can't stop reading those either ha.  No matter how bad I just have to know what happens next.  But then again I love my stand alone contemporaries.  Such a hard question that I just cannot choose only one so I will say I'm 50/50 on this because honestly I love them both!!!

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm "Waiting on":

Falling For You
By: Lisa Schroeder
Release Date: January 1, 2013

Description:
Rae's always dreamed of dating a guy like Nathan. He’s nothing like her abusive stepfather—in other words, he’s sweet. But the closer they get, the more Nathan wants of her time, of her love, of her...and the less she wants to give.


As Rae’s affection for Nathan turns to fear, she leans on her friend Leo for support. With Leo, she feels lighter, happier. And possessive Nathan becomes jealous.

Then a tragedy lands Rae in the ICU. Now, hovering between life and death, Rae must find the light amid the darkness…and the strength to fight for life and the love she deserves.

Promo Blitz for Angela Morrison's Taken By Storm/Excerpt

Taken By Storm
By: Angela morrison
Release Date June 2012 (Ebook)

Description:
Mormon girl Leesie has life figured out until devastated Michael lands in her small town high school. He needs her like no one has before. A rare journey into a faithful LDS teen’s intimate struggle.

"[Morrison] handles the topics of religion and premarital sex gracefully without passing judgment. The message has less to do with religion than learning to respect and cherish others while staying true to one’s own beliefs.” – Publisher’s Weekly, starred review

Brand new paperback and reformatted ebook with fully scalable fonts. Includes bonus, never-before-published scene, "Airport Good-bye!"

10 Year Anniversary

Ten years ago this week, Taken by Storm's scuba-diving hero, Michael, swam out of Angela's brain and onto her page. Join the anniversary celebration! Win your own copy of the brand new paperback! Snag Taken by Storm's Kindleebook for only $ .99! Unbroken Connection (Book 2) and Cayman Summer (Book 3) are free on Kindle! Hurry. The promotion ends Friday, July 20th. Don't own a Kindle? Download free Kindle apps for your laptop, tablet, iTouch, or phone.

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Excerpt:

Meet Leesie:
from Leesie's Most Private Chapbook, Prologue, Taken by Storm, "What does it Matter?"

What does it matter if
another jock pinches me
as I walk down the hall to Physics
and high fives Troy, celebrating
like he just scored
the season’s first touchdown?

As I stalk past Troy,
architect of my torture,
I’m frozen, a block of ice—
not a single drop melts.

All hail the Mormon Ice Queen.

What does it matter?

I know the commandment,
but I don’t even consider
turning the other cheek.

And, yes, it hurts, but
life without pain
isn’t much of a test.

This feeling can’t be lonely—
I’m not alone.

I walk with His hand on my shoulder,
His voice whispering in my soul,
His love soaring in my heart,
His suffering
my
salvation.

What else could possibly matter?

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About the Author:

Angela Morrison is the award-winning YA author of Taken by Storm (Books 1-3) and Sing me to Sleep. She graduated from Brigham Young University and holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She grew up in Eastern Washington on the wheat farm where Taken by Storm is set. She's an advanced NAUI, Nitrox certified scuba diver. The hurricane that kills Michael's parents was inspired by a real-life diving accident.


After over a decade in Canada, Switzerland, and Singapore, Angela and her family are happily settled in Mesa, Arizona. She enjoys speaking to writers and readers of all ages about her craft. She has four children--mostly grown up--and the most remarkable grandson in the universe.

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Contest Link
Blog
Opposite poems for younger readers

Links to Buy:
Amazon Author Page
Taken By Storm
Unbroken Connection (Book 2)
Cayman Summer (Book 3)

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: •Grab your current read •Open to a random page •Share two (2) “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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser for the week:

I choose you because of the way you look at me.  The way you touch me, the way you talk to me, the way you respect me and see me.

The Goddess Legacy
Location 1490 on Kindle

Musing Monday

MUSING MONDAYS… is a weekly event where MizB at Should be Reading will ask a book/reading-related question, and you answer with your own thoughts on the topic.

This week’s musing asks…
What are you currently reading? Is it any good? Would you recommend it?


This one is an easy one I'm currently reading The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter and I'm loving it.  Review to come soon.  It's basically about Gods and Goddesses, their back stories.  It's a really interesting take on the mythological history and I am really enjoying it.  Makes me want to go and research the gods and goddesses.  Plus there are just some really great story lines.  I would definitely recommend this book when it comes out and also just the entire series as well. 

Plus I was THIS close to Aimee Carter at BEA but ughhh they ran out of books before they got to me, totally bummed!!!!

Review The Other Life

The Other Life
By Susanne Winnacker
Release date February 1, 2012
Series The Other Life

Description
3 years, 1 month, 1 week and 6 days since I’d seen daylight. One-fifth of my life. 98,409,602 seconds since the heavy, steel door had fallen shut and sealed us off from the world

Sherry has lived with her family in a sealed bunker since things went wrong up above. But when they run out of food, Sherry and her dad must venture outside. There they find a world of devastation, desolation...and the Weepers: savage, mutant killers.

When Sherry's dad is snatched, she joins forces with gorgeous but troubled Joshua - an Avenger, determined to destroy the Weepers.

But can Sherry keep her family and Joshua safe, when his desire for vengeance threatens them all?

Review
I have yet to read a book about zombies or zombie like creatures and this was a great start to it.  This book was really one I couldn't put it down. Basically read it in one sitting which hasn't happened for me in a while.

Sherry and her family have been living in a bunker for almost four years. They haven't heard from anyone in at least a year or two and now they are out of food. When they went into the bunker it was because the government told then to, there was am outbreak of rabies and people were acting strange. Sherry and her dad decide to go out and search for good.

During their search for food sherry and her dad were attacked by weepers.  trying to survive sherry flees from the store and this is where she runs into Joshua another survivor.  Joshua saves sherry from the weepers promising to go back in the morning for her father.  he takes her back to safe haven where she meets other survivors. They plan to go back tomorrow to get her family and look for her dad.

After rescuing her family Joshua and sherry go of to find her father. They are out to late and decide to find a place to stay after they hunted some weepers while searching for her dad. Both tired and beat they rest for a while but with everything that's happened recently its hard to rest easy.the next day they go out again and rescue some people including her father.

Back at the safe haven they are still restless as new discoveries are made about their situation and the rabies infected humans.  This book was a gear zombie type book and I can't wait to read what happens next.  Especially between Joshua and sherry throughout this while situation they find solace in each other.

I have always been fascinated by books and movies about this subject and am surprised how much I hope it really works out for the survivors, I'm rooting for them to kick butt. You definitely have to check out this series when it comes out.

Review: The Unquiet

The Unquiet
By: Jeannine Garsee
Release Date: July 17, 2012

Description:
Sixteen-year-old Rinn Jacobs has secrets: One, she’s bipolar. Two, she killed her grandmother.

After a suicide attempt, and now her parents' separation, Rinn and her mom move from California to the rural Ohio town where her mother grew up. Back on her medications and hoping to stay well, Rinn settles into her new home, undaunted by the fact that the previous owner hanged herself in Rinn's bedroom. At school, her classmates believe the school pool is haunted by Annaliese, a girl who drowned there. But when a reckless séance goes awry, and terrible things start happening to her new friends—yet not to her—Rinn is determined to find out why she can’t be "touched" by Annaliese...or if Annaliese even exists.

With the help of Nate Brenner, the hunky “farmer boy” she’s rapidly falling for, Rinn devises a dangerous plan to uncover the truth. Soon reality and fantasy meld into one, till Rinn finds it nearly impossible to tell the difference. When a malevolent force threatens the lives of everyone she cares about--not to mention her own--she can't help wondering: who should she really be afraid of?

Annaliese? Or herself?

Review:
This book was definitely intriguing; the story reads like a ghost story but feels more like a psychological breakdown of a girl who was diagnosed bipolar and believes to have killed her grandmother. She moves to a town where her mother used to live and into a house where the owner committed suicide, a while after her granddaughter was found dead in the school pool.


There are so many pieces that are missing from everyone’s story, there are things yet undiscovered. Weird things happen to people who are touched by Annaliese and Corrine is determined to find out exactly what happened. Moving to a new place Corrine befriends a group of kids who have known each other their whole lives, even their parents went to the same school together.

There’s Nate the cute farmer boy next door who she sort of starts seeing, then there’s Lucy the not so nice girl in school, Meg the cheerleader, Tasha the athlete and then the stoner Dino. Together, minus Nate they all do a séance in the pool room, which let me tell you are never a good idea to begin with. Well things start happening to all of them at different times. The situations get worse and very serious for some of them. But still nothing has happened to Corrine, she thinks it’s because she is on medication and is determined to prove her thinking is correct. But what do you get when you have a bipolar person in this type of situation not taking their medication?

A hot mess. The story starts to blend with hallucinations, realities, back stories, confusion. There’s a point where I feel exactly like Corrine I don’t know what’s real anymore. I love that feeling because all it does is surprise you in the end. What’s real, what’s not? Who’s lying, who’s telling the truth. It’s all a big mess and you’ll have to read the book to figure it out.

This was a quick and interesting read and I would definitely recommend to anyone. I really love the cover also because you can't really tell is it THE Annaliese or is it Corrine.  Really love it.

Disclaimer:
I received this book from NetGalley and Bloomsbury, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

From the Review Pile

From the Review Pile:

From the Review Pile is a meme hosted by Stepping Out of the Page every Thursday.

The aim of this meme is to showcase books that you've received for review, but haven't yet got around to reading, in order to give the book some extra publicity.

This week from my Review Pile:

Origin
By: Jessica Khoury
Release Date: September 4, 2012

Description:
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.

Booking Through Thursday: Ashamed?

A weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. Hosted at Booking Through Thursday.

This weeks question is:
What book(s) have you read that you’re secretly ashamed to admit?


I am never ashamed of any book I read, I read them because I want to or because I've signed up to read them for a tour.  But I don't think I'd be ashamed of it, YA is the genre I like and adore reading and if you think you should be ashamed because I'm not a YA anymore, I don't really care because I'm not.  These are so pretty d*** good books and I wouldn't trade them for the world.  They are what keeps me intrigued.  Now if only I had more time to read I could get so much more done ha. 

Review: Wilde's Army

Wilde's Army
By: Krystal Wade
Release Date: July 4, 2012
Series: Darkness Falls

Description:
“Hello, Katriona.”

Those two words spark fear in Katriona Wilde and give way to an unlikely partnership with Perth, the man she’s been traded to marry for a favor. Saving her true love and protector Arland, her family, and their soldiers keeps her motivated, but the at-odds duo soon realizes trust is something that comes and goes with each breath of Encardia’s rotting, stagnant air. The moment when concern for her missing sister spirals out of control, all thoughts of trust are pushed aside and she finds herself trapped by the daemon tricks Perth warned her of.

However, rescuing those she loves is only half the problem.

Kate still must get to Willow Falls, unite her clashing people, and form an army prepared to fight in order to defeat Darkness. When so many she’s grown fond of die along the journey, her ability to play by the gods’ rules is tested.

How will she make allies when the world appears stacked against her? And will she still be Katriona Wilde, the girl with fire?

Review:
We are back in the beautiful world of Encardia, where the author transforms our imaginations to a world of wonder, magic and of turmoil. Katriona is the key to saving this world, by uniting all people they will conquer darkness together.


After falling through a portal into a world she has never known, and finally finding the literal man of her dreams and dealing with the loss of her best friend Kate is now faced with conquering darkness and bringing light back to Encardia. Her homeland, where her and her family are originally from, but to do this she must be ready to lie to keep everyone alive. She is promised to be married to Perth but as per her prophecy she is in love and will marry Arland. Through their travels from Watcher’s Hill to Willow falls they encounter many demons, but prevail.

Perth, Arland and Kate work together to hide their secrets from the rest of the people at Willow Falls especially Perth’s father who seeks to gain much with the marriage of Perth and Kate. He plans on denouncing her power and Perth becoming the leader of all people. In this book you see a lot of growth from Perth, his humanity and honesty comes through. He seems to really start to care about Kate, but I think that will only hurt him more in the end, I even feel myself rooting for him to be happy and find the freedom and love he secretly desires.

Throughout her ordeal in Willow Falls, Kate is to pretend she is in love with Perth and they are courting each other. All the while all she wants is Arland and to start getting on with her prophecy, to build her army. But she is constantly being watched and the time is approaching quickly for Perth and Kate to do their binding spell. But they do not belong together, her family has disappeared, she’s all alone and doesn’t know what is going on.

Until one night her mom comes knocking at her door and that is when her life starts to change, and the prophecy starts taking place. I don’t really want to go into too much detail at this point because this is where the fun begins. This is where everything that everyone has been working so hard for, all the lies and acting can finally stop and the truth will set everyone free. The whole thing made me proud.

This is a beautiful story and I can’t wait for it to continue. I can’t wait to see how Brad comes back and how all of this comes to an end, whether it is for good or bad. Overall this series just gets better and better and I am completely attached to the characters. Well done Krystal Wade, well done! You have me captivated.
Disclaimer:
I received this book from NetGalley and Curiosity Quills Press, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm "Waiting on":

The Program
By Suzanne Young
Release Date: April 30, 2013

Description:
Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone.


With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in.

And The Program is coming for them.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: •Grab your current read •Open to a random page •Share two (2) “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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser for the week:

I can't afford to let down my guard like this.  Plus, what with all the miscellaneous stuff thrown around, Im' worried he'll notice something-maybe a self-help book or a prescription bottle- and put two and two together, and come up with a big fat Oh hell she IS nuts!

Summer Reads Giveaway Hop

I absolutely LOVE the summer, there is nothing better than sitting on the porch in the backyard sipping on something cold and fruity watching the kids run around and play in the water while the smell of burgers on the grill drifts towards you.  It's a beaufitul thing.  Not only that but being able to live in flip flops, we only get that during the summer months considering flip flops are just not good for walking in the snow. 

So here I am joining the Summer Reads Giveaway Hop hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Rex Robot Reviews. One lucky will win Second Chance Summer and a Mystery prize (possibly something I picked up at BEA). Good Luck to you all and YAH FOR SUMMER!!!!

Second Chance Summer
By: Morgan Matson

Description:
Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love


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Booking Through Thursday

A weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. Hosted at Booking Through Thursday.

This weeks question is:
So other than books … what periodicals do you read? Magazines? Newspapers? Newsletters? Journals?

Do you subscribe? Or do you buy them on the newsstand when they look interesting?

This one is really really easy.

Nope not really!

I will read an article from the paper if someone asks me to read it.  magazines on the rare rare rare occasion when I'm in a waiting room or something along those lines.  But religiously nope, not at all.  How about you?

Review: The Summer of No Regrets

The Summer of No Regrets
By: Katherine Grace Bond
Release Date: May 1, 2012

Description:
This was the summer that would change my life.

No more being what everyone expected. No more doing what everyone else wanted.

So when Luke came into my life, I decided to keep him a secret. Maybe he as a dead-ringer for notorious Hollywood bad boy Trent Yves. And it was possible that everything he told me was a lie. And yes, I was probably asking for trouble. But all I saw was Luke--sweet, funny, caring--someone who would let me be the real me.

But which was the real him?
 
Review:
This book was not exactly what I expected to be, but was pleasantly surprised when halfway through my heart strings were being pulled and clarity started seeping through. This book turned out to be a little sweet and very much a way for a girl to get over some things she has been holding back.


We meet Brigitta, whose family is anything but normal. They live at a Center which houses random people from nuns, Buddhists to gifted people. It’s a retreat for people to get away where her father is a Shaman. It’s all very strange and I will have to admit reading those scenes I was a little more like where is this book going but it gets tied together and the circle is completed by the end of the book as more understanding was dawned on me. She recently loss her grandparents which she cared for deeply and is simply trying to get through the normal things she’s used to in her life.

One day she runs into a guy at the mall, who her friends swears is a movie star, but then again her friend thinks she’s always seeing movie stars in the most random places. Well turns out the same guy from the mall also happen to be her new neighbor. They had a chance encounter with a cougar and soon became friends and then some. But Brigitta being the closet gossip lover of celebrities was still in doubt if he was a movie star or just Luke the new boy next door. In all honestly she was just in denial because she didn’t want it to be true.

Well turns out the cougar had cubs and they tried to take care of them but eventually they had to be taken away, but throughout the whole thing Luke was always disappearing for days at a time. Again, Brigitta wondered who he really was and on top of that who she really was.

Overall this was a good book, not what I expected from by looking at the cover. I was hoping for a complete beach scene and secret romance, although there was one scene and a secret romance it’s not played out the way I thought it would have been. This book went deeper than that by exploring the different ways of grieving when loved ones were lost and how it silently really pulls family members in different directions. It was a good story.

Disclaimer:
I received this book from NetGalley and Sourcebooks, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

From the Review Pile

From the Review Pile is a meme hosted by Stepping Out of the Page every Thursday.

The aim of this meme is to showcase books that you've received for review, but haven't yet got around to reading, in order to give the book some extra publicity.

This week from my Review Pile:

Confessions of an Angry Girl
By: Louise Rozett
Release Date: August 28, 2012

Description:
Rose Zarelli, self-proclaimed word geek and angry girl, has some CONFESSIONS to make...

#1: I'm livid all the time. Why? My dad died. My mom barely talks. My brother abandoned us. I think I'm allowed to be irate, don't you?


#2: I make people furious regularly. Want an example? I kissed Jamie Forta, a badass guy who "might" be dating a cheerleader. She is now enraged and out for blood. Mine.

#3: High school might as well be Mars. My best friend has been replaced by an alien, and I see red all the time. (Mars is red and "seeing red" means being angry-get it?)
Here are some other vocab words that describe my life: Inadequate. Insufferable. Intolerable.
(Don't know what they mean? Look them up yourself.) (Sorry. That was rude.)

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm "Waiting on":

Hysteria

By: Megan Miranda

Release Date: February 5, 2013

Description:

Mallory's life is falling apart. Her boyfriend was stabbed. He bled to death in her kitchen. Mallory was the one who stabbed him. But she can't remember what happened that night. She only remembers the fear . . .


When Mallory's parents send her away to a boarding school, she thinks she can escape the gossip and the threats. But someone, or something, has followed her. There's the hand that touches her shoulder when she's drifting off to sleep. A voice whispering her name. And everyone knows what happened. So when a pupil is found dead, Mallory's name is on their lips. Her past can be forgotten but it's never gone. Can Mallory live with that?

*********************************************

Why I want This
Because I haven't read a good thriller in a while and this definitely sounds promising, what are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: •Grab your current read •Open to a random page •Share two (2) “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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser for the week:

The pressure of Hollywood had exacted an awful price from Trent by the time he found the town of Idyll Grove.  Despite his passion for his art, the shallow attacks of the paparazzi had left him helpless and hopeless, needing respite, needing a place to disappear.

Review: Sweet Evil

Sweet Evil
By: Wendy Higgins
Release Date: May 21, 2012
Series: The Sweet Trilogy #1

Description:
Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?
This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?
 
Review:
So I've heard a lot about this book and finally decided to sit down and read it. It took me a while, and I have to say that I wanted more. There's this strong attraction and it wasn't enough for me, I needed to see more about it. Now I have to wait for the next book where I hope that Anna and Kai will have more shared moments. And there is so much history and added animosity that I’m just curious as to what is going to happen next as well.


Anna has just recently discovered that she is the daughter of the Duke of Substance Abuse, which means that she is susceptible to alcohol and drugs. She is to "work" for her father in influencing other people to consume alcohol and drugs. She is entirely pure though and ever other Duke, legionnaire and even Nephilim (which is what she is) can tell how pure she is and they do not agree with it. Most importantly the Duke of Lust is angry at her purity and her father for letting her stay pure. This is all comes later in the book though.

Before all this hoopla she’s just an innocent girl going through her normal life, yes she knows she has extra super sensory but she tries not to use them. That is until she meets Kaiden and then bam an attraction to him grows, it doesn’t hurt that he is like her, sort of. He is the son of the Duke of Lust. His job is pretty much to hook up with as many people as possible, which is until he meets Anna, and he is conflicted. There’s an obvious attraction there and he doesn’t know how to handle it. Isn’t that always the case ha ha. But Anna pushes for something to happen especially during their cross country trip to go visit her father for the first time. Where there are things that need to be said, but you should really read the book to get into more detail.

Overall the book was good, although I wish it spent more time in the depths of the situations. More explanations but I have a feeling that will come in the next book. Such as why the Dukes seem to be separated, if the Nephilim are stronger then why don’t they just overtake them as it seems none of them really want to work for their fathers, but the legionnaires are always watching and whispering? So much going on and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Musing Monday: Stuck

MUSING MONDAYS… is a weekly event where MizB at Should be Reading will ask a book/reading-related question, and you answer with your own thoughts on the topic.

This week’s musing asks…
When you’re stuck for a book to read next, what do you do?


I have this problem ALL the time, what do I read next, do I read from netgalley, my ever growing TBR list, something I purchased recently, something I got at BEA, what do I read next?  Sometimes I'll just toss it up and randomly pick something, which isn't always the best because then I won't want to read it.  Or I'll just go ahead look at a cover and say I'm reading this and that's it.  But most of the time I will read the first few pages if necessary to see what grabs my attention the most and continue the book. 

I have to say it's super hard sometimes picking the next book, on the rare occasion I'll even go and check out other reviewers to see if I should even waste my time lol.  I hate making decisions! lol.