Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Title:  Love Story
Author:  Jennifer Echols
Release date:  July 19, 2011
Publisher:  MTV Books
Pages:  243
Source:  Publisher

She's writing about him. he's writing about her. And everybody is reading between the lines..

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.

Wow!  Jennifer Echols knows how to write a story full of hunky boys, nerdy girls, and tons of sexual tension. It is a dream come true!  =)

Erin is your average disinherited heiress.  That is to say she is a former rich girl who must now learn to support herself.  She was very likable although she was very grumpy at times.  She was an average girl working her way through college and she was very easy to relate to.  Hunter was also easy to relate to but there was nothing average about him.  He was sexy but very sweet, your typical unrealistic male character.  I loved him anyway and I'm sure other readers will too.

I think the most unique thing about Love Story is that instead of just reading about the characters' creative writing stories, you actually got to read them. They added a new layer to the story that I loved.  It was also a great way to insert some things from both Erin and Hunter's pasts.  They were also pretty comical at times.

Overall, Love Story is another amazing book from Jennifer Echols.  So far I haven't managed to find one of her books that I don't like.  I strongly urge everyone to check out this spectacular author if you haven't already.

First line:  Captain Vanderslice was something of an ass.

Rating:  A

Cover:  A

Blogger Mentorship Program - Big Sib/Little Sib

Hi everyone! It’s Hafsah, Ivy, Katie, and Kelsey here! Over the last few hours we have been working on a secret project, but it’s not so secret anymore since we are now sharing with you all!

Our secret project is called, Big Sib/Little Sib! Big Sib/Little Sib is a program where we help pair novice bloggers with veteran book bloggers. We try to pair novices to veterans to help them get started in the book blogging community.

If you guys are interested, sign up below:

Sign-up to be a Big Sib Book Blogger (Veteran)

Sign-up to be a Little Sib Book Blogger (Novice)

If you guys have any comments, suggestions, questions, etc. please don't hesitate to email us at: bloggersibs @ gmail . com .

We will be creating a page to put all this information on. Please visit my FAQ page to see if your questions have been answered or not.

Thank you! We are looking forward to working with you all!

Labor Day Weekend Read-A-Thon!

I know this is super short notice but I decided that this weekend would be the perfect time to do a read-a-thon.  I have never hosted one before so I'm not quite sure what I am doing.  Bear with me.  =)

This read-a-thon will go from 12:01 AM on September 3 to 11:59 PM on September 5!

What is a Readathon?

A Readathon is where you set a goal for yourself to read more books that is beyond your average number of books you read. There is no minimum, it's all up to you! Push yourself to get some of those books read that have been sitting on your shelves for awhile! You can read any type of book you choose!

(Definition taken from Angela at Reading Angel!)

How to participate:
Fill out the form (if you know for sure that you are going to participate) and link your blog in the linky that will be posted on the kick-off post on Friday!  Once you fill out the form you will be entered into all the giveaways that I host this weekend!

What you get:
I will be hosting giveaways throughout the weekend and you will also get some books off your shelves! Isn't that what really matters?

So to recap, fill out the form, get together what books you want to read, and on Friday night I will post the kick-off post where you can link to your own read-a-thon kick off posts.  =)

The Beginning Of After by Jennifer Castle

Book:  The Beginning Of After
Author:  Jennifer Castle
Release date:  September 6, 2011
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Pages:  432
Source:  Publisher

Sixteen-year-old Laurel's world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all, there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel's life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss, a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.

Jennifer Castle's debut novel is a breath of fresh air for contemporary fiction lovers like me. I wasn't hooked at first but that quickly changed as I was drawn into Laurel's world and by the end I was in love.  Oh and one of the best things about it?  It's a standalone.  =)

Laurel Meisner never thinks what life would be like without her family until she actually loses them one night in a terrible car accident.  What's worse is that the guy who caused the accident is still alive.  Laurel doesn't know how to cope with that on top of her grief but there seems to be one person who gets that: David, the son of the man driving the car that night.  Their relationship is by no means normal and David is so far from what Laurel needs but for some reason she can't stay away from him.  Could David maybe be the perfect person to show Laurel how to live again?

At first I couldn't connect to Laurel.  She was going through something very traumatic and she seemed to show very little emotion.  Sure she spent a lot of time huddled under her covers wishing the world would go away but I didn't get a sense of loss from her.  When she finally did break down I loved her for it.  She seemed more real to me after that.  The rest of the characters I had no problem with.  I loved Meg and how she was always there for Laurel.  Joe was a sweetheart and Nana was so awesome.  David confused me a lot of the time but by the end of the book I loved him.

My biggest worry about the book was that I wouldn't share the sense of loss that Laurel felt.  The first chapter is the only chapter with her family actually alive and I thought that that would not be enough time to get the relationship across to readers.  I had no reason to be worried.  I felt Laurel's pain like it was my own and I spent a lot of time crying while reading this one.

Overall, The Beginning Of After is a beautifully written, heartbreaking story of love, loss, and gaining the strength needed to go on with life.  I adored it and Jennifer Castle is a debut author I can't wait to read more from.

First line:  Anyone who's had something truly crappy happen to them will tell you: It's all about Before and After.

Rating:  A-

Cover:  A++

In My Mailbox 124 (week of August 27)

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! It is a list of what books you have received over the previous week, either for review, from the library, from the bookstore, or from trades. =]

For review:
-Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
-Dark Souls by Paula Morris
-Without Tess by Marcella Pixley
-The Project by Brian Falkner
-Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay
-Reaching Through Time by Lurlene McDaniel
-Ingenue (Flappers #2) by Jillian Larkin
-The Game Of Triumphs by Laura Powell
-Hooked by Catherine Greenman

From Nicole (the awesome blogger at Word For Teens):
-All The Things You Are by Courtney Sheinmel
-My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions by Becca Wilhite
-Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link
-Branded (Fall Of Angels #1) by Keary Taylor
-Friend Is Not A Verb by Daniel Ehrenhaft
-Karma For Beginners by Jessica Blank
-Manifest (Mystyx #1) by Artist Arthur
-Screwball by Keri Mikulski

No links this week because Blogger is being dumb!

Blog Tour: Everblue (Mer Tales #1) by Brenda Pandos

Title:  Everblue (Mer Tales #1)
Author:  Brenda Pandos
Release date:  July 30, 2011
Publisher:  Obsidian Mountain Publishing
Pages:  305 (in the ARC)
Source:  Author

Best friends share everything with each other. Or do they? Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn Frances Lanski is tired of her boring, single life. Spending time with her best friend Tatiana, dreaming about kissing Tatiana's twin brother Fin, and swimming competitively are her only sanctuary. The girls plan to leave their drab lakeside town far behind for college. But when Tatchi fails to return home after a family emergency, and no one knows where the family has gone, Ash chooses to do something drastic to find them.

Ashlyn is about to discover what she’d thought to be true her whole life, wasn’t, and the truth, too fantastical to imagine. Secrets lurk beneath the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe, secrets that will change Ashlyn's life forever.

Brenda Pandos is now, officially, one of my favorite authors.  I loved the first two books in her Talisman series so I was excited to check this one out but I did not think that I would like this one as much as her others.  I am not a big fan of mermaid tales (pun totally intended) but this one was unique enough that I fell in love with it.  The ending totally threw me and I am now eagerly waiting for the sequel to come out.

First off, this is not your typical mermaid story, especially seeing as the mermaid it is about isn't a mermaid at all.  He is a merman.  I have never read a book written from the point-of-view of a merman and it was very refreshing.  Seeing the underwater life through the eyes of a guy is not something I thought I would enjoy but it was really interesting.  I liked seeing what life was like not only for mermaids but also the mermen.  And things were not at all what expected, for either gender.  The mermaid land, Natatoria, was beautiful but the people who lived there were definitely not.  There was something strange going on and I could not figure out what.  I really liked the mystery of not knowing what was going to happen next and who to trust.

Also, the story is told in alternating points-of-view so you don't just get Fin's POV but also Ashlyn, his sister's best friend and the girl he is secretly in love with.  At first I wasn't sure how things were going to tie together with Fin being under the sea and Ashlyn being on land but eventually things did tie together and the story was even more gripping after that.

The plot was very suspenseful, like Brenda Pandos' other books.  From the very beginning you know something is going on in Natatoria but you don't know what or why.  There isn't a lot of action at the beginning but just trying to figure everything out kept me intrigued enough to continue reading and get to the really good part.  And by really good part I mean action not just in the terms of fighting but also in some very steamy scenes between Fin and Ash.  =)

Overall, Everblue is a fantastic start to the Mer Tales series and I can't recommend it enough.  I was hooked with the story but add in the fabulous characters, wonderful writing, and that ending, and I loved it!  Brenda Pandos definitely has another winner with this one!

First line:  "So, tell me everything, Ash."

Rating:  A

Cover:  A

Tell Me How I'm Doing

Hey everyone!

Lately I have been wondering how I can improve the blog.  I decided to create a survey that you guys could fill out.  I would love for you to tell me what you think of my blog and how you think I can improve it.  All suggestions will be taken to heart and hopefully you will soon begin to see some changes around here!

Please fill out the survey here and I will love you forever!

Blog Tour: Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry #3) by Simone Elkeles

Title:  Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry #3)
Author:  Simone Elkeles
Release date:  August 16, 2011
Publisher:  Walker BFYR
Pages:  308
Source:  Publisher

Luis Fuentes has always been sheltered from the gang violence that nearly destroyed his brothers’ lives. But that didn’t stop him from taking risks—whether he’s scaling a mountain in the Rockies or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis can’t stop looking for the next thrill.

Nikki Cruz lives her life by three rules—boys lie to get their way, don’t trust a boy who says “I love you,” and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Her parents may be from Mexico, but as a doctor’s daughter, she has more in common with her north-side neighbors than the Latino Blood at her school. Then she meets Luis at Alex’s wedding, and suddenly, she’s tempted to break all her rules.

Getting Nikki to take a chance on a southsider is Luis’s biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by Chuy Soto, the new head of the Latino Blood. When Chuy reveals a disturbing secret about Luis’s family, the youngest Fuentes finds himself questioning everything he’s ever believed to be true. Will his feelings for Nikki be enough to stop Luis from entering a dark and violent world and permanently living on the edge?

Perfect Chemistry will always be my favorite Simone Elkeles book but Chain Reaction is a close second.  From the very first sentence I was hooked and I loved Luis and Nikki's story. I can't believe it is all over!

Luis is not like his older brothers.  He is smart, funny, ambitious, and not at all involved with gangs.  I liked him from the start and I was very invested in his story.  Nikki was the perfect match for Luis.  She was scared and vulnerable but she hid it with a nasty attitude and a lot of snark.  They definitely had just as much chemistry as Alex and Brittany, and Carlos and Kiara.

Speaking of the other couples; they are back!  Both of the couples played a pretty big role in this book and it was wonderful to see how their relationships progressed.  I have to say, Alex and Brittany will always be my favorite couple but there was a scene between Carlos and Kiara in this book that made me tear up!  It was so sweet and romantic!

The plot was, once again, fabulous.  It doesn't start out focusing on the gang but that is quickly introduced and things get crazy.  Not only do things heat up between Nikki and Luis but also between the gang members.  By the end I had no idea what was going to happen.  There were some shocking twists in this book.  And that ending!  Go Nikki!  Score one for bad-ass girlfriends!  (Once you read it you will know what I am talking about.)

Oh and one other thing I love about this trilogy is that all the scenes depicted on the cover actually happen in the books.  This one was a mix of steamy, sweet, and funny!

Overall, I am sad to see the end of the Fuentes brothers trilogy but Chain Reaction was a great way to end it. I'm hoping now for a Fuentes sons trilogy.  Pretty please?  =)

First line:  Being the youngest of three boys definitely has its advantages.

Rating:  A++

Cover:  A++

Blog Tour: Character This or That with Liam from Here Lies Bridget

Today I am excited to be hosting Liam--one of the characters in Paige Harbison's debut novel, Here Lies Bridget!

Vanilla or chocolate?

Vanilla.  Good ol' vanilla.

Tall or short?

Short.

Lean or muscular?

I mean…not like grossly muscular girls. But I’m not obsessed with them being thin.

Books or movies?

Books.  I've always liked reading.

Sun or rain?

Sun.  I like being outside.

Football or soccer?

Football.  I'm good at football.  I'm bad at soccer.

Cats or dogs?

Dogs.  Cats creep me out.  I feel like they can read minds or something.

Alone or with friends?

I'm good either way.

Math or reading?

I'm also not super great at math.  I always wished I had been.

Morning or night?

Night. To me, mornings mean errands with my mom. I love my mom. I hate errands.

Texting or talking?

Talking. Texting can be annoying. Especially when it’s a girl that uses emoticons instead of punctuation.

Myspace or Facebook?

…really? Does anyone really use myspace anymore? I don’t really use either.

What about you guys?  Which ones of these would you pick and why?

--

Thanks so much Paige and Liam!  Be sure to check out the rest of the blog tour to find out more!

Totally Booksessed Q&A Week!

Hey everyone!

This week on Totally Booksessed we are answering your questions!  These questions can be about absolutely anything:  books, TV, movies, life, school, work, whatever you want to know.

Please leave questions in the comments here or if you want to be anonymous you can ask them on my formspring!

Hope everyone is having a great Monday! (I am currently on a one hour break between classes on my first day back!)

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Title:  Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author:  Stephanie Perkins
Release date:  September 29, 2011
Publisher:  Dutton
Pages:  338
Source:  Gift

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

I didn't think it was possible but I loved Lola and the Boy Next Door even more than Anna and the French Kiss.  It was cute, funny, heartbreaking, and so romantic.  Isla and the Happily Ever After can't get here fast enough (and I hope there are cameos from Lola, Cricket, Anna, and Etienne in that one.)

Lola is a bit of a misfit.  She dresses in costume and nobody, not even her quirky dads or punk rocker boyfriend, know what she will look like from day to day.  It does tend to make her an outcast at school but she is okay with that because she still has her boyfriend Max and her best friend Lindsey.  Things heat up when the former love of her life, Cricket Bell, moves back in next door and Lola's life goes topsy turvy.  Cricket is sweet, funny, quirky, smart, and ridiculously romantic.  He also broke Lola's heart once but he is easy to forgive (at least to readers.)  And he just happens to be friends and dorm neighbors with Etienne St. Clair (squee!)  I loved the cast of characters in this book especially because Anna and Etienne were in it.  I really loved Andy and Nathan, Lola's dads.  Everybody was just fabulous!

Normally I don't like tons of descriptions about character's wardrobes but in this case it was necessary and I thought it was fun.  Lola's personality really shows through her sense of style and I loved her for her bravery.  Cricket's sense of style was also a little out there but he made it work.  He is my kind of guy!

Overall, Lola and the Boy Next Door is a new favorite of mine.  I know my review is all gushing but please believe me when I say that you need to read this one!

First line:  I have three simple wishes.

Rating:  A++

Cover:  A++ (I love that you can actually see the guys face on this one!)

In My Mailbox 123 (week of August 21)

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! It is a list of what books you have received over the previous week, either for review, from the library, from the bookstore, or from trades. =]

For review:
-Dark Souls by Paula Morris
-The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell
-The Rivals (The Mockingbirds #2) by Daisy Whitney
-Wintertown by Stephen Emond
-Crossroads by Mary Ting (signed!)
-Underdogs by Markus Zusak
-Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay
-Forbidden by Syrie James and Ryan James
-Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver
-A Touch Morbid (A Touch Mortal #2) by Leah Clifford
-Slide by Jill Hathaway
-Pink Smog (Becoming Weetzie) by Francesca Lia Block
-Lovetorn by Kavita Daswani
-Balthazar by Claudia Gray
-Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Marr
-The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
-Everneath by Brodi Ashton
-Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith
-Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
-Arcadia Awakens by Kai Meyer
-Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis
-Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig
-Black Boy White School by Brian F. Walker
-Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
-The Calling (Darkness Rising #2) by Kelley Armstrong
-Wings Of The Wicked (Angelfire #2) by Courtney Allison Moulton
-The Secret Sisterhood Of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

Bought:
-Shadowland (The Mediator #1) by Meg Cabot
-Ninth Key (The Mediator #2) by Meg Cabot
-Reunion (The Mediator #3) by Meg Cabot
-Perchance To Dream (Theatre Illuminata #2) by Lisa Mantchev
-Rampant (Killer Unicorns #1) by Diana Peterfreund
-Stork (Stork #1) by Wendy Delsol
-Fear edited by R.L. Stine
-Falling In Love With English Boys by Melissa Jensen

From The Back Of My Shelf: Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Title:  Saving Francesca
Author:  Melina Marchetta
Release date:  March 9, 2006
Publisher: Knopf BFYR
Pages:  243
Source:  Bookstore

Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastian's, a boys' school that pretends it's coed by giving the girls their own bathroom. Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and an an impossibly dorky accordion player. The boys are no better, from Thomas who specializes in musical burping to Will, the perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can't seem to stop thinking about.

Then there's Francesca's mother, who always thinks she knows what's best for Francesca—until she is suddenly stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, alone, and without an inkling who she really is. Simultaneously humorous, poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and—hardest of all—herself.

Saving Francesca is my first ever Melina Marchetta book and I loved it.  I wasn't quite sure that I would like it at first but I quickly fell in love with the characters and their stories.  I definitely plan on reading more of Melina Marchetta's books in the future.

Francesca Spinelli is not your typical main character.  At first she seems kind of rude but she grew on me.  Throughout the book she really came out of her shell and I loved reading about the crazy, funny, fearless Francesca that she always was but never showed. The rest of the characters I liked from the beginning.  Luca, Will, Thomas Mackee, Jimmy Hailler, Justine, Siobahn, and Tara were hilarious!  I really want them as my friends.  This book was full of witty banter and hidden sides to each character.  They were all wonderfully well-developed.

The story itself grabbed me from the beginning.  Francesca's mom, Mia, becomes very depressed and Francesca and her family must learn how to take care of themselves and her. Her mom's depression really forced Francesca to rely on herself and to see who she was without her mom influencing her.  It was one of the most realistic contemporary books that I have ever read and that is what made me love it the most.

Overall, Saving Francesca is a fabulous book and if you haven't read anything by Melina Marchetta yet, you really should.  I will definitely be adding her to my list of favorite contemporary authors.

First line:  This morning, my mother didn't get out of bed.

Rating:  A-

Cover:  B

If you would like to participate, go ahead and post a link to your review in the comments below.  Don't forget, I will be doing this the second and fourth Fridays of every month!

Wynter Chelsea: The Legacy Review + Giveaway!

Book:  Wynter Chelsea: The Legacy
Author:  Becca Ritchie
Release date:  October 19, 2008
Publisher:  Outskirts Press
Pages:  384
Source: Author

Four hundred years ago a creature descended upon the Earth. The supernatural hunted innocent lives wanting blood and vengeance. Two families, the Wynters and the Chelseas, knew of the darkness that reigned over the world. For thousands of years they hunted and killed to protect those who knew nothing of the dangers.

Amanda Chelsea vies to be a part of the Wynter Chelsea legacy, constantly craving the thrill of a lifetime that her older brother, Jack, and the two Wynter boys experience. At seventeen, Amanda’s passion to fight is overwhelming, and she cannot come to grips with why the boys are protecting her. Abilities are cast upon the new generation of Wynters and Chelseas, only in hopes of guiding them to vanquish the impenetrable creature. Even as Amanda Chelsea receives the power of empathy, feeling other people’s emotions, it brings more harm than a vital potency. Through the turmoil in New Jersey, Dustin Wynter is the only one able to relate to Amanda with a similar gift. As Jack’s rage boils over the edge, Dustin must put the pieces back together and hold the legacy up with a shaking arm and a quirky brother by his side.

When the world couldn’t seem to become anymore dangerous, both parents of each family go missing. Now with no choice but to bring Amanda along, she finally is able to fight without hassle, but is it worth it? Is the disappearance of the ones she loved a price that she has to pay for her dream to join the legacy? Traveling across the United States, the four young adults must confront their hidden emotions and ultimate reason for living.

Wynter Chelsea: The Legacy is unlike anything I have read. It's a unique new paranormal that I think will appeal to a bunch of readers.

Amanda Chelsea has always known she was meant to be part of the Wynter Chelsea legacy but she also knew that for some reason her family was trying to keep her out of it.  All that changes when her parents and Killian Wynter go missing and she must help her brother and the Wynter boys find them.  Things heat up really quickly on their search not just with the demons but also between Amanda and Dustin Wynter.  Could the guy she has always been perfect for finally realize it?  And what does it mean for the legacy if he does?

So this was a mixed book for me.  There were some things that I loved but there were also some things that I did not love.  I'll start with the good.  Every page of this book was packed with emotion.  Becca Ritchie knows how to write it so you feel for her characters.  I kept reading because I really wanted to know what happened with them. And I found myself tearing up a few times at what was happening. The emotions were all over the place and were tearing me apart.

Now for the not-so-good: Amanda. She was my biggest problem with the book.  She spent a lot of her time whining and crying.  And she kept talking about how she could take care of herself but then she needed one of the boys to come save her.  I understand why she was upset but I just really wanted her to take control.  The rest of the characters were better.  Trevor cracked me up.  He was my favorite.

Overall, Wynter Chelsea: The Legacy is a great paranormal but just not the best for me.  I definitely think others will enjoy it though which is why I am giving away my copy to one of you guys!

First line:  Our family legacy is very simple.

Rating:  B-

Cover:  B

________

Rules: 

-Must have a US or CA mailing address

-Must comment on this post with an email address

This contest will end on August 31!

Vanish (Firelight #2) by Sophie Jordan

Book: Vanish (Firelight #2)
Author:  Sophie Jordan
Release date: September 6, 2011
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Pages:  304
Source:  Publisher

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

Ahh!  I am so glad I got the chance to read Vanish early but now I am dying for more.  Just like with Firelight, Vanish leaves you with an idea of what is coming next but months before you can actually read about it.  It is pure torture!

Jacinda is back with the pride but she is not happy about it.  She never thought she would want to live in the human world but that was before she met Will.   Now she is home and all she can think about is finding a way back to him.  Her biggest fear may come true though.  What if the pride clips her wings before she can leave? Or worse, what if Cassian makes sure she can't leave?

I love Jacinda.  This book made me like her even more than the first.  She may be descended from dragons but her emotions are very human.  She is scared, insecure, guarded, but also very loving when it comes to her family and Will.  I also still love Will but Cassian is growing on me.  He shows a very different side of himself in this book and it's hard not to like him, at least a little.

The plot is awesome. So many things were going on.  It definitely kept me reading.  I had no idea what was going to come next.  I loved the suspense.  I bit off all my nails while reading this one!

Overall, Vanish is an amazing follow up to Firelight.  I am dying to read the next book and it's not even close to being released.  I don't know what I am going to do!  =)

First line:  Sometimes I dream of falling.

Rating:  A

Cover:  A++

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (11)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.  Each week we will share what we have just finished reading, what we are currently reading, and what we plan to read next. 

Just finished reading:
-Slice Of Cherry by Dia Reeves
-Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry #3) by Simone Elkeles
-The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Reading now:
-Possess by Gretchen McNeil

Reading next: 
-The Adoration Of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
-Knightley Academy by Violet Haberdasher
-Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

What are you reading this week?

Giveaway: Beautiful Creatures + Beautiful Darkness!

Beautiful Creatures

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

Beautiful Darkness

Together Ethan Wates and Lena Duchannes can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

Beautiful Chaos

Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending. Ethan and Lena’s mesmerizing romance continues in the highly anticipated new Beautiful Creatures novel, coming October 18th.

Also, don't forget to check out the Beautiful Creatures short story, Dream Dark, featuring Link! You can buy a copy here!

If you want to find out more about the Beautiful Creatures series or the authors, check out their website!

Giveaway details:
-One winner will receive a copy of Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness!

Requirements:
-You must have a US mailing address.
-You must fill out the form to be entered.

Fill out the form here!

This giveaway ends on August 31.

In My Mailbox 122 (week of August 13)

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! It is a list of what books you have received over the previous week, either for review, from the library, from the bookstore, or from trades. =]

Awesome bloggers mentioned:
-Briana from The Book Pixie
-Emily from Emily's Reading Room
-Alex from More Than Just A Book
-Raychelle from Steele Reviews

For review:
-Sweetly by Jackson Pearce
-Prized (Birthmarked #2) by Caragh M. O' Brien
-Envy (Empty Coffin #1) by Gregg Olsen
-Michael Vey: The Prisoner Of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans
-Tighter by Adele Griffin
-Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry #3) by Simone Elkeles

Traded:
-Chime by Franny Billingsley
-The Demon Trapper's Daughter (The Demon Trapper's #1) by Jana Oliver
-Defiance (Strange Angels #4) by Lili St. Crow

Bought:
-Eleventh Grade Burns (Chronicles Of Vladimir Tod #4) by Heather Brewer
-The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley
-The Other Side Of The Island by Allegra Goodman
-A Girl, A Ghost, and the Hollywood Hills by Lizabeth Zindel
-The Princess and the Snowbird by Mette Ivie Harrison
-In The Path Of Falling Objects by Andrew Smith
-Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
-Libyrinth by Pearl North
-Threads and Flames by Esther Friesner
-Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson
-Spell Hunter (Faery Rebels #1) by R.J. Anderson
-Triple Shot Bettys In Love by Jody Gehrman
-The Youngest Templar by Michael P. Spradlin
-Broken Soup by Jenny Valentine
-Me, The Missing, and The Dead by Jenny Valentine
-Infinite Days (Vampire Queen #1) by Rebecca Maizel
-Rikers High by Paul Volponi
-Delirium (Delirium #1) by Lauren Oliver
-The Fallen #2 (Aerie and Reckoning) by Thomas E. Sniegoski
-The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Blog Tour: Character This or That with Logan from Touch Of Frost

Today I am excited to be hosting Logan Quinn-one of the characters in Jennifer Estep's young adult debut Touch Of Frost.

Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to thank Katie for having me on the blog today. Thanks so much, Katie!

So today, Katie asked me to do a This or That List from the point of view of Logan Quinn, a character in my Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series. Logan is a 17-year-old Spartan warrior who is as cute as he is deadly. Take it away, Logan:

Books or movies?

Logan: Movies. I love a good action movie, and I always rewind the fight scenes to watch them again and again.

Chocolate or vanilla?

Logan: Chocolate. Always chocolate.

Blonde or brunette?

Logan: Both. ;-) I am a guy, after all.

Dogs or cats?

Logan: Dogs, although I like cats too.

Texting or talking?

Logan: Talking. I like seeing a girl smile when I talk to her.

Twitter or Facebook?

Logan: Twitter.

Boxers or briefs?

Logan: Boxers.

Math or reading?

Logan: Neither. I’d rather be in the gym, weapons training with Coach Ajax and honing my fighting skills to battle Reapers of Chaos. I’m one of the best fighters at Mythos Academy, and I plan to keep it that way.

Coke or Dr.Pepper?

Logan: Coke, all the way.

Rock or pop?

Logan: Rock, and the louder, the better.

Sunshine or rain?

Logan: Rain.

Company or solitude?

Logan: Company. There’s nothing better than hanging out with my friends and fellow Spartans, Kenzie Tanaka and Oliver Hector.

What about you guys?  Which ones of these would you pick and why?

--

Thanks so much Jennifer and Logan!  Be sure to check out my review of Touch Of Frost if you haven't already and find out what I think of Logan Quinn.  ; )

First Line Friday (5)

First Line Friday is a feature created by me, where I post five first lines from some books that I have on my TBR pile.  You guys then get to vote, based on the first lines, for the book that I will read next. =)

Title:  Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1)
Author:  Richelle Mead
Release date:  August 23, 2011

I couldn't breathe.
There was a hand covering my mouth and another shaking my shoulder, startling me out of a heavy sleep.  A thousand frantic thoughts dashed through my mind in the space of a single heartbeat.  It was happening.  My worst nightmare was coming true.

Title:  This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein
Author:  Kenneth Oppel
Release date:  August 23, 2011

We found the monster on a rocky ledge high above the lake.  For three days my brother and I had tracked it through the maze of caves to its lair on the mountain's summit.  And now we beheld it, curled atop its treasure, its pale fur and scales ablaze with moonlight.

Title:  Possess
Author:  Gretchen McNeil
Release date:  August 23, 2011

Bridget stared at the clock on the wall and cursed its painfully slow progression toward three fifteen.  Was the big hand even moving?  She slipped her cell phone out of her backpack for cross-reference.  Damn.  Seven more minutes.  It was so like a Catholic school to make Latin the last class of the day.  Institutionalized Purgatory.

Title:  The Adoration Of Jenna Fox 
Author:  Mary E. Pearson
Release date:  April 29, 2008

I used to be someone.Someone named Jenna Fox.That's what they tell me.  But I am more than a name.  More than they tell me.  More than the facts and statistics they fill me with.  More than the video clips they make me watch.  More.  But I'm not sure what.

Title:  Everblue (Mer Tales #1)
Author:  Brenda Pandos
Release date:  July 30, 2011

"So, tell me everything, Ash."  Tatiana stretched out on her blanket in rapt attention.  Her toes--complete with ruby-red polish--were out of her flip-flops and curled into the sand as if it was summer, though the chill of March lingered in the air and patches of snow dotted the coastline.

So based on these first lines, which book do you think I should read and review next?