Book Review: Together We Caught Fire by Eva B. Gibson

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publish Date: February 4th, 2020

Series: Stand Along

Source: E-galley from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

A forbidden attraction grows even more complicated when the guy Lane Jamison has crushed on for years suddenly becomes her step-brother in this sexy and gorgeously written debut novel about the lines between love, desire, and obsession.

What happens when the boy you want most becomes the one person you can’t have?

Lane Jamison's life is turned upside down the week before her senior year when her father introduces her to his new fiancée: mother of Grey McIntyre, Lane’s secret, longtime crush. Now with Grey living in Lane’s house, there’s only a thin wall separating their rooms, making it harder and harder to deny their growing mutual attraction—an attraction made all the more forbidden by Grey’s long-term girlfriend Sadie Hall, who also happens to be Lane’s friend

Torn between her feelings for Grey and her friendship with Sadie—not to mention her desire to keep the peace at home—Lane befriends Sadie’s older brother, Connor, the black sheep of the strict, evangelical Hall family. Connor, a metal working artist who is all sharp edges, challenges Lane in ways no one else ever has. As the two become closer and start to open up about the traumas in their respective pasts, Lane begins to question her conviction that Connor is just a distraction.

Tensions come to a head after a tragic incident at a party, forcing Lane to untangle her feelings for both boys and face the truth of what—and who—she wants, in this gripping and stunningly romantic debut novel.

My Review:

Lane, Conner, Grey and Sadie are the main characters in Together We Caught Fire, a book about forbidden romance, teen angst, and a lot of other issues that may not be okay for everyone to read. There is definitely a need for trigger warnings with this book - suicide and drug use, among others.

The beginning of this book was extremely confusing, I wasn't sure what was going on. It got better but to be honest, the overall book fell a little flat for me. There were some great parts, I'll give you that. At first I enjoyed the playful friendship between Conner and Lane, and the time they spent together. But then things changed and their relationship changed to this weird back and forth. Sadie was an interesting character that felt out of place to me.

Overall, this just wasn't the book I was expecting. I think people are going to fall into 2 categories with this one, you're either going to love it, or not and it looks like I fall into the latter.

Book Review: Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett

Publish Date: April 16th, 2019
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Series: Stand Alone
Source: e-galley from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

After an awkward first encounter, Birdie and Daniel are forced to work together in a Seattle hotel where a famous author leads a mysterious and secluded life in this romantic contemporary novel from the author of Alex, Approximately.

Mystery-book aficionado Birdie Lindberg has an overactive imagination. Raised in isolation and homeschooled by strict grandparents, she’s cultivated a whimsical fantasy life in which she plays the heroic detective and every stranger is a suspect. But her solitary world expands when she takes a job the summer before college, working the graveyard shift at a historic Seattle hotel.In her new job, Birdie hopes to blossom from introverted dreamer to brave pioneer, and gregarious Daniel Aoki volunteers to be her guide. The hotel’s charismatic young van driver shares the same nocturnal shift and patronizes the waterfront Moonlight Diner where she waits for the early morning ferry after work. Daniel also shares her appetite for intrigue, and he’s stumbled upon a real-life mystery: a famous reclusive writer—never before seen in public—might be secretly meeting someone at the hotel.To uncover the writer’s puzzling identity, Birdie must come out of her shell…discovering that most confounding mystery of all may be her growing feelings for the elusive riddle that is Daniel.


My Review:

I couldn't stop staring at this book cover! Seriously, isn't it beautiful!? Unfortunately, I spent more time looking at the book than actually reading it. I had such a hard time getting into this one, and I have no idea why. The reviews have been great, as of today (release day!!) on Goodreads, its a 4.14 star book but I struggled! I think it was Birdie - I had a hard time connecting, in fact, I just didn't like her! Daniel, on the other hand was likable. I found that I was reading for him. About halfway through I was a little more invested and was able to fly through the second half. The story was interesting, and fun! But I felt like there could have been a better focus on one or 2 story lines - I still have a few unanswered questions. 

In the end, I finished Serious Moonlight and a few people were intrigued while I was reading my ARC so I know that at least one person was eager to get their hands on this one thanks to me! By the quick look on Goodreads, if you've loved Jenn Bennetts other books, then chances are you'll love this one too, it just wasn't for me. Instead, I'll showcase the cover and take a quick look at it when I need all the feels that it gives me.

Book Review: Hit By Delilah S. Dawson

Publish Date: April 14, 2015
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 978-1-4814-2339-7
Pages: 336
Series: Hit, #1
Source: ARC from publisher for honest review

From Goodreads:

NO ONE READS THE FINE PRINT.

The good news is that the USA is finally out of debt. The bad news is that we were bought out by Valor National Bank, and debtors are the new big game, thanks to a tricky little clause hidden deep in the fine print of a credit card application. Now, after a swift and silent takeover that leaves 9-1-1 calls going through to Valor voicemail, they’re unleashing a wave of anarchy across the country.
Patsy didn’t have much of a choice. When the suits showed up at her house threatening to kill her mother then and there for outstanding debt unless Patsy agreed to be an indentured assassin, what was she supposed to do? Let her own mother die?
Patsy is forced to take on a five-day mission to complete a hit list of ten names. Each name on Patsy's list has only three choices: pay the debt on the spot, agree to work as a bounty hunter, or die. And Patsy has to kill them personally, or else her mom takes a bullet of her own.
Since yarn bombing is the only rebellion in Patsy's past, she’s horrified and overwhelmed, especially as she realizes that most of the ten people on her list aren't strangers. Things get even more complicated when a moment of mercy lands her with a sidekick: a hot rich kid named Wyatt whose brother is the last name on Patsy's list. The two share an intense chemistry even as every tick of the clock draws them closer to an impossible choice.
Delilah S. Dawson offers an absorbing, frightening glimpse at a reality just steps away from ours—a taut, suspenseful thriller that absolutely mesmerizes from start to finish. 

My Review:

In this dystopian novel, we follow Patsy on her journey to eliminate debt and/or the people responsible for the debt, one by one.
When this book was brought to my attention I was intrigued right away. The premise, the character (Patsy) and the cover (which is different from the one I was expecting. The pic to the right is what I wanted. ). Also, I was desperate for another ARC to get back into reviewing them! This all made me eager to dive into Hit as soon as it arrived! (Thank you again Simon & Schuster)

Unfortunately, Hit was a book that I didn't really enjoy, but needed to know what happened next. It was the quality of writing that could draw me in that made it so I couldn't put it down. I wanted to love it, but I wanted more. Why Valor National has taken over everything? (We kind of know the reason why - they bought out the country and it's debt but I want to know deep down the reasons.) When? How could they? We're just thrown into Patsy becoming an assassin because of the astronomical debt the country is in and we're expected to just go with it. There were a lot of holes throughout Hit and unrealistic things happening (I get that it's a book, a world created by the author so it has a high probability to be that way, but some parts had me so unsure of the whole book.) But I kept going - as I mentioned I was drawn into the possibility that it would meet my expectations. 

We don't meet many characters, and I enjoy books with just a few key characters like Hit. It's nice to get to know them on a deeper level. Patsy, the main character is doing what she's doing because of her Mom. Her mom has been sick and the only way Valor National will help her is if Patsy signs up to either recruit 5 people, or kill them. Along the way we do meet other characters and while they are important to the overall book and entwine some way or another, they just don't stick around! Except Wyatt, who for reasons only he knows, sticks around with Patsy even though circumstances show that maybe the shouldn't. And because they like the same music, and both find each other attractive, along comes the romance.

Hit was not a "hit" for me. Maybe with some more back story to go with it, it could have been. Though the cliff-hanger ending we're left  leaves me thinking that I should probably read book #2 when it comes out. 

Book Review: Girl Defective by Simmone Howell

Publish Date: September 2nd, 2014
Publisher: Atheneum Books For Young Readers
ISBN: 9781442497603
Pages: 320
Series: None
Source: ARC from publisher for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:
In the tradition of High Fidelity and Empire Records, this is the literary soundtrack to Skylark Martin's strange, mysterious, and extraordinary summer.
This is the story of a wild girl and a ghost girl; a boy who knew nothing and a boy who thought he knew everything.
It's a story about Skylark Martin, who lives with her father and brother in a vintage record shop and is trying to find her place in the world. It's about ten-year-old Super Agent Gully and his case of a lifetime. And about beautiful, reckless, sharp-as-knives Nancy. It's about tragi-hot Luke, and just-plain-tragic Mia Casey. It's about the dark underbelly of a curious neighborhood. It's about summer, and weirdness, and mystery, and music.
And it's about life and death and grief and romance. All the good stuff.

My Review:
Let's be honest here, for the first half of the book I thought I was reading a book called "Girl Detective" and while there is ironically detective work throughout the novel, something just wasn't sitting right for me. It wasn't until I finally realized that I had the wrong name the whole time that I finally got into the book and read it for what it was. And it was fantastic!! The story, the characters - oh the characters!! - everything was perfectly executed in this brilliantly written novel that read like "Perks of Being a Wallflower". That's what I would picture while reading Girl Defective. I was highly reminded of Stephen Chbosky's masterpiece. That and Empire Records, which is just as cool.
Skylar, her brother Gully and their dad own a record store. The mother left them to pursue her rock-star career so it's been the 3 of them since. While her life isn't extraordinary, it's anything but ordinary. Gully or Agent Seagull Martin is a detective (hence why I was convinced of the wrong title!) and he is out to save the world from your "brickers", "snouters", and other petty criminals. I really liked Gully, there was something about him that really stuck with me. His kindness towards everyone, his fun personality. He was definitely my favourite character. Skylar was likable too. She's just a young girl trying to get through life the best she can with what she has. She's funny and loves her brother even with all his quirks. Nancy, Skylars older, more experienced (in everything) friend is a force to be reckoned with. She was up and down and all over the place but played a huge part in the whole awesomeness of the book.
There's not much I can say about the book really, just that it was great! It's one of the books that you'll have to read yourself, and it will sit on your shelf after you read it for the first time and in a few years you will pick it back up and read it in one sitting (just like Perks), It's that kind of book! I also loved that in my ARC, there was a note from Vice President, Publisher for Atheneum Books, Margaret K. McElderry books and S&S books that said " This book is FAR cooler than I will ever be! I hope you enjoy."
That just about says it all!

Book Review: Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Publish Date: October 7th, 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 978-1-4711-1815-9
Pages: 392
Series: None
Source: From publisher for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

Britt Phieffer has never been that adventurous, but that's about to change. Wanting to impress her ex-boyfriend, Britt convinces best friend, Korbie, to take a trip with her and go trekking through the Grand Teton Mountains in Wyoming. But when a freak storm leaves the girls stranded they seek shelter in a cabin, and find two knights in shining armour, Shaun and Mason, who are also hiding out.
But all is not as it seems, and Britt quickly discovers that the guys are there for reasons other than hiking…dangerous reasons that mean they need to get off the mountain, fast. In exchange for her life, Britt is forced to guide them down, and as they set out on a harrowing journey through the cold and snow, Britt realises the only way to get out of this alive is to pretend she is on their side. 
But playing nice is hard, especially when Britt is unsure whether Mason, gorgeous and sexy, is the enemy or an ally. And as she begins to lose track of who is in control it is only a matter of time before things turn deadly…

My Review:

**May have some slight spoilers.**

Alright, so I know there is a lot of hype for this book that comes out tomorrow. The cover, the synopsis and the author - New York Times Bestseller Becca Fitzpatrick is what is making Black Ice as talked about as it is. I'll admit, for me it was the cover that drew me in. I haven't read any of Becca Fitzpatricks books. I own Hush, Hush and Crescendo but haven't actually read them though I am a little more likely to read them now sooner then before. Fitzpatrick is a great writer. The detail in her work is amazing. There was a clear and vivid picture from start to end with Black Ice. And seriously, the mountains and snow covered forest are the perfect picture to envision. 
The story had me unsure at times. There would be some really good parts where I was hooked and couldn't put the book down. Then other times I thought the story was a little too far-fetched. When the hostage, Britt develops feelings for her captor and actually thinks she "falling in love"? I thought, "Oh come on! Really? This is ridiculous!" But then I would see her struggling with her emotions and I could feel Mason's sincerity therefore I could understand it a a bit more. It was difficult at times not to just give up with the book to be honest.
The twists and turns throughout Black Ice were extraordinary and besides the clear writing it was the only thing that kept me going. Just like Britt was all over the map to get off the mountain, I was all over the "whodunit" map! I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. And while I couldn't relate to any of the characters, I found each one to be unique and bring something to the book. The main character Britt was strong and though she admitted she loved to have a guy take care of her, she pulled through with independence and strength near the end when she needed it most. 
As I've mentioned, I didn't love Black Ice but I didn't hate it either. It was a book where I just could not make up my mind about. Will I tell everyone it's a book they have to read? Will I re-read it again and again in the years to come? No, probably not. But it's unforgettable and and well written and it will be someone elses favourite I'm sure. 

Book Review:Through to You by Lauren Barnholdt

Publish Date: July 8th, 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 978-1-4424-3463-9
Pages: 256
Series: None
Source: From publisher for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

Opposites attract—and then complicate—in this romantic, relatable novel from the author of Two-way Street and Sometimes It Happens.
It starts with a scribbled note in class: I like your sparkle. Harper had casually threaded a piece of blue and silver tinsel through her ponytail in honor of school spirit day. And that carefree, corny gesture is what grabs Penn Mattingly’s eye. Penn—resident heartbreaker of the senior class. Reliably unreliable. Trouble with a capital “T.” And okay, smolderingly sexy.
Harper’s surprised by Penn’s attention—and so is Penn. The last thing he needs is a girlfriend. Or even a friend-with-benefits. The note is not supposed to lead to anything.
Oh, but it does. They hang out. They have fun. They talk. They make out. And after a while, it seems like they just click. But Penn and Harper have very different ideas about what relationships look like, in no small part because of their very different family backgrounds. Of course they could talk about these differences—if Penn knew how to talk about feelings.
Harper and Penn understand their attraction is illogical, yet something keeps pulling them together. It’s like a crazy roller coaster—exhilarating, terrifying, and amazing all at once. And neither knows how to stop the ride…

My Review:

Through to You, a book about Penn and Harper falling for each other though they are the complete opposite - but opposites attract right? Penn and Harper are the definition of opposite. Loud, playful jock versus shy, quiet, keep to yourself type. But a little "sparkle" is enough to flick into something else. 
The idea of the book, while not necessarily original had some hope to it. But I was disappointed. The characters were all over the place, and I found it frustrating. It was off to a good start (both the book and the relationship) but it quickly went down from there. Penn and Harper would be happy and having fun, then Penn would put up a wall and a fight would begin. They would go a while without talking, and then all of a sudden they were back on. Just like that, and it would happen again and again. Something was missing in between all of this fighting. I needed more, and I just didn't get it.
I couldn't relate to the characters and I didn't find them dimensional or even interesting. There was potential in the overall story - Harpers dancing, the injury Penn is dealing with - but it felt too focused on the push and pull of the actual relationship. 
I was hoping for a fun little summer romance read, and unfortunately Through to You wasn't it.

Book Review: Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano

Publish Date: October 1st, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 978-1-4424-8061-2
Pages: 356
Series: The Internment Chronicles, #1
Source: From publisher for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

On Internment, the floating island in the clouds where 16-year-old Morgan Stockhour lives, getting too close to the edge can lead to madness. Even though Morgan's older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. She tries her best not to mind that her life is orderly and boring, and if she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in best friend Pen and her betrothed, Basil.

Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially when she meets Judas. He is the boy being blamed for the murder — betrothed to the victim — but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find — or who she will lose.

My Review:

What an unusual book. Unusual in a good way though! I really wonder what does on in DeStefano's head on a regular basis, considering The Chemical Garden trilogy and now this trilogy.
I was a little confused at first, I wasn't sure if we were on Internment yet or if that was later on in the book but then I figured it out and it all made sense. (I was on vacation in the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee when I started Perfect Ruin, so my head was literally in the clouds!)
As per Lauren DeStefanos previous work, we are first drawn to the cover. Simple but elegant with one women as the focus and then a few different sketches/pictures/details. From first glance, you're drawn to the book, and I hope that the cover follows the same theme. There is nothing that turns a reader off more than changing the cover art halfway through a series.
Internment is a world up in the sky. People live on it, they are born out of a queue, paired with their betrothal, live life then die at an age that the King has deemed fit, their ashes are released to the sky god and everything and everyone is okay with this. That's life on Internment.Wrong doings and bad situations are rare. Inhabitants of Internment don't get too close to the edge because they see the damage caused by this. Life is happy and people don't ask questions until a young girls body is found murdered and all of a sudden life on Internment isn't what it appears.
Morgan is curious and bored, she knows there is more to life and the ground below intrigues her. But she can't tell anyone for fear it will mark her as irrational. She has a lot riding on her shoulders as it is. But when the young girls murdered body is discovered, Morgan is adamant on finding answers and in turn will help unlikely foes, do things she knows are wrong and keep secrets from those whom she loves the most. DeStefano has gone and done it again, she has created this unbelievable world, but makes it so easy to believe. The stars, the train, the bugs all of it is painted so clear in the readers head. The characters in Perfect Ruin are written with so much care and passion. I was going back and forth between who was my favourite - Pen, Basil, Lex or Alice.
Pen because of her tenacity. She was fearless and funny and so focused on the History of Internment. She is Morgans best friend and they have been through a lot together and are like sisters. Their relationship was easy and fun. Basil because of his devotion to Morgan. His kindness and strength are his best qualities. He loves Morgan not just because they are paired together but because he sees Morgan for who she really is.
Lex because of his philosophies and the fact that he's seen things throughout his life that no one thought possible. And though he is blind, he can see the truth behind so much. And Alice for her love and devotion through thick and thin. Each character playing a key role in Perfect Ruin.
I enjoyed so much about Perfect Ruin, right down to the paragraphs before each chapter and the way they all fit together and pull the whole story together. The one and only thing that really bothered me was the one specific death (I wont give anything away) and the non-reaction we get, though I'm hoping that will be addressed in Book #2. If you were a fan of The Chemical Garden series, you'll enjoy this crazy world and love reading Perfect Ruin too.

Book Review: Friday Never Leaving by Vikki Wakefield

Publish Date: September 10th, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9781442486522
Pages: 352
Series: None
Source: ARC from publisher for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

In this wrenching, exquisite coming-of-age novel, Friday discovers what makes a family—and a home.Friday Brown has never had a home. She and her mother live on the road, running away from the past instead of putting down roots. So when her mom succumbs to cancer, the only thing Friday can do is keep moving. Her journey takes her to an abandoned house where a bunch of street kids are squatting, and an intimidating girl named Arden holds court.

Friday gets initiated into the group, but her relationship with Arden is precarious, which puts Friday—and anyone who befriends her—at risk. With the threat of a dangerous confrontation looming, Friday has to decide between returning to her isolated, transient life, or trying to help the people she’s come to care about—if she can still make it out alive.

My Review:

From the first sentence of the book, I know I would love it. And love it I did! I cried, I laughed and I felt something for each of the characters. They came alive and affected me in each and every way.
Friday is a young girl living everywhere and anywhere on the streets with her mother. They sleep in hotels and run before they can pay. They sleep in the woods after having a fire and telling stories to each other. Each story in which Friday remembers the details of even after her mother succumbs to cancer and leaves Friday for good. Instead of living with her grandfather as expected, Friday tries to honour her mother in a way, and takes to the streets again. Friday knows what its like on the streets, she's no rookie having her whole life as proof. Surviving without her mother shouldn't be any different. Then she meets Silence. A young boy with no voice but so much to say. He takes her to the place where runaway kids, like himself find shelter, friendship and some hope within each other. Right away, Friday makes some friends and with them, some enemies. She convinces herself that she wont stay long, though her and Silence find comfort in each other and because of this Friday is invested and wont leave without him.
With the help of Adren, the self-elected leader of the bunch, they are on the move again seeing as there are too many of them to go unnoticed now, to find a new shelter and things start to spiral downward fast. They find "home" in an abandoned city and nothing feels right. The teens are unhappy and realize that things may not be as they seem. People start questioning the way Arden runs the show, and Friday is marked as a target in her eyes.
The friendship between Friday and Silence is heartwarming. The connection I felt between them was real. I was rooting for the two of them to leave and never look back. They compliment each other so well, and I really loved their dynamics. They are definitely a character duo that will stick in my head for time to come.
Friday Never Leaving had such an eerie feel to it -the beginning and end especially. The ending will leave you speechless! Vikki Wakefield left me blubbering like a baby throughout the last few chapters (and parts in between). Friday Never Leaving was expertly written with enough detail to pull you in with every word and remember this book even after you (reluctantly) put it down. Its such a unique read with a fresh, new writing style. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something new!

Book Review: True by Hilary Duff

Publish Date: April 16, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0857-9
Pages: 304
Series: Elixir, #3
Source: ARC from publisher

Goodreads Synopsis:

Following the harrowing events of Elixir and Devoted—and the ceremony that almost killed Sage—Clea faces a new reality: With Sage’s soul in Nico’s body, the love of her life looks an awful lot like her best friend’s boyfriend. Can Clea and Sage really be happy under these circumstances?
Clea wants to try to enjoy their new life together, but Sage is acting different—angry—and she struggles to keep her friends from finding out what has happened to him. Something is clearly haunting Sage, and Clea is losing control. Can she trust her friends with the dangerous truth, or will she have to risk losing Sage to madness?

My Review:

I still find it hard to believe, but Hilary Duff is an author and she wrote this series and pulled off a pretty good trilogy. The Elixir novels were intense, romantic and intriguing. We never knew what would happen next and I enjoyed that. In True, book #3, we finally see the fate of Clea and Sage. Are they finally together for life or did the ceremony from Devoted end Sage's life forever? If you've read Elixir and Devoted then it's crucial that you finish the series and read True.

Sage is alive through Nico's body and this was the hardest part for me. That was Clea's best friends boyfriend who is now dead, but can be seen walking around, but it's not him. It was just hard to wrap my head around that, and be okay with it. 
Sage is now dealing with anger issues from being inside Nicos body, and has become a violent person with episodes here and there and he's forgetting things that have just happened and Clea doesn't know why this is happening. She is determined to bring out the old Sage, her soul mate, the kind hearted Sage we all knew. Can she does this alone? Can she trust her friends to support her and help Sage? The ending of True will have you re-thinking the loyalties of all of the characters in this series and with the back and forth POV's of Clea and Rayna you will see things differently. How does Rayna feel now that her boyfriend has left the earth but his body remains? These are all new issues that will be dealt with in the final conclusion of Hilary Duff's Elixir Series.

Book Review: Devoted by Hilary Duff

Publish Date: October 11, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN:9781442408562
Pages:
Series: Elixir, #2
Source: ARC from publisher

From Goodreads:
Clea Raymond believes her soulmate, Sage, is lost forever, and it rips her apart. She is haunted by memories of him being taken away by his enemies. Then strange signs and dreams point to a way she can possibly win him back. To succeed, she’ll have to put her faith in her former best friend Ben—despite the devastating reason he’s lost her trust.

     As Clea and Ben follow a dangerous and mysterious trail across the globe to reach Sage, all their loyalties will be tested. And Clea will face a terrible choice—she can save Sage, but only by betraying the people closest to her. With Sage’s immortal soul in the balance, whatever Clea decides will change her life forever….

My Review:
Where Elixir took us on the beginning of the journey to find Clea's dad, Devoted puts that on the back burner and focuses more on Clea saving Sage's life so they can live happily ever after. Clea is afraid that she has lost Sage and she's willing to do what it takes to get him back. I just wished for more regarding Clea's father. I thought that was a main plot line to the Elixir series, but this novel seemed to take us in another direction. 
I'm glad that I had book 2 to read right after book 1 because there were so many answers that I needed and thankfully got in book 2. We have a clearer understanding of the 2 groups, the Cursed Vengeance and the Saviors, who they really are and what they want. And why and how Sage's body is riddled with the Elixir of life. We meet new characters that at first might seem out of place, but they are crucial to the story. While not all answers are there, and new ones arose, there was a lot happening in Devoted, I was happy that book 3 was waiting for me, and I could just hop from one to the next. 
The ending of Devoted was just insane, and you'll have to read it to see what I'm talking about, but holy cow, what is going to happen now? Devoted should definitely be on your reading list if you've read book 1. 

Book Review: Elixir by Hilary Duff

Publish Date: October 12, 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's
ISBN: 978-0-8570-7054-8
Pages: 330
Series: Elixir, #1
Source: Bought
Goodreads Synopsis:
Clea Raymond is a talented photojournalist and the daughter of high-profile parents. Usually she's in total control of her camera, but after Clea's father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, eerie, shadowy images of a strange and handsome young man begin to appear in Clea's photos--a man she has never seen in her life. When Clea suddenly encounters this man in person she is stunned--and feels an immediate and powerful connection. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father's disappearance and discover the centuries-old truth behind their intense bond. Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fate, together they race against time to unravel their past in order to save their future--and their lives.

My Review:
I had a hard time taking Elixir serious. I kept waiting for that key point - 'Oh right, what was I thinking reading this? Hilary Duff wrote it!' - Maybe I was being completely judgmental  but that's what I was thinking reading this. I kept remembering of the old Hilary Duff - you know, Lizzie McGuire, then pop star - and I thought there's no way she can now be a best-selling author of a YA Paranormal/Fantasy series.(actor-> singer -> author -> what next?) But that key point never happened, I finished the book, and enjoyed every part of it!
Clea keeps seeing this guy show up in her photos. At first, she writes it off as a security measure seeing as her mother is in politics, and is always trying to protect Clea and keep her safe. After multiple dreams featuring this mysterious guy and hours of studying these pictures, Clea finds one where the guy seems to be  floating and Clea knows this is not possible. So she digs deeper and gets some help of her best friend, Ben. Together, they uncover that this is what Clea's dad had been studying (he's missing), and after traveling around the world together, Ben and Clea try to unlock the secrets of this mysterious Elixir of life and find out who keeps appearing in Clea's photos, also trying to piece together the disappearance of her father. When we finally meet the guy in the picture, a character named Sage, things start going in a different direction, Clea is drawn to him in a way no one can understand.
Clea, even though a daughter of a politician and world renowned surgeon, who can travel around the world whenever she wants, and vacations in the hot spots of Paris and so on, is a character that readers can relate to. She's still just a teenager who likes being with her friends and loves dancing and the scene with Ben and her in Rio on the beach is proof of that. Sage is mysterious, and yet endearing and I always felt the need to know more about him. Ben, a young and smart guy is a real sweet and amiable character who will put anything on the line to help and protect Clea. Duff's writing was alright. she put a lot of description is her work and was able to pull readers in. There's a lot of information just left hanging there so book #2 is a must-read!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Book Review: Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: February 12, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0909-5
Pages: 384
Series: The Chemical Garden, #3
Source: From publisher for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:
With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.
Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.
In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.

My Review:
So much is revealed in Book #3, who Housemaster Vaughn really is, what Rhine was really running from and what happened to Linden's previous wives and so much more. We meet again with characters from the previous 2 books and we are introduced to some new and crucial characters.

We pick right up from Fever and get right into business. Rhine has escaped and has been through so much more, but isn't any closer to freedom, or so she thinks. Rhine is still set on finding her twin brother, Rowan and showing him that she is still alive. In order to do this, Linden gets the help from his Uncle Reed. He's an eccentric man who hates his brother, Vaughn. Together with his help and Cecily's, since she is adamant in staying with Rhine, work on finding the truth and discovering what is actually happening the the world that appears to be falling apart, and finally bringing Vaughn down. Along the way they will encounter fears from their past, reveal secrets for their future and learn the truths in the present moment.

Lauren DeStefano has created a world in which Rhine's time alive is getting shorter and shorter and she will stop at nothing to find answers and her brother. Cecily is slowly starting to discover the whole truth and is starting to feel the wrath of such a short life. With her new son Bowen, it's even harder for her and as a reader, I felt sorry for her. She's so taken with her son, but understands that his life is only just beginning and she will do anything to make his life a happy one. She will stop at nothing to protect him from the ones trying to hurt her family. Their relationship, while others are changing and developing, is probably the hardest to come to terms with because of this.

The cover of Sever is amazing, I really like how it fits right in to complete this amazing trilogy. The cover, along with Wither and Fever foreshadow so much and it was very interesting to look at the cover once the novel was finished and seeing what each picture revealed and just what it meant, Not only are the covers gorgeous, DeStefano is a great story teller. She can really pull you into the book, and hook you with her descriptive writing, and characters that are well developed and easy to connect with.

Though it's sad to see this series come to an end, it was relieving to get all the answers. Throughout books 1 and 2, there was so much happening and so many little secrets, and we finally get the conclusion that we have all be anxiously waiting for. 

Book Review: The Evolution Of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Publisher: Simon & Schuster for Young Readers
Publish Date: October 23rd, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2179-0
Pages: 544
Series: Mara Dyer, #2
Source: Bought

Goodreads Synopsis:

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.
She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

My Review:

The Evolution of Mara Dyer picks up not long after Mara is having her melt down in the police station because she sees someone who should not be there. Mara is put into a hospital and all she's asking is for someone to believe her.

Book 2 definitely did not disappoint. If anything, it made me love the series even more. I loved the first book and was so eager for this one, and let me tell you, it was worth the wait! The characters we all came to love are here, the creepy feeling you got from book 1 is even creepier, and the story just keeps on twisting! 

Mara and Noah have to work together to solve the pieces of why this person keeps showing up and how. They have their work cut out for them, since Mara is supposed to be getting better and always has someone keeping an eye on her. She's got to prove to her parents and the doctors that she is not insane and that's hard when people are showing up and doing things that only you can see.
The romance in book 2 has softened a bit, only because there was so much of it develop in book 1 when Noah and Mara first meet, but it's not completely gone. And the romance we get is hot and steamy! We learn a lot about Noah's past and some of Mara's is revealed and we meet some new characters through Mara's outpatient program. And Jamie, I freaking love his character. He is funny, witty and a great personality in The Evolution.

Michelle Hodkin is a fantastic writer, she's a natural for sure. She nails it, and gets everything right. Except for the cliffhanger at the end of the book?! That was just wrong. To leave us hanging the way we are was just unfair. I actually tweeted right after I finished The Evolution - "The feeling when u finish a great book? U'll never read it 4 the 1st time again,wish u read slower?@MichelleHodkin #TheEvolutionofMaraDyer" That was my initial response (in which Michelle herself replied to!). I was truly disappointed that I had to put the book down for good.

That aside, there is humor in her books, both laugh out loud in the moment and those subtle jokes that make you snicker. The Evolution has it all. I've said before and I'll say it again, Michelle Hodkin is definitely my new favourite author. The fact that she can keep the readers so completely engrossed in her works is just amazing. And there is still so much that we need to answers to but have to wait until The Retribution of Mara Dyer comes out - which cannot come any sooner.

Book Review: The Almost Truth by Eileen Cook

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publish Date: December 4th, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4424-4019-7
Pages: 256
Series: None
Source: From publisher for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:
From the author of Unraveling Isobel and The Education of Hailey Kendrick, a smart, romantic novel about a teenage con artist who might be in over her head. Sadie can’t wait to get away from her backwards small town, her delusional mom, her jailbird dad, and the tiny trailer where she was raised…even though leaving those things behind also means leaving Brendan. Sadie wants a better life, and she has been working steadily toward it, one con at a time.
     But when Sadie’s mother wipes out Sadie’s savings, her escape plan is suddenly gone. She needs to come up with a lot of cash—and fast—or she’ll be stuck in this town forever.
     With Brendan’s help, she devises a plan—the ultimate con—to get the money. But the more lies Sadie spins, the more she starts falling for her own hoax…and perhaps for the wrong boy. Sadie wanted to change her life, but she wasn't prepared to have it flipped upside down by her own deception. With her future at stake and her heart on the line, suddenly it seems like she has a lot more than just money to lose....

My Review:
First off, the cover is a little bit deceiving. The 2 teens in an embrace would scream love story, then read the back and see that its about con artistry and your mind just races with other ideas. Though there is a bit of romance play out in The Almost Truth, it is no where near as much as one would think based on the cover alone. 
Sadie has had it rough, she lives in a trailer with a hotel maid for a mother, and a father who can't stay out of jail. All Sadie wants is to get away, go to school and become someone else. A better version of herself. Her best friend Brendan wants more after the one night they spent together, though Sadie has no interest because she's counting down the days until she is out of here. The relationship between Sadie and Brendan is fun, they've been friends forever and you really see how Sadie will miss him, and Brendan downplays how much he'll miss Sadie. He's willing to do whatever to help Sadie though, even if it means losing her. 
The con they are doing starts to take turns neither of them were expecting. Chase, the guy Sadie is hoping to get information from starts to play a bigger role to Sadie than just someone she's using, and secrets are revealed that no one is expecting.
While reading, I thought I had the whole story figured out. It was predictable (or so I thought!), I had it all figured out in my head but then plots take on new twists and turns and where I once thought I knew what was going to happen, I didn't anymore. Eileen Cook definitely has a way to get the reader sucked in and all of a sudden I was hooked and couldn't put the book down. And BAM, we are hit with the ultimate twist at the end of the book. I think I sat there with my mouth gaping because I was so shocked. 
Fans of Eileen Cook will be pleased with this book, I'm assuming. This is my first book from this author but I really enjoyed it. The characters, the emotion, the twists and turns were great and I'd be interested in reading more from Cook. This is definitely a book you should ask to get for Christmas!

Book Review: The Blessed by Tonya Hurley

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publish Date: September 25th, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2951-2
Pages: 416
Series: The Blessed, book #1
Source: ARC from Publisher

Goodreads Synopsis:
From the author of the New York Times bestselling ghostgirl series, the start to a captivating and haunting teen trilogy about three girls who become entangled with an enigmatic boy—a boy who believes he is a saint.
What if martyrs and saints lived among us? And what if you were told you were one of them?
Meet Agnes, Cecilia, and Lucy. Three lost girls, each searching for something. But what they find is Beyond Belief.

My Review:
I didn't understand this book. It was strange, confusing and not as enjoyable as I had thought. Though it was thick with chilling and haunting revelations, the characters didn't jump out of the pages. Sebastian, a mentally-ill patient (or is he? We don't really get an answer to that) at Perpetual Help Hospital escapes and targets so to say three young girls who also happen to be at the same hospital in the ER. Lucy, Cecilia and Agnes though completely different are drawn to the same place, the same night and find things they weren't ready for.
Lucy is a high-maintenance, self-centered, up and coming "it-girl" who believes in living in the moment with the hottest trends, places and will back-stab whoever to better herself. She was a bit of an annoyance really. Cecilia, or CeCe is a musician who doesn't care about much else. Her music and fans are her world, that's all she needs to get through the day. Agnes, a romantic with a big heart just wants to be in love. We don't get much else from these characters. And there wasn't much to go on in the first place. I had a hard time with these flat, uninteresting characters. Sebastian, while he seemed like he was going to be something in the book, turned out to be confusing and strange. He never seemed to really answer any questions the girls had and yet they completely fell for him and were willing to die for him. I couldn't get into that whole aspect of the book. These girls had doubts and at points were a little scared, but just continued to be naive and it was just a little surreal.
I'm not familiar at all with Saints and the stories behind them and The Blessed didn't reveal much about them, other than that these 3 saints - Saint Agnes, Saint Lucy and Saint Cecilia - were all horribly mistreated and then refused to die their intended ways. I'm not sure where Saint Sebastian falls into this. The end of the book, when these girls came to terms with everything, the violence and graphic nature was just absurd to be honest. They are supposed to be Saints after all. The Blessed is clearly not a novel for me, but I can see how someone would be intrigued by it's content.

Book Review: Envy by Elizabeth Miles

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publish Date: Sept 4th, 2012
Pages: 400
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2221-6
Series: The Fury Trilogy, book #2
Source: ARC from publisher

Goodreads Synopsis:
The Furies are back in the second book of a chilling paranormal trilogy where revenge rules the day—and “sorry” isn’t going to cut it. Spring is coming, and the ice is slowly melting in Ascension…revealing the secrets buried beneath.
Emily Winters knows the Furies have roots in Ascension, Maine—but she’s about to discover that they’re deeper than she ever imagined. With the help of her new friend Drea, she vows to dig them out. But it’s hard to focus when she’s desperate to make up with JD, and to figure out why Crow, a mysterious Ascension High dropout, seems to be shadowing her.
Meanwhile, new girl Skylar McVoy is determined to leave her own dark past behind. So she’s thrilled when popular Gabby takes her under her wing, and the stunning and sophisticated Meg offers to give her a major makeover. But everyone knows what happens to the vainest girl of all…
It’s tempting to be naughty. But beware: the Furies are always watching, and their power grows stronger by the day.

My Review:
Envy follows the lives of Em, Drea, JD and others from the first novel in this trilogy, Fury (my review here). We are reunited with these characters along with Ali, Ty and Meg, the beautiful 'cousins', also known to destroy the lives of others because they are Furies. Beautiful girls who wreak havoc on those who have wronged someone. The wrath they dealt out continues when the new girl in town, Skylar becomes close friends with Meg. Skylar moves to Ascension to start her life again and make the most of it. She had a tough life where she was always in the shadow of her sister and now she's ready to become popular and have people notice her. Skylar, being the new girl meets Gabby, the girl who is super nice to everyone and right away the click. They become good friends and Skylar is happy. That is until one of the Furies tries to ruin it all and put ideas into Skylar's head, that may change everything.
Envy is written so that each chapter focuses on a different social group per se, though the all overlap and intertwine. Em, from book #1 is trying her hardest to explain her situation with JD, whom she has finally admitted feelings for. But he feels betrayed and hurt and cannot fathom ever forgiving her for what he thinks happened. Meanwhile, Em is trying to put a stop to the Furies and finds out some things along the way that may or may not be the answer. And this new Crow character, there's something to him that I just cannot wait to read about in book #3. I'm eager to find out more about this mysterious high school drop out.
I really enjoyed Envy, more so than Fury. This book was written better with more character development and more depth. Overall, Envy was just more enjoyable. And I'm happy to see that we are getting some answers and some explanation with the history and background of these ladies who are out to get you. There was definitely a creepy feel to the book. Envy will seep into your mind and haunt you well into the night. It's just that kind of good!

Waiting on Wednesday

Breaking The Spine, to show readers what we are anxiously waiting for!

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Set to be released October 23, 2012 by Simon & Schuster

I know, I know, I have already done a WoW post with this book. But to be honest, I'm just so excited to get my hands on The Evolution of Mara Dyer. If this was the only book to come out this year, I'd be okay with that. Even if this is the last book I read all year, I wouldn't see a problem in it. Because Michelle Hodkin is one of the greatest authors and Mara Dyer is one of the best books I've read in a while. 

If you haven't already, I'd suggest reading Book #1, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer before Book #2 comes out. You can read my rave review here. You can visit Michelle Hodkin on her blog, and believe me, she has some great stuff on her blog (links to chapter 1, steamy scenes, pictures, etc from the Mara series) It's all on there.

Seriously, go read or re-read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, I know that's what I'll be doing on the days leading up to the release date.

And if you want more, here is the book trailer for
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

I can't wait!