Books and Swoons: 2012

2012 Wrap-Up

Hi lovelies Swooners!

So I've been off the grid for the past few weeks but since it been the holidays, I just haven't had the time to even log on and check my inbox. I'm actually scared to go and look it.

I'm currently out of town and not on my own laptop but I wanted to share some of my favorites reads of the year and what I am anxiously waiting for in 2013.

Now this list is only of the books that I just loved and enjoyed. My favorite Reads of 2012:

For my most highly anticipated books for 2013 are (and in order of excitement!):

Now, I have many more books that I am anticipating but this is all I can remember and that have me squealing like the fangirl that I am.

That's it for now since I don't have more time and am not even on my own computer. I hope to get back to regular scheduled programing starting next week. I may not have had time to blog but I have been a reading fiend so I have plenty of reviews to share with you all.

I hope you all have had a happy holiday and have a Happy New Years!

Love,

Jenn

Waiting on Wednesday (#17)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

The Program (Program #1) by Suzanne Young

Expected Release Date: April 30, 2013

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Goodreads Summary: In Sloane's world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

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 parent 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 is with 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.

Quotes (#17)

Morning Swooners. Happy Monday.

(source)

Let's keep it down. It was a long weekend. Too many people birthdays at the same time.

"Have you ever asked yourself, do monsters make war, or does war make monsters." - Laini Taylor, Daughter of Smoke and Bone

"You get older and you learn there is one sentence just four words long and if you can say it to yourself it offers more comfort than almost any other. It goes like this... Ready?"
"Ready."
"At least I tried." - Ann Brashares, Sisterhood Everlasting

"Do one thing every day that scares you." Eleanor Roosevelt

"No one tells us, girls who don't go on dates, that remembering can be almost as good as what actually happens." - Kathryn Stockett, The Help

That's it for today. I hope everyone has a great day!

Book Promo - Black and White and Dead All Over by Michael Bradley

Black and White and Dead All Over by Michael Bradley

Release Date: August 2, 2012

Publisher: Michael Bradley

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Goodreads Summary: From the author of The Case Files of Doyle & McCraken comes a modern day tale of intrigue and murder. When the skeleton of a teenage girl is uncovered at a construction site in Newark, journalist Brian Wilder must follow a twenty-two year old trail of deceit and lies to uncover the truth behind her death. While still struggling with his own tragic past, Brian uncovers a haunting secret of passion and anger that could threaten to destroy one of the most powerful political families in Delaware.

About the Author, Michael Bradley: Born and raised in southern New Jersey, Michael Bradley is an author and IT consultant, whose frequent travels bring him in touch with a variety of people up and down the east coast. When he isn't on the road, Michael hits the waterways in one of his three kayaks. Being an avid Apple fan, Michael loves to preach the benefits of Apple's Mac OS X and iOS.

Before working in information technology, Michael spent eight years in radio broadcasting, working for station in New Jersey and West Virginia, including the Marconi Award winning WVAQ in Morgantown. Becoming an author has been a lifelong dream for Michael, which was finally realized with the release of his first book in 2012.

Among the writers in which he finds inspiration, Michael favors P.D. James, Raymond Chandler, Leslie Charteris, Simon Brett, and Ian Fleming. He lives in Delaware with his wife, Diane, and their two furry four-legged "kids", Simon and Brandy.

Michael does all of his writing on an Apple iPad 2 with a Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover.

Swoon Thursday (#2)

A weekly meme from YA Bound.

From the book you're currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.

Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog. The awesome girls over YA Bound and I want to know!

Hi lovelies,

I haven't read anything particularly swoon-worthy but I'm back this week with the swoons.

Broken by A.E. Rought

"I want you to be mine."

Alex's lips brush mine, feather light first contact. I melt into him, whispering his name. He sucks in a breath, stealing mine and I don't care. The couch spins, only Alex holding me to it when his mouth touches mine again, firmer this time, more confident. I don't know where to put my hands, and my hip is driving into his thigh. He must like it all twisted up and awkward. Alex crushes me to him, kissing me like he's waited a thousand years for this moment.

Review: The Future We Left Behind by Mike A. Lancaster

The Future We Left Behind (Point 4) by Mike A. Lancaster
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Publisher: Egmont USA
Source: Egmont USA through Netgalley
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

My Rating: 3 put of 5 stars

Synopsis: Thousands of years in the future the divide between humanity and technology has become nearly unrecognizable. Each thought, each action is logged, coded, backed up. Data is as easily exchanged through the fiber-optic-like cables that extend from fingertips as it might be through ordinary conversation. It's a brave new world: A world that the Straker Tapes says is a result of many human "upgrades." But one is sure whether the Straker Tapes are a work of fiction or an eerie peek into an unimaginable past.

Nearly sixteen-year-old Peter Vincent has been raised to believe that everything that has the backward Strakerites cling to is insane - an utter waste of time and potential. Since his father is David Vincent, genius inventor of the artificial bees that saved the world's crop and prevented massive famine, how could peter believe anything else?

But when Peter meets Alpha, a Strakerite his own age, suddenly the theories about society-upgrades don't sound quite so crazy, especially when she shows him evidence that another upgrade is imminent. And worse, there may be a conspiracy by the leaders of the establishment to cover it up. A conspiracy spearheaded by Peter's own father.

Gripping and full of unexpected twists, The Future We Left Behind takes the unsettling questions raised in Human.4, and flips them entirely. What if we knew the very way we live was about to be changed in an instant, and we could stop it? And what if everything we are sure we know is entirely wrong?

This book was a quick read and while I felt like the plot goes at an easy pace, for some reason it took me a while to finish it. I don't know whether or not it was because I was in a book hangover because of The Evolution of Mara Dyer or because I had my occasional bout of ADD.

The main character, Peter Vincent, was a little bit more likeable than the one in Human.4. He is this teenage boy that keeps trying his hardest to please his father but who is also trying to do what he wants to do. He wants a chance to explore and figure things out for himself: to take a literature class instead of all the science courses he is expected to take. To learn more about the world he lives in instead of just believing everything he is told. I think everyone can relate to Peter because who hasn't experienced that or felt the same way; the pressure to live up to their parents' expectations but also being able to make your own decisions and choices.

There were some sci-fi terms and gadgets mentioned in this book that had me a little confused. I'm not much of a sci-fi girl so sometimes I just found myself reading over some parts. There was also a word/saying that really annoyed me for some reason. Peter, Alpha, and Perry said it frequently which leads me to believe that it's sort of a slang that kids and teenagers use. The word is hex. As in "what the hex?" "What the hex are you doing?" I kept thinking to myself that they should just say hell or heck instead.

Overall, I found The Future We Left Behind to be an okay read. I'm curious to see if the author will continue with the series. He left it really open-ended but in a way that if he doesn't, it's okay. I really like how Mr. Lancaster make you wonder about evolution and if things were really like in the books, it would just be plain creepy.

Waiting on Wednesday (#16)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School #1) by Gail Carriger

Expected Release Date: February 5, 2013

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School, #1)

Goodreads Summary: It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to finishing school.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is the bane of her mother's existence. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper etiquette at tea - and god forbid anyone see her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. She enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But little do Sophronia or her mother know that this is a school where ingenious young girls learn to finish, all right - but it's a different kind of finishing. Mademoiselle Geraldine's certainly trains young ladies in the finer arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but also in the other kinds of finishing: the fine arts of death, diversion, deceit, espionage, and the modern weaponries. Sophronia and her friends are going to have rousing first year at school.

First in a four book YA series set 25 years before the Parasol Protectorate but in the same universe.

I first learn about this book from visiting another blog WoW post and I can't wait for this release!

Link me in the comments with your WoW post.

Quotes (#16)

Morning Lovelies. It Monday. Joy. *sigh* I feel like I still haven't embraced adulthood.

"Bad things happen whether you're scared or not, so you might as well not bother being scared. It's a waste of time." - Louise Rozett, Confessions of an Angry Girl (Confessions #1)

"You can build a future out of anything. A scrap, a flicker. The desire to go forward, slowly, one foot at a time." - Lauren Oliver, Pandemonium (Delirium #2)

"Sometimes, Ms. Lane," he said, "one must break with one's past to embrace one's future. It is never an easy thing to do. It is one of the distinguishing characteristics between survivors and victims. Letting go of what was, to survive what is." - Karen Marie Moning, Darkfever (Fever #1)

"Obeying orders just to obey is the mark of a person who has ceased to think. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong." - Ilsa J. Bick, Ashes (Ashes Trilogy #1)

" Change not only was inevitable, but usually brought its own rewards." - Nicholas Sparks, The Last Song

Waiting on Wednesday (#15)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2) by Veronica Rossi

Expected Release Date: January 8, 2012

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky, #2)

Goodreads Summary: It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

Only 6 weeks left until this one finally comes out!!

Book Blitz - Flee by Miranda Kavi

Flee by Miranda Kavi

Expected Release Date: December 3, 2012

Publisher: Miranda Kavi

Links: Goodreads

Synopsis: I have to keep it a secret.

Everything was fine, until I met him.

I can't stay away...

Aurora Lockette has a supernatural ability she hides from the world. Gavyn Dhaval is a newly famous actor that shies away from the spotlight. When Aurora and Gavyn literally collide in a fender bender on her first day of law school, they are irresistibly drawn to each other.

When Aurora's secret is revealed, she has no choice but to abandon Gavyn to go into hiding to escape the media frenzy. A secret society of gifted humans contacts her to warn of dark forces that seek to destroy her and everyone she loves.

Aurora must try to understand who and what she is whole she fights to protect herself and her loved ones from a hidden, sinister force.

Author's Bio: Miranda Kavi is a YA and Paranormal/Urban Fantasy author. She has worked as an attorney, an executive recruiter, and an assistant in a biological anthropology lab. She loves scary movies, museums, and is hopelessly addicted to chocolate. She lives in the Houston area with her husband and daughter.

Contact: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Stacking the Shelves (#18)

Stacking the Shelves, which is hosted by Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This mean you can include books you buy in a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course, ebooks.

Morning lovelies, I hope everyone is having a good Saturday. It's December! I'm excited because it only a month until several books I've been waiting for are finally released! And I get to go to New York for New Years. Wheee!!

Here's what I got in the past few weeks:

Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent

Roar and Liv (Under the Never Sky # 0.5) by Veronica Rossi

Keepers of the Zodiac by Sharon Wood

Delirium (Delirium #1) by Lauren Oliver

Defiance (Defiance #1) by C.J. Redwine

I received Defy the Stars for a blog tour stop. Check out my review here.

I bought the novella, Roar and Liv for myself. Review here.

Roar and Liv (Under the Never Sky, #0.5)

I got Keepers of the Zodiac for a blog tour stop. Check out my review here.

I bought myself Delirium. I have the ebook copy but I wanted the hardback as well.

I also got myself Defiance. I totally splurge on myself that day.

At the moment that's all I got, but it definitely enough to keep me busy for a few weeks.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Blog Tour: Review - Keepers of the Zodiac by Sharon Wood

Keepers of the Zodiac by Sharon Wood
Release Date: September 28, 2012
Publisher: Sharon Wood
Source: Gifted by author for Blog Tour stop
Links: Amazon / Goodreads

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Synopsis: The stars have shifted and the Earth is rapidly moving into the throes of chaos.
Four god-like beings known as the Zodiac High Council, send their winged herald, Syrie, out with twelve sealed envelopes. His mission? To bring a chosen group of thirteen future Zodiac Keepers, including a set of mesmerizing twins, to the Isle of Oriba for training.
Syrie never would have imagined that he would fall in love along the way - ultimately forcing him to choose between betrayal and death.
Keepers of the Zodiac is an enthralling tale of obligatory fate, temporary hope, and impossible love.

What attracted me to this book was its synopsis. I haven't really read anything like it before and then I was give a chance to read it for a blog tour. It was an easy and fast read and I really enjoyed the mythical feel to it. I feel like I should mention that while I really enjoyed the book, I had a hard time connecting with a lot of the characters. There are some really bratty teenagers in this book, yo. Maybe if we were given more time to get to know them and seen some character growth, I would feel differently towards them.

Syrie and Simone's romance happened a little too fast to be believable for me. It sort of came out of nowhere. I was really enjoying the book and on page 58, right after their second date, Syrie is telling the Zodiac Council that's he in love and he plans to marry Simone. Uh no. You don't each know her. And it might help if he tells Simone how he feels before making plans that include her without her consent and knowledge. But that's just me.

What I did see coming was that little plot twist at the end with Syrie and Raquel. Maybe not the same thing but I knew something was up. I did wish we were given more time with the Council and seen how everything comes together. But the cliffhanger at the end is very very interesting. I'm looking forward to reading the next book and I hope we get some answers.

About the Author:
Sharon Wood is a married, mother of two boys. She was born and raised in Northern California, and attended college at San Jose State University, where she studied Marketing. A self-proclaimed Disney fanatic, Sharon enjoys collecting Vinylmations and talking about Disney related things to anyone that will listen. Besides writing, she enjoys playing and coaching volleyball, dancing, and reading. Keepers of the Zodiac is her first novel, and she is currently hard at work on he sequel.

Contact: Blog / Goodreads / Website

Book Blitz and Giveaway - All the Right Moves by Ever Leigh

All the Right Moves by Ever Leigh
Release Date: January 2013
Publisher: Ever Leigh
Links: Goodreads / Twitter / Website

Book Summary: Life for Lilah had become too predictable. Convinced she needs a bit of a challenge and change of pace in her life, she moves away for college and embarks on a new journey of self-discovery.

A college town, new friends, a new romance with a mysterious older guy that may prove to be an even bigger challenge then she bargained for!

Note: Not suitable for younger readers. Contains mature content including sexual situations.

Giveaway time!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Quotes (#15)

I do this a lot more than I care to admit.

Morning Lovelies,

I hope all of my American friends had a nice Thanksgiving and everyone had a good weekend.

"After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations." - Oscar Wilde, A Woman of No Importance

"Words were not given to man in order to conceal his thoughts." - Jose Saramago

"What a blessing it is to love books as I love them;- to be able to converse with the dead, and to live amidst the unreal!" - Thomas Babinston Macaulay, The Selected Letters of Thomas Babington Macaulay

"I don't want to repeat my innocence. I want the pleasure of losing it again." - F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise

"Books are uniquely portable magic." - Stephen King, On Writing

Have a great week, Swooners!

Waiting on Wednesday (#14)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

Flowers in the Sky by Lynn Joseph

Expected Release Date: March 5, 2013

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Synopsis: Fifteen-year-old Nina Perez is faced with a future she never expected. She must leave her Garden of Eden, her lush home in the Dominican Republic, when she's sent by her mother to seek out a better life with her brother in New York. As Nina searches for some glimpse of familiarity amid the jarring world of Washington Heights, she must uncover her own strength. She learns to uncover roots within foreign soil and finds a way to grown, just like the orchids that blossom on her fire escape. And when she is confronted by ugly secrets about her brother's business, she comes to understand the realities of life in this new place. But then she meets him - that green-eyed boy - who she can't erase from her thoughts, the one who just might help her learn to see beauty in spite of tragedy.

From the acclaimed author of The Color of My Words comes a powerful story about a young girl who must make her way in a new world and find her place within it.

Book Blitz and Giveaway - Breathe Suzanne Cox

Breathe (Atlantis #1) by Suzanne Cox

Published: October 22, 2012

Publisher: Suzanne Cox

Links: Amazon / Goodreads

Synopsis: 17 year old science prodigy, Laney Brookes, is looking for two things: a cure for the flu virus that's ravaging the world and the truth about what happened to her father. Using clues from her father's secret journals, she and her two friends Kate and Carter follow what she think is the path to the answers.

It's a path that lands them in the lost world of Atlantis, a world struggling to survive. Laney finds more than just answers in Atlantis. She finds love. TO get her friends and herself home, Laney will have to travel into enemy territory, led my Andrew a young Atlantean determined to return his people to power. In the process, she'll even unravel the mystery of her missing father. But first, she'll have to figure out who the real enemy is.

Giveaway time!

US only

(1) Copy of Breathe & (1) Marked.
Sparkly nail polish that coordinates with the book cover.
A stoneware necklace with concentric circle design from Breathe by Kaatee art.
Metal bookmark.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author's Bio: I remember writing my first story when I was about nine or ten years old. I've been writing ever since. In 2002 I decided to seriously try and get some of my word published. On February 14th, 2005 I sold my first book, A Different Kind of Man, to Harlequin Superromance. While trying to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up, besides a writer, I went to college (a lot) and worked a variety of jobs. I have a bachelor of arts in English with a minor in secondary education, a bachelor of science in nursing, a master of science in career and technical education with an emphasis in adult education and most recently, a master of science in nursing as a family nurse practitioner. I was also a National Board Certified Teacher in career and technical education. Along the way, I've worked as a high school English teacher and an elementary teacher. I've worked as a registered nurse on a cardiac unit, brain injury rehab unit, and several different medical-surgical units. I've also done stints as a home health nurse and a community health educator at a hospital, and many years as a allied health instructor at a high school career and technology center. Presently, I'm working full time as a family nurse practitioner at an inpatient psychiatric facility.

If I'm not writing I like to spend time reading. My husband and I share our home with our four legged children. Our boy and girl in puppy dog clothes, Toby and Sassy, who masquerade as Miniature Pinshers. We are also owned by three cats, Chase, Jackson, and Spots. We are all terrorized by Gray Kitty, a stray who decided to stay and take over.

Contact: Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Quotes (#14)

(source)

Morning Swooners! So pretty, isn't he? Show of hands, who have seen Breaking Dawn Part 2? *raises hand* I loved it. I may or may not have liked it a lot more than the book. And, this may not win me any friends but, I wished it would have ended the way it "did." Sorry! *ducks*

Let's get on with the show.

"I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally." - W.C. Fields

"Everybody has a secret world inside of them. I mean everybody. All of the people in the whole world, I mean everybody - no matter how dull and boring they are on the outside. Inside them they've got unimaginable, magnificent, wonderful, stupid, amazing worlds... Not just one world. Hundreds of them. Thousands, maybe." - Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol.5: A Game of You

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." - Saint Augustine of Hippo

"Write what you know. That should leave you with a lot of free time." - Howard Nemerov

"Of course motivation is not permanent. But then, neither is bathing; but it is something you should do on a regular basis." - Zig Ziglar, Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World

"The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as small fire makes a small amount of heat." - Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich

"Whatever you're meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible." - Doris Lessing

Mini Review: Roar and Liv by Veronica Rossi

Roar and Liv (Under the Never Sky # 0.5) by Veronica Rossi
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Personal Copy
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / Harper Collins

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis: Before Perry and Aria, there was Roar and Liv.

After a childhood spent wandering the borderlands, Roar finally feels like he has a home with the Tides. His best friend Perry is like a brother to him, and Perry's sister, Liv, is the love of his life. But Perry and Liv's unpredictable older brother, Vale, is the Blood Lord of the Tides, and he has never looked kindly on Roar and Liv's union. Normally, Roar couldn't care less about Vale's opinion. But with food running low and conditions worsening every day, Vale's leadership is more vital - and more brutal - than ever. Desperate to protect his tribe, Vale makes a decision that will shatter the life Roar knew and change the fate of the Tides forever.

Set in the harsh but often beautiful world of Veronica Rossi's "unforgettable" Under the Never Sky (Examiner.com), this captivating prequel novella stands on its own for new readers and offers series fan a fascinating look into the character of Roar. Poignant and powerful, Roar and Liv is a love story that will "capture your imagination and your heart." (Justine on Under the Never Sky).

I'm not exactly sure what I expected from this novella but I was so surprised by this one. Roar is unbelievable swoony and I about died as he talks about how much Liv means to him. I never would have pictured Roar to be this lovey, sensitive, sweetheart of a guy. Here are some of my favorites scenes:

With Liv, there is always something unexpected, but not the way she makes me feel. That never changes. One kiss and I'm hungry - starved for of her...

~B&S~

"Do you think it's about us?" she asks after a moment.

"Yes"

"You do?"

I shrug. "You're part of me, Olivia. Anything that involves you is always about us."

~B&S~

My ambitions aren't grand. All I have ever wanted is to be there for the two people who mean everything to me. Maybe that's a small goal to others, but it's always felt like enough.

~B&S~

I step toward her and find her hand. "I understand the risks, Liv." I glance toward camp, thinking of the friend I might lose. "And I'm willing to take them. For you. For us. I choose you. Above everything else, I choose you."

Sigh. Love it. Reading this novella definitely give us more background information on Under the Never Sky. It made me even more excited for when Through the Ever Night comes out in January. Less than two months!

Book Blitz and Excerpt - Miss Fortune Cookie by Lauren Bjorkman

Miss Fortune Cookie by Lauren Bjorkman

Release Date: November 13, 2012

Publisher Henry Holt and Co.
Links: Amazon / Goodreads

Summary: Meet Erin. Smart student, great daughter, better friend. Secretly the mastermind behind the popular advice blog Miss Fortune Cookie. Totally unaware that her carefully constructed life is about to get crazy.

It all begins when her ex-best friend sends her a letter to her blog - and then acts on her advice. Erin's efforts to undo the mess will plunge her into adventure, minor felonies, and possibly her very first romance.

What's a likely fortune for someone no longer completely in control of her fate? Hopefully nothing like: You will become a crispy noodle in the salad of life.

Book Excerpt:

The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #2) by Michelle Hodkin
Release Date: October 23, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Source: Personal Copy
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

My Rating: 4.5 stars (Goodreads Rating: 5 out of 5 stars)

Book 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?

So, I had a bit of a problem. I wasn't supposed to read this book until later on this month but it been beckoning for me to read, so one I picked it up, I read this in two days. Now, the only problem was that I had no idea how to write this review. I had no way to putting words together that would make sense and so I decided to have my friends join me in reviewing the book. And so, we recorded ourselves talking and flailing and swooning over The Evolution of Mara Dyer.

Beware: There will be lots of swooning and fangirling and giggling.

Part 1- The One Where We Fangirl all over the book

Part 2- The One Where We Discuss Mara and Noah

I hope you guys enjoyed our little discussion. I know we had a lot of fun. I do want to thanks Nahomi and Daisel for putting up with me and my last minute ideas and whims. Love you guys!

Swoon Thursday

A weekly meme from YA Bound.

From the book you're currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.

Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog. The awesome girls over YA Bound and I want to know!

Hi lovelies, I decided to try this meme today and if I like it enough, I'll continue doing this weekly. Here's what I'm swooning over this week:

The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #2) by Michelle Hodkin.

"Fuck seventeen." His eyes and voice were defiant. "If I were to live a thousand years, I would belong to you for all of them. If I were to live a thousand lives, I would want to make you mine in each one."

I mean, seriously? If that doesn't make you run to your nearest book store and pick up a copy of The Evolution, then I don't know what I did wrong. But do stop by tomorrow to see my review of The Evolution of Mara Dyer. It definitely something you haven't seen yet.

What has you swooning?

Mini Review: Thin Ice by Brighton Walsh

Thin Ice (Corporate Affairs Anthology) by Brighton Walsh
Release Date: October 1, 2012
Publisher: Xcite Books
Source: Personal Copy
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis: After having been a sports reporter for more than a decade, Alex has worked with nearly every cocky, drop-dead gorgeous athlete, and is immune to their advances. Or so she thought. When Gavin walks in for his interview and quickly sweeps her off her feet, she's taken off guard, caught up in his charm and charisma. But even after a night of undeniable passion, Alex is left with a sinking feeling in her gut and a guilty conscience. Can she come to grips with mixing business and pleasure before Gavin's out of her life for good?

Hot hockey player + sweet charmer + dirty talker = one hot hero named Gavin. This novella was everything I was looking for in my smutty read.

A fun, fluffly read with a heroine who is strong and sassy and a hero who's hot, masculine and just plain UNFy. My only problem with this story is that it's not a full length novel. I would have loved to learn more about these two and see where their story would take them.

Sigh. I loved this novella.

Blog Tour Stop: Review + Giveaway: Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent

Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent

Release Date: July 30, 2012
Publisher: Stephanie Parent
Source: Gifted by author
Links: Amazon / Goodreads

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Synopsis: Julia Cape: A dedicated classical piano student just trying to get through her last semester of high school while waiting to hear from music conservatories.

Reed MacAllister: A slacker more likely to be found by the stoners' tree than in class...

Julia and Reed might have graduated high school without ever speaking to each other...until, during a class discussion of Romeo and Juliet, Julia scoffs at the play's theme of love of first sight, and Reed responds by arguing that feelings don't always have to make sense. Julia tries to shake off Reed's comment and forget about this boy who hangs with the stoner crowd - and who happens to have breathtaking blue eyes - but fate seems to bring the two together again and again. After they share an impulsive, passionate kiss, neither one can deny the chemistry between them. Yet as Julia gets closer to Reed, she also finds herself drawn into his dark world of drugs and violence. Then a horrific tragedy forces Julia's and Reed's families even further apart...and Julia must decide whether she's willing to give up everything for love.

Defy the Star is written in an edgy free-verse style that will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins and Lisa Schroeder; however, the writing is accessible enough to speak to non-verse fans as well. The novel's combination of steamy romance and raw emotion will appeal to fans of Gayle Forman, Simone Elkeles, Jennifer Echols, and Tammara Webber. With a story, language and forma that both pay homage to and subvert Shakespeare's play, Defy the Stars is much more than just another Romeo and Juliet story.

As I first started reading, I found myself clicking with the protagonist, Julia. Julia is the good girl who always seems to do what she's told and doesn't question her parent's choices for her. The only thing she's passionate about is the piano and she spends the majority of her time either playing it or inside her own head. I felt some sort of a camaraderie with her and I was things to go right for her and I became her biggest cheerleader. When she meets Reed, I was so excited. Good girl meets bad boy and they fall in love is such a cliche story line, but I love it. Reed is a dark, broody and mysterious guy but he and Julia seems to have this spark that just pull them together.

Now I don't want to spoil what happens but after one night between Julian and Reed, my views of them started to change. I became really disappointed in them and while I tried to keep and open mind, I just expected more from Julia. She transform to this completely different person, she became a whiny, rebellious, crazy mood swings person after always being a smart, rational girl. I also expected a lot from Reed as well, he should have told Julia the first time and for what happens in the end? I was as angry as Julia was. He should have fought for himself and like Julia said "...but you should have tried anyways."

As these changes happened and I tried to put my grown-up wisdom aside, I realize what it was that the author was trying to do. Julia was this adult-like teenager that when she fell in love and started doing things out her norm, she changed. Julia had to trip, fall, and make mistakes so that she would learn for herself and come out stronger. The author created characters where you can see the changes they went through and that it was necessary for them to grow. So I have to give Ms. Parent her credit for creating such a wonderful tragic love story.

Link to tour schedule: http://yabound.blogspot.com/2012/09/blog-tour-schedule-defy-stars-by.html

Giveaway Info:

1st prize: $30 gift card from Amazon and an e-book copy of Defy the Stars.

2nd place: 4 e-book copies of Defy the Stars.

Additional Prize: A query letter critique by Stephanie Parent.

All giveaways are open internationally!

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About the Author:
Stephanie Parent is a YA author repped by Brenda Bowen of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. She is a graduate of the Master of Professional Writing Program at USC and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts as a piano major.
Contact: Website

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