Book Review: Hanging by a Thread by Sophie Littlefield

  Title: Hanging by a Thread                                             Pages: 288
  Author: Sophie Littlefield                                                Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Random House Children's Books           Published: September 11, 2012
  Series: N/A                                                                        Purchase: Amazon

Summer is the best part of the year in Winston, California, and the Fourth of July is the highlight of the season. But the perfect town Clare remembers has changed, and everyone is praying that this summer will be different from the last two—that this year's Fourth of July festival won't see one of their own vanish without a trace, leaving no leads and no suspects. The media are in a frenzy predicting a third disappearance, but the town depends on tourist dollars, so the residents of Winston are trying desperately to pretend nothing's wrong.

And they're not the only ones hiding something.

Clare, a seamstress who redesigns vintage clothing, has been blessed—or perhaps cursed—with a gift: she can see people's pasts when she touches their clothes. When she stumbles across a denim jacket that once belonged to Amanda Stavros, last year's Fourth of July victim, Clare sees her perfect town begin to come apart at the seams.

In a town where appearance means everything, how deep beneath the surface will Clare dig to uncover a murderer?

I started Hanging by a Thread not knowing what to expect and came out pleasantly surprised. While there are some flaws that kept me from loving it, I did enjoy Hanging by a Thread.

I couldn't really connect with Clare. She seemed a bit bland to me, not nearly as crazy and carefree as her fashion sense claimed she was. I would have liked a bit more to her personality, but I did enjoy her nonetheless.

I loved how detailed and in depth Sophie Littlefield went into her hobby of making clothes. In a lot of novels, the author will state a hobby the main character has, but never goes in depth with it, never mentions it beyond that one sentence. I really enjoyed Clare's hobby and was glad how much depth there was to it.

There wasn't as much romance as I was expecting, but I was surprisingly happy about this. So many young adult novels out there right now are focused mainly on the romance aspects of the plot so Hanging by a Thread was a breath of fresh air, giving focus on the mystery instead of the romance. That being said, I did enjoy what romance there was.

The writing was a bit hard for me to get into. Some paragraphs, especially when they were of Clare having a vision, were confusing and almost muddled. The dialogue also seemed forced some of the time and the mystery seemed rushed. There is a conclusion to the mystery, but I'm still semi-unsatisfied, because everything was laid out super fast at the end.

Despite that, I did really enjoy the mystery. It was somewhat surprising and I kind of enjoyed the fact that it wasn't dragged out. The plot kept me pretty interested until the end and that's all that matters to me.

Overall, despite some flaws to Hanging by a Thread, I did come out liking it. It's not one of the best novels I've ever read, but I do not regret reading it. I recommend to fans of the paranormal or mystery genre, as long as you like a mystery that's not drawn out and don't care if it's not focused on romance.

Pass or Read? Maybe read depending on if you like mysteries and if you don't care if there isn't a lot of romance.

Cover thoughts: I love this cover! It's so gorgeous and delicate, even with the blood at the top. The font could stick out a bit more, but I like the font used, it's so simple and pretty. I would definitely be drawn to this in a bookstore!

Review: Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Claire

  Title: Don't You Wish                               Pages: 368
  Author: Roxanne St. Claire                    Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Delacorte Books                  Published: July 10, 2012
  Series: N/A                                                Purchase: Amazon

When plain and unpopular Annie Nutter gets zapped by one of her dad's whacked-out inventions, she lands in a parallel universe where her life becomes picture-perfect. Now she's Ayla Monroe, daughter of the same mother but a different father—and she's the gorgeous, rich queen bee of her high school.

In this universe, Ayla lives in glitzy Miami instead of dreary Pittsburgh and has beaucoup bucks, courtesy of her billionaire—if usually absent—father. Her friends hit the clubs, party backstage at concerts, and take risks that are exhilarating... and illegal. Here she's got a date to lose her V-card with the hottest guy she's ever seen.

But on the inside, Ayla is still Annie.

So when she's offered the chance to leave the dream life and head home to Pittsburgh, will she take it?

The choice isn't as simple as you think.

I don't usually like contemporary novels, simply because I prefer the excitement of paranormal or dystopian novels. Don't You Wish was plenty full of excitement, however, and I loved it.

I really liked Annie. She was so nice and seemed like someone I would hang out with. The only time she annoyed me, though, was when she tried to act like Ayla - stuck up and bitchy. She only did this, though, because she thought she was going to wake up and find it was all a dream, and she does make up for it later, so I totally forgive her for this.

I really enjoyed witnessing Annie grow up and realize she was taking her family and friends for granted. She thought this new dream family was perfect at first and then realized what she had was so much better, even if she didn't have all the money in the world like Ayla. Unlike Ayla, she had a family that loved and cared about her.

I loved Charlie. He was such a good person and such a great brother. Roxanne St. Claire wrote their romance with ease and it left me feeling giddy.

The writing was pretty simple, but the plot was not. In a good way, of course. How Annie's switching of bodies was explained was incredibly brilliant and not something I would have guessed in a million years and when it was all said and done, I was not left confused.

Which brings me to the ending. The ending was absolutely incredible. It was so adorable and I may or may not have let out a squeal at the utter cuteness of it.

Overall, Don't You Wish was a fun and fast read. I loved the story and message Roxanne St. Claire came up with and I would recommend to any fans of the contemporary genre.

Pass or Read? I would definitely say try this one out!

Cover thoughts: I quite like this cover. Of course, it doesn't have much to do with the story, as it's just a girl, but it appeals to me and I really like the font.

Book Review: Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

  Title: Lies Beneath                                                           Pages: 303
  Author: Anne Greenwood Brown                                   Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers        Published: June 12, 2012
  Series: Lies Beneath #1                                                 Purchase: Amazon

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake.

Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough - especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistible good looks and charm on unsuspecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

Lies Beneath stood out to me immediately when I read the synopsis. The mermaid genre is a neglected paranormal creature in young adult literature, so any mermaid book I come across, I snap it up. And Lies Beneath did not disappoint.

Calder's quick and sarcastic wit provides for an entertaining male point of view, and I'm usually not a fan of male points of view in young adult novels. I just cannot connect with them and find myself getting bored of the book. Calder, however, was a different story. He kept me interested and biting my nails, hoping everything would work out for him.

His sisters all had their own unique personalities, too, and I loved the tension between them all.

The romance was fantastic, though I would have liked a bit more of it. The romance/kissing scenes were fantastically written, though, which made up for the fact that there weren't as many as I wanted.

I loved the idea that mermaids are monsters and that they need positive human emotions to stay alive. That's what I love about mermaid novels, each one seems so incredibly unique from the last one. Unlike other paranormal creature (vampire, werewolf, witches) novels, which all seem like copies of one another.

While the plot wasn't entirely surprising, I enjoyed it immensely and it kept me hooked from page one, all the way until the end. A slight negative, though, is that I was expecting a bit darker of a novel. Although Lies Beneath isn't exactly rainbows and lollipops, it isn't all blood and blackness either.

Overall, I would highly recommend Lies Beneath to mermaid and paranormal romance fans. This book is a must read if you like either genre.

Pass or Read? Read if you love the mermaid or paranormal romance genres!

Cover thoughts: This cover is awesome. There's really no words to describe how incredibly awesome it is! And it's soo gorgeous, too!

Book Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass (Luxury Reading review)

  Title: The Selection                                                          Pages: 327
  Author: Kiera Cass                                                          Source: Luxury Reading
  Publisher: HarperTeen                                                   Published: April 24, 2012
  Series: The Selection #1                                                Purchase: Amazon

merica Singer is content with her life. Although her boyfriend, Aspen, is in a lower caste, to America, he’s perfect. So when he urges her to join The Selection, an opportunity for one of thirty-five girls to become the wife of Prince Maxon, she is surprised. She’s even more surprised when she’s picked.

Wanting to be with Aspen, but needing the checks that The Selection provides her family with more, America sets off to the palace, heart closed off from the snobby Prince.

But when America meets Maxon, she realizes he’s not who she thought he was. He’s kind and sweet and she realizes that marrying Aspen might not be the best choice she has – and wants.

Plagued by these new found feelings, America has a big decision to make. Will it be Aspen or Prince Maxon?

After hearing about The Selection being compared to The Bachelor, I immediately wanted to read it. Being an unashamed fan of The Bachelor and all the juicy drama it provides, I knew I couldn’t go wrong with The Selection. And it didn’t disappoint.


To read the rest of my review, please go to Luxury Reading!
Pass or Read? If you love the Bachelor, definitely give this one a read!

Cover thoughts: The cover is so pretty. Of course it's just another pretty girl in a pretty dress, but with the other girls around her in the same dress, it is a bit more unique and reminds me of a forest in the winter. So pretty.

Book Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

  Title: The Immortal Rules                                             Pages: 504
  Author: Julie Kagawa                                                     Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Harlequin Teen                                            Published: April 24, 2012
  Series: Blood of Eden #1                                              Purchase: Amazon

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for

The Immortal Rules has an amazing synopsis - one that immediately grabs your attention despite the fact that it's just another vampire novel. It's not, though. It's so much more than all the vampire novels out there. It has heart and passion and an amazing plot.

Allison Sekemoto captured my heart. She is such a tough girl, constantly putting herself on the line for the Unregistereds in her group, especially for Stick. She does everything in her power to keep her and her group alive, even when she's trying to distance herself from them so she won't get hurt if one of them dies. I love how much heart she has!

Even though there wasn't a lot of romance, it was still wonderfully written. There isn't really a love triangle, but I could see one happening if Julie Kagawa wants to write one. It'd be a heck of a love triangle, too.

The writing is amazing. It's so straight forward, but it has so much passion and realism behind it, even though it's in the paranormal genre. Kagawa's world-building is amazing and I realize now why her Iron Fey series is so popular. She has that certain something that makes the characters and world come to life.

And boy, does Kagawa know how to write a plot. Much like the amazing Suzanne Collins and Carrie Ryan, she doesn't hold back. You grow attached to characters and then they're killed off, but at the same time it's amazing because it's so realistic. On top of that, the plot is so unique. Dystopian meets paranormal? Sign me up any day. Especially if it's Kagawa writing it.

Overall, I loved The Immortal Rules. It grabbed my interest and held it for all 504 pages (which is no easy feat!) and I would highly recommend it to any vampire, paranormal, or dystopian lover. I would recommend it to anyone actually.

Pass or Read? Read right now!

Cover thoughts: Not a terribly unique cover, but I'd totally pick it up in a bookstore. I love how she's crying blood, but I wish she look just a tad bit more Asian, or her face was shorter or something, as that's how I pictured Allison. I really like the colors as well on this one!

Book Review: Starters by Lissa Price

  Title: Starters                                                                 Pages: 368
  Author: Lissa Price                                                       Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers    Published: June 12, 2012
  Series: Starters #1                                                       Purchase: Amazon

HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER...

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined...

Starters is a great example of the wonderful dystopian novels that are coming out lately. It has heart, action, incredible sci-fi moments and an awesome, brave heroine.

I loved Callie. She had so much of her heart to give, especially to her brother. She loved him unconditionally and did anything it took to keep him alive, including selling her body to the Body Bank and the Enders that rented her. I loved how much she cared about everyone and how much ambition she had!

If you're looking for a highly romantic book, you will not find it with Starters. While it has romance in it, it is not in the forefront as most other novels. This did not bother me in the least and I thought Lissa Price did a fabulous job writing the romance.

The plot is really fast paced and just plain great. I loved it from the minute I started and did not once lose interest. Some of the twists I saw ahead of time, but there are a few that just blew me away.

While the ending was not totally wrapped up (because of there being a sequel!), I was greatly satisfied and I felt like it was partly resolved. To me, this is how all great dystopian novels are: book one introduces a "big problem" and a "smaller problem" that gets resolved by the ending, book two keeps the "big problem" going and introduces another "smaller problem" and depending on if this is the final book, both big and small problems get resolved. If a novel does not follow this formula, I am usually left feeling unsatisfied with the first book of the series.

Overall, I loved Starters and would definitely recommend it to any dystopian or light sci-fi fans. I will definitely be reading the sequel, Enders!

Pass or Read? Read right now!

Cover thoughts: This is by far one of the most unique covers I've seen. I mean, the girl is completely white except for her eyes! I've never seen that before and since it's so bright and unique, it can definitely attract attention in a book store!

Book Review: Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler (Luxury Reading review)

  Title: Where It Began                                 Pages: 384
  Author: Ann Redisch Stampler                Source: Luxury Reading
  Publisher: Simon Pulse                            Published: March 6, 2012
  Series: N/A                                                   Purchase: Amazon

Gabby Gardiner started her senior year off with a bang. She spent the summer getting made over from head to toe and her new look caught the eye of one of Winston School's most popular guys - Billy Nash.

So when Gabby wakes up on the ground to find Billy's car wrapped around a tree and the car keys in her hands, she's terrified. She'd do anything to make Billy stay with her and she may have ruined her whole life in a night that left her battered, bruised, and an amnesiac.

Now faced with the possibility of juvie, rehab, and Billy not being able to talk to her for fear of violating his parole, Gabby has to do everything she can to keep herself out of trouble and get her life back the way it was: perfect.

But when Gabby learns the truth about something big, she finds it may be impossible to get back to perfect.

Where It Began's synopsis stood out to me and it sounded like a terrific read. After getting my hopes up, I was honestly left very disappointed.

To read the rest of my review, please go to Luxury Reading!
Pass or Read? I'd say pass on this.

Cover thoughts: Meh. That's pretty much all I have to say about it. I mean, the girl's gorgeous and all, but it has nothing to do with the story.

Book Review: Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

  Title: Deadly Cool                                                        Pages: 303
  Author: Gemma Halliday                                            Source: Library
  Publisher: HarperTeen                                               Published: October 11, 2011
  Series: Deadly Cool #1                                              Purchase: Amazon

Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren’t enough, now he’s depending on Hartley to clear his name.

But as much as Hartley wouldn’t mind seeing him squirm, she knows he’s innocent, and she’s the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school’s resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer’s next victim.

Deadly Cool was a spectacular read and perfect for mystery junkies like me. It was light-hearted and chilling at the same time and is a must read for fans of the contemporary and mystery thriller genres.

Hartley is my kind of gal. She's so spunky and so sarcastic that you can't help but laugh at some of the stuff to come out of her mouth. I fell in love with her as a character and am excited to read about more adventures with her.

I also loved that she had a soft side, even if she only broke down once or twice. I mean, if my boyfriend cheated on me, he would be the one dead (maybe not literally dead, but dead to me anyway) and I certainly wouldn't be helping him out of a mess!

One of the first things that pops to mind when I think of the minor characters: they were actually present! Her mother and her best friend were actually present, which hardly happens in young adult novels anymore. And while her mom was quite.. eclectic, I'm so happy she was present and worried about her daughter.

The plot was very fast paced and very refreshing to have in a young adult murder mystery novel. I felt like I was given information and clues and decent intervals throughout the novel, instead of everything coming crashing down at the end. While it wasn't entirely a surprise to me, it was certainly enjoyable!

Overall, if you're in the market for a hilarious murder mystery, look no further because you've found it. I would highly recommend Deadly Cool to anyone, not just fans of the genre.

Pass or Read? Definitely read, especially if you like snarky heroines and murder mysteries.

Cover thoughts: I lovelovelove that "Cool" is made of iPod earbuds. It fits perfectly with the story. Otherwise, it's pretty but I don't really get what the girl's face has to do with the story. She looks like Hartley I guess?

Book Review: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (Luxury Reading review)

  Title: Born Wicked                                             Pages: 330
  Author: Jessica Spotswood                            Source: Luxury Reading
  Publisher: Putnam Juvenile                            Published: Feb 7, 2012
  Series: The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1        Purchase: Amazon

Cate Cahill has a secret. Her and her two sisters are witches. She promised her mother she would protect Maura and Tess, so she’s doing everything in her power to keep this a secret from her nosy neighbors and the terrifying Brotherhood, who ship girls like the Cahill sisters off to the prison ship or Harwood, the mental asylum.

But with the days counting down quickly to the time she has to announce either a marriage or joining the Sisterhood, Cate struggles even more with keeping her and her sisters’ secrets locked away. And when she finds her mother’s diary, she uncovers the biggest secret yet – one that could mean the destruction of her family.

Cate has to learn exactly whom she can trust, including her very own sisters.

Born Wicked had one of those synopses that stand out and make you want to read that novel. The plot inside was even better.

To read the rest of my review, please go to Luxury Reading!
Cover thoughts: This cover is gorgeous!! I also love how the model is upside down, it gives it a bit of a uniqueness to it. I love everything about this cover!

Book Review: Casey Barnes Eponymous by E.A. Rigg

  Title: Casey Barnes Eponymous                              Pages: 220
  Author: E.A. Rigg                                                          Source: Author
  Publisher: Self Published                                          Published: January 1, 2012
  Series: Standalone                                                      Purchase: Amazon

It's three weeks into the school year when music junkie Casey Barnes gets a second chance with her mysterious, heartbreaking ex-boyfriend. She comes up with a plan to win him back, but it soon spins out of control as rivalries, revelations about him, and music itself all start to collide. For Casey the newfound attention means learning the difference between wanting center stage and actually being on it.

Casey Barnes Eponymous is an awesome music lover read with talk about various bands big and small, rocker clothing, and a talent show. Being a music lover myself, I of course enjoyed this novel.

Casey was a great character. She's such a refreshing, snarky, out of the box character. I enjoyed her character immensely and found myself laughing out loud at some of the things she would say. That being said, she was also incredibly naive about things, especially when it came to Alex and sex.

Being a female rocker, she assumes she must lose her virginity to be an "official" rocker. She doesn't see it as a precious thing you don't give away to just anyone. This was a flaw I enjoyed reading, though, because you got to read about her growing more mature.

The plot was better than I expected. Casey forms a band to try out for the talent show (gone by as just "talent show" instead of "the talent show" which bugged me BIG TIME, for some reason) to make Alex jealous/like her. This provided for even more laughs, with some of the songs her band came up with.

The writing was simple and had surprisingly good grammar and spelling. Sometimes it would get confusing, though, like when there was a flash back, it would take me a second to realize that what was going on wasn't currently happening. This could be fixed if some things were moved around a bit or even taken out, but it wasn't that much of an issue for me.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Casey Barnes Eponymous. It was a very quick read, only about 3 hours, so I'd say give it a shot, especially if you love music!

Pass or Read? If you don't mind self published novels and like music, you should read this!

Cover thoughts: I really like the coloring of the picture. I wish there was a drop shadow or a stroke around the font, as it makes it stand out more and looks more professional, in my opinion.

Book Review: Vicious Little Darlings by Katherine Easer

  Title: Vicious Little Darlings                                  Pages: 310
  Author: Katherine Easer                                        Source: Library
  Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books          Published: June 21, 2011
  Series: Standalone                                                 Purchase: Amazon

Sarah Weaver wasn't looking forward to starting at an all-girls school. But that was before she met Maddy. Maddy and her best friend, Agnes, are fun and rich and interesting-and for some reason, they seem to really like Sarah.

Before long, Maddy and Agnes have moved Sarah into a big house off campus, where they cook together, buy each other presents, and share each other's secrets. So why does Sarah feel like something's bizarrely wrong? As more and more cracks start to show in Maddy's and Agnes's perfect veneers, Sarah notices some strange and disturbing things: Maddy's compulsive lying, Agnes's obsession with Maddy, and the deterioration of their friendship.

And just when Sarah begins to question her own sanity, things turns deadly. Fans of Pretty Little Liars will devour this juicy debut novel.

When I first heard about Vicious Little Darlings, I immediately fell in love with the premise. The fact that it says fans of Pretty Little Liars would love it had me hooked. It's definitely one of the more underrated novels of 2011 and I think it deserves more recognition. It's an amazing mystery thriller and is very creepy!

The characters in Vicious Little Darlings were wonderful. I felt that they were perfectly formed and each had their own flaws.

Sarah is the problem child. She's sent to the all-girls school after her Grandma catches her sleeping with a boy and she's none too happy. You can tell how mixed up Sarah is and how much she just wants to be loved, no matter how many times she says that she doesn't believe in it. Sarah reiterates the fact that she's messed up by sleeping with someone on the first date and someone's boyfriend. I loved that she was flawed, as this ultimately seemed to push her more into Maddy's and Agnes' arms.

Maddy and Agnes are just as messed up. Maddy is carefree, almost childlike sometimes, yet beautiful. She uses this to her advantage, often manipulating people without their knowing or compulsively lying, as she appears so innocent and nice. Agnes is very different from Maddy, she's mysterious, cold, and brooding. She's the ultimate of poised, often to the extent of seeming two times her age. She's also in love with Maddy, almost in a possessive way, which provides for more creepiness.

The plot was wonderfully juicy and such a page turner. I couldn't wait to figure out what was up with these two girls, why they were so strange! And while the outcome is definitely not something you'd expect, I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Overall, Vicious Little Darlings is the perfect read if you want something wacky and mysterious. A book that makes you race through the pages to get to the ending. But keep your mind open to possibilities, otherwise the ending might disappoint. I would recommend this to fans of mystery thrillers.

Pass or Read? If you like mystery thrillers, give it a try!

Cover thoughts: I love this cover because it doesn't have a face on it, it doesn't have a pretty dress, or anything like what covers usually have. Plus it's gorgeous!

Review: Pure by Julianna Baggott

  Title: Pure                                                       Pages: 448
  Author: Julianna Baggott                             Source: Publisher
  Publisher: Grand Central Publishing       Published: February 8, 2012
  Series: Pure #1                                             Purchase: Amazon

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters...

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash...

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

I had not heard much about Pure before I read it and while I ultimately came out liking the book, there were a few flaws that stood out to me.

Pressia was a fantastic character. She was strong and independent and doesn't like leaning on others, so she doesn't have to owe them favors. She lives on people owing her favors, to ensure her survival in the bleak and dangerous world that is her home.

I didn't see much growth in Pressia, though she did get more optimistic as the book went on and I was glad that she did.

I enjoyed the other characters immensely as well. The only character I had a slight problem with was Bradwell. He was always the "brain" of the pack and was always the one to explain all the conspiracy theories to the other characters. While it would have been okay if they were kept as theories, Bradwell was always right, which was highly unrealistic.

Another problem I had with the characters, is there were too many "points of view." I say this with quotation marks, because the whole novel was in third person, so for example, a chapter would be about Pressia, but Partridge's thoughts were explained as well. This wasn't that big of a deal, because it went further in depth with the story and characters, which is always a good thing.

The writing was beautiful. It was absolutely lyrical at times, but this had its drawbacks. Some passages were a bit hard to decipher and I had to reread the paragraph to truly understand what just happened. Also, a lot of the new vocabulary wasn't explained at all, or explained later in the story when I had already guessed what it was, using context clues. Now some of the vocabulary words were very straight forward, but I would have liked a description of them nonetheless. Another, smaller gripe I had, was things got a bit too political at times for my tastes, though this was easy to overlook, because it would soon go back to the story.

The plot was amazing. It was action and emotion-packed. I found myself caring about these characters and hoping that everything would be okay for them. I guessed a few of the twists, but I was left stunned by the rest. Julianna Baggott pulled out all the stops for Pure and she didn't back down until you were done reading and craving book two.

Overall, I really liked Pure, even with all the gripes I had. I was able to look past these flaws and see Pure for what it is: a wonderful addition to the dystopian genre and definitely a book series I'll read. I'd definitely recommend to fans of the dystopian and sci-fi genres.

Pass or Read? I'd say give it a shot!

Cover thoughts: I really, really like it. It has that dystopian feel and it has to do with the story. It also continues on the back, with a mechanical butterfly like the ones Pressia makes, which was a wonderful touch.

Review: New Girl by Paige Harbison

  Title: New Girl                                              Pages: 304
  Author: Paige Harbison                             Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Harlequin Teen                        Published: January 31, 2012
  Series: N/A                                                   Purchase: Amazon

They call me 'New Girl'...

Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.

Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.

And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back.

New Girl is the kind of novel I live for - mystery thrillers - and it lived up to my expectations.

"New Girl," as the main heroine is called for almost the whole novel, was wonderful. She handled her situation beautifully. I mean, if everyone was claiming I was trying to take someone's place and everywhere I went I could feel everyone's hatred and whispers? Yeah, I'd have broken down many times over and would have been gone before you could blink an eye.

"New Girl" however, stood her ground. That is not to say she didn't break down and want to leave. But the point is she didn't leave. She stayed and she dealt with the situation and eventually, she made her own name shine, instead of being in Becca's shadow.

Now Becca, she was entirely messed up. She was manipulative and used her sexuality and looks to get what she wanted. I loved her at first, but when her true colors started to show, I began to really dislike her. She was such a great character, however, that I really ended up liking her in the end, despite her flaws. She just wanted people to love her for who she thought she should be, but what she didn't realize was that people loved her for who she actually was. I felt extremely bad for her, but I really liked how everything played out for her.

The writing was lyrical and poignant at times, but mostly simple. Paige Harbison paints a clear picture in your head of the school's campus and inside.

The plot was fantastic. I couldn't wait to figure out where Becca had gone and what "New Girl's" name was. I felt that the middle dragged on quite a bit, though, in "New Girl's" chapters with no progress in the mystery. I was anxious to get through her chapters and to Becca's, where it seemed the story would pick up quite a bit again. The end picks up again, too, and I liked how everything played out.

Overall, I really loved New Girl. There were moments in the middle that seemed to drag the story, but nothing to make me lose interest. I highly recommend to fans of the contemporary and mystery thriller genres and fans of the classic story, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, which New Girl is based off of.

Pass or Read? Definitely read this one!

Cover thoughts: I love it. It's gorgeous! The font is amazing, the colors are amazing, that girl looks amazing. Need I say it's amazing? :)

Review: Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

  Title: Spellbound                                      Pages: 324
  Author: Cara Lynn Shultz                         Source: Library
  Publisher: Harlequin Teen                      Published: June 21, 2011
  Series: Spellbound #1                             Purchase: Amazon

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

I had not heard a lot of things about Spellbound before I actually read it. I wasn't disappointed, but I wasn't blown away either.

I really loved Emma. She was snarky, she stood up for herself, and she actually had a spine, instead of always succumbing to the bullies of the school. I really admired her for that. Now, she did have some issues, that being that her family consists of a dead mother and twin brother, a monster of a step dad, and an AWOL birth father. It sometimes seems over the top just how much tragedy Emma has witnessed, but I appreciate Cara Lynn Shultz not watering down the writing, like some young adult authors do for their "tragic" heroines.

Brendan was alright. Overall he was very sexy and hot, but I could not forgive him for being totally cold to Emma after their first "date." He seemed like a straight up jerk after the date and I definitely wouldn't have given him the time of day again, yet of course since they are star-crossed lovers, that isn't the case. Plus, he has a major hero complex, jumping in to save Emma like every chapter. Once again, though, I did like him in the long run and Shultz definitely knows how to write the romance!

The writing was pretty simple to me, the only thing bothering me was the fact that they fell in love instantaneously, though they are meant to. If taken at face value that they are star-crossed lovers, then the whole falling-in-love-instantaneously thing didn't bother me as much (and provides for some great romance right away, which everyone loves on occasion!).

The plot is probably what bothered me the most, because like Emma's past, it's very over-the-top sometimes, especially the ending. I found it a tad unbelievable, but it was certainly very entertaining. I also thought there was going to be more of a supernatural element than there was. The magic took a back seat almost and I was really hoping for more.

Overall, I did like Spellbound, I just wasn't as captivated as I hoped. It provided an entertaining Twilight-like read - one that is certainly entertaining, but lacking overall depth and believability (for a paranormal romance!). I would recommend this one to fans of star-crossed lovers and Twilight.

Cover thoughts: I like this cover, but I don't really care for the blankness of it. It's unique that they did that, though. I also don't really like how the blurb and the author's name are placed. The blurb is in a weird spot (as opposed to all the way at the top or even moved to the center) and the author name definitely seems off center a bit. I really like the font, though for 'Spellbound'. (and yes, I'm being really picky about the cover!)

Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

  Title: The Goddess Test                                Pages: 293
  Author: Aimee Carter                                     Source: Library
  Publisher: Harlequin Teen                            Published: April 19, 2011
  Series: The Goddess Test #1                       Purchase: Amazon

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

I absolutely love novels based on mythology and I feel The Goddess Test is a great addition to the excellent genre.

Kate is a wonderful girl. She's smart and caring and she would do anything for her mother. I fell in love with her from the start. She was incredibly mature for her age, having grown this way by her mother's illness. She grew even more throughout the story, though, and I loved reading about her growth and how she dealt with her new fate.

I also fell in love with Henry. At first I didn't know what to make of him, because to be honest, if a guy asked me to live with him six months out of every year, I'd tell him to check himself into a mental institution. If on top of that he was saying he was Hades, God of the Underworld? I'd have personally taken him to the aforementioned mental institution.

Except this is young adult paranormal romance, so of course he's who he says he is and of course that makes him sexy. Tell me you wouldn't love being a Goddess and I'll rest my case! Despite being a God and sometimes being very distant and cold, however, he is really sexy. At times it was hard to believe how much he cared for Kate, but then he would do something that would prove it. I loved how their relationship also wasn't so instantaneous and was quite uniquely one-sided at first. I would have liked a bit less romance, though, in the middle of the book, as that was basically all the middle was made up of.

The writing was amazing, I love how Aimee Carter writes. She puts believability into the dialogue and emotions. She puts details into the scenes and the environments. She has a simple, but very effective way of writing that is sure to capture anyone's attention.

The plot was straight-forward most of the time. There were a few twists and turns that I didn't expect, but most of the time I guessed whatever was coming. This wasn't a bad thing, however, as long as I'm still entertained and I was most of the time.

Now, my only gripe with the story line was there wasn't enough to the tests. Henry told her she might recognize when a test was happening, but halfway through, she was told she had already faced a couple tests, which was news to me. At first, this greatly bothered me, because it's called The Goddess Test for a reason. However, the tests are explained later on and I greatly appreciated that Carter included an explanation of each.

Overall, I really liked The Goddess Test. I thought it was a perfect addition to the mythology genre and it satisfied my mythology sweet-tooth greatly. I would definitely recommend this to lovers of mythology and paranormal romance.

Cover thoughts: I really love this cover, though it doesn't have much to do with the story. I'm a sucker for the pretty girl in a pretty dress cover fad, though :P

Review: The Way We Fall (Luxury Reading review)

  Title: The Way We Fall                                Pages: 304
  Author: Megan Crewe                                 Source: Luxury Reading
  Publisher: Disney-Hyperion                       Published: Jan 24, 2012
  Series: The Way We Fall #1                       Purchase: Amazon

Kaelyn's town has come down with a mysterious - and deadly - virus. First, you're itching and you cannot stop. Next, you're acting like you're friends with everyone. Then there are paranoid hallucinations. And lastly, you're dead.

The Way We Fall is about exactly that - a falling civilization, hindered not only by the deadly virus, but by the healthy inhabitants inside doing anything it takes to survive - even if that means killing someone.

Kaelyn holds her own and shines as a brave heroine, risking her life to help those with the virus and her family. She sometimes breaks down, sure, but who wouldn't when the town you grew up in is crumbling beneath you? I felt proud of Kaelyn and would definitely want her on my side, should a deadly virus ever hit my town.

To read the rest of my review, please go to Luxury Reading!

Cover thoughts: I really like that this cover is yellow, because it really stands out against a lot of book covers, but I just don't see how it has to do with the story that much. I do like it, though.

Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton (Luxury Reading review)

  Title: Everneath                               Pages: 370
  Author: Brodi Ashton                       Source: Luxury Reading
  Publisher: Harper Collins               Published: Jan 24, 2012
  Series: Everneath #1                       Purchase: Amazon

Nikki Beckett mysteriously vanished last spring, leaving her family, her friend Jules, and her boyfriend Jack devastated. She was taken to the Everneath, a place where immortals Feed on humans' emotions to sustain their immortality.

So when Nikki suddenly comes back to her old town, everyone is surprised. She tries to slowly get back into the flow of things, but she harbours a secret that'll devastate her loved ones even more: she has to go back to the Everneath in six months.. this time forever.

Nikki must find a way to stay above the ground, or lose everyone and everything again.

I found the premise of Everneath extremely interesting, but because of a few problems, I just couldn't like this book as much as I wanted to.

To read the rest of my review, please go to Luxury Reading!

Cover thoughts: I really like this cover, even though it's just another one of those covers with a girl in a pretty dress. But I LIKE those covers, even though most of the time they have nothing to do with the story. I like how they tried to tie in the image with the story, though, with the dress turning into smoke and the smoke beneath her.

Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

  Title: Fracture                                Pages: 272
  Author: Megan Miranda                 Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Walker & Company       Published: Jan 17, 2012
  Series: N/A                                    Purchase: Amazon

By the time Delaney Maxwell was pulled from a Maine lake’s icy waters by her best friend, Decker Phillips, her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead.

But somehow Delaney survived—despite the brain scans that show irreparable damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be fine, but she knows she’s far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can’t control or explain, Delaney now finds herself drawn to the dying, and when she meets Troy Varga, a boy who recently emerged from a coma with the same abilities, she is relieved to share this strange new existence. Unsure if her altered brain is predicting death or causing it, Delaney must figure out if their gift is a miracle, a freak of nature—or something else much more frightening…

Fracture immediately stood out to me when I first read its premise. It certainly was a very enjoyable read and exactly my cup of tea.

I loved Delaney in all of her nerdiness, neurotic glory. I felt she was written realistically, just how a survivor of a freak accident would behave. She was scared and brave at the same time and her character really grew on me.

I loved how Megan Miranda portrayed her newfound gift. Delaney feels pulls all over her body, like strings pulling her in each direction. The description of this is vivid and perfect, I could almost feel what it felt like to have these pulls.

Of course, I have to comment on Decker. Even when he was being an ass I loved him. He was incredibly sexy and cute. Especially how he waited day in and day out at the hospital for Delaney to wake up. Totally adorable. But their relationship was totally frustrating. The kind of shut-up-and-freaking-see-you-love-each-other kind of frustrating.

The plot was fantastic and I practically inhaled it. When I wasn't reading Fracture, I wanted to be. I wanted to find out all about Delaney's gift and what she would do with it. I wanted to know exactly what was up with Troy. I didn't see a few twists in the story and was greatly satisfied by the ending.

Overall, I absolutely loved Fracture. The characters were fantastic, the writing was amazing, and the story was phenomenal. I couldn't put Fracture down and I urge everyone to pick up a copy!

Cover thoughts: I love this cover! The cover depicts the story correctly, from the frozen lake to her bright red jacket to her blonde hair. So many book covers totally throw the story out the window and instead are made solely to sell. I feel that this one shows what the book is about AND will sell well.

Review: Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

  Title: Stolen Away                    Pages: 288
  Author: Alyxandra Harvey        Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Walker Childrens     Published: January 17, 2012
  Series: N/A                               Purchase: Amazon

For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric-who may or may not betray them.

I don't typically like or read books about faeries, so when Stolen Away caught my attention, I was surprised. However, I was disappointed with a lukewarm story that left me wishing I'd picked something else up instead.

Eloise and Jo were great characters. I liked having the two different perspectives between them and seeing how they both reacted to the same event, but I was often wondering why there were two different perspectives. It seemed unnecessary and like a tactic to make the story longer at times.

That being said, they were really good characters. They complemented each other in a great way. Jo was a strong, kick-ass girl and Eloise more started off pretending to be, as a defense mechanism, but I felt she grew into the role a lot.

I felt Devin wasn't that important to the story. He seemed like a filler character, just to provide occasionally "witty banter" and that was it. I also felt that having both girls fall in love was a bit much. One romance seemed more important to the story, though, but I won't say which one as it is a spoiler for the ending.

The plot was probably my favorite part, as it seemed pretty unique for a faerie novel. I liked how everything played out and loved the action bits.

Overall, I didn't like Stolen Away as much as I wanted to, but despite some flaws, I did end up on the liking side, rather than the disliking side. I probably wouldn't recommend this one, however.

Pass or Read? I would pass, unless you're a hardcore faerie lover.

Cover thoughts: I really like it, it's pretty and I love that the model has bright red lipstick, like Eloise wears.

Want to read someone else's opinion? Here are two positive reviews: A Dream of Books and I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read. Or, link your own positive review in the comments!

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

  Title: Cinder                                        Pages: 387
  Author: Marissa Meyer                        Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Feiwel & Friends                 Published: Jan 3, 2012
  Series: Lunar Chronicles #1                Purchase: Amazon

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl...

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted new world that’s enthralling.

Cinder had such a unique premise, that I immediately was drawn into the story. I believe it has the chance of being one of the best dystopians of 2012.

Cinder is one of my favorite heroines of all time. Just the amount of rejection and pain she goes through, just because she's a cyborg is heartbreaking and I felt immensely for her. Her stepmother is such a witch and the things she says to Cinder, to put Cinder down is absolutely horrible.

The reason why I loved Cinder so much is because even though she's verbally abused, she was so strong. She didn't break down and be angsty for the rest of the novel, she pushed through and thought of a way to escape. She grew so much and overcame so much and that's why Cinder was one of the best female characters I've read in a while.

I loved Prince Kai and I adored his and Cinder's interactions. They were so cute when they were flirting, even though Cinder was trying to pretend she didn't like him. I really liked their chemistry as well.

The plot twists weren't that surprising to me. In fact, I pretty much guessed what was coming around page 45 and I was cemented in my guess by page 100. Even so, I loved the plot. I couldn't get enough of it. I felt the ending came way too fast, which was a great thing in my opinion, because I haven't read a novel lately where I'm dying to read the sequel. And trust me, I'm dying to read Scarlet.

Also, this book was so darn creative. I have never read a novel about androids and cyborgs and Marissa Meyer brilliantly executed them. The planet Luna and its inhabitants were also brilliantly executed, down to every detail.

Overall, I loved Cinder. I loved Cinder even before I was finished reading. I'm incredibly anxious to read Scarlet and I urge everyone to pick up this wonderfully unique novel. I doubt you'll regret it.

Cover thoughts: I absolutely love it. It's unique, like the book, and actually has to do with the book, therefore automatically earning points from me.