For Review:
Thumped by Megan McCafferty
Temptation by Alisa Valdes
Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis
Wanted by Heidi Ayarbe
Purity by Jackson Pearce
It’s Our Prom (So Deal With It) by Julie Anne Peters
The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda
Black Dawn by Rachel Caine
While He Was Away by Karen Schreck
Bought:
Above by Leah Bobet
A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink
Thanks to:
HarperTeen
Little, Brown
St. Martins Griffin
NAL Trade
Sourcebooks Fire
My Mom
Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
April 24, 2012
HarperTeen
Synopsis:
Everything is in ruins.
A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.
So what does Araby Worth have to live for?
Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.
But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.
And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.
My Review:
I wasn’t sure quite what to expect diving into MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH. The synopsis was as mysterious as the cover and I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that I couldn’t stop turning the pages! Griffin has created a sinister and seductive world that left me pining for more.
Araby is one of the most sad and depressed characters that I have ever read about, but I couldn’t help but take a liking to her. I can see why she has gotten to such a low point in her life and I could only hope that she would find some kind of happiness. She has a very sweet and caring side that showed itself in the special moments where she could open up and be a better person. Araby has many layers to herself that I hope will be exposed in later installments.
The world in MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH is unreal. I cannot imagine living in such a place full of death and disease. How any of these characters, much less Araby, cope with everything is beyond me. The details are so rich and raw. Griffin leaves no detail left unsaid, even the more horrific scenes, but she writes them in a tasteful way. I love her writing!
I don’t want to reveal too much more, because going into this one without knowing what to expect will make the reading experience much more exciting. However, I must say that I am very pleased with the love triangle in the novel. It is so hard to find a complex, unpredictable one in any genre, but by the end of the novel, I wasn’t sure who I wanted for Araby. I guess I’ll just have to wait to learn more about them!
My Rating:
Love and Haight by Susan Carlton
March 13, 2012
Henry Holt and Co.
Synopsis:
It’s 1971, and seventeen-year-old Chloe and her best friend MJ head to San Francisco to ring in the New Year. But Chloe has an ulterior motive—and a secret. She’s pregnant and has devised a plan not to be. In San Francisco’s flower-power heyday, it was (just about) legal to end her pregnancy.
But as soon as the girls cross the Golden Gate, the scheme starts to unravel amid the bellbottoms, love-beads, and bongs. Chloe’s secrets escalate until she betrays everyone she cares about. MJ, who has grave doubts about Chloe’s plan. Her groovy aunt Kiki, who’s offered the girls a place to crash. Her self-absorbed mother meditating back in Phoenix. And maybe, especially, the boy she wishes she’d waited for.
My Review:
LOVE AND HAIGHT isn’t your average YA novel. It deals with some very heavy and taboo concepts that a lot of people aren’t willing to acknowledge. I’m still not quite sure what to say or how I feel about it. It definitely brought out some raw emotions in me and I felt like Carlton attempted to handle the situation as well as she could. LOVE AND HAIGHT isn’t one of my favorite YA novels, but I grew on it.
Chloe is one messed up 17-year-old when the novel opens. She has a very difficult decision to make and she doesn’t feel like she can be open about it with anyone but her best friend, MJ. While I did find her to be a little cold at times, I could understand where she was coming from. She regrets her mistake and wishes that she didn’t have to deal with the consequences. In the end, it is a big eye-opening life lesson for Chloe.
While Carlton didn’t dive as deep as she probably could have on the serious issue of abortion in LOVE AND HAIGHT, I did find myself tearing through the pages. The issue fascinates me and while I don’t think I would even consider what Chloe thought about, personally, it brought up some questions and things for me to ponder. Even if you aren’t sure of the subject matter in this one, give it a try! You may find yourself surprised at what you find in LOVE AND HAIGHT.
My Rating:
Hidden by Sophie Jordan
September 11, 2012
HarperTeen
Synopsis:
Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the “prince” of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian’s sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there’s no guarantee they’ll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning….
Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan’s Firelight trilogy.
Why I’m Excited:
I am so in love with Sophie Jordan’s Firelight trilogy!! Each book just gets better so I am beyond excited for the final book, Hidden. Jordan sure knows how to write some smokin’ hot boys. 
The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
HarperTeen
Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye….
The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Cecily’s father has ruined her life. He’s moving them to occupied Wales, where the king needs good strong Englishmen to keep down the vicious Welshmen. At least Cecily will finally be the lady of the house.
Gwenhwyfar knows all about that house. Once she dreamed of being the lady there herself, until the English destroyed the lives of everyone she knows. Now she must wait hand and foot on this bratty English girl.
While Cecily struggles to find her place amongst the snobby English landowners, Gwenhwyfar struggles just to survive. And outside the city walls, tensions are rising ever higher—until finally they must reach the breaking point.
The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Heartbroken over the tragic death of her fiancé, seventeen-year-old Zora Stewart leaves
Baltimore for the frontier town of West Glory, Oklahoma, to help her young widowed
aunt keep her homestead going. There she discovers that she possesses the astonishing
ability to sense water under the parched earth. When her aunt hires her out as a
“springsweet” to advise other settlers where to dig their wells, Zora feels the burden of
holding the key to something so essential to survival in this unforgiving land.
Even more, she finds herself longing for love the way the prairie thirsts for water.
Maybe, in the wildness of the territories, Zora can finally move beyond simply surviving
and start living.
Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis
HarperTeen
What if you forgot your identity and had to rely on other people to tell you who you were?
And what if to discover your true self, you first had to unravel a mystery so big and terrifying you were not sure you’d survive solving it?
When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other’s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it’s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.
Terrified by their amnesia, the two make a pact to work together to find the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they’re in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town’s perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall’s mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse’s family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school.
Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready
May 1, 2012
Simon & Schuster
Synopsis:
Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.
As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves…even if that means betraying her own heart.
My Review:
It’s been quite a long journey for readers of this series and the wait for the final book in the trilogy has been a long time coming. I dove right in the second I received SHINE, and I wasn’t satisfied until I had finished it all. Words cannot express how absolutely perfect SHINE is. It far surpassed my expectations.
I have been waiting so long for Aura’s happy ending and for all the mysteries surrounding the Shift to be solved, but the way it all played out just made me beyond happy. After SHADE and SHIFT, I knew how crafty Smith-Ready could be and what phenomenal writer she was, but SHINE really showcases Smith-Ready’s talent.
There is the perfect amount of Zach and Aura time. Some of their moments were heart-breaking, while others made my toes curl. This is their story and while they have been through so much, together they complete each other and make everything okay. I can only hope that I will find a love like Zach and Aura’s.
I don’t have a single negative thing to say about SHINE. If I could, I would run around singing praises at the top of my lungs for this amazingly awesome book. Everything comes together at a perfect pace and Smith-Ready leaves no questions unanswered by the final page. Smith-Ready has proved herself to be one heck of an author with the SHADE trilogy.
My Rating:
The Selection by Kiera Cass
April 24, 2012
HarperTeen
Synopsis:
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself- and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.
My Review:
THE SELECTION is an exciting dystopian debut that is sure to be a hit among YA readers. While some parts of the novel are predictable, overall it is an enjoyable read and I will definitely be anticipating the sequel. Cass has created some great characters and I look forward to learning more about their lives and what will happen to them.
America was a little hard to warm up to at first, but I grew to like her. She is a little hard to understand, but I could definitely see where she was coming from and I could tell that she really felt something for Aspen. Even though the society is separated into castes, America feels so much for Aspen that she is willing to marry down and upset her family. I commend someone who stands up for what they believe in. I enjoyed watching her grow through the selection process and I anticipate what the end result will be.
The other girls in the selection surprised me as much as America. I loved how supportive some of them were of each other. What I didn’t like was the stereotypical catty girl Celeste. She was just like every other mean girl and I was really upset that Cass put someone like her in the novel. I just hate when authors put mean girls into novels just to create more drama and that was all I felt like Celeste added.
Maxon was quite the intriguing guy. I definitely didn’t expect to like him as much as I did. His character had so many great qualities and I loved that he wasn’t the typical YA guy with no flaws. He has a bit of awkwardness to him and he brought out some giggles at times!
While THE SELECTION isn’t one of the best YA books I’ve ever read, I do think it has potential and I can’t wait to see where Cass goes with the storyline. You should definitely give this one a shot.
My Rating:
Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter
March 27, 2012
Harlequin Teen
Synopsis:
Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she’ll have to fight for it.Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person whom she would really rather not meet. Henry’s first wife, Persephone.
My Review:
I am so in love with this series that it is hard to find something more to say than that. Carter has taken the gods and goddesses we know from Greek myths and made them into real, identifiable people who readers are sure to love (and hate in the case of a few). Beyond the characters, the writing is flawless and engaging. I won’t be satisfied until I can hold the final book in the trilogy in my hands.
While Kate had to face all the challenges to become immortal in THE GODDESS TEST, she has just as many obstacles to conquer in the sequel. Her insecurities surrounding her relationship with Henry constantly eat at her and she feels so lost and uncertain as to where their future will lead. I could easily identify with her. Everyone has had someone they really like but aren’t sure if the feelings are returned, though in her situation its with her husband who’s a god!
There have been so many different spin-offs with Hades and Persephone, but Carter’s story is unique in that there is much more depth to the characters and the story is far more developed. I adore Ava (Aphrodite) and James (Hermes) especially. They are such great friends to Kate and make her journey more bearable with them by her side.
I was so fascinated with every aspect of GODDESS INTERRUPTED. Calliope and Cronus are well-developed villains who gave me goosebumps. I would not want to be in Kate’s shoes for this tough battle! Everything that occurred in the novel was a surprise, especially the ending. I cannot believe I have to wait another year for the final book! But I’m sure it will be well-worth the wait and I cannot wait to see how it all turns out for Kate and Henry.
My Rating:
Crewel by Gennifer Albin
October 16, 2012
Farrar, Straus, Giroux
Synopsis:
Incapable. Awkward. Artless.That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.
Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.
Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.
Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.
Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.
Why I’m Excited:
First of all, how gorgeous is that cover? I love how it looks and the colors draw me right in! And then after reading that synopsis, I was sold. It sounds so original and amazing and I absolutely cannot wait to read it.
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