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| # | cover | title | author | isbn | isbn13 | asin | num pages | avg rating | num ratings | date pub | date pub (ed.) | rating | my rating | review | notes | recommender |
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votes | read count | date started | date read | date added | date purchased | owned | purchase location | condition | format | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1478259531
| 9781478259534
| 3.57
| 683
| Jul 28, 2012
| Jul 30, 2012
|
***Copy provided by author for review purposes*** “We were the unloved-you by your mom and me by my dad-and now it’s our time to finally be loved.” Wo...more
***Copy provided by author for review purposes*** “We were the unloved-you by your mom and me by my dad-and now it’s our time to finally be loved.” Wow. This book just…wow! Julie and Nick have always had a hard life. Julie’s mom is a stripper and sleeps around a lot and doesn’t care about her kids. All she cares about is herself, her drugs and her boyfriends who have tried to get grabby with Julie. Nick’s father beats him and his mom and his mom refuses to defend him or issue a restraining order against him. A little shed has become their safe place and Nick and Julie were each other’s refuge. But, Nick’s mom sent him away to live with his aunt and Julie lost her best friend and the only person who understood her. Now, Nick is back two years later and he wants to be a part of Julie’s life again as friends but also more than friends. No matter how much Julie likes Nick, she is afraid of letting him in because she knows that once you let someone in too close, they have the power to hurt you the most. Friendship turned romance stories have always been my favorite and although I knew this was going to be an emotional story, I was not expecting it so heartbreaking. This book is raw, emotional and so heartbreakingly beautiful. I felt my heart breaking right along with Nick and Julie and the more I read, the more my heart broke but little by little it got put back together. One very important thing I would like to point out is that this book was very realistic. Sometimes, when I am reading contemporary stories I might think “Yeah right, that doesn’t happen in real life.” But I know that the things that happened in this book unfortunately do happen in real life. The Unloved broke my heart into hundreds of tiny pieces. But, as Nick and Julie slowly healed, so did my heart. Although the end finishes on a happy note, it is also very bittersweet. When I finished reading this, I was left feeling like I had a huge hole in my heart and I was in much need of a hug. (I also wanted to give Julie and Nick a hug) There is so much I want to say about this book but it all comes out wrong when I try to put it in words. All I can say is that this is one of those books that I wish everyone would read. My one teeny tiny complaint is that I wish there were more swoony moments between Nick and Julie. Make sure to grab some tissues because you’re going to need them. 4.5 out of 5 stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes: -I wanted to know her. I wanted to know who she was now, two years later. I wanted to know who she would be in the future. I wanted to always know her. Forever. -I could deal with the beatings and my undesirable home life, but I couldn’t deal with Jules not being my friend…not being my anything. -I felt like my soul had been killed while my body stayed alive. -I wanted to know that she was all right. It was clear she was breathing, she was standing right in front of me, but a lot of people breathing were still dead inside. I needed to know that she wasn’t, and if she was, I needed to know how I could help fix her. *** Read more of my reviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com  (less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Nov 15, 2012
| Nov 18, 2012
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Jul 24, 2012
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 1479359084
| 4.21
| 5,996
| Jan 01, 2013
| Jan 25, 2013
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***ARC received by Karina Halle for review purposes*** By now you most likely know that I am a sucker for angsty and sexy books, especially ones that...more ***ARC received by Karina Halle for review purposes*** By now you most likely know that I am a sucker for angsty and sexy books, especially ones that have fucked up characters. The more messed up they are, the more I love them! But Karina Halle has just uncovered one of my other weaknesses: con artists! There is something about con artists, especially female con artist that has always completely fascinated me. As a General Hospital fanatic (before it went down the drain in the past year) one of my favorite all-time TV characters is Sam McCall who among many other things also happens to be a kick ass con artist. I wasn’t really sure what to expect from Sins & Needles and the raving reviews had me a little intimidated. But when I read it was about con artists, danger and a sexy but complicated romance, I knew this was one I couldn’t pass on and I got so much more than what I was expecting. Ellie Watt was raised by her con artist parents and was taught the tricks of the trade growing up. But when a scam goes terribly bad and her parents have to abandon her to go on the run, her life changes. She continues on with the family trade but after years of scamming and one too many close calls; Ellie is tired of being on the run. She decides to go back home and give her old life another chance. She is determined to go legit and even get a real job, but then she stumbles upon her former best friend, emo-weirdo turned tattooed god - Camdem McQueen. When she finds out that he is the owner of his own tattoo shop Sins & Needles and realizes he is loaded (cha-ching!), you can almost see the dollar signs on Ellie’s eyes and her plans start changes again. She plans on using Camden’s crush on her to her advantage and relieve him out of several thousand dollars, enough to start over somewhere else. Somewhere along the way, she starts to have real feelings for Camden (even though she still plans on robbing him). They embark on an awkward but sexy relationship that only gets even more complicated when Camden finds out Ellie’s plans. But before they can even begin to deal with this, Ellie and Camden’s past comes chasing after them leading them on a dangerous trip. Ah! I LOVED this book! From the first page I realized that this would be unlike any other book I’ve read so far, which made it all the more enjoyable. Ellie is not a very good person. She’s conned so many people and doesn’t really seem to want to change. But through flashback chapters we get to read about Ellie’s past and it’s easier to understand why she’s made these choices. They may not always be right, but it’s all she’s ever been taught. Through these flashbacks, we also learn about Ellie and Camden’s friendship. How they were the only people that understood each other, and how it all eventually fell apart. What can I say about Camden that hasn’t already been said by everyone else? Both Ellie and Camden are such complicated and messed up that it was so easy for me to connect with them and it was amazing to see them grow. Sins & Needles is not your typical love story. It’s dark, sexy, rough, highly emotional and so damn addicting! Karina Halle had me hooked on every word and left me wanting more. I’ve been recommended her Experiment In Terror series numerous times and after reading Sins & Needles I also have several of her other books on my Kindle. Although this is only the first book I have read by her, I know it will NOT be the last. I’m dying to read the next book in this series: Shooting Scars. Especially after that killer ending that just tore me apart! 5 out of 5 stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from Sins & Needles: - Someone who was asking me out on a date, to see his show. And I was thinking two things: 1) I can’t afford to befriend anyone, let alone someone I wouldn’t mind seeing naked and 2) how much cash could I take from him before I hated myself. - “You're a con artist. A liar. A thief. An unredeemable soul. You can't be reformed. You can't be saved. You'll die trying to make the world pay for what it did to you. And you'll die alone.” -“Do you think because you can’t see my own scars, that they don’t exist? That’s the trouble with pain, Ellie. If you’re lucky, you can wear it for all the world to see. Most people have their pain deep inside, in places no one ever goes. Not until it’s too late.” -You’re a bad person, Ellie,” he said without a trace of irony. She watched him carefully, like a trap ready to spring. “I’m not bad. The world is bad and I’m just trying to survive in it.” -I know the real you is always underneath, still alive, no matter what name you go by on the outside, and that’s all that matters.” *** Read more of my reviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com (less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Jan 27, 2013
| Jan 28, 2013
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Jan 11, 2013
| Paperback
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| 2940014979627
| 4.13
| 20,100
| Jul 18, 2012
| Jul 19, 2012
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***Copy received for review purposes*** I think there is only one proper way to start off this review: Jude Ryder! Jude is the perfect example of a b...more
***Copy received for review purposes*** I think there is only one proper way to start off this review: Jude Ryder! Jude is the perfect example of a bad boy. He lives in a house for delinquent boys, he gets in to a lot of trouble, he's been arrested, done drugs, maybe even sold a little, he has no problem getting into fights and he has one hell of temper. But instead of being this arrogant macho jerk asshole, he is really a sweet guy who is scared out of his mind to let himself care about someone. And let them care about him in return. When Lucy Larson is trying he best to get him to notice her, he decides the best approach is to scare her off. But Lucy isn't scared of Jude, even though she knows she should probably be. She tells him off which of course only makes Jude want Lucy. It's not long after that they start to get hot and heavy, despite Jude's attempts to try and swoon her one minute and try to push her away the next. This is how their relationship is: intense, raw and passionate and with more ups and downs than a roller-coaster. No matter how many times they clashed, Lucy and Jude were really perfect for each, but they must overcome many obstacles in order to figure it out. Lucy and Jude both are people with a painful past, full of secrets that could tear them apart for good. This is another one of those books that is hard for me to write a review about. I have so many things I loved about it but it's hard to explain without giving away any spoilers. I expected a bad boy (which we got!) but beyond that, everything else was unexpected. Just when I was comfortable in the story line and thought i knew what would happen next, something happens that takes it in a complete different direction. The pacing of this story was perfect! I loved that Lucy and Jude started off hot then cooled off, warmed up again as friends. And no matter how much everyone thought that Jude was a jerk, he was never afraid to let Lucy know his feelings for her. Even when he believed he didn't deserve her. Crash was a beautiful and intense story of two very lost and broken people who must find a way to heal each other. A page turner that will grip your heart and have you turning the pages late at night. Full of humor and some HOT swoon-worthy scenes. I can't wait to read the sequel to this book, Clash. One thing I am sure of: #INeedMoreJudeDude! 5 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from Crash: -"The name’s Jude Ryder, since I know you're all but salivating like a rabid dog to know, and I don't do girlfriends, relationships, flowers or regular phone calls. If that works for you, I think we could work out something special." So that serendipitous moment I'd been angsting over the better part of a glorious afternoon? What a waste. -"You're a pig," I said, shoving him again. Harder so my hands slapped his chest, but it was nothing more than a gust of wind had come at him. "Never claimed to be anything but," he answered, raising his hands in surrender when I came at him again with my palms. "I also knew you wouldn't stop your staring until you learned the cold, hard truth. So consider yourself warned." -My hands slipped beneath his shirt, scrolling up his stomach until there was nowhere left to go but down. "Luce," he breathed, when my fingers settled on his belt. "Stop." His hands gripped my hips firmly, but his mouth kept pace with mine again. "I'll stop when you stop," I whispered against his mouth. "Dammit," he sighed, pushing against me with his hands, but continuing to welcome me with his lips. -The only way to know if Jude Ryder was going to ultimately break my heart was to open it to him. -I wasn't thinking about our past when his hand slid underneath my bra, and I wasn't thinking about our future when his mouth took its place. I wasn't even thinking in the present - I was living in the present. -"That was a first," he said, pulling me into his lap. "At least I've got one of them," I teased, tying my arms over his. Lifting his hand to my chin, he tilted it up. He didn't speak until I met his eyes. "You've got all my firsts," he said. "All the ones that matter." (Cue heart melting...) Read more of my reviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Oct 02, 2012
| Oct 05, 2012
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Aug 24, 2012
| ebook
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| 1620611198
| 9781620611197
| 3.62
| 474
| May 08, 2012
| May 08, 2012
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***ARC provided by Entangled Publishing for review*** When I first read the synopsis for Pretty Amy, I was expecting a funny story about a girl who was...more ***ARC provided by Entangled Publishing for review*** When I first read the synopsis for Pretty Amy, I was expecting a funny story about a girl who was arrested on prom night. Imagine my complete surprise to find out that this book was actually deep, intense and emotional. Pretty Amy tells the story of Amy Fleishman who has never stood out. Amy never had many friends and she was never part of the popular crowd. In fact, nobody ever seemed to notice Amy. Until freshman year when she befriends bad girls Lila and Cassie. Happy that someone notices her, Amy starts changing and doing things like smoking and doing drugs and losing a bit of herself everyday, which causes her to lose her only true friend, Joe. When Amy, Lila and Cassie are stood up by their dates for prom, they decide to break into one of their houses. There they find a large bag of pot. Lila and Cassie decide to smoke it and Amy agrees, just like she agrees to everything else they tell her. From there one bad decision leads to another until they are finally pulled over and arrested for possession and intent to sell. But that is only the beginning of her bad luck. Amy's phone is taken away from her, she is forced to get a job at a gas station to pay for her own legal fees, she has to see a therapist, do volunteer work and she is forbidden by her parents to have any contact with Lila and Cassie. Despite the fact that Amy is desperate for love and attention, she doesn't cooperate with her parents, lawyer or shrink. Although, when you realize how cold hearted her mom is and how distant Amy's relationship is with her parents, it's not hard to understand why. Amy starts on a downward spiral as she struggles to prove her innocence, and earn the love and respect of her parents and the people she cares about. But is Amy willing to open up and do what it takes in order to achieve that? As I said, I was expecting a funny, charming and light story and was instead treated with a intense and emotional roller coaster. Amy's internal struggle is at times heartbreaking and you can't help but root for her to get her act together and get her happy ending. Her relationship with her parents, especially her mother is so depressing that I wanted to run home and give a huge hug to my mom and thank her for being the exact opposite. Although this book was pretty gut-wrenching most of the time, it still managed to have some have it's funny and witty moments. Although Lila and Cassie were very hard to like, Cassie's personality managed to intrigue me and I'm glad that she will get to tell her own story in Dear Cassie. Perhaps one of my favorite characters was Amy's parrot AJ. The only thing I found a bit lacking in this story was the romance aspect. Nonetheless, Pretty Amy was an intense read that will tug at your heart-strings. 4 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from Pretty Amy: -I am a walking, talking True Life episode. Your high school guidance counselor's wet dream, and the only girls I know to get arrested on prom night. -It was like some kind of warped Folger's commercial: me sniffing the air and thinking that there really is nothing better the morning after getting arrested than drinking a steaming-hot cup of java with my mom. -It made it all the more real to me. I couldn't deny it anymore. The sun was up and I was still arrested. Nothing had changed-which meant everything had changed. -I'd gotten used to our routine. Cassie was brash. Lila was beautiful. I was quiet and plain. Like human versions of the porridge in Goldilocks and the Three Bears. -There was probably a lot I was guilty of. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time: check. Being a horrible disappointment as a daughter: check. At least I didn’t have to admit to any of it out loud. -“It wasn't what you were doing with it, or even that it wasn't yours, but the amount you had when they picked you up.” I found myself wishing that we had been pulled over later, after we’d had a chance to smoke more. -We were nothing like these people. These people were real criminals. Our only crime was being stupid. -I wasn't scary without Cassie. I wasn't cool without Lila. I was just me. *** Check out my interview with Lisa Burstein! http://booksandsparkles.blogspot.com/... Read more of my reviews and author interviews at: Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed http://BooksandSparkles.Blogspot.com (less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| May 12, 2012
| May 13, 2012
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Mar 31, 2012
| Paperback
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| 4.02
| 199
| Dec 18, 2011
| Dec 20, 2011
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***Copy provided for review as part of blog tour*** Even though the book description is fairly vague, I was intrigued enough by it and the pretty cover...more ***Copy provided for review as part of blog tour*** Even though the book description is fairly vague, I was intrigued enough by it and the pretty cover to ask to be a part of the blog tour. Once I started reading and I found out what this book was really about, I was blown away by it because this is one of my favorite genres! We meet Madison who has been through enough changes in her life. One of the biggest changes being the death of her mother. When her best friend, Kaylee, drags her to the beach, Madison meets the mysterious new guy, Isaac. Sparks immediately fly between them even though they are both cautious and hesitant. But things take an ugly turn when Kaylee starts hallucinating, seeing things and talking about demons. The doctors can’t seem to find anything wrong with her and with no other option she is taken to a mental institute. Kaylee only seems to be getting worse which forces doctors to keep her mostly sedated and restrained to her bed. Madison feels helpless and she knows her best friend isn’t crazy, all she knows is that there is definitely something or someone dark and powerful that is after Kaylee. With the help of Isaac and Kaylee’s boyfriend, Josh, they are determined to help Kaylee and save her from whatever is after her. One big issue I had about this was that I felt like Madison and Isaac’s relationship was a bit rushed. Even though Madison barely knew him, she was already falling for him. We learn later why they have such a strong connection and after that it makes more sense. Even though they clearly like each other, they are still afraid to completely open up to each other and let the other know how they feel. To make matters worse, Madison’s ex best friend makes a pass at Isaac every chance she gets and one of Madison’s friends starts hitting on her too. Madison was a very strong and likeable character. But I was surprised at how much I ended up liking her best friend Kaylee. I love the strong friendship between her and Madison and her relationship between her and her boyfriend Josh. Even though it starts off fast then slows down a bit, one they open up and really get to know each other I really liked the relationship between Madison and Isaac. I know this is a really vague review but I was pleasantly surprised and I wouldn’t want to ruin that for any of you. This is a great and past paced story. Mystery, friendship, romance, betrayals a lot of surprises and twist will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next! I really want to know what happens next and I hope that this book is the start of another great series. 4 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes or scenes from Embrace: -“Your life is about to change, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” -“Always remember, people fear what they don’t understand.” -The maze was a lot like my life: a series of paths that led to choices, turns that often led me astray, and dead ends that forced me to rethink where I'd just been. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find the exit to my own happiness. I'd get close, but then there’d be one more choice to make, one more obstacle to get past, one more wall of cornstalks blocking the way. -I wish I could say, in that moment standing between the people I loved, that I saw hope-a bright light that assured me things would be okay. Sometimes, you just know that isn’t true. Sometimes, you end up hurting the ones you love. You can’t save them or yourself. -He wasn't playing fair. He never had, and I secretly loved that he didn’t. (less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Apr 16, 2012
| Apr 18, 2012
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Apr 16, 2012
| ebook
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| 1599906953
| 9781599906959
| 4.14
| 14,703
| Aug 07, 2012
| Aug 07, 2012
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 ***ARC received by Bloomsbury for review*** Twenty-three men stood between her and her freedom. What could I possibly say about Throne of Glass that hu...more ***ARC received by Bloomsbury for review*** Twenty-three men stood between her and her freedom. What could I possibly say about Throne of Glass that hundreds of other people haven’t already said? I’ve had an ARC copy of this book since June but something kept me from reading it earlier. Maybe it was all the hype that surrounded it or learning that this book had a massive following for at least 10 years. When I was approached to participate in the blog tour, it gave me the perfect excuse to finally read Throne of Glass. From the very first paragraph, I was instantly hooked! Now, I regret not reading it as soon as I got my hands on it. Celaena lost her parents at a very early age and was taken in by the world's greatest assassin. He raised her and taught her everything there is to become one of the best assassins. She ends up being captured at age 17 and is sentenced to serve in the prison camp, Endovier, where life expectancy is less than nine months. After surviving in Endovier for a year, she is summoned before Prince Dorian who has a proposition for her. Compete in a series of challenges against 23 other assassins, if she wins she becomes the King’s personal assassin as will earn her freedom after serving him for 4 years. Seeing this as her only option, Celaena agrees. She is taken to the castle of glass where she is set to train and compete in the challenges. But something deadly is going after the competitors and several of them turn up dead. Now, Celaena must stay alive long enough to survive in the final duels. Celaena was perfection! Everything that I look for in a female character. She is tough, she can take care of herself, she isn't afraid to speak her mind but at the same time, there is a certain vulnerability about her. She is confident that she will become champion and isn't afraid to say so. But, Celaena also has many secrets which we don't get to learn all of them. Some of them may be answered in future books but I also think some may have already been answered in the 4 pre-quel novellas. Celaena has an excellent back story and I HAVE to find time to read all those prequels and get to know more about her and her life. And now on to the guys! I admit that at first I was a little torn over who what team I was on. Prince Dorian was funny and flirty and charming and the interactions between him and Celaena came easy for them. They also had good chemistry between them. Meanwhile, Chaol, the Captain of the Guards was at first almost disgusted by her because she is an assassin. He is rude to her and refuses to engage in any real conversation. But, the more time they spend together, he slowly lets down his guard and they end up becoming really good friends. He realizes that he cares about her and might have feelings for her although he tries his hardest to deny it. Especially when he knows that Dorian is after her. As much as I loved the interactions between Dorian and Celaena, I would just kill for the moments that Chaol and Celaena shred. No matter how small they might be. Although the love triangle in this story is written very well, I know exactly who I want Celaena to end up with: Team Chaol all the way! Throne of Glass was a fantastic story that deserves all the hype it is getting. High fantasy at its best! I loved the ending and can't wait to read the next book in this brilliant new series to see what Celaena, Chaol and Dorian are up to next! 5 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non spoiler quotes from Throne of Glass: -Celaena hid her smirk this time. They passed a series of wooden doors that she’d seen a few minutes ago. If she wanted to escape, she simply had to turn left at the next hallway and take the stairs down three flights. The only thing all the intended disorientation had accomplished was to familiarize her with the building. Idiots. -“I know,” she continued. “It is impressive that I accomplished so much at such an early age.” “Crime isn’t an accomplishment, Sardothien.” “Yes, but becoming the world’s most famous assassin is!” -Libraries were full of ideas–perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons. -“Enjoyed that, did you?" Chaol growled. "Immensely." Celaena patted Chaol's arm as she took it in her own. "Now you must pretend that you like me, or else everything will be ruined.” -“As my friend, you should either bring me along, or keep me company.” “Friend?” he asked. She blushed. “Well, ‘scowling escort’ is a better description. Or ‘reluctant acquaintance’ if you prefer.” To her surprised, he smiled. -I am Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s Assassin. If these men knew who I was, they’d stop laughing. I am Celaena Sardothien. I am going to win. I will not be afraid. -His breath was warm on her neck as he bent his head, resting his cheek against her hair. Her heart beat so quickly, and yet she felt utterly calm—as if she could have stayed there forever and not minded, stayed there forever and let the world fall apart around them. -With each day he felt the barriers melting. He let them melt. Because of her genuine laugh, because he caught her one afternoon sleeping with her face in the middle of a book, because he knew that she would win. -“You could rattle the stars," she whispered. "You could do anything, if only you dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That’s what scares you most.” *** Read more of my reviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Aug 29, 2012
| Sep 03, 2012
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Apr 17, 2012
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| B00AC463RI
| 3.79
| 377
| Jan 15, 2013
| Jan 15, 2013
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***ARC received by Spencer Hill Press for review purposes*** Holy freaking Hades! What the hell did I just read? When I first heard this book was goi...more
***ARC received by Spencer Hill Press for review purposes*** Holy freaking Hades! What the hell did I just read? When I first heard this book was going to be about necromancers, I knew I had to have it! I've only briefly read about necromancers in (one of my favorite books) The Demon Trapper's series by Jana Oliver, and I've always wanted to read more about them. Not only is this book about necromancers and zombies, it is also about mythology. I know, it sounds crazy a little bit too much, but it somehow ends up working out beautifully! Jodi Marshall is convinced that someone is stalking her. But Alex is actually a necromancer like her, who was sent to warn Jodi about what she really is and to try to convince her to join his family and learn to embrace her powers. After all, she is supposedly the chosen one who will one day save her race from becoming extinct. But, after a few...tragic and unfortunate incidents caused by her deadly touch and necromancer powers, she finally realizes that her best choice is to go with Alex. There, she learns more about her people and her powers and her powerful connection to Medusa. But not everyone is on Jodi's side and no matter how powerful she may be, she can't protect herself against everything. Including traitors. Jodi was a hard character for me to get into at first. I thought she was a little bit too innocent and naive, but once I found out she had been home schooled most of her life, I began to understand with her more and was able to connect to her. Alex on the other hand, was very easy to like from the beginning although he was a bit of a mystery throughout the book. I only wish we got to see his relationship with Jodi grow a little bit stronger. Although this book started a little bit slow for me, it steadily picked up the pace and action. Once we got past the dreaded tell but not showing, and a few too convenient instances (how many times can someone realistically cut themselves?), the story really picks up. In fact, the story just gets better and better and the last 50 pages were very intense and kept me edging and on the edge of my seat. The fresh and unique outlook on zombies and mythology was pure genius. I've read zombie books, and I've also read books about Zeus and Hades, but I have never read about Medusa and it was awesome learning more about her. The connection between necromancers, zombies and the gods was brilliantly set up and hopefully it will only get better in the next book. Move over Zeus! Move over Hades! It's time for a new goddess and it's about time we learn about Medusa's story. Touch of Death was a great start to what I'm sure will become a fantastic series! Full of action and moments that will not only make you squirm but also squirm. Death has never looked so good! 4 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from Touch of Death: -"If you need me, you have my number in your phone. I'm willing to bet you haven't deleted my texts." He was right. I hadn't. But why hadn't I? Who kept messages from their stalker? -"Hey, why do you carry a knife? I thought only serial killers kept weapons on them at all times." "Serial killers and boy scouts." -"Funny. But since I'm the one who's supposed to save you and the rest of the Olphi, I'm thinking you should be a little nicer to me. If I collapse from exhaustion, the least you can do is carry me to bed." The second I said it, I realized how it sounded. So did Alex, because he raised an eyebrow and said, "Very interesting. I'll make a note of that." Wonderful. I'd accidentally come on to my former stalker. -He reached for my arm, and I let him turn me around. He looked almost sad as he took my hand in his. "Are you scared of me?" With his free hand, he gently pushed a stray hair off my face, but his hand lingered on my cheek. His touch was electrifying. My heart raced. I was scared. Scared that I was falling for him. *** Read more of my reviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com (less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Nov 04, 2012
| Nov 09, 2012
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Jun 11, 2012
| Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||||
| 4.20
| 3,287
| Feb 05, 2013
| Feb 05, 2013
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 ***ARC received by Penguin NAL for review purposes*** This review is spoiler free for the series! (except for one paragraph which is marked) Do you ev...more ***ARC received by Penguin NAL for review purposes*** This review is spoiler free for the series! (except for one paragraph which is marked) Do you ever have certain books or series that you love so much and every time you read it you think ‘WHY don’t more people read this series!’ The Chicagoland Vampires series by Chloe Neill is one of those series for me. I know what you must be thinking: ‘Another vampire book!’ Or: ‘There are too many books in the series to get caught up!’ But think about it this way, now you won’t have to suffer through those excruciating wait times between books. And trust me; this is not just another vampire book! While the main characters are vampires, it has so much more than that. There are witches, shifters, fairies, nymphs, and even a few gnomes. What you get is a world so fascinating and magical that will completely suck you in! Ethan and Merit. Merit and Ethan. Out of all my favorite fictional couples (and I have way too many) these two easily top my top 10 list. I’m pretty sure they are in my top 5 list too. They’ve had to overcome so many obstacles (and that right there is a severe understatement) and they are not perfect. They are both stubborn and passionate people, Ethan a vampire and master of Cadogan House and Merit, the innocent human who was at the wrong place at the wrong time and was forced to become a vampire against her will (in order to save her life). Their pride and their pasts get in the way of their relationship but at the same time they are perfect for each other. These two complement each other in their best and worst qualities. They have their funny moments, their sweet moments, their romantic moments and moments when they butt heads. To me this just makes them seem more realistic and I love them more because of it. They just work, and they are finally getting the hang of it. But the problems within their supernatural world threaten to ruin what they’ve fought so hard for. Here’s a cute scene from House Rules that I want to share: -Ethan sidled next to me, a hand propped on the shelf. “Come here often?” he said. “Excuse me?” “I see you’re in this” – he gestured at the shelves – “library all alone. You must be a student here?” He traced a fingertip down the hollow of my throat, lifting goose bumps on my arms. Since my mind hardly worked when he did things like that, it took a moment for his words to register. Was he initiating a bout of role-playing…about a library? “Ethan Sullivan,” I marveled. “You have a library fantasy.” He smiled slightly. “I have a doctoral-student-turned-vampire fantasy.” Before I could respond, he whipped a hand around my waist and yanked my body toward him like a pirate on a romance novel cover. I nearly laughed at the move, until I met his gaze. His eyes smoldered, deep green warring with silver. Ethan leaned down, his lips at my ear. “You aren’t laughing now.” “No,” I hoarsely said. “I definitely am not.” LOVE them! ***SPOILERS FOR BOOKS 1-6 AHEAD. SKIP TO NEXT PARAGRAPH IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THEM!*** Cadogan House is facing excommunications from the GP and they will now become a rogue house. With this comes more dangers. The GP is targeting them, trying to take them down. The other houses don’t want to help them even though Cadogan House has helped them many times before, and the Rogue vampires don’t know how they feel about them. As if that weren’t enough, someone is murdering rogue vampires and Merit, Ethan and the gang must find the killer before someone from their house is next. Just when ethan and Merit are at a good place, the stress is starting to get to them. Making matters worse, Lacey Sherridan, Ethan’s ex is staying at Cadogan House to ‘help’ although what she really wants is to help herself to Ethan. Like always, Chloe Neill does an amazing job with the story. There was plenty of action, tension and the usual banter between Ethan, Merit and the rest of the gang, this series seriously has some of the best secondary characters. ***SPOILERS OVER*** At first, I was a little disappointed that the book doesn’t finish with a cliffhanger ending (like the other books do). After a second, I felt relieved because after the last killer endings I don’t think I could handle it any more. I am very happy with the ending and I am so looking forward to the next book in this series! If you have been wanting to read this book, please just read it! Although the first 100 pages of book one are a little slow, it is non-stop perfection after that! House Rules was another great addition to this amazing series! Did not disappoint. 5 out of 5 stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from House Rules: -“So you traded up?” I asked, walking toward the car and opening the door. “Do you treat your relationships the same way?” “Yes,” Ethan gravely said. “And I spent four hundred years shopping before I met you.” It was comments like that that kept me around, even when Ethan was being otherwise insufferable. He popped them into conversation just often enough to make my heart melt. -“Is there anything you won’t do for food?” I struck a pose with a hand with a hand on one cocked hip, and grinned at him with lowered lids. “It depends on the food.” His gaze was appreciative. “I’m not sure if we’re discussing food or innuendo. Either way, this may be the best conversation we’ve ever had.” -“The curse of being immortal, Merit, is watching the passage of those you love – even those who aren’t supposed to leave.” -Without warning, and before I could correct him, he reached out, gripped the edges of my jacket, and kissed me fiercely. “You are mine and mine alone, and it appears you need reminding. I suggest you return to our apartment; otherwise you’ll be ravished here and now where you stand, and the door is open.” *** Read more of my reviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com (less) | Notes are private!
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| Jan 30, 2013
| Feb 02, 2013
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Dec 08, 2011
| Paperback
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| 1620610078
| 9781620610077
| 4.37
| 30,715
| Nov 23, 2011
| May 08, 2012
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Check out my blog at http://BooksandSparkles.Blogspot.com for an exclusive interview with Jennifer L. Armentrout! So...Aliens, who knew? Can I just star...more Check out my blog at http://BooksandSparkles.Blogspot.com for an exclusive interview with Jennifer L. Armentrout! So...Aliens, who knew? Can I just start off by saying that this is probably my favorite book I have read this year and is DEFINITELY one of my top 10 favorite books of all time! I was a little hesitant to read this book at first because i didn't know how I would feel about the whole alien thing. When I think aliens, I think E.T., not Daemon Black (well not anymore). Turns out, I LOVED it! I have so many good things to say about this book I have no idea where to start. I feel like it would be much easier to just make a (long) list of all the things I liked, but here you go. Katy Swartz and her mom pack up and leave sunny Florida to start over in West Virginia. From the start I immediately love Katy. She is a book blogger (like me!) and is passionate about books (hey, like me!). She is witty and smart and doesn't take nay of Daemon's b.s. Daemon Black is a HOT alien living next door to Katy. He doesn't socialize with humans very well and he is super over-protective of his twin sister Dee. From the start he tries (very hard) to push away Katy by being a jerk in the hopes that she will not become friends with his sister. But Katy doesn't back down and Katy and Dee end up becoming really close friends which means Katy and Daemon have to spend a lot of time together. I LOVED Dee! When I first read that Daemon had a twin sister I immediately assumed she was gonna be a bitch to Katy, but she was so nice. It was hard not to love her. The book has a lot of action and sexual tension. It had me hooked right from the very first page and this is probably the first book that I DIDN'T want to end. Usually when I read good books I want to get to the end so I can know what happens, but I wanted this book to go on and on. As I was reading I kept thinking, "Oh no, only 100 more pages!" The good thing is that I don't need to wait a whole year for Onyx. June can't come fast enough for me. I need more Katy, Daemon and Dee! Best book I have read this year! 5 sparkly stars!(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Dec 21, 2011
| Dec 22, 2011
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Dec 14, 2011
| Paperback
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| 0983157227
| 9780983157229
| 4.45
| 10,982
| Apr 03, 2012
| Apr 03, 2012
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***This review is spoiler-free but there are some MAJOR spoilers if you haven’t read Half-Blood, you’ve been warned! *** Wow, just wow! After finishing...more ***This review is spoiler-free but there are some MAJOR spoilers if you haven’t read Half-Blood, you’ve been warned! *** Wow, just wow! After finishing Half-Blood, I immediately dove into Pure. I thought I knew where the story was headed but, man oh man, Jennifer sure knows how deliver a hell of a good story with awesome twists and turns and so much hot action! Oh and not to mention those delicious kissing scenes she is is so great at writing. While reading Half-Blood, I fell for Aiden, along with Alex and I’m sure most of you other readers. But when Seth came in the picture, there was something about him that I instantly liked and I just I knew that he would become one of my favorite all-time characters. Even though Alex and Seth are mostly frenemies in Half-Blood, the chemistry between them heats up in Pure and takes it to a whole other level of hotness! (Pool scene, anyone?) The scenes between Alex and Aiden were sweet, romantic and heartbreaking. The scenes between Alex and Seth were funny, hot, and smoking hot! Quick recap: After the devastating events in Half-Blood where Alex and her best friend, Caleb, were kidnapped by her daimons, including her daimon mother. Alex was forced to kill her mother in order to escape. Now Alex has been having nightmares about that night. But, thanks to the Apollyon connection between her and Seth, he can sense her emotions and he just keeps popping uninvited to her room. His presence seems to calm her (most of the time) and keeps the nightmares away and they end up sharing many nights sleeping (literally) together in Alex’s bed. Meanwhile, Alex’s feelings for Aiden, a pure-blood who is off limits to her, is growing stronger. Although they try to keep their relationship platonic, there are some swoon-worthy Aiden scenes. And the interactions between Seth and Aiden were hilarious. After a daimon attack on the covenant, the pure-bloods are on high alert and some new strict rules are put into places including a curfew for and mandatory random physicals for half-bloods. The Council wants to take it one step further and segregate all pures and half-bloods. Alex is set to go to the Council to testify about her mother’s attack, of course Aiden and Seth end up going with her. Alex learns that she doesn’t have many admirers at the council and they want to force her into servitude. All they need is for Alex to mess up one time, and some people will be willing to do just about anything to make that happen. That’s about all I can say about the storyline without going into spoilerville, but trust me. Get this book right NOW, you will absolutely love it. The surprises had me eagerly turning every page and not wanting this story to end, EVER! I devoured this book in a day. As a big fan of the Lux series, I am convinced that Jennifer is a writing goddess and I will read ANYTHING she writes. After reading this Pure I only have one question: What on earth do I have to do to get my hands on a copy of Deity??? November 6, 2012 can NOT come soon enough! Team Seth! (Let me know in the comments if you are Team Seth or Team Aiden) 5 out of 5 very sparkly stars! *** Some of my favorite non-spoiler Pure quotes: - But when Aiden looked at me like he did now, I forgot about the world. I couldn’t read much of anything from Aiden’s expression, but his eyes… well, his eyes told me he wasn’t doing so great with the whole pretending-we-hadn’t-almost-hooked-up charade. - Aiden grabbed my arm, pulling me right against his chest. The unexpected contact fried my brain. “If I was like every other pure-blood, I would have had you by now, without even thinking about the consequences for you. Every day is a struggle not to be like them.” I stared up at him, shocked to hear him put it out there so bluntly. Words—and I always had words—totally escaped me. I would have had you by now. I was pretty sure I knew what he meant. - It felt like someone had trapped me face down on the bed. I thought I was having one of those dream paralysis things I’d read about once, but then I realized what pinned me to the bed was an arm. And that arm belonged to Seth. He hadn’t left, and apparently, Seth was a cuddler. - He laughed so hard I felt it rumble through me. Not in the way Aiden’s laugh usually did. Aiden’s laugh made me feel all light and fluttery. Seth’s made me feel weird—flushed and weird. And a part of me wanted to hear it again—or feel it again. Which was wrong—all kinds of wrong—because I didn’t think of him that way. At least my brain didn’t. My body, on the other hand, had a totally different viewpoint on these things. My body must be a sad, lonely thing. - “We can’t stay for long—only a couple of hours—or the Guards will suspect something. We also need to keep this a secret. We can’t let anyone find out.” I nodded. “Of course. I won’t say a single word. I just can’t believe you remembered this.” I also couldn’t believe I was in love with a pure-blood. He merged toward the exit ramp, expression suddenly serious. “I remember everything you say.” - “If you weren’t a pure, what would you be doing right now? Like, what would you want to do with your life?” Aiden glanced down at our hands and then his gaze flicked to mine. “Right this instant? I’d be doing a hell of a lot more than what I’m allowed to do.” - “Now, I brought us a movie to watch, the one that has sparkly vampires in it. I thought you’d be down for that.” - “Uh, you’re a Team Edward kind of guy?” He snorted. “No. I’m Team James or Team Tyler’s Van, but apparently neither of them won by the look of it. She’s still alive.” *** Check out my blog for the official Pure Blog Tour stop and an interview with Jennifer! Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed http://BooksandSparkles.Blogspot.com(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Mar 15, 2012
| Mar 17, 2012
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Dec 14, 2011
| Paperback
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| 1937053148
| 9781937053147
| 4.58
| 7,730
| Oct 31, 2012
| Nov 06, 2012
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***ARC received by Spencer Hill Press for review purposes*** I read Deity way back towards the end of July and I have been dreading on how to properl...more
***ARC received by Spencer Hill Press for review purposes*** I read Deity way back towards the end of July and I have been dreading on how to properly write a review that could possibly do this book justice. I’ve started this review many times and it always ends up unfinished. This blog tour gave me that much needed push to finally get this done. Once again, JLA’s ability to tell an amazing story is in a class all of its own. She is one of the best at making us connect with the characters and get so emotionally involved in a story that when it’s over, we feel like we lost a piece of ourselves. Deity, is no exception! As much as I LOVE Alex, my favorite aspect of this series is the guys. Aiden and Seth. Seth and Aiden. Does it get any yummier than that? Although I am not a big fan of love triangles, this is one of the best written love triangles I have ever read and the one that has me the most conflicted. I know most of you have a clear team, but I am so undecided. I can read one chapter and be like: “I am Team Aiden for sure!” Then the next chapter, I’m like: “Never mind, I am Team Seth for sure!” Back and forth this goes on throughout the whole series. Since we were first introduced with Aiden, let’s start with him first. He’s hot, he has that whole self-tortured thing going on that drives me crazy (in a good way), he is completely in love with Alex and is willing to do anything for her, even let her go for her own safety. While Pure was mostly focused on Seth and Alex, in Deity the focus shifts back to Aiden and it is so yummy! I loved every single interaction that included Aiden, especially the ones with him and Alex. JLA sure knows how to bring on the swoon! Here are a couple of quotes that had me on Team Aiden: -Aiden caught both of my wrists and hauled me into his lap, switching my wrists to one hand. He sighed. "I didn't mean for you to actually hit me." Too stunned to respond, I just stared at him. Our heads were only inches apart. My legs tangled with his, and then he reached up with his free hand, smoothing the mess of hair back from my face. My breath caught as my heart sped up. Our gazes locked and his eyes turned to quicksilver. He cupped the nape of my neck. I heard his sharp intake of breath. Then he let go of my wrists and grasped my hips. Before I could blink, I was on my back, and Aiden hovered over me. -The door handle jingled. It wasn't locked. "Alex!" "I'm naked," I warned. Silence and then, "Is that supposed to make me not want to come in there?" A warm flush covered my body as I stared at the door. -As he kissed me again, he eased onto his back. My heart was hammering against my ribs as his fingers left my face and traveled down. He lifted himself up just enough for me to take off his shirt and toss it aside. My hands splayed across each hard ripple and I kissed my way down until my lips and he whispered my name is a pleading sort of way. -"Get them out of here!" I screamed, jackknifing on the floor. "Gods, this sucks!" "Whoa," I heard Deacon murmur. "This is like watching a chick give birth or something." "Everyone leave," Aiden ground out. "This isn't a godsdamned show." "And I think he's like the father," Luke said. And now on to Seth. While Half-Blood was mostly focused on Aiden and Alex, Seth was always there in the background and I immediately loved his chemistry with Alex. I knew from Seth and Alex’s first interaction that I was going to be torn up about this love triangle. Seth is also hot (lucky Alex), and he just so happens to be my favorite type of (fictional) guy. You know, the funny yet sweet, sarcastic and kind of a jerk guy. Seth is the epitome of all these things! He has a strong connection with Alex and he isn’t afraid to show her that he wants her. Not to be outdone by a certain pure-blood, Seth and Alex also share some very steamy moments of their own. But, he is also keeping a few details from Alex that could potentially drive her away…and straight into Aiden’s arms. Here are a few of my favorite moments that had me all: Go Team Seth! -"Why do you always invade my personal space?" "Because I like to." He patted my stomach. "And deep down you like it when I do." My lips pressed together. I was pretty sure the bond between us liked it when he did. I could feel it right now. It practically purred. Whether I liked it was something I was still trying to figure out. -Seth chuckled, and then his mouth was making its way to mine, and I opened for him. The edges of his hair tickled my cheeks as the kiss deepened. His fingers drifted down the front of my blouse and then they were sliding over the bare skin of my stomach. I wrapped my leg around his, and we were moving together on the bed. Hi lips were dancing all over my flushed skin as his hands slid down, fingers finding the button of my jeans. -"You look awfully pale." "She's fine," Seth answered. "Our training was rather...exhausting. You know, there's a lot of moving around. Sweating, thrust-" "Seth," I snapped. -Seth kissed me again and the hand against my stomach pressed down. I let go of his wrist, intending on pushing him off, but then I was gripping his shirt. The air around us seemed to crackle. There was something building inside me, a warning that the damn bond was up to no good. You would think that after 3 books I would be able to make my mind, but no. After reading Half-Blood, I was: Team Aiden!...wait but I also like Seth. After reading Pure, I was: Team Seth!...but I still like Aiden. After reading Deity, I was: WTF just happened!? How many days until Apollyon? (For those of you wondering, it’s 162 days. 162 long and torture filled days.) Okay, enough about the boys, back to Alex. Alex is my favorite kind of character. She is loyal, funny, tough, and she kicks ass! I love that she isn’t afraid to make mistakes and doesn’t apologize for what she wants. While it may seem that she is jumping from one guy to the other, this is not the case. Alex is so torn over her feelings, her heart, and what fate lies ahead. I’m dying to know what choices Alex makes in Apollyon. Although Half-Blood and Pure were really good, this is by far the best book in the series! Everything about it was pure perfection. There were so many shocking plot twist and turns that literally left me gasping and in awe. Once I finally got used to one thing, we had another twist that left me reeling again. And that ending!? Never before has a sentence given me the chills and left me dying to know what will happen next. A unique and action-packed EPIC ride that will shock you and leave you begging for more! (File this one under “Fan girl rambling” instead of “Review”) 5 out of 5 out of this world sparkly stars! ***Seth & Aiden Interview*** So, as you can most likely tell from my review of Deity, I am a little torn over who I want Alex to end up with. I mean, I’m pretty sure I know who, but there is this nagging little voice in the back of my mind asking me if I made the right choice. Jennifer was awesome enough to let me hang out with Aiden and Seth from her Covenant series. So here is an interview I had with Seth and Aiden where they both state their cases and try to convince me that Alex belongs with them. Hope you enjoy! First of all, hi guys! I feel extremely lucky to be able to have both of you on my blog today! So, first question: 1. What is your favorite moment that you spent with Alex? "When we went to the zoo," Aiden says. "There's a lot of moments to pick from, but that's in my top 5." Seth rolls his eyes. "Easy. It involved a pool and a red dress." 2. What are the first 3 words that come to mind when you think of Alex: "Beautiful. Stubborn. Strong." Aiden grins. "Sexy. Stubborn--something we both can agree on--and infuriating." 3. Now, describe yourselves in 3 words or less: Aiden frowns. "I'm not being on talking about myself." "Well," Seth draws the word out. "I have no problem talking about myself. Awesome. Epic. Perfect." "Wow," says Aiden. 4. And just for fun (and because I really want to hear the answers) say one nice thing about the other: …anytime guys… Aiden stares back. Silent. So does Seth. 5. What is your favorite thing about Alex? "Her strength," answers Aiden. "She's incredibly strong--mentally, emotionally and physically." A slow grins creeps across Seth's face as he looks at Aiden. "Her. Boobs." Aiden takes a deep breath. "I'm going to so hurt you one of these days." 6. As much as I loved Half-Blood and Pure, Deity takes us on one heck of a ride. Describe Deity in 10 words or less… "Life-changing," says Aiden. Seth's eyes narrowed. "The story is just beginning. That's all I have to say." 7. Since you guys have connections, *coughs* JLA *coughs*, can you guys tell us a little bit about what happens in Apollyon? Aiden glances at Seth. "The Underworld is a very interesting place." 8. Okay, now let’s get a little serious here. Now is your chance to convince me. Why do you think you belong with Alex? Aiden shakes his head. "Alex doesn't belong to me. She doesn't belong to Seth. And neither of us belong to her. Love isn't about belonging. Love isn't about convincing people. In the end, she'll back the right decision for her." "Wow. Deep moment there, Aiden. Seriously, do I really need to convince anyone of anything?" Okay, now for some easy questions: Chocolate or Vanilla? Aiden: Chocolate Seth: Chocolate Burgers or steaks? Aiden: Chicken Seth: Steaks Sweet or Salty? Aiden: Both Seth: Salty Pet Peeve? Aiden: Seth. Seth: People like Aiden. Favorite Color? Aiden: Don't really have one. Seth: Blue, I guess? Do guys have favorite colors? Favorite Song? Aiden: Brown eyed Girl Seth: Let the Bodies Hit the Floor Aiden or Seth? (Sorry, trick question!) Aiden: W-w-what? Seth: Ditto *** So…yeah, as much fun as that was, it obviously didn’t help me make up my mind. If anything it just left me even more conflicted! Now, excuse me while I go count down the days until Apollyon…again. Read more of my reviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com (less) | Notes are private!
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| Jul 27, 2012
| Jul 31, 2012
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Dec 14, 2011
| Paperback
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| 1620610167
| 9781620610169
| 4.17
| 1,090
| Sep 11, 2012
| Oct 16, 2012
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***ARC provided by Entangled Teen for review purposes*** (Spoilers for Touch) It’s no secret that I LOVED Touch by Jus Accardo. How could I not? With...more
***ARC provided by Entangled Teen for review purposes*** (Spoilers for Touch) It’s no secret that I LOVED Touch by Jus Accardo. How could I not? With a tough yet vulnerable MC like Dez and the super hot and deadly yet clueless Kale, I was immediately hooked! After eagerly anticipating Toxic and after a few release date set backs, I was ecstatic when I received my review copy. After Dez makes a bargain to save Kale’s life in Touch, she is warned that there will be consequences for it. But Dez doesn’t care because nothing can be worse than losing Kale, right? Fast forward to the present and Dez discovers that she is has lost her immunity to Kale’s deadly touch. After being the only person that Kale was able to touch, this definitely puts a strain on their relationship. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. Dez only has a few months left until she turns 18 and the Supremacy program kicks in and her dad has ordered two new powerful and deadly sixes after her. To make things worse, Ginger has brought in a new six to “help” Kale control his powers. Not only does Jade have very valuable power, she is also a man-stealing bitch who is after Kale. (Excuse me while I do some breathing exercises to calm me down…OK, I think I’m good)  Jade is one of the most manipulative characters I have read about and I hate her so much with this fiery passion that consumes me and I wish she would die a horrible, slow and painful death. (Yeah, she’s that bad!) There were many time when she would frustrate me so bad that I had to put the book down. Although Kale is a deadly assassin and can kill someone hundreds of different ways, being sheltered his whole life has him lacking some serious…common sense. Something Jade is not afraid to take full advantage of. Poor Kale doesn’t know that he shouldn’t let another girl hold your hand or take another girl to your date with Dez. And Dez, I know she is dealing with a LOT in life but the last thing you should be doing if another girl is after your guy is keeping secrets from him and pushing him away! ESPECIALLY if that bitch girl is trying to convince your guy that you are still involved with your ex. Speaking of Alex, I always had a soft spot for him in Touch and it continues in Toxic. Not that I want him with Dez but I do want him to be happy. Please Jus, do not kill off Alex! (Please?) As you can probably tell, Toxic was a very frustrating story for me but I absolutely LOVED it! Toxic takes us on one hell of an emotional roller coaster that will test your patience leave you feeling drained. But as soon as you finish reading the last page you will want more! And that ending? Evil! Although Dez makes a lot of stupid choices, she still manages to hold on to the snarky and tough personality that made me love her in the first book, even if she is barely hanging on by a thread. Kale continues to be awesome and we get to see more of Alex and the rest of the sixes, new and old characters. Actually, the scenes where Kale and Alex fight over Dez are some of my favorites. Even though I HATED Jade, kudos to you Jus for writing a character that can evoke so many strong emotions from me. Whether its love or hate, when I feel something this strong for a character, for me, that is what being a great author is all about. Can’t freaking wait for the next book in the Denazen series: Tremble and the next novella: Faceless. Although I will always be Team Kale, I hope Faceless is told in Alex’s POV. Full of heart-pounding action, suspense and emotional turmoil, Toxic is a fantastic addition to the Denazen series that you will NOT want to miss! 5 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from Toxic: -When Kale finally spoke again, his voice sounded calm, but I knew better. If anything, it was laced with more hate than before. “You’re correct. I can’t touch her for the time being-but neither can you.” Alex’s lip twitched. He folded his arms and puffed out his chest, standing a little straighter. I knew that stance. A challenge. “Wanna bet?” “I do,” Kale responded coolly. “Because if you try to do it again, I’ll touch you. Then the only thing you’ll be touching is the wind as you’re scattered across this world.” -“I can’t imagine what it must have been like to have no human interaction. How horrible.” He opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. “He had human interaction. He had me.” Jade flashed me a mock frown. “Had-past tense. -“Are you serious? She’s just waiting for a chance to jump you.” His eyes widened. Expression serious, he leaned forward. “That’s what you’re worried about?” “Well, yeah. She can--” He chuckled and scooted just a little closer. “That’s ridiculous. She has no training.” Training? For crap’s sake. Sometimes, I wanted to beat my head against the wall when talking to Kale. -“Dude, we’re the same kind.” Fist clenched, Kale leaned closer. “We are nothing alike.” Alex lost his grin. Jaw tight, he nodded in my direction. “We’re exactly alike. We both hurt her.” -Expression sad, he said, “You can’t touch me like you used to. But you can still talk to me.” He took a step closer. “I need you to talk to me, Dez.” -“You’re hungry?” “Ready to eat a small horse.” For a second, he looked worried, then he nodded. “Expression?” I smiled. “Expression.” -He took another step closer. I took another back. We did this until I’d backed into the side of the building. “This is worse than anything Denazen ever did to me. To be so close and yet have so much distance. To know I could hurt you-or worse-but still want so badly to touch you.” -He growled and stepped away. “You make me want to scream. It’s very strange.” Read more of my reviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Oct 04, 2012
| Oct 08, 2012
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Dec 26, 2011
| Paperback
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| 2940014144759
| 4.05
| 880
| Mar 27, 2012
| Mar 27, 2012
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| Notes are private!
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| Apr 21, 2012
| Apr 22, 2012
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Jan 09, 2012
| ebook
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| 0985011505
| 9780985011505
| 3.62
| 91
| Mar 01, 2012
| Mar 06, 2012
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***Book received as part of Blog Tour for review*** Let me start off by saying that this book should be considered as a novella. My ARC copy was 112 pa...more ***Book received as part of Blog Tour for review*** Let me start off by saying that this book should be considered as a novella. My ARC copy was 112 pages but the font was really small so the final page count may be different. Nonetheless, it is a great quick read. A romance book set in the city of love, how can you go wrong? Through flashbacks we learn that Lyla’s boyfriend Andrew was killed in a car crash. At Andrew’s funeral she meets Alexander Knight. (I love that name!) They become friends and Alex helps her through that difficult time in her life. Eventually, they end up falling in love and moving in together. But Alex is hiding something about the night Andrew died. When Lyla finds out through a friend that Alex was responsible for Andrew’s death, she feels hurt and betrayed and she leaves Alex without giving him a chance to explain himself. Fast forward 5 years to the present and Lyla is now a cold and distant woman who is afraid of letting people in close. She has a boyfriend Nick, who has proposed to Lyla but she hasn’t accepted yet because she doesn’t know how she really feels about him. She has one last work project to do before moving to Spain to be with Nick. Turns out that last project will have her working with Alex. Immediately the chemistry and sexual tension returns full force, even though Lyla tries her best to deny it. Alex is still in love with Lyla and is trying to win her back, but Lyla refuses. She believes that Alex is still a liar and a womanizer. Slowly they start coming closer together. Making matters worse is the fact that Nick surprises Lyla, further complicating her feelings for both men. Although Alex immediately won me over, Lyla’s character was a little bit harder for me to like. I get that she is very confused and conflicted but her choices are not the best. When Nick proposes once again, in front of Alex, she accepts even though it’s clear that she doesn’t want to. Although she redeems herself at the end, sometimes I felt like shaking her. Always You is a great quick read (can read in one sitting) about love and forgiveness which I really enjoyed. I wish this were a full length book because I think it would have been 5 stars. Cover Love: How beautiful is the cover for Always You? I LOVE it! Sign me up on the next flight to Paris! 4 out a 5 sparkly stars! *** My favorite non spoiler quotes from Always You: -What he wanted to do was take her in his arms, and kiss her soft, velvety lips, but he knew how impossible that would have been. Neither the surrounding nor their past would allow that. -She gave a relieved sign when the airport was finally on the horizon and mused at the irony of traveling to two romantic places in the world with an extremely handsome man whom she hated. -“So what are you doing to find the woman you love?” she asked finally. “Hmm… let’s see. I would say she’s right in front of me but doesn’t want to acknowledge it. So, I’ll just wait till she does,” he finished softly. Check out more of my reviews at http://BooksandSparkles.Blogspot.com(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Mar 02, 2012
| Mar 02, 2012
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Jan 12, 2012
| Paperback
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| 9781250009111
| 3.67
| 2,621
| Aug 01, 2012
| Aug 07, 2012
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***ARC provided by St. Martin’s Press for review*** I'm not the biggest fan of futuristic science-fiction books. Not that I don’t enjoy them but I have...more ***ARC provided by St. Martin’s Press for review*** I'm not the biggest fan of futuristic science-fiction books. Not that I don’t enjoy them but I haven’t read that many. But from the first moment I saw the cover of Glitch, I was instantly hooked by the cover and the summary. The colors, the girl, the title, the chip in her back! It all worked beautifully and this book has one of the prettiest covers. In the futuristic world of the “Community”, humans have been implanted with a chip that wiped them from having most emotions and their own thoughts. We meet Zoe who notices that she has started to glitch, and she now all of a sudden having thoughts and feelings of her own. But instead ofturining herself in to be repaired, she hides it because Zoe has a secret that could get her killed if people found out. Instead she starts to hang out with a group of other people like her who are also glitching. Together they must hide the fact that they are glitching, as well as some new abilities. Ah, the dreaded love triangle…I used to hate all love triangles but lately I had been reading about some really good ones tha had me feeling torn and conflicted. Unfortunately, this love triangle only made me want to tear my hair out. Zoey first meets Adrien and they have an instant love connection. Then she meets Max who is really a jerk, and not the good kind. He really good on my nerves and I couldn’t really find much that I liked about him. While my feeling for Adrien were kind of “meh”, my feelings towards Max were “ugh”. I did feel for Zoe and I completely understood how these two guys could make her feel so many different and new emotions that she had never dealt with. Overall, I enjoyed Glitch although not as much as I had hoped. I did think it was a good start to what I hope is an awesome new series. I will continue to read this series, especially after seering the awesome cover for Override. I'm a cover freak, it’s an addiction! I know a lot of people really loved Glitch and others didn’t like it. Just like anything else, this book is not for everyone but the only you will know if you like it or not is if you read it. Who knows? You might end up loving it. Glitch is a futuristic sci-fi meets dystopian story full of secrets and hidden dangers. 3.5 out of 5 sparkly stars! *** Read more of my reviews and author interviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com http://www.mostlyyabookobsessed.com/2... Review posted: 08/14/12 as part of Blog Tour (less) | Notes are private!
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| not set
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Feb 14, 2012
| ebook
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| 0385739370
| 9780385739375
| 3.91
| 4,516
| Mar 13, 2012
| Mar 13, 2012
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***ARC provided by publisher for review*** I am in LOVE with this book! Bria Sandoval has given up her opportunity to go to art school and her passion...more ***ARC provided by publisher for review*** I am in LOVE with this book! Bria Sandoval has given up her opportunity to go to art school and her passion in life, drawing. Her ex-boyfriend Toby, who is also an artist, was very critical about her art and manipulative about their relationship. After their breakup, Bria decides she needs a change in scenery. She chops off her long hair into a cute short haircut and she signs up with two of her friends to go on a tourist vacation to South America. Her friends end up backing out but Bria is determined to go alone. On the plane she meets a Starling, who is also going to South America on a backpacking trip. When Bria arrives at the airport in South America, she is greeted by her tour group, The Global Vagabonds, which include mostly old people. The tour group does everything in groups and when Bria meets Starling again, she convinces her to ditch the Global Vagabonds and go backpacking with her and her step-brother Rowan. After only a couple days together, Starling has to go back to her humanitarian job and she leaves Bria with Rowan, a reformed backpacking bad boy with a wild past. Bria is hesitant at first because she doesn’t really know Rowan and he has made it clear that he doesn’t want her to travel with them. But she would rather spend time with him than go back to her tour group. At first, Bria and Rowan are very awkward with each other. They only have short conversations and both of them refuse to talk about their past. They travel to different cities by chicken bus and water taxies and stay in hostels. Slowly they start to let each other see sneak peeks from their past. But can they get over their trust issues and let go of the past before Bria’s trip is over? (I don’t want to give too much away about Bria and Rowan’s relationship because that’s what makes the book so great!) As I’ve said before, I am in LOVE with this book! Wanderlove is one of those feel-good books that make you wish the story would go on and on. After reading this book, I felt like if I had just gone on an adventure with Bria and Rowan. Bria, Rowan and Starling were such great characters and I felt like I could relate to them. What makes this book so great is the fact that you can tell the author has gone to these same places and lived these great adventures instead of just getting information from Google. I LOVED the slow build up to Bria and Rowan’s relationship, it made it that much more rewarding that they didn’t immediately jump into anything and took their time. Oh and Kirsten Hubbard includes some of her amazing drawings that go along perfectly with the book. Some of the drawings include Starling, Rowan and Bria herself. With her amazing storytelling and drawings, Kirsten Hubbard is one incredibly talented author and I can’t wait to read more books from her! I read a review on Goodreads that stated that “if you are not the adventurous type and are not interested in traveling with a backpack, this book might not be for you.” I am SO not the adventurous type, I don’t even really like camping and would much rather stay in a hotel. Still, this is one my all-time favorite books! Yes I loved reading about Bria and Rowan’s backpacking adventures, but what I really enjoyed the most was the their character progression and the beautiful love story between them. I would recommend this book to everyone, even if you have never thought about taking a backpacking trip. If you want to take a mini-adventure but don’t have the time or money, then pick up this book and dive into the world of Wanderlove. 5 out of 5 sparkly stars! (PS: If you haven’t yet, make sure to check out Kirsten Hubbard’s blog to see pictures of the places she travels to and baby animals, you can’t go wrong with baby animals.) ***Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from Wanderlove*** -I would do the last thing anyone would expect me to do: I would go anyway. Cue inspirational music. -I want to argue that they don’t know anything about me-I am impulsive. Didn’t I steal away to Santa Lucia? Sprint off in Chichicastenango? Journey to Central America in the first place? I even almost ate a street cart tamale! -“Quanto queso?” I ask the vendor. Rowan stares at me, obviously impressed by my Spanish fluency. Except the fruit vendor is staring at me too. “Oh,” Rowan says, starting to grin. “You mean ‘Quanto cuesta?’” “That’s what I-” I pause. Oh no. Oh God. I totally asked, How much cheese? -I watch him for a while, feeling sort of possessive. Whatever Rowan’s been through in the years that separate us, now he’s just trying to be good. It’s ironic, almost, that I’m trying to be the opposite. -“Did I mention I love it when you talk about art?” “You might have.” I pull away clearing my throat. -He’s shed his shirt. I feel my breath catch, and this time. I let it. Check out my blog to read more of my reviews and check back this month for an interview with Kirsten Hubbard! Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed http://BooksandSparkles.Blogspot.com(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Mar 05, 2012
| Mar 08, 2012
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Feb 15, 2012
| Hardcover
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| 1620610914
| 9781620610916
| 3.84
| 2,651
| Oct 30, 2012
| Dec 18, 2012
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***ARC received by Entangled Teen for review purposes*** It’s like gravity disappears when he’s around and I’m floating, lost. With the simple but beau...more ***ARC received by Entangled Teen for review purposes*** It’s like gravity disappears when he’s around and I’m floating, lost. With the simple but beautiful cover and eye-catching hook: Don’t. Ever. Peak, Gravity was instantly on my highly anticipated to-read list. I haven’t had much experience with alien books, (well except for the Lux series by JLA and Aliens Ate My Homework) and was eager to try it out. Before I start my official review, I want to point out that my ARC copy is not the final version. I admit that Gravity started out very confusing for me and a little bit slow. I was definitely intrigued by the story, but I was also very confused by it at first. A little background story would have been a big help, but I eventually got the hang of the story and what was going on. In the distant future, aliens, better known as Ancients, have invaded Earth. They have an agreement with the humans; they will coexist peacefully in exchange for the Takings. Ancients don’t have the necessary nutrients to survive on Earth, so every night they must take nutrients from their assigned human. All the humans are afraid of the Ancients, except for Ari. She has always felt a connection and has this strange attraction to her ancient, which is super weird considering she has never seen them. She doesn’t even know if her Ancient is a guy or a girl. One night, she accidentally sees her Ancient, only to discover that it’s Jackson, a guy from her school. Pretty soon, Ari can’t stop thinking about Jackson and is conflicted by her feelings for him. She shouldn’t like him because a) He is an Ancient. b) Her father is the chief commander and c) She is technically already engaged. (Arranged marriage) Ari was such an awesome written character. She is strong and fierce and she can kick some major butt! My favorite type of girls. Jackson was my kind of guy, you know, the hot but emotionally tortured guy. Definitely my favorite type! Although their relationship was a little bit fast, it worked for me. Their relationship was sweet, forbidden, hot and romantic, but it could all be destroyed by secrets. The world created in Gravity was such a unique and refreshing change. It was a mix of dystopia/sci-fi/paranormal/romance which as disastrous as that sounds was a perfect mix. The Ancients want to coexist and the humans are sick of playing hosts. Both the Ancients AND the humans played dirty and it is up to poor Ari, Jackson and their friends to prevent an all-out war and be able to save both races. Piece of cake! After a bumpy start, I was quickly sucked into the world of Gravity and after that cliffhanger ending, I want to read more! I hope we get to learn more about the Ancients and of course more swoony moments between Ari and Jackson. Add The Taking series to my list of must-read books! With a very unique plotline, great characters and kick-butt action scenes, Gravity is not to be missed! 4 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from Gravity: -No one talks about it. No one talks about them at all. “The Ancients prefer discretion,” Mom once told me. But some say it’s because they’re so freakish we’d drop dead of fright. Others say they’re too attractive, too tempting. I prefer this theory. -Dad taught me to know my weaknesses and face them head on. I glanced over at Jackson. I guess neither of us expected a boy to become one of those weaknesses. -“Well, go ahead, try it on,” Jackson says as he leans against the wall beside my window, his arms crossed. “I won’t watch. Much.” -His fingertips hesitate at my lips, and his gaze drops. I draw a breath, and then his lips find mine. It’s an explosion of emotions-first warmth, then contentment, then fear, so much fear. -His hands move into my hair, down my back, further and further. I wiggle a hand under his shirt, tracing lines on his stomach, and ease off his shirt. He does the same for mine so we’re bare chest to bare chest, our breath heavy. *** Read more of my reviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com (less)
| Notes are private!
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1
| Oct 20, 2012
| Oct 25, 2012
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Feb 16, 2012
| Paperback
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| B007BDZ6X0
| 3.96
| 531
| Feb 20, 2012
| Feb 20, 2012
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***Book received for review by Ada Adams*** After reading Bloodlines by Richelle Mead last year, I was getting a little bit bored with the vampire genr...more ***Book received for review by Ada Adams*** After reading Bloodlines by Richelle Mead last year, I was getting a little bit bored with the vampire genre. Not that there was anything wrong with Bloodlines, in fact, I loved that book. I was just ready to move on to another genre. It had been a while since I had read a vampire book, so when I stumbled upon the beautiful book cover for ReVamped on Goodreads, I immediately added it to my to-be-read shelf based on the cover alone. After reading the synopsis and finding out it was a vampire book, it somehow got pushed back to my TBR pile. Then I got a review request from the lovely (and super-talented) Ada Adams for ReVamped and I decided to push it back up to the top of my TBR pile. I’m so glad I did! I was surprised I somehow ended up reading The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa and then ReVamped immediately after. Maybe the vampire genre is making a comeback… ReVamped sets up a world where the vampires have made themselves public and are treated as celebrities. Dawn is a 19-year old Born vampire and extremely rare. Her father is the president of the vampire society and as a result, Dawn has led a very sheltered and lonely life. Dawn is a very kick-ass vampire who is skilled in a variety of fighting methods, but she is stuck at the presidential headquarters teaching little vampire kids how to fight. She dreams of the day when she is sent out on her first real mission. When her distant father finally sends her out on her first mission, Dawn is ecstatic. Her mission is to travel to the small town of Angel Creek and take a group of four vampires to turn into the town guardians. Three of those vampires are some of the most awkward and misfit vampires Damn has met, and she realize it will take a miracle for her to revamp these vampires into suitable guardians. The other vampire is Sebastian, who is distant and moody and refuses to join their group. Either way, Dawn and Sebastian have some insanely hot chemistry and they can’t seem to stay away from each other. Meanwhile, Dawn is also attracted to Ethan, who also can’t seem to stay away from Dawn. Throughout the book, the chemistry between Dawn-Sebastian and Dawn-Ethan was so strong that I couldn’t decide who I wanted Dawn to be with, although my choice was clear towards the end of the book. What is supposed to be an easy mission turns out to be even more dangerous than what any of them could’ve thought and they will all have to fight together in other to survive. I can’t even begin to tell you what a nice surprise ReVamped was! For me, it had it all: Vampires, action, hot guys, a tough female character, romance, and a sci-fi twist that I didn’t see coming! I loved the pop-culture references that were made, such as vampires competing in shows like The Next Vamp Idol or Transylvania Shore. Dawn was a very strong and likeable lead character: tough yet vulnerable. And even though Brooke, Sophie, Hunter and Seth were weird at first, they really grew on me and I ended up loving them. I loved the world of ReVamped so much, that I can’t wait to read the next book to find out more. If you have been in a bit of a vampire slump, I highly recommend you give this book a chance! The mystery and romance in this book had these pages practically turning themselves! 4.5 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from ReVamped: -I snatched a soft pouch filled with a mix of donor blood and all-natural fruit juice from the snack table. “Remember kids, Blood Juice is a healthy, appropriate meal,” I said, tossing the concoction to a nine-year-old student named Eddie. “Your human friends at school are not. I heard what happened at recess last week.” I shot the boy a disapproving look as I exited the courtyard. -I was a level-headed, self-assured and intelligent girl, but nineteen years of studying and training under my father’s direct supervision hadn’t allowed for much opportunity to develop skills for dealing with boys. -“I’ve had many of my ‘firsts’ here.” I said proudly. Sebastian glanced over at me. “Like, your first kiss?” he teased playfully, a small smile spreading over his lips. “No!” I cried, mortified. I wasn’t about to share that, despite being nineteen years old, I had not yet reached that particular milestone. “No, like my first swordfight,” I clarified. “I should’ve figured,” he said, his smile growing wider. Suddenly, he seized my hands. “How about another first?” he asked, pulling me into him. -I rested my head against his chest, inhaling in his unique cologne. He smelled like a sultry summer storm— cool, refreshing rain, sweltering, hot wind, and charged, electric thunder— all rolled up into one extremely enticing vampire being. The proximity of his strong, muscular body was tantalizing; no matter how much I tried to fight it, I couldn’t ignore the effect that he had on me. He possessed the power to wind me up, excite me, and even infuriate me, while at the same time making me feel calm, comforted and safe. -“Well, he had taken Vampiricol once. It made him feel like a million bucks. He said that he was stronger and faster than anyone else on the field. And apparently, he was also a much better lover.” Brooke giggled. “Okay, well we knew all that from Ethan.” I said, dismayed by the lack of information. Sebastian’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing in my direction. “Uhh, except the lover part, of course,” I clarified uncomfortably. (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Apr 24, 2012
| Apr 25, 2012
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Feb 29, 2012
| Kindle Edition
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| 0399159436
| 9780399159435
| 3.80
| 2,209
| Nov 13, 2012
| Nov 13, 2012
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***ARC provided by author for review*** “To sin with a Darkling is to sin against His Mighty.” Let me start off by saying that dystopias are not my fa...more
***ARC provided by author for review*** “To sin with a Darkling is to sin against His Mighty.” Let me start off by saying that dystopias are not my favorite genre. I used to love them but have been staying away from them lately. The main reason is that they can be too damn depressing sometimes. But, as soon as I saw Black City, I knew this was one I wanted to read. First of all, look at that gorgeous cover! Not to mention the fact that the plot sounded so unique and amazing. And did I mention the cover? What can I say; I’m a sucker for beautiful covers. I was still a little hesitant to read this because I had seen all of the raving reviews and I had high expectations. Luckily, Black City met and surpassed my expectations! After a devastating war between the humans and the darklings, a wall now separates both races. Everyone except Ash who is a half human-half darkling who still lives in the human side with his human dad. Because he is neither a full human or full darkling he feels like he doesn’t belong anywhere. Natalie is the daughter of the Emissary who is dead-set on getting rid of the darklings. They shouldn’t like each other because they are on opposite sides and they have nothing in common, not to mention that it is illegal to be in a relationship with a darkling, but of course they can’t help their feelings. Some people might think this was a case of insta-love but I thought it was more of a instant attraction that slowly grew to love. Natalie and Ash didn’t even really like each other at first but at the end it was clear that they had something real between them. But their love will have to survive the threat of being murdered if they are caught, Ash’s attraction to his darkling side, her cruel mother and the many secrets she and the government are keeping. What I loved most about Black City was the world that Elizabeth created. Yes this is a dystopia but it was so much more than that. It had the dystopia setting with the paranormal and romance aspects mixed in. The world was so beautifully described that I could vividly picture it in my head. I loved the crazy religion/cult aspect with the government against the darklings. I loved the darkling race she created which sounds like a weird vampire mix. The only thing I wish was a better description of what these darklings look like. Sometimes it seemed like they were animal-lie creatures but Ash wasn’t described like this. I’m assuming this is because he is half human. With it's action-packed and fast paced story, forbidden romance, secrets and plenty of plot twists Black Cityhas gotten me out of my dystopian funk. The last 100 nail-biting pages especially had me on the edge of my seat, anticipating the ending but at the same time being scared to get to it. I’ll be eagerly (not-so-patiently) waiting for the release of Phoenix. 4.5 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from Black City: -“Don’t worry, he’s not going to bite you,” Day says. “Not unless you ask real nice.” I show a glimpse of fang. -I wonder what it would be like to place my lips over that freckle, to sink my fangs into her neck…She turns and catches me looking. A small smiles flits across her lips, and in that instant, my fate is sealed. I want her. -I tremble slightly, afraid of the thought of him biting me, but liking the fact that he wants me. It’s so messed up. My head’s telling me he’s dangerous and to run away, but my heart is keeping me here. -Ash pulls me toward him, and his lips find mine. The kiss is delicate and uncertain. My fingers twist through his hair, and I draw him closer, my body craving him more than oxygen. I moan with pleasure as he sinks deeper into the kiss, his lips opening, his tongue running across mine. *** Read more of my reviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Nov 22, 2012
| Nov 28, 2012
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Mar 19, 2012
| Hardcover
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| 193630502X
| 9781936305025
| 4.03
| 153
| Mar 01, 2012
| Mar 27, 2012
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None
| Notes are private!
| none
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0
| not set
| not set
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Mar 27, 2012
| Paperback
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| 1401686354
| 9781401686352
| 3.87
| 499
| May 29, 2012
| May 29, 2012
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***ARC provided by Thomas Nelson for review*** Angel books have become very popular. In fact, this is the third angel book I have read in the past two...more ***ARC provided by Thomas Nelson for review*** Angel books have become very popular. In fact, this is the third angel book I have read in the past two weeks. Even though the books are about angels and demons, each story and the world behind the book is very different. Once again, I was immediately intrigued by this book because of the cover. Unlike other angel books, this cover didn't feature wings. Instead, it featured a beautiful, glowing halo. I've never read an angel book mentioning halo's and was even more intrigued by this. Angel Eyes tells the story of 17-year old Brielle, who has just moved back from the city to her old hometown of Stratus after her best friend, Ali, was murdered. Ali's boyfriend Marco is accused of the murder and Brielle feels responsible for her death because she believes she could have done something to prevent it. She soon meets the new guy, Jake and although they don't instantly fall in love with each other, it's clear that they do have chemistry together. When Brielle gets caught in a bad storm and breaks her ankle trying to get home, Jake comes to her rescue and somehow heals her ankle. When Brielle demands answers, Jake tells her about his guardian Canaan who is an angel. Jake gives Brielle a mysterious gold ring (not that kind of ring), a halo which calms Brielle and can change forms to a bracelet. When Jake tells her more about angels and about the battle between Canaan and his enemy, Damien who is a demon, Brielle discovers that she is somehow in the middle of it. Just when Brielle thinks she can't take any more, Marco has escaped prison and comes looking for her. Angel Eyes is told from alternating POV's-Brielle, Damien and Canaan. Although it helped give background information on the demon and the angel, I found that these extra POV's were distracting and at times confusing. Although Brielle and Jake had great chemistry, I wasn't WOW'd by their relationship. Instead I found it to be...sweet and with a lot of promise. Unlike other angel books, Angel Eyes had more of a religious background which didn't bother me because I felt that it fit perfectly with the storyline. But I can see how this might bother other people. Angel Eyes was a sweet story about angels, demons, finding happiness and believing in your destiny. With a fresh outlook on angels and a cliffhanger ending, readers will be sucked in to this new world and will be left eagerly waiting for the next book in the series. 3.5 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from Angel Eyes: -Blood rushes to my face and neck. I'm mortified, but I stand really, really still. That's what you're supposed to do to avoid a bear attack, right? Does it work with boys? -"Hotter than me?" He's teasing, his eyes burning back at me. I would never ever tell him this, but right now I can't imagine anything hotter than he is. -I'm still lost in the Neverlands, without any wings, without any desire to go. -Hamlet's debate is flawed. Death can't end heartache. But love? Love just might. -"Sometimes it's not about us," he says, pushing the hair away from my face. "Sometimes we aren't the main characters in this story. Sometimes we get to be the hero." *** Check out my YA book blog to read my reviews and author interviews: Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed http://BooksandSparkles.Blogspot.com (less) | Notes are private!
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| May 25, 2012
| May 28, 2012
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Mar 31, 2012
| Paperback
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| 1477659188
| 9781477659182
| 3.88
| 453
| Jun 24, 2012
| Jun 29, 2012
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***ARC provided by Karice Bolton for Blog Tour*** Out of all of the paranormal YA genres, I haven’t read that many books about witches. Although I am f...more ***ARC provided by Karice Bolton for Blog Tour*** Out of all of the paranormal YA genres, I haven’t read that many books about witches. Although I am fascinated by the concept of witchcraft and spells, I haven’t found many books in this genre that have caught my attention. (The few that I have read, I really like) The beautiful and dark looking cover is what caught my attention; luckily this wasn't one of those books with just a pretty cover. Triss can't wait for her 18th birthday when she will finally be let in to the Witch Avenue coven. But a couple of weeks before her birthday, her mother suddenly disappears. Although there is no proof of what might happened to her, everyone wants Triss to believe that she is dead. They even have a memorial service for her. But, all along Triss continues to hold on to hope that her mother is still alive. She is left with her aunt to take care of her, along with her mother’s best friend and his son Logan. Triss and Logan are convinced that the coven is hiding something about her mother’s disappearance and they are determined to find out on their own what it is. What I loved about this book is that Triss and Logan already knew each other; it wasn't some inst-connection where “I just met you and BAM-I love you!” There were best friends when they were kids until middle school when Logan and his mom moved away. Although Logan kept trying to keep his friendship with Triss, she kind of blew him off. But now that he’s back and all grown up, Triss can't stop thinking about him. Of course it doesn’t help that Logan is just about the sweetest guy EVER! Seriously, there are so many swoon-worthy moments in this book. Although Logan is sweet, protective and fiercely loyal, he also has a dark side. He has used dark magic in the past and although he no longer practices it, he is willing to do ANYTHING to protect the people he loves. But, no matter how perfect Logan may be, Triss fights their attraction. Sometimes to the point where she frustrated me. I understood why she had reservations about starting a relationship with him, especially when most of her focus was on finding her mom, but at the same time it seemed like it took more energy to fight their attraction than to just give in. Another thing I loved was that this book was set after high school graduation. It seems like YA books set after high school are on the rise (I hope). I gotta say that I totally love this. Sometimes it seems like too much to have to deal with the paranormal stuff in YA books and then to have to deal with all of the high school problems. Oh and I loved learning all about their society through their spells and incantations. Unfortunately, this was my first book by Karice Bolton. Luckily, it will not be my last! Not only will I keep reading this series, but I also really want to read her other series too. Full of romance, magic spells, danger and some surprising twist, Lonely Souls is a really great and quick read! 4 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite quotes from Lonely Souls: (Hmm, I just noticed most of these quotes are from Logan. He’s dreamy!) -“I know we haven’t seen each other for years, but I'd never do that to you. I don’t care where I'm at in the world or what I'm doing, I’ll always be here for you, Triss.” -“This is exactly what I was talking about last night. Quit building up those walls, because they're a lot harder to deconstruct that construct.” -I sighed still not allowing my gaze to meet his. There was something about his eyes that made me want to drop everything and find out what was lurking behind them. The way they could flash from light to dark in an instant made me so curious. -He spun around, and it was hard for me to ignore how absolutely built he looked from that angle. This roommate thing was going to be tough, but it had to be done. -“Everything that I loved about you back then is present sitting here in front of me, except now you’ve grown into a woman who is unbelievably strong, brave and beautiful. -“It's because of you, Triss. You’ve never been far from my thoughts. Everything I've ever done or thought about has included you in some form. You just didn’t know it.” -“I did nothing more than save the one I love. There is nothing dark about that, Triss. There never will be.” *** Read more of my reviews and author interviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Jul 09, 2012
| Jul 11, 2012
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Apr 10, 2012
| Paperback
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| 1402271875
| 9781402271878
| 3.84
| 4,395
| Oct 01, 2012
| Oct 01, 2012
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***ARC received by Sourcebooks Fire for review purposes*** One thing I learned from reading Catching Jordan is to expect the unexpected when it comes...more
***ARC received by Sourcebooks Fire for review purposes*** One thing I learned from reading Catching Jordan is to expect the unexpected when it comes to Miranda Kenneally’s awesome books. Because of this, it is hard for me to write a spoiler-free review of this book, but here is my best shot! Parker has a good life. She was a good softball player, she had a close-knit family, she loved going to church and she had great friends. Then it all fell apart when her mother announced she was a lesbian and moved away to live with her girlfriend. Since then, her brother is a disaster, her dad is in denial, her best friend abandoned her and the people at her church stay away from her. When her ex-best friend starts spreading rumors that Parker is a lesbian just like her mom, Parker decides to quit softball, lose weight and prove that she is most definitely into guys. Soon after, Parker starts to get a nasty reputation. When her friend Drew convinces her to try out for the guys baseball managing team, she misses the game so much that she decides to give it a shot. She meets the new assistant baseball coach, Brian, who is 6 years older than him and crushes on him pretty hard. Although they keep things professional at first, it’s not long before they cross the line into inappropriate territory. Meanwhile, we also have Will, (AKA Corndog) who starts to develop a real and deep friendship with Parker. While I usually have no problems with faculty-student relationships when it is done right (Hello Vampire Academy!), I did at times think that Brian took advantage of Parker more than once. But Parker is a big girl and she knew what she was getting herself into. Is having a forbidden relationship with Brian worth all the problems that it can lead to? And Will? He was just the best! Only Miranda Kenneally can make us swoon over a guy named Corndog! Will was sweet and funny and exactly what Parker needed a true friend and someone who really cares about her. Throughout all of this, Parker must also deal with trying to put her family back together, some bad choices that she has made, trying to forgive her mother for abandoning her and finding out why God has faced her with all these challenges. Stealing Parker was deeper and emotional than Catching Jordan but still managed to maintain that trademark writing and awesome characters that Kenneally does best! I truly felt my heart breaking for Parker and some of the things she has to go through. I LOVED that we got to see glimpse of Henry, Jordan, Ty and a couple of other characters from Catching Jordan. These brief glimpses were perfect enough to let you know what they are up to but do not distract you from the current storyline. Plus, any chance to read about Henry was a win for me. Kenneally tackles some tough issues in this story such as sexuality and religion and her writing has that perfect mix of bluntness and awkwardness to keep things interesting. Even though I thought the ending was perfect, the only thing I thought was missing was more swoony moments. Overall, Stealing Parker is a great companion to this series. Funny, sweet, sad, heartfelt and at times emotionally draining (in a good way). Fans of Catching Jordan will NOT be disappointed with this story! Can’t wait to read the next story in this series! Can March come any faster please? 4 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from Stealing Parker: -Parker Shelton, Sinner Extraordinaire. I should have business cards made. -When God created the Earth, he had such a sick twisted sense of humor. He made everything that’s wrong feel really, really good. -Maybe all friendships don’t fizzle. Maybe, like the kaleidoscope, the colors just change. (I have more, but they were too spoilery) Read more of my reviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Oct 13, 2012
| Oct 16, 2012
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Apr 11, 2012
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| B005VHPAJI
| 4.03
| 26,807
| Oct 12, 2011
| Oct 12, 2011
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***Copy received by Simon Pulse for review*** "I loved him, but I loved her more." I’ve been dreading writing this review. I thought that waiting 5 da...more
***Copy received by Simon Pulse for review*** "I loved him, but I loved her more." I’ve been dreading writing this review. I thought that waiting 5 days after I finished this book, I would be able to write down my feelings on this book. I was wrong! I don’t think I’ll ever be able to express all the feelings and emotions I went through with The Vincent Boys. To say that I loved this book would be a severe understatement. How do you know when you love a book? When you receive a review copy but after reading 20 pages you rush to buy the Kindle version just so you can read at every possible spare moment. When you have to stay an hour later at work because you didn’t get any work done because you were reading while pretending to work. When you stay up until 2:30am no matter how tired you are because you just Can’t. Stop. Reading! When the whole time you are reading the book, you are mentally kicking yourself for not having read the book sooner. And when you finish the book, you wish you could read it all over again. Despite the raving reviews and the endless recommendations from Andrea, Ellen and Autumn, I was hesitant to read this book even though I’m a big Abbi Glines fan. Why? Well, I’m not a fan of books about cheating. To me, it’s very black and white. Right and wrong. But Abbi Glines does an amazing job of making you rethink this. The story of Ashton and Beau hooked me right from the very beginning. I love friendship-turned romance stories, and this is one of the best I have read. Growing up, the Vincent boys and Ashton were inseparable. Even though they were all close, Ashton and Beau were best friends. Up until Sawyer went behind Beau’s back and asked Ashton out. From that moment, the friendship between Ashton and Beau was gone. They rarely talked anymore even though Beau was crazy about Ashton. But she was his cousin’s girl now and it was easier for Beau to stay away from Ashton than to try to hide his feelings. When Sawyer leaves with his family for the summer, Ashton rekindles her friendship with Beau. At first, it starts off as an awkward relationship between them but it quickly becomes clear that they still have feelings for each other. As much as they try to fight it and do the right thing, Ash and Beau fall hard for each other. Then Sawyer comes back from his trip early. Ashton realizes that as much as she loves Sawyer, she is not in love with him and that she isn’t herself when she is with him. Beau remembers who the real Ashton is and he’s crazy in love with her and Ashton finally feels free to be herself around him. She is heartbroken because she wants to do the right thing and break things off with Sawyer but she also doesn’t want them to hate each other or the whole town to be against Beau. As much as she tries to do the right thing, she’s just not sure what that is anymore. OMG, I LOVED this story so freaking much! Ashton, Beau and Sawyer are great characters with many flaws, which only makes me love them more. Ashton is the preachers daughter, she lost herself when she started dating Sawyer and became the person she thought she should be instead of the person she wants to be. She let go of her friendship with Beau even though they were best friends. She is so conflicted by her feelings for both of the Vincent boys and she makes mistakes because of it. Sawyer was the town ‘golden boy’. He’s quarterback of the football team and he has everything he wants, including the perfect girlfriend. He’s nice and respectful and charming…and he completely bored me. At first I felt bad for him but the more I read I liked him less and less. Oh Beau! I have no words to adequately describe my love for him. He was just perfect. After he lost Ashton, he became the town bad boy. Drinking and sleeping around too much. He’s had a hard life but Sawyer was always there for him. No matter how much he loves Ashton, he never wanted to hurt Sawyer so he kept his distance from Ashton. Love is never easy and Abbi captured it perfectly. The relationship and struggles between Ash and Beau is beautiful and messy and full of passion and heartbreak. I had to put this book down several times and just let out a “fuck!” because it was that good and intense. As sad I was to see it end, the ending was perfect. The next book, The Vincent Brothers is Sawyer’s story. After reading this book I wasn’t that crazy about reading it because I wasn’t a big Sawyer fan, but I needed another Abbi Glines fix. All I can say about that is that I am now a big Beau AND Sawyer fan. The Vincent boys stole my heart. I feel like an addict now because I need more Abbi Glines! I’ve already bought the first book in her Sea Breeze series and I can’t wait to devour through those too. The Vincent Boys was an emotional and heartbreaking story that will stay with me for a very long time. So, just in case you couldn’t tell from my review (or incoherent rambling), I five-starred the shit out of this book! Definitely one of my top 10 books of the year and one of my all-time favorite books EVER! 5 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from The Vincent Boys: -He’d always had everything I didn’t have: the perfect parents, home and life. But none of that mattered because I’d had Ashton. Sure, we all three were friends, but Ash had been mine. She’d been my partner in crime, the one person I told all my dreams and fears to, my soul mate. Then just like everything else in Sawyer’s perfect life, he got my girl. The only thing I’d thought I could call mine had become his. -“Ash, I’m trying real hard to be good. Good isn’t my thing, but Sawyer’s important to me. Please remember I’ve got my limits, and you studying my mouth like you want a taste is pushing me dangerously close to the edge of those limits.” -“Touch me,” she whispered. The fact that she was Sawyer’s girl no longer seemed to matter. I couldn’t tell her no. Hell, I couldn’t tell myself no. -The moment my mouth touched hers, my world started spinning beneath me. I couldn’t get enough. I had her bra off and my hands full within seconds. The loud moan of pleasure that escaped from her mouth almost sent me over the edge. -“All I knew then was that you were Sawyer’s. My best friend was gone. I envied him for the first time that day. He’d finally won the one prize I’d thought was mine.” -“Staying with him. Letting him touch you, hold you, God. It’s eating me alive. You may be keeping Sawyer from hating me, but you’re only making me hate him.” *** Read more of my reviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Nov 19, 2012
| Nov 21, 2012
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Apr 18, 2012
| Kindle Edition
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| 1620611279
| 9781620611272
| 3.65
| 265
| Oct 30, 2012
| Nov 13, 2012
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***ARC received by Entangled Teen for review purposes*** First of all, I have to give it up to Entangled Teen for picking another winner. I was stil...more
***ARC received by Entangled Teen for review purposes*** First of all, I have to give it up to Entangled Teen for picking another winner. I was still on the high of the last amazing book I read (Greta and the Goblin King) and I was worried my next read wouldn’t live up to my expectations. But, that was pretty much impossible when you have such a fantastic concept set in a futuristic world! I had a feeling that Luminosity would be a hit from the first page and I was not disappointed! Beatrice has is blessed with the ‘sight’. Like all Seers, she was taken from her parents at a young age and placed in a very cruel and strict institution that uses Seers for their own protection. The institute is a very strict place and Bea is lonely and unhappy. When she has visions that start becoming true and lead to the execution of a young girl, Bea starts to question the real purpose of the institute. But when other Seers start to have visions of the city’s destruction, she must also question her own visions and find out who she can trust. I loved the world that Stephanie created in Luminosity but the one thing that fell a little flat for me was the romance (which is weird because Entangled Teen is so popular for their hot romance). Although I have no problems with love triangles (when done right), I wasn’t really feeling this one. We have Gabe who has been Bea’s best friend since forever, and she has started to develop feelings for him. But, it was hard to tell if Gabe liked Bea too or if he was just playing the role of best friend. The best friend romance is by far one of my favorites, but ONLY when the main character ends up with the best friend! I hate when they bring in a best friend into the mix if he is just going to be overshadowed by some other guy. If you are going to do the best friend thing, please do it right. Otherwise the friendship also gets messed up in the process. (Rant over). Then we have Echo, who is a Dreamcatcher and visits Bea in her dreams. (Whoa, another guy who can invade dreams! Adrian, Isaac and Echo need to start a club. And someone please tell them where I live!) Bea must keep her interactions with Echo a secret because he is the enemy and Bea’s life could be in jeopardy if anyone find out about them. Although they had some good moments, I felt kind of meh over their relationship. I would much rather prefer Bea to get together with Gabe. Although I wasn’t wowed by the romance, the amazing concept of Seers and Dreamcatchers overpowered it and I ended up really liking this book! The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger and one that will definitely keep me on the lookout for the next book in this series. With a fresh and unique twist on dystopias, Luminosity is an action-packed story set in a cruel yet fascinating world. One that is not to be missed! 4 out of 5 sparkly stars! *** Read more of my reviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Nov 12, 2012
| Nov 18, 2012
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Apr 20, 2012
| Paperback
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| 0062085611
| 9780062085610
| 4.23
| 13,084
| May 01, 2012
| May 01, 2012
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Stories with fallen angels, especially Nephilim, are some of my favorites (Hush, Hush anyone?). There is just something about the struggle between goo...more
Stories with fallen angels, especially Nephilim, are some of my favorites (Hush, Hush anyone?). There is just something about the struggle between good/bad, angels/demons/fallen angels that captivates my attention. This entire book-even the title-and the main characters are a contradiction. Anna is a sweet and innocent girl who has a dark side just begging to be released. And Kaidan is one heck of a bad boy who just wants to be loved. Anna has always known she is different; she can sense people's feelings and see the colors of their emotions. But she doesn't know exactly what she is. Her stepmother Patti, is fiercely overprotective of Anna, which has unfortunately made Anna a little bit too sweet and naive. She goes to a concert and meets the band's drummer, Kaidan. Kaidan has an English accent which I usually don't like (except for Ed Westwick) but somehow works for me. When she meets Kaidan, she knows that he is different like her too. Kaidan is rude and cocky, yet despite how much Anna tries to fight it, she is attracted to him. He explains to her that they are children of demons-called Nephilim who are basically forced to work for their fathers who are the Dukes of Sin-any sort of relationship or free will is strictly forbidden and punishable by death. Kaidan's father is the Duke of Lust and Anna's father is the Duke of Substance Abuse...yup. Sweet Anna was the perfect combination for sinful Kaidan. Although Anna started off as a little bit wimpy and naive in the beginning, she definitely grew into herself and became tougher towards the end. And although Kaidan seemed like an arrogant jerk sometimes, he also had his sweet moments with Anna. The secondary characters, including Anna's stepmom, her best friend and the rest of the Dukes and Nephilim were written perfectly. The Dukes were truly ruthless and some of the evil-ist characters I have read about. Wendy Higgins created such a wickedly fabulous new world of angels and demons! Sweet Evil is a dark and sensual story that will leave you absolutely hooked and begging for more. Never once did the story go in the direction I thought which left me with plenty of shocking twist and turns. The insanely HOT chemistry and friction between Anna and Kaidan is so intoxicating and addictive and I was looking forward to any interaction between these two. Sweet Evil does not sugar coat things. I will say that dealing with issues like sex, drugs and drinking, I would consider this book to be more in the new adult category (which is a mature YA category). I also wouldn't mind reading this as an adult book. Not at all! Although this book was about 450 pages, it was so addicting that the pages just flew on by. The ending was unexpected and will leave you dying to know what will happen between Anna and Kaidan. Sweet Evil definitely lives up to its hype, it’s sinfully delicious! Trust me when I say that you won't want to miss out on this amazing story! 5 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non spoiler quotes from Sweet Evil: -I'd never met anyone with an accent like his, and I was ashamed of the effect it had on me. He was obviously rude, and yet I wanted him to keep talking to me. It didn't make any sense. -I'd been looking in the wrong place earlier when I searched for a flaw in Kaidan. It was not in his face; it was in his personality. -"It's just you and me out here right now, Anna. I felt you come alive when we kissed, and I know you're afraid of that. Afraid to unleash that other side of yourself. But you needn't worry. I can handle her." -He pulled his lips just far enough away to speak. "What time will Patti be calling?" I managed a glimpse at the clock, feeling his mouth on my collarbone. "Not for an hour," I whispered. "That simply is not going to be enough time." -"What do you want from me, Kai?" "For starters?" His voice lowered to sexy, dangerous depths. "I want to introduce myself to every freckle on your body." -His mouth found mine in the dark, fiery and rough. I gave a tiny whimper before melting into him and pulling his face down to mine even harder. In that kiss we spoke all of the things we couldn't say. He kissed me with an urgency born of some strong, unstable emotion: fury. I tried to imagine the nature of that feeling. Was he angry because of how I made him feel? Angry that he was powerless to change tonight's outcome? I didn't know, but I welcomed it. -I might have inherited a legacy of sin from my father, but I was also given a heritage of hope from my mother, and that was the one I needed to embrace. *** Check out my interview with Wendy Higgins: http://booksandsparkles.blogspot.com/... *** Read more of my reviews and author interviews at: Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed http://BooksandSparkles.Blogspot.com (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| May 13, 2012
| May 16, 2012
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Apr 29, 2012
| Paperback
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| 1477553371
| 9781477553374
| 3.96
| 290
| May 14, 2012
| Jul 01, 2012
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***ARC received by Frankie Rose for review and as part of Blog Tour*** 18 year old Farley Hope is just trying to make sense of her life. After her moth...more ***ARC received by Frankie Rose for review and as part of Blog Tour*** 18 year old Farley Hope is just trying to make sense of her life. After her mother mysteriously disappeared a couple of months ago and her father died when she was a baby, Farley is on her own. Sovereign Hope starts off with a bang! A couple of guys follow her around and cause her to crash her truck; luckily a mysterious guy comes out of nowhere to save her. Only this guy is not normal, for one he isn’t exactly human. Plus, he’s also kind of a jerk. Now, you guys know how much I love jerks, (Jace, Daemon, Patch, my boyfriend) and Daniel was definitely no exception. These characters have the biggest pay-off for me because I just know that there is a great person in there once they let down their walls. After she learns that the Soul Reavers are after her because of a prophecy that is hundreds of years old, Farley is convinced to go to an underground bunker with Daniel and Agatha who have sworn to protect her. Farley struggles to feel comfortable in her new place, the nightmares and hallucinations don’t exactly make her feel at home. Neither does Daniel. The more she tries to talk to him, the more he shuts her out. But there are those rare moments when Daniel lets his guard down and they share a couple of special moments and you can tell that no matter how hard he tries to push her away, he really cares about her. But Daniel is hiding his fair share of secrets. Secrets that could have a big impact on Farley’s life. There were many things that I loved about this book. My absolute favorite thing would have to be the dynamic and complex relationship between Farley and Daniel. Their chemistry is so hot and intense that it could rival some of my other favorite book couples. Their relationship had that slow but oh-so-good build up that is rare for many books. There were plenty of swoon-worthy moments and moments where there was so much tension (and frustration) between them. I lived for any of those moments between Farley and Daniel and was never disappointed. The story was told in third person POV, which was weird at first since I don’t read that many books in this POV. But once I got into the second chapter, I quickly got the hang of it and was hooked on the story. We also get to read a couple of scenes from Daniel’s POV which perfectly shows us his inner battle against his feelings for Farley. The story was another thing I loved! Sovereign Hope was very different from most of the YA books I have read and although it is a YA book, the characters were very mature. I knew I would like Farley from the first page and I was able to really connect with her. She is tough, brave, sarcastic, funny and she is a survivor. Daniel is extremely protective of those he cares about and underneath his tough-guy exterior, he was very sweet. The secondary characters were fantastic and added so much to the story. One character that definitely intrigued me was Kayden. Although we only see a couple of glimpses from him, I have a feeling that he will have a much bigger part in the next book, Eternal Hope. Sovereign Hope is a fast-paced, action packed book set in a unique and amazing world with amazing characters, drama, suspense and a whole lot of chemistry and romance! The action and plot twists in this story will have you hooked and the unanswered questions and ending will leave you wanting to get your hands on the second book in this series. I can't wait to read what will happen next to Farley, Daniel, Agatha, Kayden and the rest of their friends. Hopefully we don’t have to wait too long. 4.5 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from Sovereign Hope: -“Promise not to kill me?” A razor-sharp smile spread across his face. “Will you at least try?” He arched an eyebrow. “I can try.” -That meant he was a good guy, right? It was wrong to stab a good guy with a meat cleaver, even if he was incredibly obnoxious. -Was accidental destruction due to being caught in supernatural crossfire even covered under car insurance policies? -“You’re a bit of a jerk, you know that?” she sniped. “Yep. Deal with it.” -It was bad enough trying to deal with her physical attraction to him with all his clothes on, but now she was in real trouble. -“You should probably strip off now if you want o fit in.” She shot him a filthy look to hide the flush in her cheeks. She could handle Daniel being a douche bag, but this new flirtatious side to him was confusing and frankly scary. -He seemed to be attempting to pull himself together. “I want to do something I haven’t done in a long, long time.” “Laugh? Take a bath? Tell the truth?” -It wasn't a kiss filled with joy or happiness. It was the saddest thing she’d ever felt, filled with a heavy longing and laced with grief. And yet, right then, it was perfect. -He moved his hands to her waist and pulled her to him, somehow finding his way under her t-shirt. His hands rested lightly onto her bare skin above her hipbones, making her shiver. She wrapped her hands around the back of his neck, feeling his heartbeat there too, burying her fingers into his hair. He let out a low moan, his breathing turning ragged against her lips. *** Check out my YA book blog to read my reviews and author interviews: Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com http://www.mostlyyabookobsessed.com/2... (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Jul 22, 2012
| Jul 24, 2012
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Jun 08, 2012
| Paperback
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| 1936305984
| 9781936305988
| 3.98
| 838
| Jan 08, 2012
| Jan 10, 2012
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***Review copy provided by publisher as part of Blog Tour*** When I first started blogging back in December, I stumbled upon my first blog tours for De...more ***Review copy provided by publisher as part of Blog Tour*** When I first started blogging back in December, I stumbled upon my first blog tours for Destiny’s Fire. At the time, I had no idea what a blog tour was or what the book was about but I kept seeing all these great reviews about it. Somehow it ended up being pushed back on my TBR list. A couple of months ago, I started blogging over at YA Bound and I ended up helping organizing their blog tours. Because of the fact that I email with Trisha quite a bit, I was really nervous to read her book now. What if I didn’t like it and she read my review or asked me about it? But when I saw that Valerie from Stuck In Books named Destiny’s Fire one of her favorite books this year, I knew I had to read it soon. Turns out that I was worried about nothing and now I wish that I would have read this book a long time ago. I ended up getting so lost in the book that I completely forgot who wrote it. Every once in a while I would stop and think: Holy shiz! Trisha wrote this book! The same Trisha who emails me and who threatened to fight me over Dante Walker! (True story) It’s very rare when I get to say this because most YA books are similar (no matter how good they may be) but Destiny’s Fire is one of the most original books I have read. It’s an awesome mix of steampunk and dystopian with Egyptian mythology mixed in, which might sound crazy, but trust me it works beautifully! Dez is one of the members of the dying Shythe race. Her and her best friends, triplets Jace, Lana and Nick spend their days secretly training and their nights in some hot clubs. But when the Counsil lowers their barriers and allow the Narcos, their former enemies to enter Haven things start changing. All of a sudden the Counsil allows the Narcos to attend the Academy with them and encourages them to get along. But not everyone is convinced that the Narcos are safe and Jace especially is convinced that they are planning something big. All the while, Dez is dealing with some major issues. She’s been keeping a huge secret all her life, she’s dealing with her conflicting feelings for her best friend Jace and her increasing attraction to bad boy Reese, who is a Narco. I have a feeling that Trisha might very well kill me with this series. No matter how much I have fought against love triangles, there have been a (few) couple that have completely snuck up on me and have me feeling so torn and conflicted. Dez/Jace/Reese is a perfect example. I am a huge sucker for the guy best friend and the bad boy so I still have no idea who I want Dez to end up with. What team am I on? Team Jace, Reese, Jace, Reese….I don’t know! The action starts right away from the very first page and does not let up one bit until the very end. Dez is one kick-ass chick who is fearless and isn’t afraid to fight. Jace was just perfect. He was so protective about the people he loves and is willing to do anything to protect them, even if it means going against the Counsil. And Reese? I really have no complaints about him. He was equal parts infuriating and irresistible. I loved the fact that Trisha didn't shy away from any steamy scenes. There are definitely many delicious swoon worthy moments that just left me even more conflicted over Jace and Reese. Full of action, romance, secrets and plenty of kick ass fight scenes, Destiny's Fire is an amazing start to what is sure to be a hot new YA series! Cover Love: I am in love with steampunk and I love this cover! The pretty purple gears in the background, the steampunk gear and the pretty girl. And, is it just me or does the cover girl remind anybody else of Ashley Greene? 4.5 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler scenes from Destiny's Fire: -His hot breath fanned my neck as his lips parted against my skin. A tremor rocked my body, and I fought to free my hands. His teeth grazed my skin. I froze. I felt pressure,heat, and the slide of his tongue. I shivered and remimded myself this was Jace... -From the moment I looked into your eyes, I've wanted to do that," he said, and smiled. "Could've fooled me." I laughed breathlessly. "I thought you either wanted to kill me or feel me up." "Well..." He chuckled. "Both at first. All right, then from the moment you punched me, I wanted to do that." -My biggest problem used to be the Narcolym and having to keep my identity a secret. Now I was having boy problems? How did I go from possible war and fleeing for my life to dating issues? -Reese sat up, bringing me with him. "You're special, Dez." He smiled, his face brightening. "Are you hungry?" I laughed at his sudden change of topic. "If it's not sex with you guys...it's food," I joked. -Every time his hand caressed, lingered, grasped, I wanted him that much more. Heat spread between my thighs, and I wrapped my legs around his hips, pressing his lower body persuasively against mine. *** Read more of my reviews and author interviews at: www.MostlyYABookObsessed.com http://www.mostlyyabookobsessed.com/2... (less) | Notes are private!
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| Jul 31, 2012
| Aug 02, 2012
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Jun 11, 2012
| Paperback
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| 9781938268007
| 3.51
| 152
| Feb 10, 2012
| Feb 10, 2012
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***Copy provided by author for blog tour*** I'm embarrassed to admit that as much as I love reading, I have never read any Jane Austen books. I knew th...more ***Copy provided by author for blog tour*** I'm embarrassed to admit that as much as I love reading, I have never read any Jane Austen books. I knew this story was a modern retelling of one of her books, but honestly I have no idea what Pride and Prejudice is about. Although it was nice that instead of constantly comparing the two stories, I was able to go into this book on a clean slate instead. Lizzie attends the Jane Austen Academy, which up until recently has been an all-girls school. When the school was sold, the new owners changed a lot of things, including the admission of guys to the school. Most of the girls are excited by this new development, but not Lizzie. Lizzie's main goal is to get into Georgetown and eventually the White House with her journalisms skills. She is however excited about being able to share a dorm room with her best friend Ellie. But a mix-up has Lizzie sharing a room with Anne, her former nemesis and Ellie sharing a room with Emma. Lizzie marches off to the new headmistress and demands that she share a room with Ellie. But when she is offered the top journalism position she agrees to the current room arrangements. Just how far is Lizzie willing to go to get to the top? As her friendship with Ellie starts falling apart, Lizzie starts to realize that Anne isn't such a bad person. Out of all of the guys that now attend the school, no one catches her eye (and infuriates her) like Dante. When the new owners threaten to change the school’s name, Lizzie starts digging up information on the new owners. She soon realizes that some secrets are better kept hidden. At first it was a little bit hard to like Lizzie because she was very one-track minded and also a bit judgmental. She dislikes Anne, Emma and Dante because she thinks they are snobby. But the more she gets to really know them, she realizes that she may have misjudged them and she comes off looking like the snobby one. But once she realizes that she was wrong about all these people, she really loosens up and it was easy to like her then. Dante and Lizzie had great chemistry and the story was intriguing. My only complaint was that I wish it were a little bit longer to give the story and the relationships more time to develop. At 128 pages, I would consider this more of a novella. The next book will be a retelling of another Jane Austen novel and will feature Ellie as the main character. I really want to know where this story will go and what will happen to the Jane Austen Academy and its students. Fall For You was a short and sweet story that you can read in a short amount of time. 3.5 out of 5 sparkly stars! (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Jul 15, 2012
| Jul 17, 2012
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Jun 14, 2012
| ebook
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| 1620610000
| 9781620610008
| 3.77
| 1,136
| Jun 12, 2012
| Jun 12, 2012
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I received an ARC of this book months ago for this blog tour. Unfortunately, the book release date and blog tour got pushed back and so I put off read...more
I received an ARC of this book months ago for this blog tour. Unfortunately, the book release date and blog tour got pushed back and so I put off reading it until closer to the blog tour date. Now after reading this book, I really wish I would have read it as soon as I got my hands on it! Dystopias used to be one of my favorite genres, unfortunately a big problem I had with them was that they were at times too bleak and depressing and most of them didn’t focus on a love relationship (which is a huge thing for me). Because of this, I was in a bit of a dystopia funk and the last dystopia I attempted to read was a DNF for me (The Lost Code). I was a little bit nervous going into this book, but I was immediately intrigued with the 1st paragraph and I knew this book was going to be different. Women have lost the ability to give birth and are dying along with their unborn babies. As a solution for the dying race, the council as created the chosen ones, artificial beings with special abilities. But the council and the chosen ones are keeping secrets. Will these secrets help the dying human race or will it only succeed in further destroying them? Although Tess comes off as cold and heartless at first, I can understand why she feels this way. After losing her sister she feels that love equals a death sentence and she vows to never let herself get close to anyone or care for them. When she begins working at Templeton, she meets James who is a chosen one. Tess is normally afraid by the chosen ones because they are not natural beings and they are too perfect. But when she notices that James has a scar on his chin, she is immediately intrigued by him. She wants to know why he isn’t perfect like the others and what he did to get the scar. James isn’t like the other chosen ones, he actually acts like a human which leaves him feeling conflicted and at times is hot/cold towards Tess. Soon, all of Tess’s reservations about love go out the window as she and James start an intense and dangerous relationship. While this is a dystopian story, Tiffany does an amazing job of balancing the problems in society with a beautiful romance. I have to admit that certain aspects of this book reminded me of Partials by Dan Wells but with its own unique twist. Although the beginning starts immediately pulls you in, it slows down a bit the first couple chapters but really picks up after that and leaves us with a shocking cliffhanger that puts its sequel, Naturals, one of my most anticipated sequels of 2013. Chosen Ones is a fascinating new dystopia world full of secrets, lies, and betrayals all mixed in with a hot and intense romance! 4.5 out of 5 sparkly stars! Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from Chosen Ones: -To feel was beyond dangerous. -Didn’t they know this thing was pointless? I couldn’t understand why anyone got married anymore. It wasn't a commitment. It was murder. -Death was expected. There were no exceptions. -The illusion of choice was all-important. Some people just didn’t realize that choice doesn’t necessarily mean freedom. -Stories enabled you to forget your life and your limits. They urged you to reach for a world that was never meant to be yours. There was nothing more dangerous than an imagination. -Maybe it's better to live in a world you don't understand, because if you understand it, it becomes unbearable. *** http://www.mostlyyabookobsessed.com/2...(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Jun 30, 2012
| Jul 05, 2012
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Jun 22, 2012
| Paperback
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