ARC Review THE LOVELY AND THE LOST by PAGE MORGAN

Book Description

Publication Date: May 13, 2014

For readers of Lauren Kate's Fallen series comes the sequel to The Beautiful and the Cursed,The Lovely and the Lost finds the Waverly sisters in mortal danger and able to trust no one.

Ingrid and Gabby Waverly moved to France expecting a quiet reprieve from London gossip, but the truth they face in their new home has a sharper--and deadlier--sting.
Paris is plagued by an underworld of demons and gargoyles who all seem to want something from the Waverly girls. Saving Ingrid's twin, Grayson, from the fallen angel Axia nearly killed them. And they're still being hunted--only this time, demons aren't their only predators.

Ingrid's blood is special: it bestows the power to command gargoyles. It's an ability no other human has, and in the wrong hands, it could be used to send her cursed guardian, Luc, and his fellow Dispossessed to extinction. There are those who will do anything to get Ingrid's blood--and they see no value in human life.

The Alliance has vowed to protect the Waverlys, and a new gargoyle has been assigned to guard their abbey home alongside Luc. But no one can watch over Ingrid, Gabby, and Grayson all the time--which means the three must learn to fight for themselves.
Because darkness follows the Waverlys. And sometimes darkness comes in the form you trust the most.

amazon



About the Author
Page Morgan has been fascinated with les grotesques ever since she came across an old black-and-white photograph of a Notre Dame gargoyle keeping watch over the city of Paris. The gargoyle mythologies she went on to research fed her imagination, and she became inspired to piece together her own story and mythology for these remarkably complex stone figures. Page lives in New Hampshire with her husband and their three children.
Visit her at pagemorganbooks.com and look for the first book in the Dispossessed trilogy, The Beautiful and the Cursed, available from Delacorte Press.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS

LOVED IT

Ingrid is trying to embrace her angel blood while her brother, Grayson struggles with his demon blood and poor Gabby wishes she could fight.  This next installment of The Dispossessed, brings more unrequited love and missed connections I wanted to slap some sense into them all. The story continues as Ingrid decides that she will fight and save her family rather than give in to all of the evil.  Luc has his hands full as he tries to keep all of the Waverly's safe.

Ingrid and Luc are almostthisclose to realizing that even though there are rules keeping them apart, it may come down to breaking those rules.  Gabby and Nolan are so attracted to each other, it would be a shame not to see that through and of course, the fathers really try to mess that one up.  Grayson follows Chelle around like a puppy dog and I haven't decided it he can contain himself and get over himself  - talk about a drama queen.

Overall, this is a great bridge to the conclusion and I can't wait to find out if the ending of this installment can get me to the ending I would love to see.  Each couple needs to work through tons of issues to come to the right conclusion.  Now, I can't wait until the final installment.

ARC Review THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE DAMNED by JESSICA VERDAY

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2013

Cyn’s blackouts have deadly consequences in this sexy, suspenseful spinoff to the New York Times bestselling Hollow series.

Cyn Hargrave is on the run, but she can’t escape her dark past. The brother of her murdered boyfriend is convinced she’s the killer—and now he’s tracked her down. Cyn has only one person to turn to, and she can’t stand him.

Avian knows the evil that lives inside of Cyn, but he’s still compelled to help her. As the thirteenth Revenant he’s scorned by heaven and unwanted by hell, so he understands what it’s like to be a part of two worlds and not fit into either.

Together they will need to deal with the danger that follows her—and the danger inside of her—before one of them destroys her.

Jessica Verday brings readers on a sexy, suspenseful adventure in this companion novel to the bestselling Hollow trilogy.

Product Details Grade Level: 7 and up Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Simon Pulse (October 1, 2013) Language: English ISBN-10: 1442488352 ISBN-13: 978-1442488359

About the Author
Jessica Verday writes the first drafts of her novels by hand, using spiral-bound notebooks and black pens. She lives with her husband in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Find out more at JessicaVerday.com and follow her on Twitter at @JessVerday.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT


Growing up, Cyn has always seen faces in the mirror other than her own.  Now sixteen, she has started blacking out, not remembering anything about her lost time.  When she wakes up covered in her boyfriend's blood and convinced she murdered him, she panics and runs from Sleepy Hallow to a small town in New York.  Cyn finds that she can make people bend to her wishes and make them do anything for her without them remembering.  She coerces people to "loan" her cars, give her larger tips at her waitress job and supply her with alcohol and cigarettes when she needs.  Then she wanders into a bar and has no luck at all with the staff.  She also sees that the some of the guys there are not at all human.  And these guys recognize her for what she is:  an Echo, someone who has souls of those not ready to pass on using her body much like a parasite.

At the bar, she meets Avian, a Revenant, born of a demon and angel and wanted by neither heaven nor hell.  He lives with a priest, who sees the good in him and gives him support as he seeks to take care of those the angels and demons won't go against like vampires.  Avian doesn't actually like her since he knows that she is trouble, but is drawn to Cyn anyway and wants to protect her.  He knows she is possessed by an evil spirit named Vincent and their goal is to get the guy to leave her alone.  In the meantime, her dead boyfriend's brother comes looking for her to settle the score, thinking she did indeed murder him.  The ex-cop soon becomes her worst nightmare.


As the story progresses, you really feel Cyn's pain and you will find yourself cheering for her as she tries to rid herself of this demon and have some peace.  I stayed up super late since I was so intrigued by this story.  It was very suspenseful and creepy at the same along with enough mystery about Cyn's actually participation in her boyfriend's murder and her "lost time".  Having read the Hollows ages ago, I have forgotten the characters, so I read this one with no remembrance of Cyn.  Parents: this one is best suited for teens since there is alcohol and some violence involved.

This song pretty much sums up this book:  Monsters by The Filthy Souls 

https://soundcloud.com/thefilthysouls/monsters

ARC Review DOUBLE DIGIT by ANNABEL MONAGHAN

To say eighteen-year-old Farrah Higgins—or Digit—is good at math is a laughable understatement. She’s been cracking codes since childhood, and is finally at home with “her people” at MIT in Cambridge. Her talents are so off the charts that her laptop is under surveillance by both the CIA and an ecoterrorist named Jonas Furnis. So when she thoughtlessly hacks into the Department of Defense’s database, she lands in serious hot water inside and outside the law. Readers will be sad to turn the last page of this suspenseful, sassy, super smart thriller, the sequel to A Girl Named Digit

Double Digit (Digit #2)

Product Details Age Range: 12 and up  Grade Level: 7 and up Hardcover: 192 pages Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (January 7, 2014) Language: English ISBN-10: 054410577X ISBN-13: 978-0544105775

About the Author
Annabel Monaghan is also the author of A Girl Named Digit and the co-author of Click! A Girl’s Guide to Getting What She Wants. She lives with her family in Rye, New York. Visit her website at www.annabelmonaghan.com.
SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
LOVE, LOVED IT


Digit is nearly recovered from her near-death experience at the hands of eco-terrorists and is madly, deeply in love with her special FBI guy, John.  She also gets to finally attend her dream school, MIT, where she can "be with her people".  Her once-hope to lose her nickname is quickly forgotten when she realizes that she is truly is "Digit" and her fellow students embrace her and her gift for numbers.  She just doesn't realize that she is still the terrorist target of Jonas Furnis.  John decides that the pair need to take a break while she explores this new universe of school.   Of course, she is heartbroken but accepts it.

As Digit feels her way around this place, she accepts a job as an assistant compiling reports for a professor.  When she want to go to a toga party, she doesn't want to wait for a report from the military, so she figures out how to hack into their system.  What Digit doesn't realize is that everyone from the CIA, FBI and her enemy, Jonas are all watching her every keystroke.  Her first call is to John so he can rescue her.

Digit is just one smart character and that is why I adore her.  The fact that she can outsmart even the brainiest people without using any thing else but her mind is such a positive force in young adult stories these days.  She doesn't need super powers.  I hope there are many more installments of Digit to come and will cover her time at MIT.

Review THE CHAOS OF STARS by KIERSTEN WHITE

Book Description

Release date: September 10, 2013

Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author of Paranormalcy, is back with The Chaos of Stars—an enchanting novel set in Egypt and San Diego that captures the magic of first love and the eternally complicated truth about family.

Isadora's family is seriously screwed up—which comes with the territory when you're the human daughter of the ancient Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris. Isadora is tired of living with crazy relatives who think she's only worthy of a passing glance—so when she gets the chance to move to California with her brother, she jumps on it. But her new life comes with plenty of its own dramatic—and dangerous—complications . . . and Isadora quickly learns there's no such thing as a clean break from family.

Blending Ally Carter's humor and the romance of Cynthia Hand's Unearthly, The Chaos of Stars takes readers on an unforgettable journey halfway across the world and back, and proves there's no place like home.

From the Back Cover

Isadora's family is seriously screwed up.

Of course, when you're the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that comes with the territory.

Isadora's sick of living a life where she's only worthy of a passing glance, and when she's offered the chance to move thousands of miles away, she jumps on it. But as much as Isadora tries to keep her new world and old world apart, she quickly realizes there's no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family.

About the Author

Kiersten White is the New York Times bestselling author of the Paranormalcy trilogy, as well as the psychological thriller Mind Games. She has one tall husband and two small children, and lives near the ocean in San Diego, California, where her days are perfectly normal. This abundance of normal led her to a fascination with all things paranormal, including but not limited to faeries, vampires, and pop culture.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

So what do you do when your mother, Isis  is THE goddess of life and your father, Osiris, is THE god of death?  As a sixteen year old, Isadora wants nothing more than for her parents that she literally worships, to pay attention to her.  She also has epic family issues that make a soap opera look like child's play.  Her aunt slept with her father and she has a half-brother, Anubis,  who is all evil from that union.  Her oldest brother is married to a drunken slut.  Oh, and her mother has tried to kill the sun god, father of them all and has somewhat succeeded.  When Isadora discovers that the room she has been decorating is actually her tomb, she freaks and has a major melt down when she realizes she is not immortal like her parents.  Added to this, she has been having horrible dreams and her mother is also having them.

When her mother decides that she must go away, Isadora gets her unspoken wish and she is sent to her closest brother, Sirius, in San Diego.  Her mother has also arranged a job for her at the local museum to display some of her mother's things, that Isadora describes as cast-offs, but in reality are priceless artifacts.  There she meets Tyler, a girl who turns out to be something she never thought she would ever have: a BFF.  Yes, Isadora is up on all the latest trends but has never experiences any of them in person.  She also meets a sullen poet, Ry, short for Orion, the constellation she was born under.  Ry quickly becomes the focus of all of her thoughts but since she feels that nothing is permanent, why should she ever fall in love?  Even if the boy is handsome as a Greek god and makes her melt inside?

This is such a wonderful retelling of Egyptian mythology mixed with a bit of Greek.  There is such a humorous undertone to White's writing that I just adore.   Even though the background of the story revolves around ancient myths this is really a contemporary romance.  There is also a mystery going on around Isadora and her family's power struggles.  This just has the right balance of both to keep your interest and make this a super fast read.  Parents:  this is really acceptable for even pre-teens since there is no language issues, only a few kisses and a few instances of violence, which is less that what is on cartoons these days.

Disclosure  I received this book from the publisher at no charge and in no way influenced my review.  If you are considering purchasing this book or anything else from Amazon, please use my link above since I earn a very small percentage of the sale which helps pay for shipping my giveaways!  

Review INVISIBILITY by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan @PenguinTeen @andreacremer @loversdiction

Book Description

Release date: May 7, 2013

A magical romance between a boy cursed with invisibility and the one girl who can see him, by New York Times bestselling authors Andrea Cremer and David Levithan.


Stephen is used to invisibility. He was born that way. Invisible. Cursed.

Elizabeth sometimes wishes for invisibility. When you’re invisible, no one can hurt you. So when her mother decides to move the family to New York City, Elizabeth is thrilled. It’s easy to blend in there.

Then Stephen and Elizabeth meet. To Stephen’s amazement, she can see him. And to Elizabeth’s amazement, she wants him to be able to see her—all of her. But as the two become closer, an invisible world gets in their way—a world of grudges and misfortunes, spells and curses. And once they’re thrust into this world, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how deep they’re going to go—because the answer could mean the difference between love and death.

From the critically acclaimed and bestselling authors Andrea Cremer, who wrote the Nigthshade series, and David Levithan, who wrote Every Day and co-wrote Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist with Rachel Cohen and Will Grayson, Will Grayson with John Green, as well as many other novels, comes a remarkable story about the unseen elements of attraction, the mortal risks of making yourself known, and the invisible desires that live within us all.

About the Authors

Andrea Cremer and David Levithan met each other in Washington, DC, even though that’s not where they live. Andrea was pretty certain she wasn’t invisible, but David confirmed that fact by introducing her to some other writers, who were all able to see her.

Andrea’s novels include Nightshade, Wolfsbane, Bloodrose, Rift, and Rise. You can visit her at www.andreacremer.com and follow her on Twitter @andreacremer. She lives in New York City, quite visibly.

Before writing with Andrea, David had never written a novel with a one-word title. His novels include Every Day, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (written with Rachel Cohn), and Will Grayson, Will Grayson (written with John Green). You can visit David at www.davidlevithan.com and follow his lover’s dictionary on Twitter @loversdiction. He lives just outside New York City.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS


MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Stephen has lived his whole being invisible to every one without knowing exactly why.  When he is a young teen, his mother dies and he exists in New York City, the perfect place to be unseen.  That is until a new girl moves into his apartment building and shocks him to his very core.  Elizabeth can see him and although she has major family and attitude issues, Stephen starts to fall for her.  As the pair become closer and closer, Elizabeth realizes that something is not quite right with her new boyfriend.  When he finally confesses that no one else can see him, she does what any loving girlfriend would do:  she breaks up with him.

It is so lucky that if Stephen really tries, he can be heard, so when he reveals himself to her brother,  Laurie, he convinces Elizabeth that she should not abandon him because of his uniqueness. Elizabeth isn't one to back down from a fight which is exactly what landed the family in New York after her brother comes out in their small town in the Mid-West.  So, with something new to fight for, Elizabeth decides to find out how he became invisible and fix it.  Or at least learn to live with it.  It seems that Stephen has been cursed by his grandfather and there the story really takes off in a break neck pace.

Winding though New York's Central Park and other landmarks, the trio track down a lady who can see spells and Elizabeth is gifted in this manner, thus explaining why she is the only one who can see him.  One major highlight for me is there is a dachshund named Tigger - sorry, you have to read the story to find the dog.  I really enjoyed this tale quite a bit and would love to follow up on Elizabeth and Stephen to see if the pair continue on in any new adventures.  Parents:  this is best suited for mature  teens because of implied sexual situations handled with taste and some language.

Review NATURAL BORN ANGEL by Scott Speer @RazorbillBooks

Book Description

Release date: April 23, 2013 | Series: Immortal City (Book 2)

Life turned upside down for Maddy Montgomery when she found out she was half-Angel and was catapulted into the scene of flashbulbs, paparazzi, and the fervent adulation that comes with being in the celebrity Angel world. She's trying to juggle her ordinary life—high school, family, friends—with the intense demands of being in the public eye as heartthrob Angel Jackson Godspeed's girlfriend.

And now Maddy must face the most difficult choice of her life. She's been offered the chance to become a Guardian. This means entering into dangerous and high stakes training, with no guarantee that she can succeed. But more than that, it would mean leaving her mortal life behind—forever—and allying with the Angels at a time when their relationship with humans is heading for war. . . .

About the Author
Scott Speer is a movie and music video director and a graduate of the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. He has worked with Will.I.Am, Ashley Tisdale, Paris Hilton, Jordin Sparks, and other Hollywood personalities, and most recently directed Step Up 4. He is also the author of Immortal City. Scott lives in Los Angeles, California. Visit him online at www.ImmortalCitySeries.com

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
REALLY LIKED IT - BOARDING ON LOVE

Maddy is set to go to Northwestern University and is all packed when she has second thoughts after an event (spoiler!) and decides to stay and become a Guardian.  Contacting Jacks to help her through the rough spots, he becomes moody and withdrawn as she becomes a star.  Of course, we are introduced to a new mean girl, Emily, a Downunder mega-angel-in-training as well, since Vivian now has a new boy under her influence and Jacks is damaged goods. Detective Sylvester is sensing some evil presence and with that the bodies are stacking up.  The new president of the USA is ganging up with world leaders to outlaw the angel's pay for protection service.

While Maddy is in training, she is having major issues with her flying since she is a late bloomer   in the wing department.  Tom, a decorated pilot, is brought in to help her with her issues and faster than you can say "Love Triangle", things get weird in Angel City.  Jacks is mopey and despondent since he is no longer the center of attention.  It seems that Maddy's star is shining brighter now and that doesn't sit well between the two.  Bring in the evil doers and we are all set for a major showdown.   Well, that almost happens, but this one also ends with a major cliffhanger to keep you tuned in for the last (hopefully!) installment.

Well, I had some major issues with this book since I adored the first one so much.  Maddy seemed a bit too into herself rather than being so selfless in the first book.  By the end of the story, the old Maddy is shining through.  I only hope Jacks can recover as much in the next installment.  Tom is an interesting character and between those two boys, there could be some interesting fireworks to come. Parents:  this is pretty much any teen show on television.

Review DARE YOU TO by KATIE McGARRY

Book Description

Release date: May 28, 2013 | Series: Harlequin Teen

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....


About the Author
KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan. Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Beth has relied on her friend Isaiah to keep her grounded and out of trouble, so when she takes the fall for her mother and abusive boyfriend, her aunt Shirley calls her father's brother, Scott, to bail her out of jail.  Scott drags her off to small town Groveton, her parents' home town from Louisville and she must now start a new school.  The week before her world shatters, she becomes the focus of a dare at a Taco Bell between some high school jocks.  Beth takes their dare and turns it on its head.  Never imaging that she would ever see these guys again, she plays them and get one of them to buy her food.  We briefly met Beth in Pushing the Limits since Echo started going out with Noah, who lived with her aunt.

Moving in with Scott and his wife, Allison, Beth doesn't like the rules they set since she never had any rules, other than keeping her mother and herself alive and with a place to live.  Her life really explodes when she comes face to face with they guy she plays at the Taco Bell.  Ryan has what seems the perfect life:  a stable home with parents, friends and a truck.  As Beth fights back from conforming, Ryan keeps on making contact with her since he can't get her out of his mind.  When Scott asks Ryan to help Beth maneuver the high school, he doesn't hesitate accepting, but Beth wants nothing to do with him until she figures out that he is her ticket to freedom.

Well, I only cried twice while reading this one, since I think I was in tears for most of Pushing the Limits.  I know there are so many damaged kids out there and this reminds me a lot of kids I knew growing up.  With a drug addict for a mother, Beth tried to be the mother but as a teen she is not mature enough to handle the responsibility but does it anyway since she doesn't know any other life.  Ryan makes an excellent counterpoint to her since on the surface, it seems like his life is perfect but it is almost as messed up as Beth's.  He does have more stability at home though.  This book can easily stand alone but really enjoyed get little snippets of how Echo is faring.  The next book is supposed to pick up on Isaiah's story which will be interesting and a novella about Lila, Echo's best friend in April, 2013.  Parents:  this is for more mature teens since there is drinking, drug use, sexual situations but they are all dealt with in a realistic manner.

BookHounds Review OF TRITON by ANNA BANKS

Book Description

Release date: May 28, 2013

Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm. Syrena law states all Half-Breeds should be put to death.


As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance in the Syrena world turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?


Once again, Anna Banks infuses Emma and Galen’s points of view with humor, intrigue, and waves of romance.



About the Author

Anna Banks’s first novel, Of Poseidon, was a Macmillan Fierce Reads title. She lives in Crestview, on the Florida Panhandle, with her husband and their daughter.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

****spoilers if you haven't read the Of Poseidon****

Emma has learned that her mother is actually Nalia, the long lost Poseidon Princess that Galen's brother, Grom, was slated to mate with when there was an explosion and both thought the other was dead.  After some maneuvering on both Galen and Emma's part, the pair are brought together, but not after a harrowing chase and Rebecca's ability to track anything and everyone pinpoints the pair as they try to escape.  Galen has lied to Emma, although not intentionally, and she doesn't trust him, but doesn't know what else to do, so she accepts what has happened and still is in love with him.  Rayna, is there just to drive you batty and I think I would miss her if she weren't present.

Of course, there is the required lovers' spat and as the pair fight, they can't seem to keep their hands off each other.  It is nice to finally get some insight into how Emma came to be and we get to learn more about the history of Nalia/Natalie.  The romance between her and Grom is really wonderful.  As Emma suspects and Rayna noisily points out, Paca, doesn't have the gift of Poseidon but is an impostor and this all comes to a head in a climatic scene that is truly delicious.

I really enjoyed this one as much as the first, but again, I was left wondering what would happen to the all of the couples again.  Will Grom and Nalia be truly reunited?  Will Galen and Emma finally get together and mate?  Will Rayna ever stop picking on Toraf and admit she is madly in love with him?  You do find out bits and pieces, but there isn't a happily ever after yet.  Parents:  there is a LOT of kissing, not much more than that and overall this is a pretty clean romance geared towards teens.  Now, I need the next installment to clear up all these hanging threads.

BookHounds Review THE RISING by KELLEY ARMSTRONG @KelleyArmstrong @HarperTeen

Book Description

Release date: April 9, 2013 | Series: Darkness Rising

Things are getting desperate for Maya and her friends. Hunted by the powerful St. Clouds and now a rival Cabal as well, they're quickly running out of places to hide. And with the whole world thinking they died in a helicopter crash, it's not like they can just go to the authorities for help.

All they have is the name and number of someone who might be able to give them a few answers. Answers to why they're so valuable, and why their supernatural powers are getting more and more out of control.

But Maya is unprepared for the truths that await her. And now, like it or not, she'll have to face down some demons from her past if she ever hopes to move on with her life. Because Maya can't keep running forever.

Old secrets are revealed and unexpected characters make a surprising return in this stunning conclusion to Kelley Armstrong's New York Times bestselling Darkness Rising trilogy.




About the Author
Kelley Armstrong is the bestselling author of the Darkest Powers trilogy, which includes The Summoning, The Awakening, and The Reckoning. This is the third book in her New York Timesbestselling Darkness Rising trilogy.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

After escaping certain death, Maya, Corey and Daniel are on the run and each are further developing their own powers with mixed results.  They do some investigation and find a contact that might be able to help them but it turns into a dead end.  Although out of that contact, they do find Maya's twin brother, Ash.  Ash turns out to be as gifted as Maya. although not a shifter, he does give them some street skills from surviving on his own in Vancouver for the last three years.  The group attend the memorial service and watch their parents grieve.

So when Maya is captured soon after, it doesn't come as complete surprise. Daniel and Corey are still at large and Maya is told that there has been an accident with one of them. Rafe convinces her that anything the St. Cloud's tell her, might not be the truth.  The group are reunited with other teens from Salmon Creek as well as Rafe and Annie.  There, Maya plots and plans to escape again and given the opportunity, she does and meets back up with her brother to track down Corey and Daniel.  There is just as much action in this installment as in the second book. YAY!

So, why did I not see this ending?  Maya proves that she has the wile of a cat even though she is still young. It is wonderful to watch her grow into an adult as well as experience her first true love.  While the plot of supernaturals being used as research subjects and trained into weapons, is a pretty common theme in paranormal romances, Armstrong brings a breath of fresh air into the story.  Parents: there is some violence, some kissing and some language and this is best suited for teens. I adored this conclusion and now I need to go back and read the author's other series since we met some of her other characters at the end of this one.

BookHounds Review THE ELITE by KIERA CASS @HarperTeen @kieracass

Book Description

Release date: April 23, 2013

The selection began with 35 girls. Now, with the group narrowed down to the Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's love is fiercer than ever. The closer America gets to the crown, the more she struggles to figure out where her heart truly lies. Each moment she spends with Maxon is like a fairy tale, filled with breathless, glittering romance. But whenever she sees her first love, Aspen, standing guard, she's swept up in longing for the life they'd planned to share.

America is desperate for more time. But while she's torn between her two futures, the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.





About the Author
Kiera Cass is a graduate of Radford University and currently lives in Blacksburg, Virginia, with her family. She is also the author of the New York Times bestseller The Selection and the self-published fantasy novel The Siren. Kiera has kissed approximately fourteen boys in her life. None of them were princes.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS

LOVED IT

The Selection has been whittled down to six girls and named The Elite. Aspen is guarding America's door and quite possibly her heart from Maxon and threats from  the rebels.  Poor America is so darn confused, she is unsure which way to turn since both Maxon and Aspen offer her each something different.  Unfortunately, America must decide and decide soon.  Also every time I give up on Maxon, he redeems himself -- sigh -- no, big, giant SIGH.  And then there is Aspen and while I think he is perfect for America, there seems to be that little something missing between the two.  Where he is strong and steady, Maxon always keeps her guessing. 

So the game continues and Maxon still professes his love for America but has to have a back up plan in case something goes wrong between the two.  The rebels attack and cause death and destruction within the palace walls and the pair are locked into a safe room where more secrets are divulged.  As America gets to know Maxon better, she loves him even more. Aspen understands the game and waits somewhat patiently for this whole thing to be over.  There are a few shocking events which I don't want to spoil.

Overall, this is a great second book in a trilogy.  There are a few twists, but nothing outlandish and although I was left upset a bit by America's inability to make up her mind, the end more than makes up for it when she does figure out her purpose.  I can only image that the finale in this series is going to be exciting given the direction this one goes in.  Parents:  there is some kissing, a bit of violence and overall a pretty clean read.  So, now another year long wait for the conclusion.  

BookHounds Review SEVER by LAUREN DeSTEFANO @SimonTeen @LaurenDeStefano

Book Description

Release Date: February 12, 2013 | Series: Chemical Garden (Book 3)

Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy.

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.

About the Author
Lauren DeStefano earned her BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Albertus Magnus College in Connecticut in 2007. Visit her at LaurenDeStefano.com.

SOURCE: AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS

OMIGOSH -- PERFECT CONCLUSION

I tried to keep this spoiler free....

Ok, let's talk about that cover.  There are a thousand words in that cover.  There are so many details that make sense once you finish this book. Since those details are in view, I am going to talk about those rather than how this series ends.  First off, the apples in the lower part of the image:  Rhine finds that she can only eat in her new location at Reed's home.  Reed is Linden's uncle and the complete opposite of Vaughn.  He is a mad inventor living off the grid and remembers the way the world used to be before the virus.  In Reed, Rhine find some comfort and he helps her even more than she realizes.  

Cecily and Linden join her with their son, Bowden there.  There are lots of secrets that Reed knows about Vaughn and gives hints to the group.  Then there is Rhine holding her ring.  Yep, she finally has the nerve to ask Linden to remove it, thereby annulling her marriage to him.  While she is relieved by this action, at times, she misses the closeness that she shared with him.  She also knows that this action will comfort Cecily and in turn makes Cecily a stronger person.   Rhine is not perfect and she knows it, everything she thinks is right turns out to be wrong but she still knows what is good and true to her. 

THAT is the story of life. There are so many gray areas that occurs in day to day life that you can't possibly imagine that something your parents do will have consequences beyond their lives that will impact your own life.  You hope that they choose wisely and if not you grow up to overcome their choices if you feel that they are wrong.  So the story ends, but not without Rhine questioning all of her choices, regretting some, rejoicing in others.  One hint: she does reunite with her brother, which I am still trying to figure out where he stands.  Hmm, maybe I need a story with Rowan's point of view?  Parents: I don't remember any steamy scenes or a lot of violence in this one.  This is just a fitting conclusion to the story.  

Review MIND GAMES by KIERSTEN WHITE @kierstenwhite @HarperTeen

Book Description

Release Date: February 19, 2013 | Series: Mind Games

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. 

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (February 19, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062135317
• ISBN-13: 978-0062135315

About the Author

Kiersten White is the New York Times bestselling author of Paranormalcy and Supernaturally. She has one tall husband and two small children. She lives near the ocean in San Diego, where her days are perfectly normal. This abundance of normal led her to a fascination with all things paranormal, including but not limited to faeries, vampires, and pop culture.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

Weird.  

Fia, short for Sophia, and her sister, Annabelle,  have been abandon by their aunt to a special boarding school where they have been offered a full scholarship.  With their parents dead and their aunt constantly traveling, the girls are have been on their own for the last few years.  The school they attend uses the girls for their special gifts.  Anna can see others in her mind and even though she is blind, she can picture the future perfectly.  Fia can always make the right choice whether it is a killing in the stock market or the perfect way to kill someone.  Their lives come tumbling apart when Fia cannot follow though on a plan to kill someone.  

In her short life, Fia has killed several times and she should have been able to kill Adam without hesitation but then he deviates from her plan and becomes human by showing concern for her.  Adam has his own strange history as a medical prodigy, he is trying to map the brains of girls just like Fia to discover why they have such unique abilities.  James Keane is the son of the man that forces the girls to a life of crime although he has some dark secrets of his own.  Fia dumps Adam and tells Keane everything went according to plan and forces Anna to lie about it as well.  When Fia has had enough, she tries to escape but knows that Keane's father will kill Anna if she leaves.  

I read this book in one sitting and it reminded me a bit of La Femme Nikita with lots of running, action and violence.  Fia and Anna share a strong bond and the bad guys use it to their advantage.  There are a few surprising twists and turns in the story that made me really feel for Fia and the fact that she is so alone. It is told in alternating points of view between Anna and Fia which really added to the background. Also, there are lots of flashbacks to explain things.  The smart and snappy dialogue is all there, just like Paranormalcy as well as the non stop action.  Parents:  there is a lot of violence, drinking and kissing. 

Review CRASH by LISA McMANN @lisa_mcmann @SimonTeen

Book Description

Release Date: January 8, 2013 | Series: Visions (Book 1)

If what you see is what you get, Jules is in serious trouble. The suspenseful first of four books from the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy.Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that.

What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.

The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.

In this riveting start to a gripping series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann, Jules has to act—and act fast—to keep her vision from becoming reality.

Details Hardcover: 256 pages Publisher: Simon Pulse (January 8, 2013) Language: English ISBN-10: 1442403918 ISBN-13: 978-1442403918

About the Author

Lisa McMann is the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy; Cryer’s Cross; Dead to You ; the Visions series; and the middle-grade dystopian fantasy trilogy The Unwanteds. She lives with her family in the Phoenix area. Read more about Lisa and find her blog at LisaMcMann.com. Or better yet, be her friend on Facebook (McMannFan) or follow her on Twitter (@Lisa_McMann).

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

OH MY DOG!  ~ Jules in Crash

Jules has a pretty normal life, going to high school with her brother and sister, working in her parents' restaurant and driving a food truck, complete with giant meatballs on top.  Her childhood crush, Sawyer, also attends the same school but things have been weird between them since the start of seventh grade.  According to family lore, Sawyer's family stole her family's sauce recipe and the two families have been at war ever since.  Now, no matter where Jules looks she sees a reoccurring accident where a truck crashes into a building and it explodes.  

When she starts to delve more and more into the bizarre vision she keeps seeing everywhere, she realizes that the accident occurs at Sawyer's restaurant.  Out of the nine body bags that appear in her vision, she can see into one and it is Sawyer.  That sets her off into trying to warn him about the accident.  As she reconnects with Sawyer, the two families off into a war to keep the two apart.  Each side of the pair has some deep, dark secrets to contend with as well.  Jules' father is severely depressed and hoards, while Sawyer's home life is anything but pleasant.  

Again, McMann delivers a twilight zone worthy story that looks like a wonderful start to a new series.  There are a lot of psychological issues that McMann attacks in this series such as hoarding, depression, abuse and secrets that each family hides.  As Jules faces all of her own demons and acts to right a wrong, her physical symptoms caused by the vision recede.  This is a very quick read that should appeal to paranormal and horror lovers.  Parents:  there are some mentions of child abuse, a car crash  and a few kisses. 

Review SHADOWS IN THE SILENCE by COURTNEY ALLISON MOULTON @HarperTeen

Book Description

Release Date: January 29, 2013 | Series: Angelfire (Book 3)

Your strength in heart and hand will fall. . . .
Ellie knows that the darkest moments are still to come, and she has everything to fight for:

She must fight for Will.
The demonic have resorted to their cruelest weapons to put Will in mortal danger, and Ellie makes an unlikely alliance to save him and to stop Lilith and Sammael, who seek to drown the world in blood and tear a hole into Heaven.

She must fight for humanity.
As the armies of Hell rise and gather for the looming End of Days, Ellie and her band of allies travel to the world’s darkest and most ancient regions in her quest to come into her full glory as the archangel Gabriel.

And Ellie must save herself.
Her humanity withers beneath the weight of her cold archangel power, but Ellie must hold tight to who she is and who she loves as she prepares for the ultimate battle for Heaven and Earth.

In this final installment in the Angelfire trilogy, Courtney Allison Moulton brings her dark world of epic battles and blistering romance to a blazing bright conclusion.

About the Author

Courtney Allison Moulton lives in Michigan, where she is a photographer and spends all her free time riding and showing horses. She is the author of Angelfire and Wings of the Wicked, and she is hard at work on her next novel.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
ADORED IT, LOVED IT, SAD IT IS OVER

+++slight spoilers after the first paragraph - especially if you haven't read the first two! +++

I seriously questioned myself when I first started reading Angelfire.  It wasn't my type of book, I had read lots of books similar to this, and on and on.  I was a still bit intrigued and so I read the second one Wings of the Wicked  which nicely picked up the pace and got me more involved with Ellie and Will. OH MY!  The conclusion totally rocked! I swear this was like a video game in book form with non stop action, serious butt kicking and enough romance to keep me sighing.  In this conclusion, Moulton really won me over and I am going to have to reread Angelfire to figure out why it didn't click with me at first.  I feel like *I* did something wrong to not get that book at first after reading this one.

So Ellie has really come into her own with her powers and can now wield her weapon with the best of them.  She is no longer the unsure girl and knows what she wants and had begun to accept the support of Cadan (interesting familial twist there!).  Although this could have seriously gone into the dreaded love triangle, it stopped just short.  Will really needs to loosen up a bit and stop doing everything by the book.  Thankfully by the end of this one, Ellie does just that for him and forces him to be a bit more open.  I love a strong girl!

Ah, the ending, so hard to take at first but I was really happy with the outcome and I think you will be too! Yeah, I can't let you know how it ends since that would ruin it for everyone but take my word, you will swoon on the last page.  I am really going to miss Ellie and the other supporting cast. Maybe there is an opening for Cadan to have a spin off.  I adore him and would love to get to know him a bit better.   Parents:  video game like violence and some serious kissing.  I look forward to more from this author now!

Review LULLABY by AMANDA HOCKING @MacKidsBooks @amanda_hocking

Book Description

Release Date: November 27, 2012 | Series: Watersong Novels (Book 2)

Harper only wanted a safe, normal life. But when her younger sister Gemma runs off with a dangerous clique of beautiful girls, Penn, Thea, and Lexi, everything changes. Vowing to get her sister back no matter what the cost, Harper must face dangers unlike any she's ever experienced. Fortunately, she has Daniel by her side, a gorgeous guy who's devoted to helping her find her sister—and who's immune to the girls' dark powers. 

While Harper searches for her sister, Gemma struggles to adjust to her new life.  Gemma's powers are growing by the day, and the longer she lives with her new "sisters," the harder it is to resist entering their magical world.  It's a realm both dark and beautiful, and where she's plagued by strange hungers and unspeakable needs.  Just as she's drifting far away from her old life,  Harper and Daniel find her...but no one can deny how much she's changed.  All she wants is to return to her family and the mortal world, but how can she do that when she's become something else entirely—and will they still love her once they learn the truth?

Prepare to fall under the spell of Lullaby, the second book in the Watersong series from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.

About the Author

AMANDA HOCKING is the New York Times bestselling author of the Trylle trilogy and a lifelong Minnesotan. After selling over a million copies of her books, primarily in eBook format, she became the exemplar of self-publishing success in the digital age. This is the second book in her new Watersong series with St. Martin's Press.

SOURCE  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS 
LOVED IT

****spoilers if you haven't read Wake****

This book picks up right after the ending of Wake.  Gemma has gone with the other three sirens since their leader, Penn, has threatened harm to her family and friends.  The story centers much more around her older sister, Harper, and Harper's quest to find Gemma and bring her to safety.  This one alternates between Harper and Gemma's point of view.  Penn is probably the most evil mean girl I have ever read about and again this story continues with  the Slasher Movie goodness.  There were a lot of "don't do it" and "something bad is going to happen here" type shouts from me.  I read this quick and easy read in about 3 hours, so yes, it really kept my attention!

I am glad I got to know Harper a bit better and Hocking does a wonderful job filling out her character.  Like all second books in a series, this one is a bit more quiet and not so full of action until I was left hanging at the end of the book.  Of course, that is just to keep me reading the rest of the series.
Even Gemma becomes more authentic in this installment. The boys surrounding the girls, Alex and Daniel try their best to help Harper out getting Gemma back home.  They may have a few gifts of their own that might help Gemma but those are only alluded to towards the end of the book.  

I also loved Marcy, Harper's coworker at the library and her snarky comments. Not everything works like she thinks it should and that is part of Marcy's charm.  Now, if Harper can get over the fact that she can't be responsible for Gemma any more than this series will take off.  I did miss Nathalie, the girls' mother, not having that strong in this one. I hope she makes more of an appearance in the next.   I think I enjoyed this one more than the first since the writing seemed to flow a bit better and it was as cartoony as the first.  Parents there is some heavy petting, mentions of alcohol, although no drinking and some violence.  

Details Reading level: Ages 12 and up Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (November 27, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 1250005655 ISBN-13: 978-1250005656

Review UNRAVEL ME by TAHEREH MAFI @HarperTeen @TaherehMafi

Book Description

Release Date: February 5, 2013

tick, tick, tick, tick, tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

About the Author

Tahereh Mafi is a girl. She was born in a small city somewhere in Connecticut and currently resides in Orange County, California, where the weather is just a little too perfect for her taste. When unable to find a book, she can be found reading candy wrappers, coupons, and old receipts. Shatter Me and Unravel Me are the first two novels in a trilogy about Juliette.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

****spoilers if you haven't read Shatter Me****

To avoid most of the spoilers, this is kind of a rambling review --just totally random thoughts about the book.

Sigh.  I didn't think a sequel could live up to a first book like Shatter Me, but this second effort by Tahereh Mafi was nearly as good.  The story balances dialogue with descriptive prose just perfectly.  Instead of feeling devastated while reading this one, I was filled with hope although I wanted to knock Juliette upside the head a few times or get her some Prozac.  This girl is seriously depressed and even though she has good reason for being down on herself, she really needs to get her life in order if she wants to save the world.  I realize that being held captive for about five years would do some serious damage but she really needs to snap out of it now that she is surrounded by acceptance.  Seriously, can't the Girls lay hands on her to fix this? They can fix physical ailments, so why not mental?  

Juliette is still building walls to keep people out, well, almost everyone except Adam.  She connects with him and he can touch her, but she is starting to notice that unlike Warner, Adam weakens around her.  The characters still remind me of the high school X-Men and everyone at Omega Point seems to have found a purpose except her.  The lines are drawn between The Reestablishment and of course war is imminent but with such a small group against a multitude, Juliette soon discovers that she is their secret weapon.  And that brings us back to Warner.

Without going into detail, she comes back into contact with Warner and discovers that he really has feelings for her, although they are not exactly what Juliette is looking for.  Yep, there ya go:  the dreaded love triangle.  There is something about Warner that I can't explain.  He seems just as damaged as Juliette.  Can he be rehabilitated or is he too far gone to have any good left in him?  At least Juliette is just as confused as I am about him.  Is Juliette really a weapon or is she a pawn?  Oh and dear Kenji?  Really?  I think everyone needs more Kenji in their lives, so  please Ms. Mafi, write a series just about him.  Can she get her life together by the time they need her?  Will she stop wallowing in self pity to realize that she is of worth and worthy of love?  Ok, these questions are answered by the end of the book, but I am still in doubt of her progress.  I need the last installment for conclusive facts.  

Details Reading level: Ages 14 and up Hardcover: 480 pages Publisher: HarperCollins (February 5, 2013) Language: English ISBN-10: 0062085530 ISBN-13: 978-0062085535