In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Yay, Blogger is finally letting me upload my own pictures again, so I don't need to make a video!  Here it is:

- 17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma
- Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
- Black City by Elizabeth Richards
- Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer

These are all books I bought/won in giveaways!  17 & Gone came out a week or two ago and is absolutely incredible.  The story is so haunting and lovely and the writing's gorgeous.  Clockwork Princess is, of course, amazing - my favorite book of 2013 so far.  (And if that epilogue does not make you cry, then you have no heart.)  I haven't read Black City or Smart Girls Get What They Want yet, but they both sound amazing!

What did you get this week?

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson

Goodreads summary:

After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Devereaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance to get back to her friends. But Rory’s brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she’s become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She soon finds out that the Shades—the city’s secret ghost-fighting police—are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it’s too late.

In this follow-up to the Edgar Award-nominated THE NAME OF THE STAR, Maureen Johnson adds another layer of spectacularly gruesome details to the streets of London that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

My review:

I really enjoyed The Name of the Star, so I was thrilled when I found out there was going to be a sequel.  However, The Madness Underneath isn't quite as good as the first book.  It's still a good sequel and worth reading if you liked the first book, but it wasn't everything I was hoping it would be.

I think my favorite part of these stories is the humor.  Rory is a hilarious main character, and I found mysef loving her internal monologue and sarcastic quips.  Like, one funny little line when she was talking to Stephen: "I think people would like a singing policeman.  Makes life seem more like a musical." (Actually, that whole scene was funny!)  So yeah, I love Rory's sense of humor, and it's definitely what made me enjoy the story.

What disappointed me was the lack of action.  TNotS had its share of creepy moments, but The Madness Underneath is a little less...thrilling.  In the summary for it, it says it will "keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end."  Sadly, this isn't really true.  A good portion of the book is focused on Rory's personal life - her relationships with friends and family, and school.  Lots and lots about Rory trying to keep up with school, her grades, etc.  Also, I ended up guessing the "bad guy" right away; it was pretty obvious and I got a little annoyed with Rory when she didn't figure it out.

Still, despite that the story was lacking the scary thriller-ish feel, I still enjoyed it.  I love that it's set in London, and the whole idea with the ghosts is unique and interesting.  That, along with the major cliffhanger at the end, means I'll definitely be reading the next book!

My rating:  6 out of 10 (3 stars)

~ The Bookworm

ARC Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Goodreads summary:

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"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....

My review:

Going into this, I was afraid it wouldn't live up to my expectations - I loved Pushing the Limits so much, I wondered if this companion novel would manage to be as good.  Well, Dare You To surpassed my expectations and more.  It's just as raw and beautiful and addictive as Pushing the Limits is.

We already know Beth a little, as we were introduced to her in the first book.  Ryan, however, is a new character.  And okay, I admit it, I like Ryan better than Noah. :) It took me a while to start liking Noah in Pushing the Limits, but Ryan?  He's so sweet and real.  I loved him!  (Oh, and did I mention he's a writer?  That made him like ten times more swoon-worthy!)

I love Beth too.  Heck, I love all the characters in this book; they are never cliche, and are all so realistic and relatable.  Like Beth's Uncle Scott.  I love his character and how he gives Beth a second chance and is genuinely trying to help her.  And Lacy!  Oh my word, she might have just been a minor character, but she was oh-so-awesome.  The way she sticks up for Beth and remains a friend to her no matter what, is so touching and sweet.

Back to Beth...she's tough on the outside, but she's hurting on the inside.  At first, she's almost a hard character to like, but when you realize how hard she's trying to save her mother, you can't help sympathizing for her and rooting for her.  She transformed into such a powerful, amazing character.

The romance was absolutely perfect.  I was so worried it would come across as cheesy or unbelievable, but never once did it feel unrealistic.  Katie McGarry writes romance so well.  Really, there are no more words to say.  I adored it.

And the writing?  Amazing!  It hooks you right from the beginning and the story's paced perfectly.  I never got bored with the story or thought it stretched out too long.  The writing is just so addicting, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

Dare You To is a must-read for sure.  It's more than just a cute romance - it's real and heartbreaking and that's what makes it so perfect.  Katie McGarry is definitely one of my favorite contemporary authors.  I'm insanely excited to read the third book, Crash Into You!  Goodreads says that it comes out in November; so hopefully that's true - I won't be able to wait any longer than that! :)

My rating:  10 out of 10 (5 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Waiting on Wednesday: Goddess

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to read.

My pick is Goddess by Josephine Angelini!

Goodreads summary:

After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count.

To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas’s life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.

In Josephine Angelini’s compelling conclusion to the masterfully woven Starcrossed trilogy, a goddess must rise above it all to change a destiny that’s been written in the stars. With worlds built just as fast as they crumble, love and war collide in an all-out battle that will leave no question unanswered and no heart untouched.

My thoughts:

This cover, you guys.  Do I even need to say anymore about it?  It's stunning.  I"m simply in love with the colors, the model's pose, everything.  It's perfect!

I am so excited that there's only two more months of waiting till Goddess comes out.  As a huge fan of Greek mythology, I've absolutely adored this series.  So excited to find out how the story concludes!

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

~ The Bookworm

Cover Reveal: Frigid by J. Lynn

For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.

But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

 

Frigid will be available in digital formats on July 30^th 2013

Print release of Frigid will be November 5^th 2012

Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16122034-frigid?ac=1

 

 

 

J. Lynn, also known as Jennifer L. Armentrout, is a # 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author. She lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russel Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Twitter  https://twitter.com/JLArmentrout
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout
Website http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/

Book Review: Dear Cassie by Lisa Burstein

Goodreads summary:

What if the last place you should fall in love is the first place that you do?

You’d think getting sent to Turning Pines Wilderness Camp for a month-long rehabilitation “retreat” and being forced to re-live it in this journal would be the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.

You’d be wrong.

There’s the reason I was sent to Turning Pines in the first place: I got arrested. On prom night. With my two best friends, who I haven’t talked to since and probably never will again. And then there’s the real reason I was sent here. The thing I can’t talk about with the guy I can’t even think about.

What if the moment you’ve closed yourself off is the moment you start to break open?

But there’s this guy here. Ben. And the more I swear he won’t—he can’t—the deeper under my skin he’s getting. After the thing that happened, I promised I’d never fall for another boy’s lies.

And yet I can’t help but wonder…what if?

My review:

I really wanted to love this book, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped.  I found it hard to care for the main character, and some parts of the plot just seemed unrealistic to me.

Cassie is an interesting main character.  You start off disliking her, and I know she's the type of character who's supposed to grow and change so that you end up liking her at the end of the story.  However, while I did feel sorry for her by the end of the book, I still didn't like her much, and I didn't like some of the choices she made.  But, I've read quite a few other reviews where people ended up loving Cassie, so this might just be me.

The romance was okay.  It was both realistic and unrealistic.  On Cassie's side, I can see why she doesn't want to let herself trust and fall in love with Ben (this part of her character was done very well), but this went on for so much of the book that I started wondering when she'd finally admit she was in love with him.  As for Ben, I didn't think it was realistic that he never gave up on Cassie.  For one thing, she kept a lot of secrets, so he didn't even know her that well.  And after her rejecting him so much, I was surprised he still kept coming back.

I like some of the supporting characters, though.  Rawe, Nez, Troyer were all complex characters.  But to be honest, the plot lost my interest at times.  A lot of what happens while Cassie's at camp is just kind of boring to read about, and it was only the fact that I liked some of the minor characters that made it more interesting.  Also, I wish some of the swear words had been edited out.  I understand that it's part of Cassie's character and is meant to show how tough she is, but it was really just overkill sometimes, and it did lessen my enjoyment of the story.

I have conflicted feelings about Dear Cassie.  While I didn't like the main character and had some problems with the plot, it wasn't by any means a terrible read - just not for me.  I'll have to try some of this author's other books sometime; hopefully I'll like them better.  If Dear Cassie looks interesting to you, and you like reading about tough heroines, I'd say this is worth giving a try.

* I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thanks!

My rating:  5 out of 10 (2.5 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Goodreads summary:

The fates of Cinder and Scarlet collide as a Lunar threat spreads across the Earth...

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

My review:

All I can say is WOW.  This is how you write a sequel.  Scarlet is every bit as good as the first book, Cinder - maybe even better.  I love the way Marissa Meyer seamlessly ties the fairytale aspects into the plot.  And her characters?  Amazing.

When I started Scarlet, I was nervous about all the new characters being introduced and if the story would flow well with so many point of views.  Well, I needn't have worried.  I adored the three new characters, Scarlet, Wolf, and Thorne.  I like how Scarlet is no damsel in distress - she's tough, smart, and easy to admire.  I loved Wolf right from the start, and while he is the "strong and silent" type, his character never feels cliche.  And Thorne provides great comic relief without ever feeling like a mere plot device.

Then there's the plot, which is simply fantastic.  At first, it's almost like there's two separate storylines (Scarlet's, Cinder's, and actually kind of Kai's, too), but it never gets too confusing or complicated.  I loved how the different storylines and subplots were all intertwined.  This story is brilliantly plotted.  We find out lots more about Cinder, and also learn quite a bit about Scarlet's family's past.

I know some people didn't like the romance between Wolf and Scarlet, and I can see why.  It's pretty much insta-love, as they really don't know each other for a long time.  But, I felt like in the short time they spent together, they formed a strong bond.  I was pretty startled when I realized, "Hey, they've only known each other for a couple days" because it seemed like so much longer.  Meyer wrote the romance very well and managed to make it believable.

And the writing was great!  The prose isn't gorgeous or lyrical or anything, but it's full of just the right amounts of description, dialogue, etc.  It's easy and fast to read, which is unusual for me in a sci-fi book.  But the author writes about all the technology in a way that makes it easy to envision and understand.  The only thing I think could have been improved is the setting - I mean, they're in Europe.  I totally would've loved to see more description about the land.

If you haven't started this series yet, then you must give it a try.  Even if you're not a fan of fairytales or sci-fi, this is worth reading for its amazing characters and exciting plots.  I can't wait to read about Rapunzel in the third book, Cress!

My rating:  10 out of 10 (5 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Goodreads summary:

They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.

But we are still here.

And there are more of us every day.

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.

Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.

Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.

But we have chosen a different road.

And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.

We are even free to choose the wrong thing.

Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

My review:

I quite enjoyed Requiem, but it was a bit of a letdown compared to Delirium and Pandemonium.  Both Delirium and Pandemonium were so gripping - in Delirium we fall in love with Alex and Lena and want them to be together, and in Pandemonium we're faced with rebellion, Julian, and a much tougher Lena.  Requiem didn't hold my attention as much as the other two.

What on earth was up with the romance?  Because it hardly played into the story at all.  (I can't believe I'm complaining about a lack of romance, but oh well.)  See, the point of the story is that Lena and the others are fighting for the right to love.  And yet, in Requiem, Lena hardly ever shows a good reason why/who she wants to love.

Also, Alex and Julian feel so different in this story.  They don't seem like the characters they used to be in the previous novels.  Alex seems stilted and Julian is just awkward.  It's kind of hard to see why Lena loves them.  Still, that said, I loved the other minor characters.  They play great roles.

I am happy that I liked the addition of Hana's point of view.  I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it, but I ended up really liking her as a narrator.  She's a wonderful, strong character that I sympathized with a lot, and I think her story adds to the plot.

The writing is just as gorgeous as ever.  I am in love with Lauren Oliver's writing - it's simple, poetic, and striking.  And this is still one of my favorite dystopian worlds, despite the fact that Delirium was one of the first dystopians I ever read and I've read maaany dystopians since then.  I'm fascinated by the idea of a world where love is a disease.

Of course, I have to mention the infamous ending.  Definitely a big reason why I wasn't totally crazy about Requiem.  Honestly, it's just a terrible ending.  Nothing is resolved, and it left me with so many questions: What happens to Hana next?  What about a couple of those minor characters who, we are led to believe, get killed off?  What happens to the guy Lena doesn't choose (nooo, I'm not saying who)?  More importantly, why does Lena choose the guy she ends up choosing?  I didn't feel like there was a clear answer to that question.

So yes, I enjoyed Requiem.  I think the romance wasn't half as good as it was in the first two books, and the ending is awful, but I really did love it besides from those two issues.  It's a beautifully written dystopian, and this is still one of my favorite series.  If you loved Delirium and Pandemonium, definitely read Requiem to see how it ends.  Just be prepared - it probably won't blow you away like the first two did.

My rating:  8 out of 10 (4 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Surrender by Rhiannon Paille

Goodreads summary:

How far would you go to save everything you ever loved?

Kaliel was warned about her love for the Ferryman. One day he will marry the land and leave Avristar forever. She doesn't listen, and because of what she is-- a Flame-- one of nine apocalyptic weapons, she sparks a war. In a desperate attempt to save her home and her love, Kaliel tries to awaken Avred, not knowing she may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

My review:

Unfortunately, this story didn't grab me as much as I'd hoped it would.  I like the idea - it's creative and interesting, and has great potential - but the writing style is bogged down with long paragraphs and too much description.

One thing that bothered me a couple times was that it was hard to tell who was speaking.  It wasn't always made clear in the conversations.  And like I said above, there are also some extremely long paragraphs at times.  That makes it so much more difficult to keep my attention on the book - short paragraphs are more concise and easier to read.

I think if some of the above issues had been fixed, I would've enjoyed the story more.  There's also the fact that it starts off pretty confusing.  For a while at the beginning, nothing makes sense.  I do like how the story continues though.  The characters are interesting enough and it's a great idea for a fantasy story.  But for me, it was just...meh.  Still, if it looks interesting to you, by all means give it a try - I know many others have enjoyed this.

* I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thanks!

My rating:  6 out of 10 (3 stars)

~ The Bookworm

ARC Review: The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe

Goodreads summary:

For fans of Lauren Kate and Libba Bray, The Sweetest Dark is filled with thrilling romance, exciting adventure, and ancient magic. Shana Abé brilliantly captures the drama of post-Victorian England, while unfolding a passionate love story that defies time.

“With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident. But I’d have to face the fact that my life was about to unfold in a very, very different way than I’d ever envisioned. Normal would become forever out of reach.”

Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.

England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.

Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.

Filled with lush atmosphere, thrilling romance, and ancient magic, The Sweetest Dark brilliantly captures a rich historical era while unfolding an enchanting love story that defies time.

My review:

The Sweetest Dark manages to be fairly unique as far as paranormal stories go.  While there are a few cliche elements, I thought the rest of the story was original and interesting.  Plus, I love that there are dragons in it!

What I didn't like: There are so many paranormal stories where the main character is the new girl at a boarding school!  I wish authors would use some other type of setting.  Also, there's the cliche snobby girls who don't get along with Lora and constantly make fun of her because she has no money.

The only other thing I didn't like is the romance.  Well, I didn't dislike it, but I didn't think it was exactly believable, either.  I didn't think Jesse had much personality, and it was hard to understand why Lora fell in love with him so quickly.  By the end of the book she even refers to him as her "true love."  I just didn't totally buy it.

What I liked: Dragons.  Dragons.  Dragons.  Can I say dragons again?  Dragons are awesome, and while they didn't play as big a role in the story as I'd hoped, I still loved that aspect.  There are so not enough fantasy books out there that actually have dragons in them, so I loved the part it played in this story.

And the setting was amazing.  I'm a huge fan of stories that blend both historical and fantasy elements, and Shana Abe did a great job.  She captured the atmosphere of England perfectly.  I loved the descriptions, and the writing flowed well.

I like the main character Lora, too.  I didn't totally connect with her, and I'm not really sure why, but I think most readers will love her.  She's spunky and funny, and she has lots of witty replies and isn't afraid to stand up for herself.  The minor characters are engaging and well-rounded, too.

So, despite a few problems, I did enjoy The Sweetest Dark.  Fans of historical fantasy should definitely give this one a try!

* I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review.  Thanks!

My rating:  7 out of 10 (3.5 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Waiting on Wednesday: Towering

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to read.

My pick is Towering by Alex Flinn!

Goodreads summary:

At first, I merely saw his face, his hands on the window ledge. Then, his whole body as he swung himself through the window. Only I could not see what he swung on.
Until, one day, I told my dream self to look down. And it was then that I saw. He had climbed on a rope. I knew without asking that the rope had been one of my own tying.

Rachel is trapped in a tower, held hostage by a woman she’s always called Mama. Her golden hair is growing rapidly, and to pass the time, she watches the snow fall and sings songs from her childhood, hoping someone, anyone, will hear her.

Wyatt needs time to reflect or, better yet, forget about what happened to his best friend, Tyler. That’s why he’s been shipped off to the Adirondacks in the dead of winter to live with the oldest lady in town. Either that, or no one he knows ever wants to see him again.

Dani disappeared seventeen years ago without a trace, but she left behind a journal that’s never been read, not even by her overbearing mother…until now.

A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Alex Flinn knows her fairy tales, and Towering is her most mind-bending interpretation yet. Dark and mysterious, this reimagining of Rapunzel will have readers on the edge of their seats wondering where Alex will take them next!

My thoughts:

When I first heard about this book last fall, I was super excited!  I mean, it's Alex Flinn.  Her fairytale retellings are made of awesomeness!  So far, the only books I've read by her are Beastly and A Kiss in Time, but I loved those two and can't wait for Towering to come out on May 14.

I absolutely love fairytale retellings, and it's very rare for me not to enjoy them.  I'm sure this one will be amazing as well - besides, Rapunzel is a nice change from all the Cinderella retellings out there.  Plus, the cover is breathtaking.  Her hair!  The dress!  The scenery!  So pretty.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

~ The Bookworm

ARC Review: A Touch of Scarlet by Eve Marie Mont

Goodreads summary:

The compelling heroine of Eve Marie Mont’s novel A Breath of Eyre returns to find truth and fiction merging through the pages of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic, The Scarlet Letter…

Emma Townsend is back at prestigious Lockwood Prep, but her world has altered immeasurably since her tumultuous sophomore year. The best change of all: her boyfriend, Gray. And though Gray is leaving for Coast Guard training, Emma feels newly optimistic, even if the pain of her mother’s long-ago death still casts a shadow.

Yet Emma isn’t the only one who’s changed. Her friend and roommate, Michelle, is strangely remote, and old alliances are shifting in disconcerting ways. Soon Emma’s long-distance relationship with Gray is straining under the pressure, and Emma wonders if she’s cracking too. How else to explain the vivid dreams of Hester Prynne she’s been having since she started reading The Scarlet Letter? Or the way she’s found herself waking in the woods? As her life begins to echo events in the novel, Emma will be forced to choose between virtue and love. But can she forge a new future without breaking her heart?

My review:

I enjoyed A Touch of Scarlet, but it's not quite as good as the first book, A Breath of Eyre.  I love the idea behind this series, though - with Emma traveling and experiencing the story of classics like Jane Eyre and The Scarlet Letter.  While I've read and loved Jane Eyre, I haven't read The Scarlet Letter, but I like that A Touch of Scarlet can still be easily understood and enjoyed without having read the classic behind it.

During the first half of the story, I really didn't care for Emma much.  Yes, she was going through a lot, but she just had a majorly bad mood about it all.  She seemed too depressed and didn't do anything to change her situation.  Still, this does play an important part in her character growth, and later on in the novel I started liking her character more.

One thing I love is a side character, Elise.  She goes to school with Emma, and in the first book she's one of those popular, snotty, mean girls, which I thought was a bit cliche.  However, in this book, we see that there's more to her character and she actually becomes a good friend to Emma.  I really liked this - it gave her so much more character depth.

I didn't like how the plot kept getting sidetracked, though.  Emma kept getting involved in her friends' relationships, etc., and all the little subplots just seemed to distract from the main point of the story.  And really...what was the main point of the story?  It didn't seem very clear, as what Emma goes through doesn't really have anything to do with The Scarlet Letter.

Despite a few problems with Emma and all the subplots, I did enjoy this a lot.  There ends up being lots of character growth, and I think the writing has improved a lot too - it's a much faster read and flows better than the previous book.  If you're a fan of classics, these books are definitely worth reading!  I'm excited to read the third book when it comes out.

* I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review.  Thanks!

My rating:  6 out of 10 (3 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I HAD to Buy...But Are Still Sitting on My Shelf Unread

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Broke and Bookish.  Each week, a new list topic is posted, and book bloggers fill in their choices.  This week's topic is "Top Ten Books I HAD to Buy...But Are Still Sitting on My Shelf Unread."

My Top Ten:

1. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray.  Bought this when it was on sale at a used bookstore...and yeah, that was months ago and I still haven't gotten to it!

2. Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke.  I had to get this last summer because it's about dragons, which I love, but yeah, I totally haven't picked it up...

3. Falling in Love with English Boys by Melissa Jensen.  Yes, I admit it, the title made me buy this one when I saw it at a book fair.  Really need to read it soon, it sounds adorable.

4. Katie Parker series by Jenny B. Jones.  This is one of my favorite authors, so I've been dying to read this series, but I always have so many other new books to read first!

5. Love Story by Jennifer Echols.  Huge fan of this author's books.  I can't believe I haven't gotten around to this one yet!

6. Veiled Rose by Anne Elisabeth Stengl.  I've had this for ages and I feel so bad that I haven't read it yet.  It's the sequel to her first book Heartless.

7. How to Take the Ex out of Ex-Boyfriend by Janette Rallison.  This author is great if you're looking for cute, light reads.  I got this at a bookstore on sale, but haven't found time to read it yet.

8. The Summer of Firsts and Lasts by Terra McVoy.  I guess my excuse for this one is that I'm waiting until it's summer to read it. ;) Haha, it looks like a cute summer-y novel.

9. Enthusiasm by Polly Shulmon.  This is, I think, a retelling of Pride & Prejudice, or somehow related to it.  I think I've had it for a year now...I really, really need to read it soon.

10. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan.  Over a year ago, I started this, but I wasn't as crazy about it as his other books, so I didn't finish it.  I definitely need to pick it back up again soon.

This is such a great list topic.  I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels guilty when I realize how many books I own that are unread, lol.  Leave a link to your TTT in the comments! :)

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Goodreads summary:

The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.

My review:

Boundless is a heartbreakingly beautiful conclusion to what is probably the best angel series I've ever read.  I'm so sad that this series is over, but I can't wait to read what Cynthia Hand writes next.

One thing I didn't like: Tucker isn't in the story enough!  *sniffle* He's one of my favorite characters, so I really wish he'd been in the story more.  What is it with authors suddenly not including the guy characters as much in the final book in the series?  Same thing happened in Lauren DeStefano's Sever and Lauren Oliver's Requiem!  (This had better not happen with Clockwork Princess or I will be very mad...)

Aside from the fact that I missed Tucker, this is a truly well-written and emotional read.  I love the way Cynthia Hand writes relationships.  Clara's love for her family, her friend Angela, and of course, Tucker and Christian - all these relationships are portrayed in such a real, complicated way. 

And Clara is a character I've grown to love throughout this series.  I love her in Boundless, and she's faced with more and more difficulties that made me feel so bad for her.  Then there's Angela.  My heart broke for her in this story.  And Tucker and Christian...it's hard to say much without spoiling the story, so I'll just say that they are both such sweet guys and the ending is satisfying, but a bit sad, too.

The plot is full of twists and turns, and there's never a dull moment.  The writing is as addicting as ever.  I couldn't stop turning the pages, and before I knew it I'd finished this book in a day.  The Unearthly series is now one of my all-time favorite series, and it truly stands out from most paranormal fiction.  Be prepared - Boundless will break your heart, make you laugh, and make you cry. 

My rating:  10 out of 10 (5 stars)

~ The Bookworm

In My Mailbox (14)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books I bought/received
- When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle
- Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous by Kathryn Williams
- The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
- Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger
- Sweet Shadows by Tera Lynn Childs
- The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
- Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Books I got at the library:
- The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross
- Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
- The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson
- The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkins
- Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Thank you for stopping by!  Feel free to leave a link to your IMM in the comments so I can check it out. :)

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

Goodreads summary:

Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.

My review:

So often lately, I've read books that have awesome summaries, but end up disappointing me with flat characters and weak plots.  I'm happy to say that not only does Let the Sky Fall have an amazing premise, it doesn't disappoint at all and I would definitely recommend it to readers looking for a story that is truly unique and isn't riddled with cliches.

Oh, and let me get this out of the way: yes, I constantly had "Skyfall" by Adele running through my head all day as I was reading this book.  But that's a good thing, because I love Adele and actually, I think the song suits the story very well!

I love the two main narrators, Vane and Audra.  It's hard to decide who I love more, but I think it would have to be Vane.  He's hilarious, sweet, honest, and - best of all - snarky.  If you read my reviews, then you'll know that I looove a good dose of humor/sarcasm/snark in my books.  Also, I thought that Vane's character was really realistic.  I hate how, so often, fictional guys are made out to be all mysterious and suave.  Vane just acts like a normal teenage boy, and I really loved that about him.

Oh, Audra.  She has some great character development.  At first, I thought she was too stoic and unemotional, but I love how we slowly learn more and more about her past and what has made her this way.  I ended up loving her by the end of the book. 

It's so nice that this isn't a creepy romance with insta-love or, even worse, the dreaded love triangle.  Instead, Audra and Vane spend time together like normal people and become friends, and I love the bond they share.  I like that the romance in this story is actually very believable and sweet.

Plus, the plot is great.  The concept of the story is fantastically unique.  I love the idea of sylphs, and the setting fit perfectly into the mood of the story.  I thought that this one twist at the end was done well.  I sort-of-ish saw it coming - that is, I didn't know what the twist was, but I knew things weren't adding up right and that there'd be some type of reveal.  I really liked the twist and I definitely love the ending.  It's bittersweet yet hopeful, and while it can't quite be called a cliffhanger, it leaves things open for the next book, which I can't wait for.

Let the Sky Fall has it all: unique premise, stellar world-building, a believable romance, and realistic characters.  If you want something to bring you out of your reading slump, then this is the book for you!

My rating:  10 out of 10 (5 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Elemental: The First by Alexandra May

Goodreads summary:

Just who is Halíka Dacomé?

To Rose Frost, moving house every six months is normal. Another new town here, another new school there, her ability to adapt is as easy as breathing. But everything changes when her parents go overseas and Rose moves in with her grandmother. She enjoys meeting new friends and catching up with old ones from her childhood holidays — except now she must hide a precious secret from everyone, a gift from birth that defies modern day science.

Her dreams become riddled with a warrior woman called Halíka Dacomé, but are they visions or messages from the future? She starts her own investigation but encounters more questions than answers. Living right on the edge of Warminster in Wiltshire doesn’t help with its folklore and myths about strange lights in the sky and ghost stories of the Salisbury Plain

Not only that, her troubles really take hold one night when the mysterious Aiden Deverill with his alluring smile, his gorgeous dark looks and hypnotising blue eyes, saves her from a freak fire. Or did he?

For Rose, her new life is beginning but she soon realises that despite assurances people are not always what they seem. What she always believed to be a happy family and a friendly town soon turns on its head when she discovers that her family secret, Aiden Deverill and the truth behind Halíka Dacomé is at the heart of the whole conspiracy.

My review:

While Elemental has some common cliches often found in YA paranormal stories, it's still a decent read.  I didn't care for the main character or the love triangle, but I liked the setting and some of the supporting characters.  Also, a small thing I noticed is that a lot of the story feels like a setup for the next book - there weren't as many plot developments as I would've liked in this.

My problem with the main character, Rose, is that she's too naive.  One part that annoyed me was when her friends are telling her that Aiden (one of the love interests) is dangerous, and she doesn't want to believe that he could be so bad.  Also, after all those years, how could she not have realized the "truth" about her dad's job?  It seemed a little weird that she wouldn't have figured it out.

Then...the romance.  The other love interest, Morgan, says at one point that he'd wanted to get to know her since they were little, and that he'd always tried to hear as much about her as he could.  She then teases, "That's almost like stalking, isn't it?"  Why does she just accept that he was stalking her?  Stalking is not romantic, people.  Honestly, I just didn't like the love triangle much.  It felt like she barely knew either of the guys well enough - much less to be choosing between them!

But aside from my issues with Rose and the romance, I did like the rest of the story well enough.  I love the idea of aliens and liked how it was intertwined into the plot, although I wish they'd been mentioned more!  I also thought Rose's grandmother was a great character.  She was interesting and mysterious.  Rose's friends were hard to keep track of at times, but I liked her two main best friends, Hannah and Mira.

Overall, Elemental: The First does not bring anything new to the paranormal genre, but as I said, it's still a nice enough read.  If you've read lots of fantasy/paranormal books, then this might not be up your alley.  But if you're new to the paranormal genre, I'd recommend giving this a try!

* Thanks to Netgalley for offering me a copy in exchange for a review.

My rating:  6 out of 10 (3 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Waiting on Wednesday: Siege and Storm

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to read!

My pick is Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo!

Goodreads summary:

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

My thoughts:

*tries not to hyperventilate* I am so ridiculously excited for this to come out.  I adored Shadow and Bone.  It's one of the best fantasy books I've ever read.  I want to read this sequel so badly!

And the cover!  Gah!  It is so, so perfect.  I'd seen the old cover for this floating around on Goodreads, you know, with the green-ish colors, I think?  But they said it wasn't the final cover.  Then, recently, they released this stunning cover and I love it sooo much!  The font, the colors, the design, it's all gorgeous.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Eve and Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate

Goodreads summary:

And girl created boy…

In the beginning, there was an apple—

And then there was a car crash, a horrible injury, and a hospital. But before Evening Spiker’s head clears a strange boy named Solo is rushing her to her mother’s research facility. There, under the best care available, Eve is left alone to heal.

Just when Eve thinks she will die—not from her injuries, but from boredom—her mother gives her a special project: Create the perfect boy.

Using an amazingly detailed simulation, Eve starts building a boy from the ground up. Eve is creating Adam. And he will be just perfect... won’t he?

My review:

I wanted to like this so badly, but I didn't care for it much.  I had high hopes for this since Michael Grant helped write it, and I'm obsessed with his amazing Gone series.  But while the Gone series has strong characters and complex, tension-filled plots, Eve and Adam has rather boring, stereotypical characters and not much of a plot to speak of.

One thing I did like is how it's such a fast read.  I was flipping the pages pretty quickly, and it never got too painfully boring to read.  It just didn't grab my attention.  Also, I don't get why the title is Eve and Adam.  I kept waiting for Adam to make his appearance, but he's actually not in the story much.

I didn't feel any emotional attachment to the characters.  Eve isn't an interesting heroine, and I found her to be boring.  Her mom, who's kind of the villain of the story, was really aggravating.  Everyone kept talking about how terrible and heartless she was, which is part of the problem.  There was too much "telling" going on and not enough "showing."

Then there's the subplot with Eve's best frend Aislinn.  I didn't care for Aislinn at all - she was probably the most cliched character in the story.  She's very girly and always flirting, and I couldn't stand it.  Also, what was with the plot anyway?  Hardly anything happened besides Eve hanging out in the hospital, and then there's the random subplot with Aislinn's boyfriend getting into trouble and Eve having to go help out.  It totally didn't fit into the story at all.

I know this is supposed to be a light, fun read - not a mindblowing type of book like the Gone books.  But still, I didn't find it to be very fun.  I laughed maybe two or three times, but none of the funny lines were as funny as they should've been.  There are other people who have enjoyed this book, but it's just not for me.

My rating:  4 out of 10 (2 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Broke and Bookish.  Each week, a new list topic is posted, and book bloggers fill in their choices.  This week's topic is "Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR List."

My Top Ten:

1. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare.  Who isn't eagerly awaiting this?  One more week, you guys.

2. The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Miller.  This book sounds like it will be full of win.

3. The Elite by Kiera Cass.  I can't wait to read more about Maxon. *swoon* And, ahem, America and all the other characters, of course.

4. Of Triton by Anna Banks.  Really enjoyed Of Poseidon and can't wait for this sequel.

5. Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout.  I need this book in my hands.  Like, right now.  Enough said.

6. Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer.  This looks like a cute, light read.  I've preordered the paperback copy, which comes out later this month, and can't wait to read it!

7. Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins.  I'm insanely excited for this to come out.  I need more Anna and Kaidan!

8. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer.  I've had a hold placed at my library for ages.  Still waiting impatiently for it to arrive...

9. Goddess by Josephine Angelini.  I adore this series.  I'm looking forward to seeing how it all ends with Goddess.

10. The Collector by Victoria Scott.  There's been a huge amount of hype surrounding this book, so when I saw it was available for preorder at Books-A-Million for only $6, I immediately preordered it.  You can't pass up a deal like that, plus it sounds sooo good!

What's on your Spring TBR list?

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

Goodreads summary:

Love or life.
Henry or their child.
The end of her family or the end of the world.
Kate must choose.

During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.

In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.

With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.

Even if it costs her eternity.

My review:

This is a satisfying end to the Goddess Test series, but I have to admit it wasn't my favorite out of the series.  I think the first book is the best, and the second went downhill.  However, the third-ish book in this series, The Goddess Legacy, is definitely my favorite.  I enjoyed it most because it's a collection of novellas, so we get to read about many of the other gods and goddesses, and I didn't have to suffer through Kate.

I think that's what kept me from completely loving this series.  I simply can't stand Kate.  She's not terribly whiny or selfish like some heroines I've read about, but she's definitely annoying to me.  She's just way too naive at times.  It makes her come across as a little girl who has no idea what she's doing.

I do like most of the other characters, though.  Especially the gods.  Greek mythology is one of my absolute favorite things to read about, and the gods in this book are just so fascinating!  (But I'm still not totally crazy over Henry.  He seems a little too wimpy to be Hades at times!)  I also like the addition of Kate's baby.  He was so cute and, even though I didn't like Kate much, I thought the way she loved and took care of her child was so sweet.

The Goddess Inheritance definitely starts off with a bang.  The first 50-ish pages or so have lots of action and plot developments, and it was a great opening to the book.  But after the opening, there's not a whole lot of major action until, of course, the end.  Some parts of the storyline were a little slow or took too long to happen, but I did like the action scenes quite a bit.

Lastly, I just wanted to mention the writing.  I'm not sure why, but I don't particularly care for the writing style.  Sometimes, it was hard to keep my focus on the page and what was happening.  This doesn't usually happen to me, and I can't pinpoint exactly what it was about it that I didn't like.

Although I've criticized this book a bit, I did enjoy it overall.  It's a good, solid ending to the series and I enjoyed the mythology twists in it.  I'm looking forward to reading what Aimee Carter writes next.

My rating:  7 out of 10 (3.5 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Goodreads summary:

"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "


Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

My review:

First off, I seriously hope I am not the only one who no idea what the cover was supposed to be.  When this arrived in the mail, I just sat and stared at the cover, turning it around so I could see every angle, trying to figure out what on earth it was.  Once I realized it's the back of Alex's neck, I was like, "Oh!  Duh!  That's actually pretty cool."  It's a gorgeous cover, even if it's weirdly confusing at first. :P

Deity is an amazing book.  I think it's even better than the first two books in the Covenant series.  So much happens in this book.  There are some freaky, crazy, awesome plot developments.  And I love that in Deity, we finally get to stop hearing about all the gods and actually get to meet one.  Let me just say, it was totally epic.

I love all these characters so much.  Alex grows a lot as a character, and I just love her voice - it's so full of snark and sarcasm.  The whole time I was reading this, I kept picturing Jennifer Lawrence as Alex.  Wouldn't she be absolutely perfect?  She would so be able to pull off Alex's sense of humor!

I love Aiden.  I love how supportive he is of Alex and how he's always there for her and cares for her.  There was definitely more romance with Alex and Aiden in this book, which made it even more sad when it got to the ending, and that terrible cliffhanger.  *sniffle*

And Seth?  I would love to just punch him in the face right now.  Okay, I admit: I did like Seth in the previous books (not with Alex, just as a character), mainly because he's so funny and always made me laugh.  But now?  Ughhh.  I am so mad at him.  I can't believe what he did...

This book is heartbreaking and funny at the same time, and it's filled with action, romance, and amazing characters.  If you haven't started this series yet, then you are missing out on one of the greatest paranormal series EVER.  I am counting the days until Apollyon comes out.  I must find out what happens to Alex and all the others!

My rating:  10 out of 10 (5 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Waiting on Wednesday: Sweet Peril

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to read.

My pick is Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins!

Goodreads summary:

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

My thoughts:

I'm so excited for this book!  I loved the first book in this series, Sweet Evil.  It's so hard to find good books about angels, and I think this series and the Unearthly series are the only ones that I really like a lot. 

The summary sounds amazing.  And, of course, the cover is gorgeous.  I can't wait to get my hands on this when it comes out.  Plus, Wendy Higgins lives close to where I live, so I'm hoping I can make it to a signing when Sweet Peril comes out!  *fingers crossed*

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

~ The Bookworm

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: A Tale of Two Centuries

A Tale of Two Centuries Summary:

Alessandra D’Angeli is in need of an adventure. Tired of her sixteenth-century life in Italy and homesick for her time-traveling cousin, Cat, who visited her for a magical week and dazzled her with tales of the future, Alessandra is lost. Until the stars hear her plea.

One mystical spell later, Alessandra appears on Cat’s Beverly Hills doorstep five hundred years in the future. Surrounded by confusing gadgets, scary transportation, and scandalous clothing, Less is hesitant to live the life of a twenty-first century teen…until she meets the infuriating—and infuriatingly handsome—surfer Austin Michaels. Austin challenges everything she believes in…and introduces her to a world filled with possibility.

With the clock ticking, Less knows she must live every moment of her modern life while she still can. But how will she return to the drab life of her past when the future is what holds everything she’s come to love?

 

A Tale of Two Centuries Excerpt: 

 

     “The string goes where?” I ask incredulously, dropping the garment from my fingers as if it holds the plague. My heart rate pounds in my ears, already heightened from my shocking meeting with Austin earlier and the crowd in this land of chaos my cousin calls a mall. It is Saturday, apparently the day teenagers descend upon this enormous building, and we are shopping for clothes that will somehow strike a balance between what she calls dorky and what I call common courtesan attire.  

     “You heard me,” Cat says with a wicked smile and points to the scrap of fabric, causing me to flush even more.

     Heat creeps into my scalp and if it were possible for hair to defy all wisdom and burst into flame, mine would. Holding this conversation in public as people bustle past us is horribly and wholly improper.

     “It’s called a thong,” she clarifies with glee, “and by putting the string up there, you avoid ugly panty lines. Trust me, no one wants to see that business.”

     I clear my throat and take a hesitant step toward the overflowing bins, peering down at the perplexing items again. “But surely it is uncomfortable to be lodged…in such a…spot?”

     Cat shrugs. “You learn to live with it.”

Giveaway:

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Rachel Harris:

As a teen, Rachel Harris threw raging parties that shook her parents’ walls and created embarrassing fodder for future YA novels. As an adult, she reads and writes obsessively, rehashes said embarrassing fodder, and dreams up characters who become her own grown up version of imaginary friends.

When she's not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, you can find her homeschooling her two beautiful princesses, hanging out with her amazing husband, or taking a hot bubble bath…next to a pile of chocolate. A Tale of Two Centuries is her second novel. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Series I'd Like to Start but Haven't Yet

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Broke and Bookish.  Each week a new list topic is posted, and book bloggers fill in their choices.  This week's topic is "Top Ten Series I'd Like to Start but Haven't Yet."

My Top Ten Series:

1. Tiger Saga by Colleen Houck.  Everyone talks about how amazing this series is.  My library has them, so I really need to start it soon.

2. Eve series by Anna Carey.  I've had the first book on my Kindle for ages but haven't got around to it yet.  I need to read it soon!

3. The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima.  I love fantasy and I have heard great things about this, so I definitely need to give it a try.

4. Bright Young Things series by Anna Godbersen.  I LOVE the Luxe series by this author, and this one sounds amazing too.  Can't wait to read it!

5. Embrace series by Jessica Shirvington.  I have the first book for this series on my Kindle too, and as I love books about angels, I'm hoping this'll be good.

6. Denazen series by Jus Accardo.  Just got the first book, Touch, last week.  It's been on my TBR list for months now, plus it's published by Entangled Teen, one of my favorite publishing companies, so I'm excited to start it!

7. The False Prince series by Jennifer A. Nielsen.  Another fantasy book that sounds amazing.  Hopefully I'll get around to it soon.

8. Pure series by Julianna Baggott.  I like dystopian/sci-fi a lot, so this one sounds pretty interesting.

9. Immortal series by Gillian Shields.  I just got the first book in this series for Christmas, and I'm dying to read it.  I just always end up having to read library books that are due soon instead...

10. Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan.  I started the first book, The Red Pyramid, ages ago but I never finished it.  Since I'm crazy about Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus, I really want to give this one a try again sometime.

Leave a link to your TTT in the comments!

~ The Bookworm

In My Mailbox (13)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

I know the background's a bit of a mess...I had to rush to make this video lol.

Books I bought/received:
- Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg
- The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

Books I got from the library:
- Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
- The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell
- Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
- Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

Thanks for stopping by, everyone!  Please comment with a link to your IMM! :)

~ The Bookworm

Quick Update

Hi everyone!  So I just created a Twitter account for my blog - click here to see it.  I'd love it if you follow me, and please feel free to tweet me if you'd like me to follow back!  I'll be tweeting lots of book quotes, or about books I'm currently reading, and lots more book-related awesomeness. :)

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Inbetween by Tara A. Fuller

Goodreads summary:

Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s life has been a freaky — and unending — lesson in caution. Surviving “accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn’t let her die before, and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the only thing he has left…his soul.

My review:
 
It's hard to find an original YA paranormal that's not about werewoves, vampires, angels, etc.  Inbetween definitely manages to stick out as a unique, fun read.  The storyline was well-thought out.  I love the idea of reaping souls, and there was a bit of reincarnation too.  It was all quite entertaining and interesting to read about.

One aspect of the story I absolutely loved is Emma's best friend, Cash.  Can I just say how nice and refreshing it is for the main character to have a guy best friend who isn't in love with her and is just a good friend who cares about her?  I loved that.  I thought his character was so sweet and funny, and he really is a wonderful friend to Emma.  I was so excited to hear that the next book in this series is abut Cash and another minor character, Anaya.  I'm especially looking forward to reading it now!

I also enjoyed the two main characters, Finn and Emma.  Although the story was a bit confusing at first, I got caught up in it quickly.  I loved hearing about Finn's past, and it was so sad when Emma didn't know who he was at first.  I like that there was no insta-love; it really makes their relationship seem more real when you learn about Emma's past life and how they were in love back then.  But for some reason, I didn't totally connect with Emma.  I don't know why.  She's not a bad character at all, and I did like her at times, but I just wasn't crazy about her.

Anyway, if you're looking for a change from the usual paranormal stories, consider giving this a try.  I like that it's not like other paranormal stories, where there's just a little bit of magic and then tons of romance.  While Inbetween has some romance, it also has its full share of creepy magic and action and a complex plot that will hold your attention.  I'm super excited for the sequel!

My rating:  7 out of 10 (3.5 stars)

~ The Bookworm