Friday, March 29, 2013

Final Blogoversary Giveaway: Signed copy of Losing It by Cora Carmack

Hey guys....well, this is it!  The Final Giveaway to celebrate our 2nd Blogoversary.

This time, up for grabs is a signed copy of Losing It by Cora Carmack.  You know that Cora is very near and dear to YA Sisterhood's heart, and we are so happy that she has offered up a copy of her New York Times Bestselling New Adult romance novel.  (That's a mouthful.)

If you haven't read it (or even if you have), you do not want to miss out on Garrick and Bliss.  This contemporary romance will have you running the gamut of emotions--from unbelievably embarrassed, to heartbreaking sadness, to overwhelming swooniness.  Plus, there are few points where it reaches a 10 on the Lust-O-Meter.

This one is a must read for NA fans.  (Recommended age:   17+)

 
Virginity.

Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible-- a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.
 
Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter!
 
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Rise by Anna Carey


Rise by Anna Carey
ARC received from Harper Teen
Release Date:  4-2-2013
Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say:  Sadly, a great story with a very disappointing ending
How far will you go when you have nothing left to lose?

When she lost her soul mate, Caleb, Eve felt like her world had ended. Trapped in the palace, forced to play the part of the happy, patriotic princess of The New America—and the blushing bride of her father's top adviser—Eve's whole life is a lie. The only thing that keeps her going is Caleb's memory, and the revolution he started.

Now, Eve is taking over where Caleb left off. With the help of Moss, an undercover subversive in the King's court, she plots to take down The New America, beginning with the capital, the City of Sand. Will Eve be able to bring about a new, free world when she's called upon to perform the ultimate act of rebellion—killing her father?

In Rise, Eve must choose who to leave behind, who to save, and who to fight as Anna Carey's epic tale of romance and sacrifice in the chilling dystopia of The New America comes to a stunning conclusion.

Okay….so I’m not even sure where to start with this one.  I loved Eve and Once and read them both in one sitting (and back to back).  After that horrible cliffhanger in Once, I ran straight to my copy of Rise hoping that all would be revealed and explained.  Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed in the revelations that awaited me in this book.  While there was plenty of action and the story was still interesting, it was missing the flare and passion that books 1 and 2 had, and once I was done, I was left in a bitter mood.

Prepare yourself for sadness—I’ll start there.  There is heartbreak after heartbreak, loss after loss in this one.  This is realistic, but it got to the point where I was wondering what horrible thing is going to happen next?  It’s really hard for me to review this one because I don’t want to spoil it, but it’s the spoilers that really disappointed me!

One of the things that really bugged me is that most of the characters we knew and had developed a love for were gone.  We had to get to know all new characters, and unfortunately, the love for them just wasn’t there like it was for others.  I mean, characters like Arden—show up or are mentioned maybe once or twice while we get to know an entirely new set of girls.  I just wasn’t a fan of this, and I wanted Anna to bring back the people that we had watched bleed and care for each other.

I also hated the lack of romance—I understand there is a war going on and there is little time for love, but romance is my favorite part of a book.  I like my romance with a side of dystopian, and not the other way around.  So, I was frustrated through most of the book because the passion and love were gone, replaced by hatred, fear, and hopelessness.

I will say I was impressed by how much Eve had grown up in this one.  No more (extremely) rash decisions.  She was entirely focused on survival and saving as many people as she can.  She was strong and endearing in her fortitude, and I found myself really admiring her strength.  She was placed in the hardest of circumstances, and she didn’t give up.  She pushed forward, no matter the pain, and didn’t look back.  I was definitely rooting for her the entire way through!

There is a ton of action in this book, and I never did get bored with it.  Like I said before, I was more just upset and frustrated with things I can’t name (because of the spoilers).  I think some people will like the brokenness of the characters and the revelations, but I think most people will react like myself, not feeling satisfied with this final book.

Finally, the things that threw me the most—the ending.  I was not a fan.  So many important things were left unresolved—who survived, who died, who was punished for their crimes—much of it was just left out in the air.  This would be acceptable if there were another book in the series, but there isn’t!  So, instead I’m left with an unresolved  feeling.  The story needed an epilogue, badly; and once you read the ending, you’ll understand why.  The final page just kind of hits you in the face, “Wham!” and then its over with no other explanation.  There are no words for it…I hate to say this because I loved the first two books, but this one just fell down like 20 flights of stairs, got up, and then fell down 20 more.

I read all 3 of these books in 3 days, and I was all excited to recommend the entire series to my friends—until the ending.  Hopefully things will be changed a bit in the final book so that maybe I’ll rethink recommending it.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights books that have not yet been released, but ones that you should pre-order today! This week's book that we are anxiously awaiting is ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Stephanie Perkins.   ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER releases on September 17, 2013 from Dutton (Penguin).

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
 
From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.
 
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I am so excited for this one!  I loved Lola and Anna, and I can't wait to see what happens with Isla and Josh.  Plus, we get more of my favorite couples!!!!  Yay!!!
 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading!
To participate all you have to do is:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins
Release Date:  4-30-2013
Published by HarperTeen
 
 
"In one step he had me against the table, the back of my thighs hitting the edge as he pressed his body flush against mine."  ARC, pg 32
 
"I only had a second to be relieved before I saw the ferocious look of Azael's features and my fear revived.  He flew at me so fast that I flinched when he halted an inch from my face, his whisper screaming in my mind.  'Hide yourselves!  Now!'" ARC, pg 330
 
 
 

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Stacking the Shelves


So, we haven't ever done a Stacking the Shelves post before, but we've gotten some amazing books this past 2 weeks, so I just had to share them!!!!  Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews
So, here are the books we got this week:

 
This Side of Jealousy by Lily Peloquin--(Unsolicited) I haven't read the first one of this one, but I'm going to look into it.
 
Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton--(Requested) I am so excited about this one!!!  I love the cover, and the story just sounds so intriguing!
 
Natural Born Angel by Scott Speer--(Unsolicited)  I haven't read the first one of this one either, but I've heard good things.  I'll definitely be checking both of these out.
 
Revel by Maurissa Guibord--(Requested)  I'm really excited about this one, too!  Can't wait to jump in because I've heard good things.
 
Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance--(Requested) I just love Talia Vance.  She is one of the coolest people I have met, and I just know that this one is going to be fantastic.  (If you haven't read Silver by her, then go buy it now!)
 
Endless by Jessica Shirvington--(Sent by the wonderful Brianna)  If you follow our blog, then you know I am a Jessica Shirvington nut.  So when Brianna (who lives in Australia) offered to send me her 2 extra copies of Endless (which isn't out in the US for another 6 months), I might have had a squee-fest.  I am so excited for this one...I'm reading it this week!  Look out for me to give away the 2nd copy!
 
Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey--(Requested)  I nearly died when this one showed up at my door.  This is one of my most anticipated of 2013!  I mean, it's Edgar Allan Poe retelling!  Ah!
 
Star Cursed by Jessica Sportswood--(Requested)  I was so excited when this one showed up in the same package as Ashes.  I loved Born Wicked, so I can't wait to jump into this one.
 
Tarnish by Katherine Longshore--(Unsolicited)  I haven't read Gilt, and I'm not sure its my type of book.  So, I'm not sure about this one yet.
 
Belladonna by Fiona Paul--(Requested)  I have actually already read this thanks to Sara, a wonderful blogger friend.  It was good, albeit slow at times--plus, it needs more Falco.
 
A HUGE thank you to PenguinTeen, Flux Books, Random House Children's Books, Egmont USA, and the lovely Brianna!
 
So, that's it guys!!!!  What did you get this week?
 

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Blogoversary Giveaway #3

Hey guys!!!!  Well....here goes giveaway number 3!  (Only 1 more after this one!)

What can you win this time?  3 more ARCS!!!!!

Check them out:

 
Celia Reynolds is the youngest in a set of triplets and the one with the least valuable power. Anne can see the future, and Jane can see the present, but all Celia can see is the past. And the past seems so insignificant -- until Celia meets Lo.

Lo doesn't know who she is. Or who she was. Once a human, she is now almost entirely a creature of the sea -- a nymph, an ocean girl, a mermaid -- all terms too pretty for the soulless monster she knows she's becoming. Lo clings to shreds of her former self, fighting to remember her past, even as she's tempted to embrace her dark immortality.

When a handsome boy named Jude falls off a pier and into the ocean, Celia and Lo work together to rescue him from the waves. The two form a friendship, but soon they find themselves competing for Jude's affection. Lo wants more than that, though. According to the ocean girls, there's only one way for Lo to earn back her humanity. She must persuade a mortal to love her . . . and steal his soul.
 
 
She's got it bad, and he ain't good -- he's in her garage?

"I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me..."

Gonna have to face it: Jody's addicted to Jackson Gatlin, frontman of The Regulators, and after her best bud Mac scores tickets, she's front and center at his sold-out concert. But when she gets mashed in the moshpit and bodysurfs backstage, she's got more than a mild concussion to deal with. By the next morning, the strung-out rock star is coming down in her garage. Jody -- oops -- kind of kidnapped him. By accident. With a Curly Wurly candy bar. And now he doesn't want to leave.

It's a rock-star abduction worthy of an MTV reality series...but who got punk'd?!
 
 
I left everything I knew behind.

But it was worth it. He was worth it.

No one thought an ordinary girl like me would last two minutes living with the Amish, not even me. There are a lot more rules and a lot less freedom, and I miss my family and the life I once had. Worst of all, Noah and I aren't even allowed to see each other. Not until I've proven myself.

If I can find a way to make it work, we'll be NOAH & ROSE

together forever.

But not everybody believes this is where I belong.
 
***********************************************
So, one winner will win all 3 ARCS!!!  Good luck!
 
 
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Once by Anna Carey


Once by Anna Carey
Won from Andrea at The Bookish Babe
Published by HarperTeen
On Shelves Now
Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say:  Action-packed and romantic
When you're being hunted, who can you trust?

For the first time since she escaped from her school many months ago, Eve can sleep soundly. She's living in Califia, a haven for women, protected from the terrifying fate that awaits orphaned girls in The New America.

But her safety came at a price: She was forced to abandon Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. When Eve gets word that Caleb is in trouble, she sets out into the wild again to rescue him, only to be captured and brought to the City of Sand, the capital of The New America.

Trapped inside the City walls, Eve uncovers a shocking secret about her past--and is forced to confront the harsh reality of her future. When she discovers Caleb is alive, Eve attempts to flee her prison so they can be together--but the consequences could be deadly. She must make a desperate choice to save the ones she loves . . . or risk losing Caleb forever.

In this breathless sequel to "Eve," Anna Carey returns to her tale of romance, adventure, and sacrifice in a world that is both wonderfully strange and chillingly familiar.

I was heart-broken when this book started and Eve had been in Califia for a few months without Caleb.  I always hate the inevitable split of the two loves because (even though I know it happens in every book), I still keep thinking that maybe, one of these days, we won’t have to go through the heartbreak of watching the two main characters leave each other.  But, even though I was upset Caleb wasn’t there, I was still swept straight into the action.  Plus, it wasn’t long before word of Caleb slipped into Califia and Eve rushed out after him!

The best part about this book was seeing inside the City of Sand—it was easily recognizable as Las Vegas, but it was really cool to hear about how everything had fallen apart since the plague.  You could just picture the dilapidated buildings that the desert was trying to reclaim, and the way Anna described it was beautiful and eerie.  I think many who thought there was a lack in world building will get a little more of what they want in this installment.

I also loved that we got to meet the bad guys—The Kings and his loyal henchmen.  The worst one for me was Lieutenant Stark—grrr!  I just wanted someone to rear back and slug him right in the face…over and over again because he was such a JERK!  The greed and hatred and fear that consumed the King and his men was evident in their word and in their actions, and the tyranny and threat of violence hung heavy in the air.  Anna’s writing was so beautiful and intoxicating that I read this book in less than 3 hours!

I felt like Eve had grown up a bit in this one, realizing the sacrifices that she must be willing to make in order to fight the regime.  However, like in the first book, she made rash decisions that often made things even worse for her.  I wish she would have stepped back, taken a breath, and approached thing more rationally.  Now, I say that, but if I were in her position, I don’t know if I would have been able to think rationally either.

I really loved Caleb in this one—he was smart and strong, and I loved the way he resisted the tyranny of the King.  He didn’t just whine about his predicament, instead, he stepped up and threw himself right into the middle of the rebellion.  He was really a strong character in this one, and it made me love him even more.  Plus, his humor and soft side were much more apparent, and I felt myself falling for him all over again!  There were some great scenes between him and Eve, and I do wish there would have been more of them.  The one really important scene was very “fade to black,” too, and it took me a few pages to figure out what they did/did not do. 

The only thing that bugged me is the ending---oh my gosh, I’m not a fan of cliffhangers!  Thank goodness I had a copy of Rise, or I would have had a conniption.  So, warning—if you haven’t read this one, you might want to wait the two months until Rise is released!  Otherwise, you might have a small book-related stroke.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  I enjoyed it more than Eve, and I really loved getting to see inside the world and characters even more.  Fans of Eve will love this one!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights books that have not yet been released, but ones that you should pre-order today! This week's book that we are anxiously awaiting is UNBREAKABLE by Kami Garcia.   UNBREAKABLE releases on October 1, 2013 from Little Brown BFYR.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
 
I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.

When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.

Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.

Suspense, romance, and the paranormal meet in this chilling urban fantasy, the first book in a new series from Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels.
 
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

This sounds City of Bones-ish with the demon attacking Kennedy in her room.  I'm a huge fan of that series, so I'm betting I will like this one (whether its similar or not).  I'm a big fan of paranormal ya, so whenever I see one that sounds intriguing, then I find myself really excited about it.  Plus, I'm betting the twins are hot!  (Yay!)  I have never read any of the Beautiful Creatures books, so this will be my first book by Kami Garcia.

 
 
 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Unbroken by Melody Grace

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading!
To participate all you have to do is:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Unbroken by Melody Grace
eBook Available Now


"Looking back, I wonder if mom saw it in my eyes; the storm clouds gathering, the dry crackle of electricity in the air.  But it was already too late.  No warning sirens were going to save me.  I guess you never really know the danger, not until you're the one left, huddled on the ground, surrounded by pieces of your broken heart." Location 25-27

"'You're mine.' He growls, his breath hot against my face.  My legs give way, and he holds me up, gripping my haw so I have no choice but to stare up into his eyes.  To lose myself in them.  'You're mine,' he says again fiercely.'" Location 1005-1009

*******************************
I really enjoyed this one!  It's not hard for me to finish a book in a day or two, but when I spend my day trying to find little snippets of time to dive back into a book, then you know its good.  I loved the brokenness of both Juliet and Emerson in this one.  This first quote just broke my heart because that's what lost love feels like, and I though that Melody described that black hole perfectly.  Add that emotion to the surging sexual tension, and you have a great NA novel!

Monday, March 18, 2013

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Watcher by Lisa Voisin


The Watcher by Lisa Voisin
eARC received from Inkspell Publishing
Release Date:  March 4th
Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn
Millennia ago, he fell from heaven for her.

Can he face her without falling again?

Fascinated with ancient civilizations, seventeen-year-old Mia Crawford dreams of becoming an archaeologist. She also dreams of wings—soft and silent like snow—and somebody trying to steal them.

When a horrible creature appears out of thin air and attacks her, she knows Michael Fontaine is involved, though he claims to know nothing about it. Secretive and aloof, Michael evokes feelings in Mia that she doesn’t understand. Images of another time and place haunt her. She recognizes them—but not from any textbook.

In search of the truth, Mia discovers a past life of forbidden love, jealousy and revenge that tore an angel from Heaven and sent her to an early grave. Now that her soul has returned, does she have a chance at loving that angel again? Or will an age-old nemesis destroy them both?

Ancient history is only the beginning.
The Watcher follows Mia who finds herself inextricably drawn to Michael, new boy in town.  He’s mysterious and broody, but behind all that, is a guy trying to redeem himself.  Then enter Damiel, serious bad boy with one agenda:  Mia.  What follows is a series of dangerous encounters, stolen kisses, and heartbreaking revelations.

What did I like?

The romance in this book is one of those innocently sweet romances.  It’s one of those romances that makes you go, “Aw.”  Now, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some heated scenes tangled throughout the storyline.  On the contrary, there are a few scenes full of pent-up passion that seems to explode. 

I really liked the minor characters the most in this book, especially Mia’s best friends, Heather and Fiona.  They were fun and you can tell they really cared about Mia, even when they were going through their own problems/relationships.  Mia’s mom was also great.  I especially liked when she told Mia:  “’No, honey.  Men are never angels,” she said sagely.  ‘Besides, it’s the devil in them that we love.’”  Because isn’t that the truth?!?  There’s always something so alluring about the bad guy!

Damiel, the bad boy.  While I wish his character would have been developed more at the beginning, he was a great foil to Michael.  He was strong-willed and hypnotic, and Mia felt herself being drawn to him even though she tried to fight it.  We see straight into Damiel’s past and his desires in the end of the novel, but he was pretty empty at the beginning.  Either way, he was still a great “bad guy.”

What I didn’t like?

I felt like the plot was unoriginal.  It was just too similar to Lauren Kate’s Fallen for me.  There were differences, but there were some major parts of this story that were way too much like Daniel and Luce from Kate’s series. 

This story had potential, but the writing was bland at times.  I felt like there was just too much telling with hardly any showing.  I wanted her world to open up around me as I read, and instead of being pulled into another realm, I was completely aware at all times that I was just reading.  I didn’t get lost in the book like I love doing.  As a result, I had a hard time getting through some of the scenes.

Sadly, I wasn’t a fan of the main characters.  Their actions and words just didn’t seem true enough for me.  Not that it wasn’t the truth for them as characters, but I didn’t see the feelings and emotions that led them to those truths.  It was just like all of a sudden---Bam!---and they love each other, but they can’t be together, but they want to fight for each other, etcetera and so on.  I need to see deeper into their lives and personalities for them to be real for me.

From looking at the reviews, most people really enjoyed this book.  They loved the romance and the action, but for me, it was just okay.  I’m hoping that the next installment will have more showing, and the writing will bring me more into this world.  I’m also really hoping that the storyline will depart from the Fallen similarities into something original and new. 
************************************
Be sure you enter the giveaway!  The paperback and ebook sleeve giveaway is open for US, UK, and Canada.  The ebook giveaway is worldwide.
The sleeve is customizable, and you will have your choice of designs.  You can also get your name sewn into it. 
Here is an example of one design for the ebook sleeve:
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Mini Review (by YA Sisterhood's Mom!): Wasteland by Susan Kim

Hey everyone!  Once again, YA Sisterhood's mom is helping out the blog!  She's given us a few words to share on Susan Kim's upcoming dystopian novel Wasteland.


Welcome to the Wasteland. Where all the adults are long gone, and now no one lives past the age of nineteen. Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan’s post-apocalyptic debut is the first of a trilogy in which everyone is forced to live under the looming threat of rampant disease and brutal attacks by the Variants —- hermaphroditic outcasts that live on the outskirts of Prin. Esther thinks there’s more to life than toiling at harvesting, gleaning, and excavating, day after day under the relentless sun, just hoping to make it to the next day. But then Caleb, a mysterious stranger, arrives in town, and Esther begins to question who she can trust. As shady pasts unravel into the present and new romances develop, Caleb and Esther realize that they must team together to fight for their lives and for the freedom of Prin.
******************************
Thoughts:
 
In a Wasteland parallel to THE ROAD, Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan have created a dystopian society with one major conflict--survival.  It's a world where reading is almost extinct, where rain is a killer, and where material items such as a Lexus lie wasting in the street, but there is one major commodity--fresh water. And as in all time periods, greed seems to multiply. Into this chaos comes Esther, out casted because of her refusal to conform when it comes to rules and friends, and Caleb, searching for his kidnapped son and those who murdered his partner. The plot is as dark as the world the authors have created, yet Esther and Caleb find love (although the "I Love You's" occurred a little too quickly for reality). However, those who love apocalyptic nightmares will definitely be hooked on this one!

Friday, March 15, 2013

Blog Tour Review and Giveaway: Emblaze by Jessica Shirvington


Emblaze by Jessica Shirvington
eARC received from Sourcebooks via Netgalley
Release Date:  On Shelves NOW!
Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say:  Exhilarating, Excruciating, and Exceptional

Let me just say, I love Jessica Shirvington.  This series is turning into one of my absolute favorites, and I am giddy with excitement for the new CW show based on this series!  After that ending from book 2, “Care for a trade, lover?,”  I was on edge because I just had to know what was going to happen next.  So, as often happens, I started building up these huge expectations for Emblaze.  And I’m happy to say, that it did not disappoint!  This is the best book so far!

One of the things I love about this series is it doesn’t waste any time jumping into the action.  So many books waste time reminding us of every little detail of the past book, and that really bugs me.  I like being reminded of some things, but the bigger stuff?  No need to remind us.  Jessica doesn’t waste your time with this, instead, she jumps straight into Exile vs. Grigori action.  There is never a dull moment, and so many of the scenes are filled to the brim with powerful emotion.  I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!

So, if you’ve read my other reviews/teasers, then you know I’m a Team Phoenix fan.  Don’t judge me—I like the bad boys that are in dire need of redemption.  (I mean, come on, I’m Team Cole, Team Darkling, so it goes without saying, I’m Team Phoenix).  And we get SO MUCH Phoenix in this one that I felt like I was on Cloud 9.  I loved seeing inside his head, knowing the pain and loneliness that consumes him from the inside out.  It made him seem more human, even when his actions were cruel and demonic.  So many people might argue that he is truly evil, but I think, more than anything, he is suffering, and as a result, he lashes out at those he loves.  It happens.  How many of us have said something we regret to a loved one?  Now, Phoenix takes this much further than words, but I think everyone will understand him a bit more after seeing that he is truly broken.

Now even though I’m Team Phoenix, I still love Lincoln, and I won’t be disappointed when/if Violet ends up with him.  That’s another think I love about this book—both guys make me happy!  I usually have a strong negative reaction towards one of the guys when there is a love triangle involved, but here?  I like them both, and will be happy no matter what ending, unless somebody dies.  Then I’ll die of misery.  But if you’re a Lincoln fan, be ready for some angst.  Some heart-pounding, soul-ripping angst.  Violet and Lincoln’s love is epic, and this book really shows us the struggle they must undergo in deciding whether love is worth the risk.

Violet remains one of my favorite heroines.  She’s strong, but not the “I just woke up one day and was a bad ass” strong.  She still has to work on her powers, and there are definitely things about her powers and her past (not to mention her future) that are up in the air.  Still, she doesn’t let that bring her down.  She stands strong and fights the exiles head on without ever wavering.  She’s not whiney, even when she has every reason to be, and I really like this no pity side of her.  If she were to sit around moping, I would definitely get annoyed.

And

That

Ending!

Oh my gosh—I did not see it coming!  But don’t fret, it’s not one of those “Is he/she alive or dead” type of cliffhangers.  It’s more of a jaw dropping, “what the heck just happened?” cliffhanger.  It won’t let you upset or frustrated, only curious and thrilled for the next installment.

I highly recommend this series to paranormal romance lovers.  Jessica’s world is magical, where the characters are covered in either lies or love; and where the truth is the most heartbreaking thing of all.
 
************************************
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Neverfall by Brodi Ashton


Neverfall by Brodi Ashton
Novella published by Harper Collins (Harper Impulse)
Release Date:  Available Now
Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say:  Gritty, Personal and Transcendent
A thrilling new novella from the author of the Everneath series!

Jack is trapped for eternity in the Tunnels while Nikki has managed to evade Cole's grasp . . . for now. But Cole is more desperate than ever to find answers about Nikki, his best chance for taking over the throne of the underworld. How did she survive the Feed? Can Cole find another Forfeit like her who can survive it too?

Cole's quest leads him to the other side of the world, to a mysterious, dangerous society known as the Delphinians, whose price for information might be higher than Cole can pay—a price that could destroy Nikki. But when Cole attempts to steal the answers instead, his mission ends in disaster. Faced with centuries in a Delphinian dungeon, Cole is confronted with questions he's been too scared to ask himself: Is he really obsessed with the throne—or is he obsessed with Nikki? And can she really give him a new beginning as the Everneath's king . . . or will she instead bring about his tragic end?


“It had shaped my soul to fit with hers and only hers.  It had graced me to see the truth but simultaneously prevented me from doing anything about it.  In the moment I faced dying, I finally knew my reason for living.”  Loc 1255-1257

For the most part, I am a fan of novellas, the growing trend in YA literature.  I love getting to see through another character’s eyes, and I especially love getting to delve deeper into a book’s world.  However, with every novella I’ve read, there seems to be something missing, and I can’t quite put my finger on what it is.  All I know is I’m not fully satisfied at the end.  And this happens with my favorite characters—Warner’s Destory Me, Aiden’s Elixir.  I don’t know what it is, but I just want something more.

This novella is written from Cole’s point of view, and if you follow my reviews, then you know I am a HUGE fan of Cole.  I like the broody, rebellious guys; and I even have a soft spot for the bad guys—hoping that maybe they aren’t beyond redemption.  So, of course, the best part of this, for me, was getting to see inside Cole’s head—see how he thinks, what his motivations are, how far he is really willing to go—and who he is willing to lose.  I definitely saw a new side of Cole in this one, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. 

From the first book, I have heard that Cole gained a huge following, which I think was quite a surprise.  I’m thinking that this book was part of Brodi’s way of showing us who he truly is so we won’t be so enamored by him.  We see how truly obsessed Cole is with ruling the Everneath, and even more so, with Nikki.  But, it’s not the Romeo and Juliet, Catherine and Heathcliff kind of tragic love obsessed; instead, it almost seems more dangerous and sinister.  Cole is more dangerous that I would have imagined, being that I believed (and still do somewhat) that he is going to take a turn to the side of good.  Seeing this side of him was definitely enlightening.

What bugged me about the novella, though, is that if felt rushed and slightly unfinished.  Cole is searching to find how Nikki survived the feed, and this action fell flat for me.  I was intrigued by the Delphinians because this was a new aspect to the history of the world; however, Cole’s search for them and eventual meeting just didn’t have the flare I wanted.  It did open my eyes to the cruelty of the Everneath and everything surrounding it, but I expected fireworks, and instead got a bit of playing with matches.

Still, I liked the revelation that Cole had at the end.  It fit more with what I imagine Cole to be, as opposed to what his actions say about him.  I still don’t think he can be trusted, but I think that he still has a heart, and as long as he has a heart, he can be saved—or better yet, do the saving.

I’ll leave you with a quote that made me laugh at loud.  (I will say, I liked Cole’s humorous inner monologues).

“I considered for a moment grabbing Jack, squishing him into the shape of a giant football, and spiking him into the bus; but I refrained.  Jack may have had a small brain, but the rest of him was quite large.” Location 572-572

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights books that have not yet been released, but ones that you should pre-order today! This week's book that we are anxiously awaiting is ALL OUR YESTERDAYS by Cristin Terrill.   ALL OUR YESTERDAYS releases on September 3, 2013 from Disney Hyperion.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
 
Marina has everything. She’s got money, popularity, and a bright future. Plus, she’s best friends with the boy next door, who happens to be a gorgeous prodigy from one of America’s most famous families.

Em has nothing. Imprisoned in a small white cell in the heart of a secret military base, all she has is the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

But Marina and Em have one big thing in common: they’re the same person.

Now Em must travel back four years in time in order to avert the terrible future from which she’s fled, and there’s only one way to do it. She must kill the person who invented the time machine in the first place: someone from her past. A person she loved.

But Marina won’t let them go without a fight.
 
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I really love the sound of this one!  I've not read many time travel books, but this one looks like its going to have it all:  action, romance, and danger!  Plus, she has to kill the person she loves?  I'm betting there will be some seriously great drama here!
 

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday



Top Ten Tuesday is an original meme hosted and created by The Broke and the Bookish

This Week:  The Top 10 Books on the TOP of your Spring 2013 TBR List!  These are in no particular order because I want them all!!!!

1.) Goddess by Josephine Angelini (May)

I am dying to get my hands on this one!!!!  I need to know what happens next with Lucas and Helen!

2.) Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey (June...technically summer, but still)

A retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's poem, Annabel Lee.  Sign me up please.  I have read Chapter 1 of this one (it's posted on goodreads), and the writing is so beautiful.  I can't wait to get my hands on it.

3.) Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin (Another June release)

I loved Masque of the Red Death, so I am definitely looking forward to seeing what is next for Araby.

4.) Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins (April)

I just got my ARC in about a week ago, and I cannot wait to dive into it!  I need me some more Kaidan!

5.) The Oathbreaker's Shadow by Amy McCulloch (June)

This one sounds so intriguing.  An oath taken that cannot be remembered--eeek!  Dying to figure out the mysteries in this one!

6.) Of Triton by Anna Banks (May)

I loved Of Poseidon, and I just can't wait to find out what's next!

7.) Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington (May)

This one sounds a little bit like Sliding Doors, only where your family and friends change, too.  Plus, its by Jessica Shirvington, and I love her Embrace series!

8.) Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (March)

Um...duh?

9.) Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn (June)

YA horror!  This one sounds creepy and fantastic, and I LOVE the cover!  Love it!  I'm really looking forward to being creeped out!

10.) Faking It by Cora Carmack (June)

We love Cora (another duh!)!  This one is about Max and Cade, and we know there will be tons of humor and romance!

Monday, March 11, 2013

The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett


The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett
eARC received from Tor Teen via Netgalley
Release Date: 3-5-2013
Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say:  Ethereal, Gripping, and Dazzling
Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.
Literally.
Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.

Then Eli's dream comes true.

Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.

I have been looking forward to reading The Nightmare Affair ever since I read the blurb (months and months ago).  It was one of the coolest ideas I have ever heard—Dusty’s a nightmare!  A nightmare!  How cool is that?  I love the idea of taking something so abstract and turning it into embodiment of a person!  Mindee’s world is utterly hypnotic—filled with duplicitous magickind and twisted into the stuff of…forgive me, nightmares.  So, fantasy and magic fans, dive straight into this world!  But be careful, here there be monsters.

Mindee’s story jumps straight into the action from Chapter 1, which, if you know me, is exactly how I like them.  I understand that first books in a series need the world building, but at times it can get dense and boring.  But not with this one.  Each chapter brings a new mystery or a new revelation, and I couldn’t make my eyes read fast enough.  The action kept me intrigued while the characters captured my imagination.  I loved that Mindee was able to weave her world building into the action—and what a world it is.  There are all sorts of magical creatures living in one place, and I just love how this book portrays them.  You have sirens, vampires, demons, witches, mermaids—you name the paranormal creature, and it’s probably in this book.  It was neat seeing a book where you get to see multiple creatures, instead of just focusing on a few.

Dusty was such a great main character—feisty and fun, but at times, immature in her thinking and actions.  Normally, this would but me, but it just seems natural with Dusty.  I didn’t get annoyed with her rash decisions, and believe me, she did make quite a few.  It felt more like a rite of passage than just dumb mistakes.  I think some people might get annoyed with her jump-straight-in attitude, but it didn’t really bug me.  Now, I did think she was a little dense in the romance department, but that’s just me being biased because I like Eli.  Paul is sweet and he seems like a great guy for her, but I just didn’t like him.  Add that to the fact that the dream sessions with Eli are something that could definitely end in some great romancy scenes, and I just have high hopes that she’ll choose him.

So, obviously you know I’m a fan of Eli.  Now, don’t get me wrong, he is definitely not perfect.  He can be a big jerk at times, and like Dusty, he’s also dense at times when it comes to romance.   But he just seems so sincere, and again, I like the connection that Dusty has with him.  I would have liked to see a bit more alpha male in him, especially because he’s this big athlete and Mr. Popular from his last school.  But, I really didn’t see that.  We saw brief glimpses of jealousy and antagonism, but it wasn’t full blown.  I would like to see some possessiveness show out in him in the next book.

I really liked the minor characters, too.  You have Lance, who is this big jack***, but there is something about him that seems friendly, like if you manage to get past the goofy and jerky barrier, he could be an amazing friend.  I might be wrong about him, but I still like his character, and I look forward to seeing more of him in the future.  Then you have Selene, Dusty’s best friend.  She’s the “give me no excuses and I won’t kick you in the butt” type of girl, and I really like her sincerity and her protective side. 

The only complaint I really have is that some parts were predictable.  Not all of them were, there was a big twist at the end that I didn’t see coming; however, I did see a few of the other big twists.  This predictability didn’t keep me from enjoying the book, though.  I still enjoyed every aspect of it, and I can’t wait until the sequel.

Horned Demons

Contraband Magic

Smexy Dream Scenes

Duplicitous People

Dark Secrets

Add those all together and what do you have?  A nightmare worth dreaming.