IN MY MAILBOX, #33

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a great way to put a spotlight on books received during the past week.

Books Mentioned:

SLIDE (Slide #1) by Jill Hathaway (Thanks to Jill)

EARTHSEED (Seed #1) by Pamela Sargent (Thanks to Tor Teen)

ON THE ISLAND, by Tracey Garvis-Graves (Thanks to the amazing Tracey!)

ETHEREAL (Celestra #1) by Addison Moore. (Thanks to Addison)

WHEN DESTINY KNOCKS (Destiny Saga #1) by Heather M. White

Thanks for stopping by!

Review ~ SNAP: THE WORLD UNFOLDS, by Michelle Drier

SNAP, a multinational celeb TV show and magazine, is the holy grail for Maxie Gwenoch. When she snags the job as managing editor, she's looking for fame, fortune and Jimmy Choos. What she finds is a media empire owned by Baron Kandesky and his family. A family of vampires. They're European, urbane, wealthy and mesmerizing. And when she meets Jean-Louis, vampire and co-worker, she's a goner. The Kandesky vampire family rose in Hungary centuries ago. They gave up violence and killing to make a killing on the world's commodities markets and with that beginning they built SNAP, an international celebrity multimedia empire. Now cultured...and having found food substitutes for killing...they’ve cornered the world market for celebrity and gossip journalism. They haven't fully left the past behind. Their Hungarian neighbors and rival vampire clan, the Huszars are starting to ramp up attacks, maybe looking to start a war to take over all the Kandeskys have built. Maxie believes she's found her ultimate career. She doesn't realize that she's found a family feud like none other, a centuries-old rivalry between vampire families, with her as the linchpin. Bells ring with Jean-Louis, but she doesn’t realize they’re alarm sirens until she learns that Jean-Louis is second in command of the Kandeskys...but by then it's too late. ~From GoodReads

Set in the world of a twenty-four hour celebrity media empire, SNAP: The World Unfolds Maxie Gwenoch, a much coveted young executive. Maxie thinks she's in for a typical, yet exciting new job. But she soon learns that there's more to the job than it seems and her very life is at stake.

I'm going to be honest and say that I didn't connect with this story. Maybe it was the fact that there's no backstory on Maxie, no reason to be invested in her or the job. Chapter one begins with her first day at SNAP and thrusts you directly in the action, which is fine, but with the lingo and rapid pace, I felt a bit disoriented. Maxie's complete trust in those around her, even when she discovers deception, threw me. I think discovering your bosses are vampires and your driver is a demon warrants a major freakout, but that's just me.

I didn't connect to the secondary characters, either. Maxie's potential love interest, Jean-Louis, came off cold and stiff, maybe fitting to his nature, but I didn't get the appeal. Even when the become closer, I didn't get a sense of true attraction between Maxie and Jean-Louis.

I will say, though, that the backstory in regards to the vampires was quite interesting. I'm always amazed when an author takes such a well-explored genre and creates a little bit of their own history. The centuries-long war between the Kandeskys and the Huszars is full of political and personal intrigue, bloodshed, and betrayal.

As I said before, SNAP: The World Unfolds just wasn't the book for me. The lack of connection or inventestment in the outcome was too big of a leap for me.


Favorite Quote:

"This devil didn't wear Prada, but with my new salary, I was angling for Jimmy Choos." (pg.9)


I've provided a very positive review from GoodReads for an alternate viewpoint.

Published July 1st 2011 by Michele Drier

You can purchase SNAP: The World Unfolds at Amazon .


Source: Received from author for review.

Review ~ THE BRO-MAGNET by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Women have been known to lament, "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride." For Johnny Smith, the problem is, "Always a Best Man, never a groom." At age 33, housepainter Johnny has been Best Man eight times. The ultimate man's man, Johnny loves the Mets, the Jets, his weekly poker game, and the hula girl lamp that hangs over his basement pool table. Johnny has the instant affection of nearly every man he meets, but one thing he doesn't have is a woman to share his life with, and he wants that desperately. When Johnny meets District Attorney Helen Troy, he decides to renounce his bro-magnet ways in order to impress her. With the aid and advice of his friends and family, soon he's transforming his wardrobe, buying throw pillows, ditching the hula girl lamp, getting a cat and even changing his name to the more mature-sounding John. And through it all, he's pretending to have no interest in sports, which Helen claims to abhor. As things heat up with Helen, the questions arise: Will Johnny finally get the girl? And, if he's successful in that pursuit, who will he be now that he's no longer really himself? THE BRO-MAGNET is a rollicking comedic novel about what one man is willing to give up for the sake of love.                     ~From GoodReads

You know the guy, he's the one that has all the guys' attention. He's funny, loves his beer, is into sports, can tell a great story. He's dressed like a college frat boy, complete with the backwards baseball cap. He's a real "man's man". But the women? Not so much. From the moment Johnny was born, he's been a "disappointment to women". It began when his mother died shortly after his birth, after she discovered he wasn't the daughter she was hoping for. It continued with his Aunt Alfresca, who always reminded him (lovingly?!) that he killed her sister. Then there's Alice, the neighborhood girl who Johnny always secretly adored, who has nothing but disdain for him. Fast forward to age thirty-three, and not much has changed for poor Johnny. He's been a best man eight times. The only woman in his life is Sam, who also happens to love sports and beer, and would be perfect for him, if she were into men. So when Johnny meets Helen, he is determined to make all the changes necessary to win, and keep, the girl. But will it be worth if he can never be himself?

I have to start this review by saying, THE BRO-MAGNET is laugh-out-loud funny. I was reading this in the car on a roadtrip, and I kept busting out laughing and reciting lines for my husband. Very early on, I realized that the book would make a terrific movie. It could be one of those great comedies, starring someone like Vince Vaughn, that also has a nice bit of heart and a message.

The realistic, matter-of-fact narrative written by author Lauren Baratz-Logsted was a like a blast of refreshing air and offered a much needed change of pace for me. To be inside the mind of a man, especially one like Johnny, was a blast. It also gave me a lot to think about, to be honest, in regards to expectations, and trying to change people.

The heart of THE BRO-MAGNET is Johnny's journey to John, his transformation from an overgrown boy to a man. And how far he's willing to go to get the girl. The advice he gets is often hilarious and sometimes off. I'm beginning to think, compared to some of the women in the book, that I'm a bit off. Johnny/John loves sports, casual clothing and Morning Joe. All of to which I say "Yes! And can I have some more.". He's also smart and good looking. Um...I'm not seeing the problem here! Okay, I have to admit, I'm one of the most chilled-out wives ever, so my opionion probably doesn't count. Of course, he could stand to be a bit more charming or attentative, I get that. I just didn't want him to lose the essential (read:awesome) parts of his personality. And finding out just how far he's willing to go for Helen made me read this book at a blazing pace, exhilarated when the story came full circle.

THE BRO-MAGNET is a book that both men and women will love. The men will undoubtedly want to be him, while the women will want to fix him. The story is hysterical, surprisingly charming, and ultimately heart-warming.


Favorite Quote:
(A little context: Johnny is being berated by his best friend's wife, Alice, for his immature style, particularly for wearing a baseball cap.The whole conversation was so funny.)

"Nearly everything that's wrong with this world can be traced to some guy somewhere wearing a backwards baseball cap." (ebook, 60%)


Published December 11th 2011 by TKA Distribution


You can purchase THE BRO-MAGNET at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble



Source: Received from the author/publisher via NetGalley.

Review ~ BELLES, by Jen Calonita

Fifteen-year-old Isabelle Scott loves her life by the boardwalk on the supposed wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. But when tragedy strikes, a social worker sends her to live with a long-lost uncle and his preppy privileged family. Isabelle is taken away from everything she's ever known, and, unfortunately, inserting her into the glamorous lifestyle of Emerald Cove doesn't go so well. Her cousin Mirabelle Monroe isn't thrilled to share her life with an outsider, and, in addition to dealing with all the rumors and backstabbing that lurk beneath their classmates' Southern charm, a secret is unfolding that will change both girls' lives forever.  ~From GoodReads





  

Gossip Girl meets Mean Girls, in the South.

I think it's a universal truth that 99.9% of all kids have a fantasy: One day they will be whisked away from their drab, parent-addled life into a world filled with clothes, money, new cars...you get the idea. Back when I was a kid, I hoped my "real parents" were a king and queen. These days, I think kids will settle for unlimited texting and a bottomless iTunes account.

But not Isabelle "Izzy" Scott. She's happy with her life on the wrong side of the tracks. She doesn't even mind the run down home she lives in, or the fact that her only family after her mother's death is her increasingly forgetful grandmother. She has her friends, including the adorable yet mysterious Brayden, her school, her beach. This life is her's and she wouldn't trade it for anything.

So when her grandmother, in a lucid state, has her sent to previously unknown family, Izzy's world is shattered. Who wants the glam life where people treat you like a charity case, act like your a criminal because of your upbringing, or act like you don't deserve to be there? Where your perfect new "cousin" is one of the mean girls trying to bring you down? And what will Izzy do when she finds a face from her old life and learns long-hidden truths about her background?

There was so much that I adored about BELLES.. I love the premise of a girl being offered the good life, and seeing how she responds. Izzy was determined, yet vulnerable. It would be so easy to slip like a warm glove into the new world she's offered. I mean, who doesn't want the best money can offer? But she is determined to remain the same girl she was before.

BELLES is also told from Izzy's new cousin, Mira's, point of view. The alternating points of view really helped keep me from completely hating Mira. Without knowing what she's actually feeling, she could have become a heartless, spineless brat. It was nice to see her vulnerabilites, even though  I was never on her "side".

There are some nice dramatic bits to the story, usually courtesy of the Mean Girls, lead by the awful Savannah. This girl was a pill, without becoming a caricature. If I could have climbed into the story and throttle her myself, I would have. Thank goodness I never had to face girls like this back in school. I would have been in the principal's office, or at the police station, on a regular basis.

Another dramatic turn comes fairly soon after Izzy moves. In the interest of not spoiling the story, my lips are sealed. But it was a nice surprise I didn't see coming at all. It upped the "WTF Factor" in Izzy's world and totally made me love this story so, so much.

My only small complaint would be that the BIG revelation came too late in the story. This was something I figured out pretty quickly and waited the entire book for the bomb to drop. I would have liked to have seen more of the fallout, but with book two coming this Fall, I don't have to wait long to find out what happens next.

All in all, I really, really enjoyed this book. Author Jen Calonita's writing flows flawlessly, making it an easy, fast read. If you're a fan of Contemporary Young Adult with healthy doses of drama and heart, BELLES should be a great fit.


Favorite Quote:

"She'd lived here for her whole life and she had half an hour to put her world in a duffel bag and say goodbye?" (pg. 29, ARC)

Hardcover, 356 pages

Expected publication: April 10th 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

You can preorder BELLES at:
Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon  |  Book Depository

Source: Received for an ARC tour hosted by Southern Book Bloggers.

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she’s single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, stalked by her ex’s frat brother, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Her econ professor gives her an email address for Landon, the class tutor, who shows her that she’s still the same intelligent girl she’s always been. As Jacqueline becomes interested in more from her tutor than a better grade, his teasing responses make the feeling seem mutual. There’s just one problem—their only interactions are through email.

Meanwhile, a guy in her econ class proves his worth the first night she meets him. Nothing like her popular ex or her brainy tutor, Lucas sits on the back row, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. At a downtown club, he disappears after several dances that leave her on fire. When he asks if he can sketch her, alone in her room, she agrees—hoping for more.

Then Jacqueline discovers a withheld connection between her supportive tutor and her seductive classmate, her ex comes back into the picture, and her stalker escalates his attention by spreading rumors that they’ve hooked up. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy. ~From GoodReads

Why I'm Waiting ~

I've heard only great things about Tammara Webber's books. I have her BETWEEN THE LINES series on my tbr-list and hope to read them soon. EASY sounds brilliant. I love Mature YA. So yeah, I think I definitely have enough reasons to read EASY!

Expected publication: May 25th 2012                                 

Be sure and add it to your To-Read List on GoodReads by clicking the icon above.

TEASER TUESDAY

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

·Grab your current read
·Open to a random page
·Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
·Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.

This week's Teaser is from

From the author of Twenty Boy Summer, a teen pushes the limits to follow her dreams—and learns there’s a fine line between bitter and sweet....Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances, a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been. So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life—and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done. It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last....~From GoodReads

I posted my review for BITTERSWEET yesterday, but this book is so beautiful that I couldn't resist sharing another quote!

My Teaser~

"I close my eyes and throw my head back, big impossible flakes landing on my face and blotting out the sound, and for a moment, everything is still. I'm trapped in a giant snow globe, bound to the surface of the ice, nothing left to do but wait for someone to upturn and shake the world, set me back on my feet, and watch the sky fall."  (pg. 280)


Published January 3rd 2012 by Simon Pulse

You can purchase BITTERSWEET at:
Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Book Depository

Review ~ BITTERSWEET, by Sarah Ockler

From the author of Twenty Boy Summer, a teen pushes the limits to follow her dreams—and learns there’s a fine line between bitter and sweet....Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances, a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been. So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life—and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done. It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last....~From GoodReads

"Like I always say: I've never met a problem a proper cupcake couldn't fix."

Favorite Quote(s):

"I'm cold and horizontal, helplessly pinned beneath a boy. A cute one. Our skates are all tangled up and our hearts are knocking against each other like they're ready to take this outside." (pg. 31)

"His hands are strong as they run along my shoulders and arms, his eyes taking in my face, lips brushing the skin of my neck, whispers hot in my ear until I'm afraid my entire body will turn to mist, leaving nothing of me to bury but the long pale silk of my hair laced through his fingers."  (pg. 272)

Read a sample of Bittersweet.

Watch it and drool.

Published January 3rd 2012 by Simon Pulse

You can purchase BITTERSWEET at:
Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon  |  Book Depository 

Source: Personal purchase.   

IN MY MAILBOX, #32

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a great way to put a spotlight on books received during the past week.

Books Mentioned:

Wanderlove, by Kristen Hubbard (Thanks to Random Buzzers)

Between the Lines (Between the Lines, #1) by Tammara Webber

Where You Are (Between the Lines, #2) by Tammara Webber

People Mentioned:

Abbi Glines

Emily Hainsworth

Bethany Griffin

Thanks for stopping by!

Review ~ THE MAYFAIR MOON (The Darkwoods Trilogy #1) by J.A. Redmerski

After a nightmarish encounter with a werewolf, seventeen-year-old Adria Dawson loses her sister, but gains the love of a mysterious young man and his legendary family.

Strange and tragic things begin to happen in the small town of Hallowell, Maine: residents come down with an unexplainable ‘illness’ and some disappear. In the midst of everything, Isaac Mayfair is adamant about keeping Adria safe, even from her sister whom he has warned her to stay away from.

As unspeakable secrets unfold all around Adria, impossible choices become hers to bear. Ultimately, no matter what path she takes, her life and the lives of those she loves will be in peril. As she learns about the werewolf world she also learns why her place in it will change the destinies of many. ~From GoodReads

As a fan of paranormal young adult books, I dove into THE MAYFAIR MOON with great expectations. On the whole, I wasn't overwhelmed by the story, but I did like it.

THE MAYFAIR MOON is the story of Adria, a teenage girl living in Georgia with her beloved sister, Alex, her co-dependant mother and abusive step-father. After the two girls are attacked by what seems to be a werewolf, which is mistakenly attributed to their step-father, they are sent to live with an aunt and uncle in Maine. Alex is changed by the attack. She is sullen, distant, angry and eventually runs away from home, joining what appears to be a cult. Adria, desperate to find and save his sister, is befriended by a group, a mysterious family, the Mayfairs. Adria is immediately attracted to Isaac Mayfair, son of their leader. Being pulled in two directions by two warring packs, between her sister's group and the Mayfairs, Adria must decide between her sister and her heart.

So as I said, I did like THE MAYFAIR MOON. I found the author's writing to be precise and easy to follow. This is a book that I was able to read extremely quickly, despite the length. The writing is very descriptive, setting-wise, but never felt bogged down with details.

 I also liked her take on werewolves. It wasn't just bites and full moons. There was a lot more going on than what I normally see. The werewolf world was full of centuries long vendettas, blood bonds, and political conflict. These variations added just enough to the story to make me feel as if I were reading something completely new.

But there were also a few things about THE MAYFAIR MOON that made it less than great, for me. For starters, the story moves fairly slowly. Once the girls move to Maine, there isn't a lot going on. I think that can be explained by the fact that there is a lot of world-building, or explanations that take place. Once the different people and backgrounds are in place, the plot does pick back up. And I  would expect the next book in the series to maintain that pace now that the background has been established.

I was also thrown by the connection between Adria and Isaac. It felt rushed to me. They meet, and there's an immediate connection. Then, they are around each other a few times, but nothing that screamed "True Love" to me. Then Adria finds Isaac with another girl, runs out of the house and refuses to speak to him. She's embarrassed, I understand. But I don't get the level of hurt and how she feels he owes her an explanation. When he does explain, and she accepts, then he tells her the other girls who live in the Mayfair house are jealous because of their connection. Which reminds me, the Mayfair house...it seems sort of like a harem. I understand why the people are there, but I felt sort of gross with the way the girls are always all over Isaac. But they are werewolves, so I guess it's explained by the animal attraction theory.

Overall, I would say that THE MAYFAIR MOON is a book that I didn't love, but I did like a quite a bit. With a dark, brooding atmosphere and a paranormal mystery THE MAYFAIR MOON is a book that will appeal to fans of paranormal young adult books.

Favorite Quote:

" 'No, seriously,' Nathan went on, 'Isaac is what your folks might call a Ladies' Man.'

I saw Isaac's expression out of the corner of my eye; it shrank into something less solid and more humiliated. I laughed. Inside, of course.

'He even has his own cologne,' said Nathan. 'It's called...Dark Allure or some cheesy thing like that.' (pg. 127)


Published February 6th 2012

Try a sample!

You can purchase THE MAYFAIR MOON at:
Amazon

Source: Received from author in exchange for an honest review.

Review ~ THE HAUNTED (MacKinnon Curse, #2) by J.A. Templeton

After battling a malevolent ghost that held the spirit of her friend Ian MacKinnon bound to the land for two hundred years, sixteen-year-old reluctant psychic, Riley Williams, felt as if she was finally easing into her new life in Scotland.

Or so she thought.

Laria, the spirit of the witch who had cursed Ian wants revenge for Riley’s interference and she’s bringing along friends—dark entities who thrive on evil.

The one bright spot in Riley’s world is Ian’s descendent, Kade MacKinnon, who could easily be Ian’s modern day twin. The parallels between the two guys are undeniable. As Riley’s relationship with Kade blossoms, she begins to realize Laria has grown in her power since their last confrontation—a power that could very well manipulate the living just as effectively as the dead.

Please note: THE HAUNTED is a mature YA. Due to strong language, mention of alcohol and drug use, cutting, and sexual content, it is not recommended for younger teens. ~ From GoodReads

THE HAUNTED takes off immediately where book one in the MacKinnon Curse series, THE DEEPEST CUT left off. Thank goodness because I didn't want to miss one single second of what happened after Riley got her first glimpse of Kade, who looks exactly like his ancestor, Ian, a former ghost. And I have to stop right here and say, I miss Ian so, so much! I mean, I was a little hesitant to read this book because I was afraid that no one could compare to Ian with his flowing white shirt and his charming demeanor. But as it turns out, the MacKinnons have some strong DNA sequences because his descendant Kade, well, he is quite the Scottish charmer too. Then there's Laria, the evil ghost who is out to get Riley for interfering with Ian. She's back, and she's taking the evil to a whole new level. So now it's up to Riley to save herself, those she loves, begin a new relationship, and manage to avoid regressing into her cutting habit. Easy peasy, right?
In real life, I'm kind of a chicken, so there are very few "ghost stories" that appeal to me. I think what makes this series work so well for me is that it's not only a ghost story. Riley is haunted, but she is also a normal teenage girl, in many ways. She is still dealing with her mother's death, her father's absences, and a brother she worries about. She still misses her friend, Ian, who she did have strong feelings for, but still let go. She is a former "cutter" who fights the urge to begin again every day. She is a girl who is falling for an impossibly cute, sweet guy who happens to be a dead ringer for her former love. The fact that THE HAUNTED deals with these issues makes the book appealing to even those who might not consider reading a ghost story.

On the other hand, THE HAUNTED is super creepy. Laria has taken the proverbial gloves off and is gunning for Riley, and she doesn't care who or what she has to go through to get to her. She is willing to possess and try to destroy Riley's friends and family. She is making herself known to those around her. There were honestly a few times I got goosebumps while reading this book. But it was written in a manner that didn't terrify me in a bad way, if that makes any sense. I guess I was a chilled but not paralyzed with fear.

I have to give author J.A. Templeton major credit for the choices she (or her characters) makes in her writing. To make Riley a cutter couldn't have been easy. It's a compulsion that isn't well understood by a lot of people and has been a controversial topic at times. She made me, through Riley, understand why someone would choose to do it, and even though a person may stop the act, the urge doesn't just go away. She also allows her characters to be flawed, less than perfect. Some of them drink, some smoke pot, they curse a bit, they have s-e-x. And sometimes their actions have consequences. It's not written in a glamorizing fashion. They're real, pure and simple.

While reading THE HAUNTED, I felt the same as I did while reading THE DEEPEST CUT. I got so lost in the story, and I didn't want to put them down, or end. I would tell myself "Just one more chapter" and look up an hour later, wondering what had just happened. And I'm not exactly sure what it is about them that causes this, possibly it's the gripping hook and the engaging characters, or wondering what evil Laria will spew next.  I know if I got nit-picky, I could say the books aren't technically perfect. But the fact is, when you enjoy a books as much as I did THE DEEPEST CUT and THE HAUNTED, and add in that I'm dying to read book three, THE DEPARTED...well, that says it all.

Favorite Quote(s):

(One sweet, one scary!)

"He closed the door behind him. He reached up, his hand easing into my hair, his thumb brushing over my lower lip. 'I can't stop thinking about you.' " (ebook, 46%)

"I smothered a scream.
Shane was levitating a few feet off the bed-his body stick straight, his shaggy hair falling away from him.
'Shane,' I said, taking a step closer. Without looking away from my brother, I felt for the light switch and turned it on.
The bulb flashed and went out." (ebook, 49%)


Read my review of THE DEEPEST CUT (MacKinnon Curse, #1).

Published January 8th 2012 by Julia Templeton

You can purchase THE HAUNTED at:
Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon 

Source: Received from author for review.

Review ~ GODDESS INTERRUPTED (Goddess Test, #2) by Aimee` Carter

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone. ~From GoodReads

Book two in the Goddess Test series, GODDESS INTERRUPTED begins six months after THE GODDESS TEST. Kate is returning to the Underworld after spending her first summer away from Henry in Greece, with James. Kate is hoping for a loving welcome from her reserved husband, and happy start to her new life as Queen of the Underworld. But an old threat has returned, and Henry is in danger. Kate must navigate the Underworld to find the one soul who can help her save her husband and the other gods, her sister, Persephone. And she also happens to be Henry's former wife. But even if Kate can save Henry, will she be able to save their marriage?

[Sidenote: Can I just say it's kind of weird to have a YA novel with a married heroine? There's nothing wrong with it, actually, just a thought I wanted to throw out there. Now that I've said my random bit, I'll get to my thoughts.]

There are a lot of things I liked about GODDESS INTERRUPTED, and a few aspects that I didn't. I'll start with what I didn't like so I can end on a happy note, okay?

What I liked:

-The overall story. Greek Mythology was my favorite area of study in Literature. I have read The Iliad and The Odyssey many times, for fun. Author Aimee` Carter took timeless "characters" and has given them an updated, lively spin. I love how Carter assigned new names, but identifiable traits for the gods and goddesses.

-I also liked the slow-building relationship between Kate and Henry. Henry is extremely mired by the pain of losing Persephone to a mortal. He has deemed himself unlovable and is slow to trust, even his wife. It would have been easier for the author to make Henry into a happy, loving person once he met Kate, but it would have also made getting to know him less interesting, because emotionally damaged boys (even those who can smite you) are usually the ones who steal your heart.

-Aimee` Carter is an excellent author. Her words flow in an easy manner that makes reading her books a pleasure. The dialogue is never stilted. Her words never sound awkward or ill-placed while reading.

What I didn't like (as much):

-Okay, so I know I said before that I liked the relationship between Henry and Kate, and I do. What I don't like, however, is Kate spending the entire book wringing her hands over Henry's feelings for Persephone and the fact he'll never love her as much as his first wife. I do get that Kate is still a teenager, newly married, and dealing with a load of emotional baggage. But enough. I don't want to literally spend every page listening to it.

-My least favorite part of the story was some of the events that take place in GODDESS INTERRUPTED. And what makes this tough is that I can't defend that position without spoiling parts of the book, particularly the last few chapters. Kate has a real talent for throwing herself into unnecessary positions. But what really got me was the last few pages. It felt rushed, forced, and didn't wholly make sense.

All in all, GODDESS INTERRUPTED is a book that I didn't love, but I liked it well enough. I felt a bit disappointed because it felt like the story didn't advance, but actually regressed, in regards to Henry and Kate's relationship, until the very end of the book. I didn't love the ending, but it does provide a great setup for book three in the series, THE GODDESS INHERITANCE.


Favorite Quote(s):

"I'm not leaving you for him. I'm not leavig you for anybody, and I never would have gone looking for something better. You are my something better, and I wish- I wish I was yours, too." (ARC, 79%)


"If I were a better man, I would be able to show you the love and affection you deserve. As I am not, I can only offer you what I am capable of giving. But I assure you, just because I do not show it doesn't mean I do not feel it." (ARC, 93%)

You can pre-order GODDESS, INTERRUPTED at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Source: Received from Harlequin Teen via NetGalley.

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...

Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing.

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over.
~From GoodReads

Why I'm Waiting ~  It's Contemporary YA. Amy seems like a girl most of us can identify with. And, oh yeah, Prom sucks. At least mine did. But seriously, PRETTY AMY seems awesome. Lucky me, I have an ARC coming my way soon!

Expected publication: May 15th 2012 by Entangled Publishing                     

You can preorder PRETTY AMY at:
Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository  |  Amazon

TEASER TUESDAY

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

·Grab your current read
·Open to a random page
·Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
·Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.

This week's Teaser is from

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone. ~From GoodReads

 My Teaser ~

"I wasn't sure which was worse: the thought of Henry expecting me to sleep with him, or the thought of Henry not wanting to sleep with me at all."

You can pre-order GODDESS, INTERRUPTED at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

Cover Reveal ~ WHILE IT LASTS (Sea Breeze #3) by Abbi Glines

Y'all know I love Abbi Glines, right? And if you read my review of BECAUSE OF LOW, you know I had major love for bad boy Cage York. So you know that I am beyond excited to take part in the cover reveal for the next book in the SEA BREEZE series, WHILE IT LASTS.

Maybe driving home after a few (or more) shots of tequila had been a bad idea, but hell, he did it all the time. The cops had to have been freaking bored to have pulled him over. He wasn’t even swerving! That’s Cage York’s story and he’s sticking to it.

Unfortunately, his baseball coach isn’t buying it. Cage has a free ride to the local junior college for baseball -- or he did, until he’d gotten a DUI. Now, Cage has to decide: does he drop out and give up his dream of getting noticed by a college in the SEC, and possibly making it into the Major Leagues -- or does he give in to his coach’s demands and spend his summer bailing hay?

Eva Brooks had planned out her life step by step when she was eight years old. Not once over the years had she lost sight of her goals. Josh Beasley, her next door neighbor, had been the center of those goals. He’d been her first boyfriend at seven, her first kiss at ten, her first date at fifteen, and her first tragedy at eighteen. The moment she’d received the phone call from Josh’s mother saying he’d been killed along with four other soldiers just north of Baghdad, Eva’s carefully planned life imploded in the worst way possible.

Cage isn’t real happy with his closet-sized bedroom in the back of a foul smelling barn, or his daily interactions with cows, but he knows that if he doesn’t make his coach happy then he can kiss his scholarship goodbye. Only a sick and twisted man would decide his punishment was to be working on a farm all summer. No hot babes in bikinis waiting to meet a Southern boy to make her vacation complete. Just him and the damned cows.

Oh -- and an uptight, snarky brunette with the biggest blue eyes he’s every seen. But she doesn’t count, because as hard as he’s tried to charm her out of her panties - he’s pretty sure she’d rather see him hung from the rafters than let him get a taste of her pretty little lips.

Awesome, right? What I wouldn't give to be that bale of hay. (Yep, I said it.) Be sure to add WHILE IT LASTS to your GoodReads tbr-list.

FEATHERMORE Blog Tour ~ Guest Post from author Lucy Swing

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the FEATHERMORE Blog Tour!

Today, I have a truly lovely guest post from Lucy Swing, author of FEATHERMORE. The post is followed by details of the fabulous blog tour giveaway hosted by Lucy.

And now... author Lucy Swing. Enjoy.

WHY I WRITE YA

As an avid reader, I will pretty much read any genre at all. When I started reading as a child I was obsessed with R.L. Stine. My parents had a clothing store at the mall and I would spend hours at the bookstore reading Goosebumps. Whenever I came across any kind of money at all, it would go toward a book. When I started growing up, and although I kept reading Stine’s books, my taste became a little bit broader. Now, whenever I had money I spent it on clothes or going out with my friends, and that is why I began reading my Mom’s books. She, like I, has to go to sleep with a book in hand. And so there were plenty for me to choose from, however her genre was a little different that mine, she loved romance novels. Think Nora Roberts and Danielle Steele. And so I daydreamed of handsome and romantic men that would come to sweep me off the floor, the romantic in me was born. I went on, for years reading anything my mom purchased. The DaVinci code drove me wild!
                                                                                                                                     But it wasn’t until I was told about Twilight that I became a DIE HARD reader. I was working at the hospital at the time. I had taken a very lunch break and so I was completely alone in our break room. On the table was a paperback of Twilight. The TV wasn’t working and so I picked it up, after all, I had half an hour to kill. OH MY GOD, the half an hour disappeared. I don’t know how it is possible, but time fast forwarded! I had gotten so into the story that by the time I came up for air it had been an hour! I was so busted. Reluctantly I put it down and headed back to work. I couldn’t concentrate, I had Meyer’s story engraved in my mind. 7pm came around and I bolted to my car. I didn’t go home, I told my Mom I would pick up the kids a little bit later and drove like a maniac to the bookstore. By then, the first three were already out, so I bought them all. It might have taken me a week before I had read them all. I was ADDICTED. Since then I have read all four about 10 times each, and every time, it’s like the very first.
                                                                                                                                         It was because of the Twilight saga that I decided to become a writer. I wanted readers to feel the way Meyers had made me feel. To become the character and have a break from our everyday lives. I wanted to create an escape that readers would want to escape to.
                                                                                                                                     And so my genre of choice was easy, Young Adult. It is the genre I like reading most.
How many of you were told by a parent, aunt, grandmother how we would one day miss our teenage years? How we would one day want to turn back time and be in high school again? Everything my Mom has ever said to me and was brushed off as “Yeah, right. Whatever” has come true. And so, what better way to re-live those days than by creating my own?
                                                                                                                                     The Young Adult genre is not just for teenagers, it is for everybody that misses those days and wants to, even if for a few hours a day, go back and reminisce. YA is also for the teenagers dealing with the realistic issues sometimes mingled in the stories, in the case of Feathermore, bullying. I was bullied when I was younger and I completely stand against it. It breaks people and scars them for life in one way or another. For adults, as I said before, YA is a getaway to times already passed.
                                                                                                                                            What is your genre and why?
                                                                                                                                  Thank you ladies for hosting me in your amazing blog today.

"When the one thing you live for is taken from you, do you let it go or do you fall?
Jade, like any other student at Brushwood High, awaits the start of the school year with a certain measure of dread. Worse, she is being threatened by a voice that only she can hear—a voice that lurks at the edges of her awareness, haunting her and warning her of something unknown. She has always been able to count on her two best friends, Claire and Nate, but can she confide in them now? About this? Would they even believe her?
Life takes a turn for the better when she meets Avan, a darkly handsome new student who, somehow, seems to drown out the voice and make her feel at ease.
But Jade soon comes to realize that good things don’t last forever. When everything spirals out of control, she is shattered by something she never saw coming. Dazed and despairing, she must now overcome tragedy and embrace her true existence and a new but dangerous love. Will she be able to save herself and those she loves, before it’s too late? Or will she let the surrounding darkness consume her?"

Lucy Swing lives in sunny Florida with her husband and two children.

She is a YA Paranormal/ Romance writer, whose works include: Feathermore #1 (Feathermore Trilogy), Bloody Valentine, the novella, and Bloody Valentine is also offered in "Death by Chocolate," an anthology consisting of 6 fantastic YA short stories with a chocolaty twist.
She is an absolute book hoarder and must always have a book at arms distance. Music is her muse, and there is always a soundtrack that plays along her life.

For more information on Lucy Swing please visit her website:

http://www.LucySwing.com

GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY

(US ONLY)

IN MY MAILBOX, #31

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a great way to put a spotlight on books received during the past week.

(Ok, I sort of love the dorky freeze frame. This is how I look 97.2% of the time.)

BOOKS MENTIONED:

PRETTY IN BLACK by Rae Hachton (received for an upcoming blog tour)

INTANGIBLE by J. Meyers (received from the author)

Until I Die (Revenants #2) by Amy Plum (Thanks to Harper)

Darkness before Dawn, by J.A. London (Thanks to Harper)

The Whispering House, by Rebecca Wade (Thanks to Harper)

Transcendence by C.J. Omololu (Thanks to Bloomsbury Books,via NetGalley)

GUEST POST ~ Mary Pauline Lowry, author of THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE

Today I have the lovely Mary Pauline Lowry here to talk about her book THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE.  I will be reviewing her book very soon, but in the meantime, enjoy!

First I want to thank Andrea for hosting me here at her amazing book blog The Bookish Babes.

During a FridayReads Twitter Book Tour, one of the reviewers from the book blog Insatiable Booksluts tweeted that my novel The Earthquake Machine is like “Huck Finn with vibrators.” I love that tweet because it really captures the adventurous, girl-powered spirit of The Earthquake Machine.

Instead of Huck Finn running away and teaming up with a runaway slave, in The Earthquake Machine a girl named Rhonda runs away to Mexico to find her family’s yardman Jésus, who has been deported. And instead of the Misssissippi River, the Rio Grande River runs through my novel. And of course instead of Huck Finn pretending to be a girl, my protagonist Rhonda changes her appearance so she can “pass” as a Mexican boy named Angel and travel safely deep into interior Mexico.

I wanted The Earthquake Machine to be a bold and daring coming-of-age tale for every woman or grrrl who ever longed to shake off the limitations imposed by her gender and take a wild journey.

The Earthquake Machine

The book every girl should read,
and every girl’s parents hope she’ll never read.

The Earthquake Machine tells the story of 14 year-old Rhonda. On the outside, everything looks perfect in Rhonda’s world, but at home Rhonda has to deal with a manipulative father who keeps her mentally ill mother hooked on pharmaceuticals. The only reliable person in Rhonda’s life is her family’s Mexican yardman, Jesús. But when the INS deports Jesús back to his home state of Oaxaca, Rhonda is left alone with her increasingly painful family situation.

Determined to find her friend Jésus, Rhonda seizes an opportunity to run away during a camping trip with friends to Big Bend National Park. She swims to the Mexican side of the Rio Grande and makes her way to the border town of Milagros, Mexico. There a peyote- addled bartender convinces her she won’t be safe traveling alone into the country’s interior. So with the bartender’s help, Rhonda cuts her hair and assumes the identity of a Mexican boy named Angel. She then sets off on a burro across the desert to look for Jesús. Thus begins a wild adventure that fulfills the longing of readers eager for a brave and brazen female protagonist.

 

Mary Pauline Lowry has worked as a forest firefighter, screenwriter, open water lifeguard, construction worker, and advocate in the movement to end violence against women. Due to no fault of her sweet parents, at 15 she ran away from home and made it all the way to Matamoros, Mexico. She believes girls should make art, have adventures, and read books that show them the way.

Cover Reveal ~ WINGS OF ARIAN, by Devri Walls

I am so excited to be taking be in this cover reveal WINGS OF ARIAN by Devri Walls. Devri is a total sweetie and I am happy to see her book coming together so beautifully. I have to say, when I opened the file that contained the cover art, my jaw dropped. This cover is SO GORGEOUS and was designed by the talented Claudia at Phatpuppy Art.

Kiora thought she had never heard a lie until she was sixteen. But she was wrong. Her entire existence was based on nothing but. She thought that evil did not exist. Lie. That magic was not real. Lie. And that the land of Meros was all there was. One more lie.

With Aleric telling her that evil is knocking on the door and that she is the only one who can stop them she has a choice to make. Refuse, or start the wildest most painful ride of her life.

She reluctantly dips her toe into her new existence of magic and threads,dragons and shapeshifters, and the person who wants to take control of it all: the evil Dralazar.

However, this journey was never meant to be hers alone. She will be accompanied by a Protector. To her disbelief, and utter irritation they name the hotheaded, stubborn, non -magical, (albeit gorgeous) Prince Emane. They will have to trust each other with their lives, but right now Kiora would settle for a non hostile conversation.

And now it comes down to this, If you had never heard a lie, would you know when you heard one? Is knowing good from evil innate? Kiora finds herself having to decide who lives and who dies on those very questions.

 So what do you think? Is this one of the most stunning covers you've ever seen or what?

Expected Publication: May 2012 by StoneHouse Ink


Author Bio:

Devri Walls lives in Kuna Idaho with her husband and two kids. She has worked as a

music teacher and currently, a preschool teacher. She majored in theater and her love

of a story still drives her today. Thankfully, she has finally found an outlet for all the

voices in her head. Her first novel, Wings of Arian, will be released on Amazon May of

2012. Find her on Twitter, Facebook or on her blog; www.writingmyfuture.com

Coming Soon:

Tour invites for Wings of Arian are being divided up and situated... oh yes, an INVITE ONLY tour! Be checking your inbox!