COURTNEY REVIEWS: REBOOT (REBOOT #1) by AMY TINTERA

Series: Reboot #1
Genre: YA SciFi/Dystopian
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: 5/7/13
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 365
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5 stars


GoodReads  |  Amazon  |  B&N

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.The perfect soldier is done taking orders

 

Oh. M. Gee. I do apologize for the gushing that you are about to see, but I reaaaalllllllyyyyy am excited about this book! So...you know what that means?

*squee* *happy dance* *why did I wait so long to read this book?*


I have indeed had this a while, and don't make near enough time to read the physical books I have, and that is indeed a wrong I am trying to right...which is why I got down to reading this one finally. I, however, was not expecting to love Reboot so much.

We don't really get a whole lot of history in the beginning of what is going on with this dystopian world, and how we went from the USA to this world where seemingly only Texas has humans in it, and humans die only to "reboot" and come back to life because of a virus however many minutes later.

(Does that make them zombies? Living dead? They look like pretty little vampires, but they seem like zombies to me. You decide, and let me know!)

The blurb does a great job of setting things up, and the pace is seriously balls to the wall, hardcore, and thrilling so you do not miss not having a history. Never fear, you do get miniscule details along the way that fill in the holes thanks to Wren and Callum. (Seriously, non-stop action the WHOLE time!)

Wren, One Seventy Eight, is our narrator, and having taken 178 minutes to reboot, she is pretty emotionless and the least human. Then, she meets Callum, Twenty Two, who is the most human like guy she has ever met. Their unlikely friendship and pairing is just that, unlikely, but it brings into this book a really cool element of almost romance, and hope for this novel. For me, Reboot is the perfect Young Adult title in that there is a paranormal dystopian aspect, a little romance, friendship, coming of age, thrilling action, suspense, and oh-my-goodness are-they-or-aren't-they going to survive. I read it in under a day, and am very excited to shout my praises from the rooftops.

I did find out halfway through that this book does continue in book two, that is already out Thank God, because I am dying to read it...but again, never fear because this installment ends nicely and does not make me feel like throwing things (no cliffhanger). I want to tell you so much more about the other characters you meet, and how much I loved Callum and how much I grew to understand Wren...but I won't. Because, I give this my highest recommendation and would love for you to read it and experience it all for yourself!

Enjoy!

 

The Reboot Series

 

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

About the author: 

Hi! I’m Amy Tintera, and I write novels for young adults. I grew up in Austin, Texas and graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in journalism. After receiving a masters in film at Emerson College I moved to Los Angeles, where I promptly discovered I didn’t enjoy working in the film industry, and went back to my first love, writing.

REBOOT and REBEL are published by HarperCollins/HarperTeen. Film rights have been optioned by Fox, and the books have sold in ten countries. I am represented by Emmanuelle Morgen at Stonesong.


Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  GoodReads 

COURTNEY REVIEWS: PARALLEL by LAUREN MILLER

Genre: YA Sci Fi
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date:
Format: Hardback
Pages: 432
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 stars

Abby Barnes had a plan. The Plan. She'd go to Northwestern, major in journalism, and land a job at a national newspaper, all before she turned twenty-two. But one tiny choice—taking a drama class her senior year of high school—changed all that. Now, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Abby is stuck on a Hollywood movie set, miles from where she wants to be, wishing she could rewind her life. The next morning, she's in a dorm room at Yale, with no memory of how she got there. Overnight, it's as if her past has been rewritten.

With the help of Caitlin, her science-savvy BFF, Abby discovers that this new reality is the result of a cosmic collision of parallel universes that has Abby living an alternate version of her life. And not only that: Abby's life changes every time her parallel self makes a new choice. Meanwhile, her parallel is living out Abby's senior year of high school and falling for someone Abby's never even met.

As she struggles to navigate her ever-shifting existence, forced to live out the consequences of a path she didn't choose, Abby must let go of the Plan and learn to focus on the present, without losing sight of who she is, the boy who might just be her soul mate, and the destiny that's finally within reach.

 

When Andrea sent me Parallel I really didn't have any idea what to expect. The blurb sounded super interesting, but still....how was this going to work out? This girl has a parallel self that is changing her every life decision? What? Sooo...when I started it and was confused by the second chapter, my misgivings were creeping in at a quick rate.

Then, I stopped. Read something else. Took a deep breath and said to myself "Self, you need to read this book. Quit being a whiney bitch, and get to it." And so I started again. I went back through the dates at the beginning of the chapters and while I still wasn't getting the time frames being a year apart I just went with it.

Moral of this story: Do Not Quit This Book. After that little bitty bump in the road, the story really picked up. We have Abby in the Here = Present Day for her, and she is an actress and really hating being in California for this movie and missed out on all this stuff. She fell into this life, and can't help wonder what it would be like to be doing something else. Ergo, her dream of college. THEN: the day of her 18th birthday she wakes up across the country in a dorm room she's never seen....cue suspenseful background music.

In the There = A Year Before = Repeating Abby's Senior year. Things aren't going quite the same way they did the first time around...which is in turn affecting Abby's present day life. She ends up in Astronomy class instead of Drama. She ends up injured instead of running....event after event after event goes entirely differently and Here Abby doesn't know each morning which event from There is going to change her life and rip her into somewhere else into the universe.

She has a cast of friends that make up her Here and There (romantic interests in both places, but I wouldn't call this a romance...no smut here, folks...and they say you can't write about college kids without a sex scene...ppssh) and one BFF that is in the know and helps her figure out each day. Events unfold, the suspense gets cray and I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. I did have a couple of Aha! moments of guessing (Okay, ONE moment) what might be ahead of me...and I got really excited and started manic tweeting Andrea how good this book is! (Sorry!)

Sorry this is so long, but its kind of a long book. Whew, catch my breath. THEN just when I think I've gotten everything figured out. The effing end. OMG. The end. I have been sitting on this for a few days to decide how I could write a review about it. Parallel is intricate, and developed and really blew my mind. I especially liked that one of the love interests was a geeky guy that wore pleated pants and everything wasn't always the best and the most beautiful with these kids...which has really been lacking in some books (A, I know you tweeted this displeasure recently...not everyone can be beautiful and messed up and virginal, right?). I really enjoyed it, and hope that you might give it a chance if it crosses your radar at some point!!

 

 

 

 

Purchase Parallel

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

 

 

 

Connect with Lauren Miller

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  GoodReads

 

 

 

THE END IS HERE....DON'T MISS OUT!!

 

 

The End is Here

 

 

The time has almost come for the final books in your favorite series.

 

 

 

 Eve Series  |  Vampire Kisses  |  Unearthly Series  |  Angelfire Series  |  Delirium Series  

 Touch Series  |  Gone

 

 

 But I'm sure you don't want to get left behind, right? And that's where I, and these other great blogs are here to help.

 

 

FULL MOON KISSES………….…….Electrifying Reviews

BOUNDLESS………………….………Confessions of a Bookaholic

SHADOWS IN THE SILENCE….……Good Books and Good Wine

REQUIEM……….……………….…….Mundie Moms

A TOUCH MENACING………….……Reading Angel

RISE……………………………..……..The Bookish Babe

LIGHT: A GONE NOVEL…………….Reading Teen

 

 

 

Here's where you come in...head on over to the Epic Reads: The End is Here page.

 

There you can sign up as a Newbie or Series Expert. As a Newbie, you can find links to get started on all these great series with an e-sampler or only $2.99 per book!

 

All caught up on these series? Great! You can read the series guide and join discussions.

 

As you might have seen, I'm on the Eve Series team. If you've read the series and love it as much as I do, or if you're just catching up, please join me in the discussion. My Epic Reads screen name is Andrea Thompson. In the future, I will have more cool graphics for you, an interview with author Anna Carey, and giveaways!

 

 

 

 

DRAIN YOU BLOG HOP AND GIVEAWAY

 

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Drain You Blog Hop & Giveaway!The Hop kicked off October 5th over at Mundie Moms and Hobbitsies. Drain You was a book that I adored and had such a great time reading (my review), so I am very excited to be participating. My stop includes the book trailer, a Q&A with M. Beth, and a giveaway.

 

 

Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: 7/24/12
Purchase: Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

"Summer. The 90s. The rich, sun-bleached neighborhoods of the Los Angeles canyons. Enter Quinlan Lacey, a cool, bored, sarcastic, sexy 17-year old with a dull part-time video store job and a mild case of teen ennui. That is, until she meets the alluring, River Phoenix-esque James, and realizes the hills are alive with the undead. Inspired more by the early, dry L.A. short stories of Bret Easton Ellis than the current crop of serialized vampire fiction, the supernatural grunge romance, Drain You, narrates the headaches and heartbreaks Quinn undergoes in her quest to stay sane and cool and in love and alive."

 

Here's what Publisher's Weekly had to say about Drain You: 

 

"Bloom debuts with a languid, stylish novel that reads like a love letter to cult vampire flicks like The Lost Boys, the work of Francesca Lia Block, and Southern California in the 1990s."
 

Read the entire Publisher's Weekly review.  

 

Watch the Trailer

Q&A with M. Beth Bloom

 

Nirvana or Pearl Jam?

For music, Nirvana.  For humanity, Pearl Jam.  Vedder is a total god and started the whole shorts-over-thermals trend, but Cobain wrote “Dumb” and that’s just classic.

Dre or Snoop?

Can I say Dre with Snoop or is that cheating?  There is absolutely no choosing between either of their debut solo albums – each is perfection.  And currently I’d say they’re about equal in utter randomness.  Complete cancellation. 

Dylan or Brandon?

Dylan, no contest.  Longer ‘burns, cheesy motorcycle, drinking problem, scarred eyebrow, dead fiancée, exploded ex-con father, Brenda’s true love, and the first one to make out with Emily Valentine to Chris Isaac’s “Wicked Game.”  Oh, and my soulmate. 

 

Alex Mack or Clarissa from Clarissa Explains It All?

Clarissa’s got the ‘tude.  She’s the one with the cooler family (Ferguson!?!) and the cooler best friend (Wah, Wah, Hi Sam) and ultimately – though this is debatable – the better wardrobe (so many polka dots, so many side ponies). 

Singles or Reality Bites?

Singles is serious.  It’s like what I absolutely imagine real people to be like in Seattle, in 1991.  Also: Vedder/Jam cameos, the “coffeehouse,” live Alice in Chains performance, and Bridget Fonda nonstop, head-to-toe.  There is no one I wanted to see get together more than I wanted to see 90s Campbell Scott and 90s Kyra Sedgwick… EXCEPT for 90s Winona Ryder and 90s Ethan Hawke.  Reality Bites is literally what I watch every time I can’t fall asleep and it’s 4 am and I just want to hypnotize myself to Hawke singing Violent Femmes.  Both movies are endlessly fulfilling and asking me to choose between them is deeply Sophie’s Choice-ish. 

Interview with the Vampire or Buffy, the Vampire Slayer?

These are getting way too ridiculous.  How could I pick one over the other?  I LOVE Kristy Swanson’s Buffy – she’s a huge influence on EVERYthing in Drain You, and there are LONG stretches of that movie I can still recite by heart.  (Since the dawn of time, vampires have walked among us, killing, feeding.  The only one to stop their heinous evil is the slayer, she who bares the mark, the mark of the coven…)  But the Cruise Lestat is undeniable, beautiful camp – the most flamboyant, trashy thing ever.  And when Antonio Banderas comes into the picture, it’s just too much radness/madness.   

90's Keanu Reeves or 90's Ethan Hawke?

Total tie.  Keanu has the voice and the delivery of my dreams.  It’s like impossible to get through an entire Keanu Reeves movie from the 90s without literally saying, Awwwww, Keanuuuuu.  Because he’s just that “touched.”  But with Ethan you’ve got the edge, the wit, the grease, the sex, and what I’ve always imagined to be a Parliament/black coffee taste in your mouth immediately after you’ve frenched the hell out of him.

90’s Cindy Crawford or 90’s Naomi Campbell?

This is like the most painful question to answer.  How can anyone on Earth deny Naomi?  She’s a 6-foot British nightmare in a skintight cheetah unitard!?!?  That’s just too good.  But Cindy is the ultimate House of Style, mole-maven Gere bride.  No one wears a french-cut, one-piece like Cindy, and her friendship with Mizrahi and Oldham makes me smile forever.  I love them both insanely.

90’s Clinton or 90’s Gore?

Clinton.  Any decade Clinton.  He’s legend.

90's Fashion Trend You Wish Would Come Back?

Too many – Paper bag pants, square-toe shoe, Tina Chow minimalism, the acid happy face,“wet” hair, androgeny, and Perry Ellis runway grunge.  

Favorite 90's Slang/Phrase?

Like I care.

 

** I have to admit, I'm in love with every single answer.**



GIVEAWAY

 

Includes:

• Signed copies of Drain You
• $50 credit to Wasteland (Quinn's favorite store)
• Pages from Quinlan Lacey's notebook
• 10 Drain You bookmarks, handmade by Quinn
• 10 90s mixtapes, created by Quinn

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway



 

"Bloom's first short story “Love And Other Catastrophes: A Mix Tape” was featured in Story Quarterly and selected by Dave Eggers for inclusion in The Best American Nonrequired Reading: 2003 (Houghton-Mifflin), which he curates annually. Bloom is the founder of underground dance label 100% Silk (profiled here in LA Weekly) AND the producer/lead singer of the band LA Vampires (written up in The Guardian as well as Pitchfork and Fader). Her next book will be published through HarperTeen.
M. Beth lives on the east side of L.A. where she indulges in raw fooding, magazine subscribing, thrift shopping, Sunday matinee'ing, and ladies book clubbing."

{REVIEW} FANG GIRL by HELEN KEEBLE

Series: N/A
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: Sept.11, 2012
Format: Paperback
Pages: 352
Source: Received from author for review.

Things That Are Destroying Jane Greene’s Undead Social Life Before It Can Even Begin:

1) A twelve-year-old brother who’s convinced she’s a zombie.
2) Parents who are begging her to turn them into vampires.
3) The pet goldfish she accidentally turns instead.
4) Weird superpowers that let her rip the heads off of every other vampire she meets.(Sounds cool, but it doesn’t win you many friends.)
5) A pyschotic vampire creator who’s using her to carry out a plan for world domination.

And finally:
6) A seriously ripped vampire hunter who either wants to stake her or make out with her. Not sure which.

Being an undead, eternally pasty fifteen-year-old isn’t quite the sexy, brooding, angst-fest Jane always imagined....

Helen Keeble’s riotous debut novel combines the humor of Vladimir Tod with Ally Carter’s spot-on teen voice. With a one-of-a-kind vampire mythology and an irresistibly relatable undead heroine, this uproarious page-turner will leave readers bloodthirsty for more.

Why I Chose to Read Fang Girl:  I first this book at Book Loving Mom. The author left a comment offering a book for review and I quickly hopped on the chance!

A hilarious and out-of-control story of a newly turned teen vamp, Fang Girl is a story that will keep you laughing from cover to cover.

I must start by saying, Fang Girl will not hit the right notes for all readers. Those who take their vampires absolutely seriously and will not stand for a parody will most likely roll their eyes at Fang Girl. I, however, am not that reader. Sure, I take my favorite vampire stories very seriously, but I can also appreciate a comedic take on the genre as well.

When Xanthe Jane Greene wakes up in a coffin, she's understandably curious as to how this came to be. What helps Jane cope is that she is an avid member of the vampire blogging community. She's watched all the movies, reads the books and the fanfic, participates in forums...Jane knows her vamps well enough to recognize when she becomes one, even if she never believed they were actually real. Jane immediately sets out to reconnect with her family, find her sire and why she was turned, and avoid the vampire hunters who lurk in the night. This sets Jane on a action-packed hilarious adventure that will test her new abilities and her loyalties.

What made Fang Girl fun for me, besides Keeble's hysterical narrative, is that there are a lot of elements from other recognizable vampire series. I loved the dhampir vampire hunter Van Helsing (used two HUGE elements in that one character!). Another is the fact that vampires are obsessive-compulsive (much like the WVMP Radio series). I don't know that this was the intention, but I recognized it, and considered the usage as a shout-out.

I will admit the middle of the story did drag a bit, for me. I was also a bit confused as to who was the good/bad guy, the mystery of the two big power players, and, Jane's "creation" defied all logic, which is weird considering that I'm debating the logic of a vampire story. Oddly enough, it all worked.

Funny, inventive, and surprising, Fang Girl is a great choice if you're reading for a change from the norm.


Favorite Quote:  (This is a long one, but really great.)

"It didn't knock the breath out of me, seeing as how I wasn't breathing to start with, but I did have to spend a few minutes lying flat on my back, convincing myself that I wasn't dead. Or rather, deader. Sitting up, I prodded at my ribs, but nothing seemed broken. I was lucky that it had been a rail fence, rather than a barbed wire, or I would have shredded myself into vampire linguine. I was even luckier to have caught myself across one of the horizontal rails- a foot to the left, and I would have hurled myself onto an upright support. Staking myself on my first night as a vampire would have been terminally embarrassing." (pg.6)

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

TEASER TUESDAY {FANG GIRL by HELEN KEEBLE}

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.

Things That Are Destroying Jane Greene’s Undead Social Life Before It Can Even Begin:

1) A twelve-year-old brother who’s convinced she’s a zombie.
2) Parents who are begging her to turn them into vampires.
3) The pet goldfish she accidentally turns instead.
4) Weird superpowers that let her rip the heads off of every other vampire she meets.(Sounds cool, but it doesn’t win you many friends.)
5) A pyschotic vampire creator who’s using her to carry out a plan for world domination.

And finally:
6) A seriously ripped vampire hunter who either wants to stake her or make out with her. Not sure which.

Being an undead, eternally pasty fifteen-year-old isn’t quite the sexy, brooding, angst-fest Jane always imagined....

Helen Keeble’s riotous debut novel combines the humor of Vladimir Tod with Ally Carter’s spot-on teen voice. With a one-of-a-kind vampire mythology and an irresistibly relatable undead heroine, this uproarious page-turner will leave readers bloodthirsty for more.

My Teaser ~

"I squirmed until my feet were planted solidly against the top of the coffin. It creaked, resisting me-then, it flew open, and a whole load of earth fell right into my mouth. I'd intended to burst forth with a dramatic cry and fangs agleam, but it ended up being more of a splutter and a stagger." (pg. 4)



You can read my full review of Fang Girl here.

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

{REVIEW} VALKYRIE RISING by INGRID PAULSON

Series:
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: Oct. 9, 2012
Format: ARC
Pages: 352
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.

Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.

You know what's hard about writing reviews? Trying to write a review for a book that didn't elicit in either direction. Valkyrie Rising wasn't a bad book; I found the story to be a bit interesting at times. But I also can't say that it is a great book, either. I just found myself simply not caring about the story or the characters. So basically, I feel as if I'm grasping for something to say.

I'm certain part of the problem is that I'm discovering that I'm just not into Valkyries. And to this you're probably thinking "Well, Andrea, why did you pick up a book titled 'Valkyrie Rising'?" I decided to read Valkyrie Rising because it was sent to me by a publicist (Thanks to Harper Teen!)  and I gave it a shot to see if maybe I do like Valkyries, but hadn't found the right book yet.

Another reason I didn't connect to the book was that I felt the author used a lot of telling instead of showing. For example, at one point Ellie gains the ability to hear voices. But instead of "showing" the effect it had on her brain by making me feel as if I were experiencing it with her, the ability is simply told:

"Just when I thought things couldn't get any weirder, a strange voice sounded in my head, one that was me and wasn't me. Like it came from a new part of my consciousness I hadn't had the chance to meet yet."

Those lines didn't make me feel anything. I just know that "Oh, I new ability popped up at an awfully handy time." Which leads me to my next gripe. I am not a fan of stories in which the characters just magically develop abilities whenever it's convenient. Ellie randomly develops the ability to understand the language, she suddenly can hear thoughts, can fight when she's never been trained. I get that this helps keep the pace moving quickly, but I like for my characters to work for a payoff.

So what did I like about Valkyrie Rising? I liked the setting. The author painted a lovely picture of Norway, a location I've not experienced in books. Also, Tuck. If not for Tuck, I don't know that I would have enjoyed the story at all. He was funny, charming, adventurous, and charismatic. I loved the effect he had on Ellie. He made every scene he was in better, and I missed him when he was off scene.

Valkyrie Rising was an "okay" book for me. I didn't love it; I didn't hate it. I'm sure that there are a lot of readers who will love the characters, the mythology, the story and will have a fantastic time reading it.


Favorite Quote:

  " 'We should call the police,' Tuck said.
   'And tell them what, exactly?' I asked. 'That we think Valkyries kidnapped my brother? And attacked my grandmother? Maybe we should interrogate all the other fictional creatures, starting with the Easter Bunny?' I knew I wasn't being helpful, but my frustration was screaming for an out.
  'Leave the Easter Bunny out of it,' Tuck murmured. 'I know that dude has an alibi.' " (eARC, pg 168)

You can pre-order Valkyrie Rising at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

{REVIEW} A FRACTURED LIGHT (A BEAUTIFUL DARK #2) by JOCELYN DAVIES

Series: A Beautiful Dark #2
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: Sept 25, 2012
Format: ARC
Pages: 352
Source: Received from publisher for review.

When she wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings, Skye knows something terrible has happened to her. It's not until she hears Asher, the dark, rebellious angel she fell in love with, that the memories come flooding back. She tries to put the past behind her, but she knows she'll be forever haunted by the ruthless betrayal that almost took her life.

Skye returns home, but with the knowledge of who she really is, nothing can ever be the same. As she tests the limits of her newfound powers, Skye discovers that she's capable of far more than anyone could have imagined. Both the Order and the Rebellion want her for their side as war between the factions looms. She can't forget the terrifying truth she now knows about the Order, but something holds her back from embracing the Rebellion.

"A Fractured Light" picks up right after "A Beautiful Dark"'s shocking cliffhanger ending and is perfect for fans of Lauren Kate's "Fallen" and Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush saga.

Light and Darkness. Chaos and Control. Love and Sacrifice. A Fractured Light is a gorgeous story of a world hanging on a balance; and how one girl's decision will change everything.

You know, for someone who claims to be tired of angel stories, I have to say that I have been on a real "angel high" lately. And honestly, I was a little worried about reading A Fractured Light. Don't get me wrong, because I did enjoy A Beautiful Dark. I just found parts of it to be very frustrating. I didn't like not knowing Asher and Devin's true intentions. I wanted to know which guy was good, which one was bad, and I wanted Skye to choose one of them, yesterday. And the ending? Talk about epic cliffhanger. I think I may have screamed when I finished A Beautiful Dark. But I'll admit, I often don't rush to read the next book in a series, but my need to know what happened next had my anticipation level for A Fractured Light set very high. This book torpedoed my expectations. I freaking LOVED IT.

 I loved that Skye grew throughout the story. At the beginning, which picks up very soon after the end of A Beautiful Dark, Skye is very disoriented. Obviously. Never could she have imagined that someone she was so close to could betray her in such a shocking manner. I loved how Skye determines to move on, to fully embrace her power and face down those who want her. And best of all, Skye makes BIG decisions. Decisions that she takes on faith, and is determined to see through. As the pieces of her puzzle, her unique and mysterious background, begin to come together, Skye becomes a much more powerful being to be reckoned with. A girl who will not let her fate be decided for her.

Okay...the love triangle. Devin and Asher drove me crazy in A Beautiful Dark. But they also made me sigh like a love-sick school girl. I was frustrated because I never got a true grip on either one. First Devin seemed like the perfect choice. He was kind, gorgeous, peaceful. But then here comes Asher with that bad boy swagger and a sexy smile. He is the kind of guy who appeals to your wild side, but he's not bad. Devin and Asher made my head spin. They both seemed crazy. Then, both seemed perfect. I think somewhere along there I busted a blood vessel in my brain because I couldn't handle any more! The love triangle is not as prevalent in A Fractured Light, though it's still part of the story. Skye does make a decision between Devin and Asher very quickly, and doesn't flop back and forth, but she learns that the world of the Rebellion and the Order is not black or white, and neither are Asher and Devin.

Jocelyn Davies has such a gift for writing a beautiful story. The story grabbed my heart and pulled me in and I didn't want to be let go. And believe me, I wasn't an easy sell on A Fractured Light. The characters are conflicted, imperfect, but embraceable. They were authentic. The story was constantly evolving. Just when I thought I knew the right path for Skye, a new revelation would come in and suddenly push her in a different direction. I found myself savoring the story, not wanting to reach the end. And when I did come to the end? Whoa. Did not see that coming!

A beautiful, romantic story of choice, sacrifice and love, A Fractured Light is a thrilling journey that will keep you hooked until the stunning end.

Favorite Quote:

"There is such a strong push-pull in me. Between control and chaos; passion and tranquility. Between what's fated and what I want. Part of me longs to take the plunge, to dive off headfirst and let the feeling of control evaporate on the wind. And part of me wants to be in a place where I'd never have to worry about that choice-or any choice. Where peace and calmness are the only things I'd feel." (pg.i, ARC)

"After all of the drama of the past few days, I was grateful for the chance just to walk, side by side, with Asher. To let him hold my hand as if it were all that mattered in the world.
  Because with all that was coming, I knew the feeling wouldn't last." (pg. 37, ARC)

You can purchase A Fractured Light at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

REVIEW ~ THE DEAD GIRLS DETECTIVE AGENCY by SUZY COX

Series: Stand alone (?)
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: Sept. 18, 2012
Format: ARC
Pages: 364
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Pop quiz: What would you do if you had to solve your own murder to get anywhere in death?

Maybe if I hadn't slept through my alarm, slammed into Kristin--my high school's reigning mean

girl--or stepped in a puddle, destroying my mom's new suede DVF boots (which I borrowed without asking), I wouldn't have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I wouldn't have been pushed in front of that arriving train. But I did, and I was.

When I came to, I was informed by a group of girls that I'm dead. And that because I died under mysterious circumstances, I can't pass straight over to the Other Side. But at least I'm not alone. Meet the Dead Girls Detective Agency: Nancy, Lorna, and Tess--not to mention Edison, the really cute if slightly hostile dead boy. Apparently, the only way out of this limbo is to figure out who killed me, or I'll have to spend eternity playing Nancy Drew. Considering I was fairly invisible in life, who could hate me enough to want me dead? And what if my murderer is someone I never would have suspected?

 

 I have to say, first and foremost, The Dead Girls Detective Agency was a fun, fun book. Kind of surprising since all of the lead characters are dead, that is, murdered, teens. Teens who are stuck in "holding" until they solve their murders.

The story begins with the death of Charlotte. Charlotte was pushed off a subway platform to her death. Poor thing. Charlotte is greeted, post death, by Nancy, Lorna and Tess. The three teen ghosts, who aren't ready, or can't, move on, have formed the Dead Girls Detective Agency. They help all the other victims find justice so they can move on through the Big Red Door. And now they're going to help Charlotte solve her own murder. But who could possibly want this sweet girl, who basically keeps to herself, dead?

Charlotte's investigation was sad and hilarious. You have her funeral. Major downer. Her messy, cute boyfriend, David, who misses her so much, but doesn't have the expected mourning period. The investigation forces Charlotte to examine her strained relationship with best friend Ali. And then there are the mean girls, head cheerleader and all-around witch Kristen and her gang. They didn't like Charlotte while she was alive and all seem to be enjoying the fact she's dead. The answer to the killer's identity will definitely surprise you.

The Dead Girls; Nancy, Lorna and Tess, were great characters. As the lead detective, Nancy was the typical uptight, rules-minding girl who is easily frustrated. But she was so sweet to Charlotte. Lorna was the bright, bubbly girl who seems like she doesn't have a lot going on upstairs, but was surprisingly perceptive. Tess was tricky. I felt sorry for her because, duh, she's dead. She wants to move on, but has never solved her murder. Tess was so mean to Charlotte, and as much as I wanted to sympathize for her, she made it soooo hard.

Now for my favorite dead person, besides Charlotte: Edison. Oh man, this boy hit all my book-boy-crush buttons. Edison is handsome, obviously, but also funny, sarcastic, caring, aloof, etc etc. Edison has the fantastic ability to make you shiver with a thrill, and a bit of fright.

" 'So here's the news flash, angel.' He leaned in and whispered in my ear; his lips in danger of grazing my skin, 'you've got nothing to lose by breaking them. And a whole lot more to gain - some of it seriously fun. ' Edison leaned back and raised an eyebrow. 'When you want to know what you're really capable of now, you come find me,' he said. 'Or maybe I'll come find you...' "

See what I mean? Sigh...

Like I said, I had an awesome time reading The Dead Girls Detective Agency. It was laugh-out-loud funny, sweet, sad, bittersweet. It's a book that I, as an adult, thoroughly enjoyed. It's also a book that you could safely let your young teen read. There are a couple of instances with cursing (nothing too major) and smoking. It's a book readers of all ages will definitely enjoy.


Favorite Quote:

"Now I had to deal with the fact that (a) I was dead, (b) OMG, I was dead, and (c) someone really didn't like me. As in, didn't like me so much that they decided to murder me." (ARC, pg 13)

"Bad boy, nice guy, flirt: Edison was one big sandwich of contradiction, with a side order of WTF?" (ARC, pg 177)

You can purchase The Dead Girls Detective Agency at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

TEASER TUESDAY {DEAD GIRLS DETECTIVE AGENCY by SUZY COX}

 

 

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.

Series: Stand alone (?)
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: Sept. 18, 2012
Format: ARC
Pages: 364
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Pop quiz: What would you do if you had to solve your own murder to get anywhere in death?

Maybe if I hadn't slept through my alarm, slammed into Kristin--my high school's reigning mean

girl--or stepped in a puddle, destroying my mom's new suede DVF boots (which I borrowed without asking), I wouldn't have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I wouldn't have been pushed in front of that arriving train. But I did, and I was.

When I came to, I was informed by a group of girls that I'm dead. And that because I died under mysterious circumstances, I can't pass straight over to the Other Side. But at least I'm not alone. Meet the Dead Girls Detective Agency: Nancy, Lorna, and Tess--not to mention Edison, the really cute if slightly hostile dead boy. Apparently, the only way out of this limbo is to figure out who killed me, or I'll have to spend eternity playing Nancy Drew. Considering I was fairly invisible in life, who could hate me enough to want me dead? And what if my murderer is someone I never would have suspected?

 

 

My Teaser ~

  "But when I woke up that morning, I didn't know I only had six hours of my life left. Why would I? When it comes to the end - biting the bullet, kicking the bucket - it's not like someone walks up and warns you. You don't see blond girls dressed all in white, flapping their big old angel wings. Or a particularly menacing black crow. Your iPhone doesn't suddenly install a Reaper app." (ARC, pg.3)

(This quote was taken from an ARC an may not appear in the finished copy.)

Check out my review.

You can purchase The Dead Girls Detective Agency at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

SWEET EVIL BLOG TOUR ~ REVIEW and Q&A with WENDY HIGGINS

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Sweet Evil Blog Tour. The tour is being hosted by Amber at Fall Into Books, and she has done a fantastic job. This tour is a very special event because it celebrates what a wonderful book Sweet Evil is, as well as it's amazing author, Wendy Higgins. I reviewed Sweet Evil before it's release, and loved it so much that I gave two copies away, and kept one for myself! So today I am re-posting my review so you can find out exactly what I thought, as well as a Q&A with Wendy Higgins. But first, take a look at Sweet Evil.

Series: Sweet Trilogy #1
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Format: ARC
Pages: 453
Source: Received from publisher for review.

What if there were teens whose lives depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.

Tenderhearted Southern girl, Anna Whitt, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna. A cross-country trip to meet her father forces Anna to face the reality that hope and love are not options for her kind. When she confronts her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

My faith in the YA paranormal romance genre has recently grown a bit shaky. Instant love connections, reused paranormal elements, and unbelievable characters have played havoc with my patience. To be sure, there are plenty of awesome YA PNR out there, but there are a lot that fall flat for me. So, I was hopeful, but a bit wary when I began SWEET EVIL, despite the hype. I was even skeptical of trusted fellow readers. Could this book really be that good? Yeah, it can and it was. I shut my skeptical mouth after the prologue.

So what was it that I loved about this book?

~Author Wendy Higgins' take on the Nephilim. There are so, so many books with Nephilim. So many that I didn't think I could take one more. But the Nephilim of SWEET EVIL are different. Higgins gave them a particular twist that I hadn't seen before. They are pawns in the struggle between good and evil. They each have a vice that is their "specialty". Those specialties are relevant to the era. There's addictioin, envy, gluttony, vanity, and yes, lust. Which leads me to...

~Kaiden. I loved all of the characters for what they brought to the table. But, Kaiden? He's gorgeous. He's British. His father is a Lust Demon, which makes for some serious sexy times where Kai is concerned. Kai was just...Wow. I am sort of over book jerks. You know, the guys who do nothing but smirk and shoot off at the mouth, which is all a cover for their secret pain. But Kai wasn't that guy. Sure, he can be distant and a bit off-putting, but there's a depth in him that I haven't seen in a lot of book guys lately.

~Anna was well-written, as well. She's a true sweetheart, like a lot of heroines. Anna is an innocent girl thrown into a tumultuous situation. She was kind and thoughtful and did struggle to remain true to herself. She doesn't always say the right thing or make the right decision. A lot of readers complain when the heroine reacts poorly to a situation. I call that realism. Who among us hasn't flipped the eff out when the pooh hits the fan? Now, I'm not one for hand-wringing and obsessive whining, but I like a character who is realistic. Anna is written in such a genuine manner and I adored her throughout the story.

~Lastly, and most importantly, is the writing. I've followed Higgins' story to publishing a bit. I'm so happy SWEET EVIL found a home. The love for her work, the story and the characters, shines brilliantly. Her words flow beautifully, the pacing is perfect, and the story is simply lush and gorgeous. The ending is beautiful torment. I am ecstatic about this book and cannot wait to continue the series. There better be a book two. Please, please buy the book Harper!

This is a gorgeous, seductive book. And just as the title indicates, SWEET EVIL is pure, torturous pleasure.


Favorite Quote:

" 'Because all I could think about was you, Anna, and how good you are, and what you'd think of me. You put thoughts into my head a Neph shouldn't have!' "

Poor, tortured Kaiden... (pg. 250, ARC)

You can purchase SWEET EVIL at:

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Book Depository

 

 

Q&A with Wendy Higgins

 

Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?
WH:  The ideas just come from my crazy-whack-funky imagination. I ask
myself a series of questions as a way of brainstorming. And my inspiration is drawn from
life: relationships I’ve  had, things I’ve seen, heartbreaks, books I’ve read, my spirituality—just everything.

What books have most influenced your life?
WH:  Poisonwood Bible, Harry Potter, Twilight, Vampire Academy, The
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Paradise Lost, To Kill a Mockingbird…(I could go on and on, lol)

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love reading. I love watching my children learn and create. I love
spending time with my family and friends. And I love traveling.

Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?
WH:  Not really a routine as much as just setting the mood. I need to be
in a quiet place, alone. My favorite place to write is in my bed, propped up with pillows, when
everyone is asleep. :)

Who would you consider your favorite author and why?
WH:  Probably Richelle Mead because I love her writing style. Her
characters are always interesting and flawed, and she knows how to create awesome romantic tension.

What book, if any, do you read over and over again?
WH:  The Harry Potter series. It’s just a classic. I can’t wait until my
kids are old enough for them!

Wendy: Thanks for having me, Andrea! *muah*

 

Thanks to Wendy for taking the time to answer my questions. Anyone who lists Harry Potter, To Kill a Mockingbird and Richelle Mead as favorites is good people, in my opinon!

       

REVIEW ~ GLASS HEART (COLD KISS #2) by AMY GARVERY

Series: Cold Kiss #2
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: September 18, 2012
Format: ARC
Pages: 320
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Wren can do things that other people can only dream of. Make it snow on a clear, crisp day. Fly through an abandoned tunnel. Bring a paper bird to life.

Wren knows her abilities are tinged with danger—knows how easy it is to lose control—but she can't resist the intoxicating rush. And now that she has Gabriel by her side, someone who knows what she can do—what she has done—she finally feels free to be herself.

But as Wren explores the possibilities of her simmering powers, Gabriel starts pushing her away. Telling her to be careful. Telling her to stop. The more he cautions her, the more determined Wren becomes to prove that she can handle things on her own. And by the time she realizes that Gabriel may be right, it could be too late to bring him back to her side.
 

When I finished Cold Kiss, and wiped all my tears away, I imagined that Wren and Gabriel had a sweet "happily ever after". But considering that Wren is a witch with unharnessed powers and Gabriel is psychic, I suppose I should have known better. Wren is happy with Gabriel, slowly and surely falling in love with the boy who supported her when she needed to save herself. But the pull of her magic is strong. Wren has the ability that few witches her age have experienced. Wren's power worries Gabriel. That and his hesitation to reveal pieces of  his past has Wren frustrated and more than happy to find friends who share her power. But magic demands a price, and Gabe may be the one to pay up.

Amy Garvey has the most masterful way with words. Her words flow in such a lyrical, striking, poetic manner that they feel like a punch in the soul. I believe that she could make even the most mundane of stories sound whimsical and gripping. I'm just simply in awe of her style.

Cold Kiss is one of my favorite books. So I should say that I had (maybe unreasonably) high expectations for Glass Heart. I did enjoy the story. It was very nicely written, but there just wasn't a hook that I felt pulled me inside the story. The bulk of Glass Heart is the forging of a solid, enduring relationship for Wren and Gabriel, which gives natural drama, but it wasn't all that exciting. There was a lot of back and forth between the two, fighting and making up. I enjoyed it, because I love the writing and I love the characters, but I could see how other readers might feel a bit frustrated.

Glass Heart is by turns charming and whimsical, yet dark and twisty. And though it doesn't share the same desperate intensity, it's a book Cold Kiss fans will enjoy.

Favorite Quote:

"Being with Gabriel isn't like that at all. It's a taste of the cleanest, sweetest water you can imagine, cool and pure and addictive, rushing in to fill every crack, soothe every smarting, rough place inside, but it never fills me up. Even now, I always want more." (pg 4)

"When Gabriel takes my hand, pressing our palms together and twining our fingers, our heartbeats are right there, suddenly one, a sure, steady pulse echoing through our skin. It's hypnotic, perfect, seeping into every cell as if we're fused, and all the ways I can think to describe it are too much and too little. It's like a candy buzz, or the first dizzying swoop of beer in your stomach, the sensation of floating right before you fall asleep, the needling heat of a foot gone to sleep. All of it and none of it, but good. So good...." (pg 46)


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

 

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...

Wren can do things that other people can only dream of. Make it snow on a clear, crisp day. Fly through an abandoned tunnel. Bring a paper bird to life.

Wren knows her abilities are tinged with danger—knows how easy it is to lose control—but she can't resist the intoxicating rush. And now that she has Gabriel by her side, someone who knows what she can do—what she has done—she finally feels free to be herself. But as Wren explores the possibilities of her simmering powers, Gabriel starts pushing her away. Telling her to be careful. Telling her to stop. The more he cautions her, the more determined Wren becomes to prove that she can handle things on her own. And by the time she realizes that Gabriel may be right, it could be too late to bring him back to her side.

Why I'm Waiting ~ I thought Cold Kiss was so beautiful and heartbreaking. I actually have an ARC of Glass Heart, but am making myself wait until closer to release. I'm expecting another gorgeous story from author Amy Garvey.

Expected publication: September 18th 2012 by HarperTeen

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