Review: Colors Like Memories by Meradeth Houston

"Julia has a secret: she killed the guy she loved. It was an accident—sort of.
Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this 'breath of life' she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia used to enjoy, until the accident that claimed her boyfriend’s life—an accident she knows was her fault. If living with the guilt weren't enough, she's now assigned to help a girl dealing with the loss of her mother, something Julia's not exactly the best role model for. If she can't figure out a way to help her, Julia's going to lose her position in the Sary, something she swore to her boyfriend would never happen."

This is one of those books that's sort of hard to review without giving things away. The story bounces between present life and the past as we learn more and more about the characters. While I enjoyed Julia's present life, it was her past that had me the most engaged in the book. By no means was her present life not interesting, but the relationship between Derek, Julia's first life companion, was so flawlessly written that any other relationships with Julia just didn't compete with it. What's interesting about this is that Derek's part of the story wasn't even a big chunk of the book, but it's truly what made the most impact. His relationship with Julia is what carries the book without him really being present. 

I appreciated that all the characters were working towards a common goal without the other truly knowing what they were going through. I really felt for Marcy and her struggle. Meradeth Houston wrote her character in a way that made me want her to get through her issues because she deserved better. My only true qualm about the story was her connection to Edison. Though they were sweet together and understood one another on a different level, I just didn't really care for them together. I'm not saying their relationship was bad by any means, but being introduced to Derek first kind of made me want his love more. It's as if Houston gave me this huge delicious piece of cake(Derek), took it away and then gave me a piece of chocolate(Edison). The chocolate is satisfying, but it just isn't as amazing as cake. 

Julia's story through all of her struggle was really sweet and hopeful. My only wish was that I could've had a bit more information on the Sary. The world Houston created for them was really interesting and I kept wanting to know more about them. If more stories do release with the Sary, I'd definitely be interested in seeing where this story goes. 

Soundtrack:

Make It Without You- Andrew Belle

There's A Light - Jay Malinowski

Swim - Jack's Mannequin

Under Control - Cary Brothers

Review: Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

"I don't do dangerous.  Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back. Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.... NIGHTWATCHERS When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising..."

Oh, hello there hot cover model! How do you do? You want me to read you? Well okay, if I must stare at you longer, I will somehow find a way to get through this. Yes, the cover is what initially caught my attention. It's not even the pretty guy though. It was actually the wings that caught my attention because they're kind of frayed. Plus the whole cover is kind of mysterious.

I'm not the biggest fan of angel books because I haven't had great experiences with the few that I've read thus far. However, this book definitely changed my opinion on them. I was pulled into the story immediately and loved the world Michelle Rowen created. I enjoyed how the realm of angels and demons was given a twist. Though angels are said to be good and demons bad, I found the characters in this book to be kind of questionable on where they stood. I felt like they could have a mix of both characteristics, and luck is what really came down to what hand they were dealt.

Samantha is a likable enough character, but I felt her inner angst took up a bit too much of the book. The things she said would feel a bit repetitive at times. However, I did like that she was more of a take charge character even if it wasn't the best idea sometimes.

The demons and angels in the book were all enjoyable because they all had their own personalities. Bishop and Kraven had a great introducing storyline that I really want to read more about.  My only wish was to find out a bit more about the side characters. I'm hoping they'll have more of a role in later books because there wasn't enough said about them. However, Rowen's writing makes for a very easy read even if I would've liked more information at times.

The one thing I continuously thought with this book was that I could totally see this book as a television show. There's something about it that reads very much like a show. There are plenty of side stories and characters I'd love to watch as the story unfolds. Dark Kiss is a great start for a new take on an angels and demons story. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the following books in this series. Thanks to Harlequin Teen and NetGalley for providing me a copy.

Book Soundtrack: 

Soul Meets Body - Death Cab For Cutie

The Fallen - Franz Ferdinand

Soul to Squeeze - Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Boys Will Be Out For a Fight - The Filthy Souls

Review: The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

"Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever. 

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally. 

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after. 

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?"

Even after reading YA for years, you'd think I'd be used to different types of somewhat far-fetched stories. Maybe I'm a romantic pessimist or something, but I'll admit a girl dying of a broken heart made me kind of roll my eyes at first. I went in thinking I wouldn't love this book, but was pleasantly surprised.

This story is much deeper than I thought it'd be. It's one of those books that doesn't really make its impact until you've finished it. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure if I liked it after I finished it. Then, I had this really long discussion with a few friends who were also reading it and realized how many ways this book could be interpreted. After we went through all the layers of this story, I realized that I actually enjoyed this a lot more than I thought because of the questions it brought up for me.

I will say that I was somewhat annoyed at Brie at times, but once I once I really thought about who she was, I understood her actions a bit more. Patrick was my favorite character in the book because he was so sweet and understanding. I also loved how I totally got that 80's feel with him. There were a lot of surrounding characters that I really wished I knew more about. I felt like they'd have something more to do with the story and was disappointed when there wasn't more included.

Another aspect that I MUST mention is the awesome playlist included in the book. Each chapter uses a different song/lyric to start with. I loved that it helped set a somewhat theme for the book as I read since the songs were all pretty known.

As I said, this book is much deeper than I expected. If you're looking for a story that will give you questions and surprise you with different events then give the book a try. Don't let the pretty cover fool you, this book will keep you reading even if you think you know what's going to happen.

Soundtrack: 

Jar of Hearts - Christina Perri

Just Like Heaven - The Cure

Yankee Bayonet - The Decemberists

Memories Can't Wait - Talking Heads

I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab For Cutie 

And because Jess Rothenberg's playlist will probably put mine to shame, I'm going to share. 

The Catastrophic History of You and Me Spotify Playlist by Jess Rothenberg

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.
Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.
Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.
Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.
Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike. But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

Okay, I feel like I'm going to get hate mail when I say the next statement I'm about to make. Please don't hurt me...

I wasn't a huge fan of Julie Kagawa. *Hides under a table and waits for the yelling to subside* I've only read The Iron King so far so I'm not very far in the whole fey fandom series or whatever you want to call it. It was enjoyable, but I wasn't blown away.

I will admit that I was a little hesitant to pickup The Immortal Rules because I get tired of vampires even if they are intriguing. Plus, since I wasn't amazed with the fey I was afraid I wouldn't like this book. However, I was wrong and this series has definitely made me a Kagawa fan while reminding me why I was a vampire lover to begin with.

What I loved most about this book was that while developing a world of havoc, Kagawa brought in the elements of vampires without losing focus on either story. I learned about the world around Allison, our main character, while learning about the world she'd grown up in. Without giving anything away, I really appreciated that we were able to see what a character would go through when transitioning into another life. Allison is a pretty kick ass heroine who took time to connect with, but was enjoyable to read nonetheless. There are a lot of side characters whom you'll either hate or love, but they all add a little something to the story. The writing was detailed, yet not overly done.

The story is dark, twisted gore filled awesomeness! It even has zombie like creatures who want to do nothing more than go NOMNOM on your face!

This book will appeal to Kagawa fans easily, but if you're not a Kagawa fan or unfamiliar with her I'd definitely say this story is worth the read. If Kagawa's vampires are going to be the next big thing in the vampire world, I'm all in.

This book was provided for review by the publisher through NetGalley.

Soundtrack:

Weapons of Mad Distortion- The Crystal Method
Temptation Waits - Garbage
Bullet With Butterfly Wings- The Smashing Pumpkins-
Cold- Static-X

Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz

Finding your eternal soulmate - easy. Stopping a true-love-hungry evil - not so much… 

After breaking a centuries-old romantic curse, Emma Connor is (almost) glad to get back to normal problems. Although...it's not easy dealing with the jealous cliques and gossip that rule her exclusive Upper East Side prep, even for a sixteen-year-old newbie witch. Having the most-wanted boy in school as her eternal soul mate sure helps ease the pain-especially since wealthy, rocker-hot Brendan Salinger is very good at staying irresistibly close.... But something dark and hungry is using Emma and Brendan's deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma's crash course in über-spells may not be enough to keep them safe…or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.

Finally, part deux of this series has come out and we can all get our Bremma(Brendan + Emma) fixes on once again! I couldn't wait to get my tiny hands on this once it was available for request on NetGalley.

The book pretty much picks up where we left off, and this couple can't just find a little down time to relax from crazy psycho people. We meet with all the characters I've come to love (and hate) from the first book. Was Brendan as swoonlicious as last time? Uh, chyea! The relationship is in full force and they're still as cute as ever.

The book does have a slow start, but since I've grown to love the characters, it was something I was able to ignore because I wanted more. Though I enjoyed the new point of view from Angelique, I wished there was more of it. The way it was presented in the book felt sporadic since it was only two or three times. I almost wish Shultz had included all the secondary characters point of views to get a better feel for them instead of the main characters.

I appreciated how this story let the witchy elements come out to play because it was definitely lacking in the first book.  Though the writing was still witty, something about the characterization of the main characters felt a little off to me. I missed the funny quips and comebacks I loved from Emma. Also, I agree that Brendan is one hot piece of literary man candy, but hearing how every girl he came across thought so in Emma's perspective got a little old. Lastly, I really wished I wasn't told so much about the first book in this book. I understand the author needs to touch on things that happened in the first for new people, but I felt there was a little too much rehashing done through this book.

Overall the second book in this series was an enjoyable read. With a little more added magic, Shultz stays true to the feel of the series and keeps the book interesting with all the plot twists. If you're a fan of the series then it's definitely worth a read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy!

Spellcaster Spotify Playlist 

Intangible by J. Meyers

"Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift. 

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it."

This book was definitely different from what I was expecting, and that isn't a bad thing. We're tossed into a fearful scene from the beginning and end up having to work our way backwards. 

Meyers creates a supernatural world that is easy to get lost in even if at times a little far-fetched. Sera and Luke Raine are a pair that you're able to easily care for in a short amount of time. Both main characters are kind-hearted individuals. Luke is definitely the standout character between the two as he takes on the responsibility to change the visions he sees. Even through his troubled visions, he's always a light-hearted character. Overall, both main characters immediately pull a reader into their lives where you want to know more. We're also introduced to a number of side characters as the story unfolds. Fey, the best friend, is a fiercely loyal character who has secrets of her own. Jonas was probably the most interesting side character of all as a vampire. What I liked most about the side characters were that the reader was left to decide who was seen as good and bad. Marc was the only character who fell short for me throughout the book. His characterization was good, but I don't feel he added a lot to the actual story.

The story is told through a number of character views which really helps bring the supernatural world together. With all the different powers throughout the book, character are given a chance to be the center of attention. The multiple point of views do get a little confusing at times when trying to figure out whose head you're in, but with all the different personalities it's still enjoyable. 

The overall story is a refreshing take on supernatural powers. Though the pacing could use a little work at times, I was always intrigued to find out what would happen next. The conclusion does give closure to the main story, but it also introduces aspects for the story to possibly continue. If you're looking for a change from usual YA, Intangible is definitely worth a read. 


Music:

Emily Browning- Sweet Dreams

Green River Ordinance- Healing Touch

The Lifeguard by Deborah Blumenthal

"It's an unsettled summer for Sirena. Back in Texas, her family's splitting apart, but here in Rhode Island, at the cottage of her aunt, it's a different world. There are long days at the beach and intriguing encounters with Pilot, the lifeguard with shamanic skills. Sirena explores her obsession with Pilot and discovers his mysterious--almost magical--gifts."


This book was definitely way different than I was thinking it would be. Not to say that it was misleading, just different. Right off the bat we're introduced to a plain old teen who moves to Rhode Island to start anew after a family break-up.

Being in a new surrounding she meets Pilot, a quiet lifeguard who rarely speaks. Honestly, I found his character to be annoying. I'm fine with quiet characters; I just didn't understand why he was. Sirena on the other hand is a decently likable character who seemed very laid back. This is kind of the point where I wasn't really into the book. It started off good enough, but just wasn't developed enough for me to really understand where it was going. The story had everything to be interesting, but failed to be developed and had a weird pace.

I think this book was really trying to be deep, but just had to work on a few more things to get to that point. The characters are well thought out, but overall I think this book isn't going to go over well with the majority of its readers.

Tegan & Sara- Walking With a Ghost

Dashboard Confessional- Dusk and Summer

Blog Tour: Until Next Time (The Angel Chronicles #1) by Amy Lignor

                                   

"How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.

When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.

From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart."

I want to start off by saying that I'm not the biggest fan of stories involving angels, but this book was a great refreshing take on the topic. Right off the bat we're thrown into an action scene that makes you want to know more about the characters because you automatically feel for them.

I'd usually find this type of plot confusing as it has a double plot of sorts, but it somehow worked really well with this story. One story follows Liz and Daniel while on earth, as the other follows their other life of Matt and Emily in heaven. There were a few times that were a bit confusing, but it was never an issue that would have me stop reading. All characters have their own personality and world so it was usually easy to figure out when I was thrown off.

While love triangles are a bit overdone, it was still enjoyable. I will say that I wasn't really a fan of either of the couples because I never truly felt anything for them, but I still enjoyed their characters as separate beings.

Overall, Until Next Time was a definite change from what I expected, but I loved how unique of a story it was. Lignor's writing was clear and flowed easily off the pages. Though there were a few unanswered questions, I look forward to reading the following installments. Those interested in a story that will continuously have you asking questions should definitely check out this first book!

Blog Tour & Character Interview: The Weeping by O'Dell Hutchison+ Interview w/ Heath Ingram

The Weeping Description

I usually add a book description with my reviews, but I didn't want to do that for this particular book. I initially read the description when I signed up for the tour, but when I got around to reading it, I was a bit hazy on major details other than it was a mystery involving a theatre. I'm actually really glad I didn't read the description again because it made the book into a puzzle I had to figure out. As a reader, I was immediately hooked on this story from the first sentence. I liked that I wasn't introduced to the main character right off the bat, but instead immediately taken into a scene of chaos where I didn't understand what was happening.

Once I was introduced to the main character, I was continually thrown into scenes that somehow always had a way of being haunting even when there wasn't really anything going on. Heath, our male lead, is a guy who had everything going for him, but then had his life completely shatter in an instant. With the little background knowledge, it was another miniature mystery trying to find out what exactly happened to him. Though the trauma was a bit predictable, I liked finding out what really happened as he began to feel more comfortable with characters and opened up because it felt as if he were opening up to me.

Being introduced to the number of side characters only makes the plot of this story more interesting even before odd occurrences start happening. Every character had a different personality that I wanted to know more about. Even if they were in few scenes, they all had a way of slightly impacting the story. As the more haunting elements come into play, the reader is deep into a thrilling mystery that becomes a "who-done-it" tale that kept me guessing to the very end.

With Hutchison's eerie undertones throughout the book, you'll be thrown into a plot that takes you on a number of journeys, with each one more exciting and intriguing than the last, and you won't want to put it down until you read every last twist and turn.

A.W.R. was lucky enough to score an interview with Heath during his off time! Read more about him below!

For those of us who don't know you, tell us a little about yourself.

Hmm, well, I’m from Seattle. I’m seventeen and I just graduated high school. Umm, I played baseball, and I had a scholarship for college, but after the accident… Let’s just say I can’t play baseball now. 

What do you do during your free time now?

I haven’t had a lot of free time since I got to Rock Harbor. I’m helping my uncle out at his theatre. It’s pretty busy. When I do have free time I hang out with my friends here.

What's your favorite childhood memory?

I would have to say winning the Little League baseball championship when I was thirteen. It was an awesome game. My friend Jake and I won the game for us. It was awesome.

Tell us a little about your friends (old or new, whatever you're comfortable with sharing).

They’re pretty cool. I just met them. Well, actually, I met Luke and Josie when I was younger, but I don’t really remember them. Luke’s a really nice guy. Josie’s really cool. She doesn’t take crap from anyone. We hang out a lot. Josie’s girlfriend Patrice is pretty cool too. Oh, and Molly. She’s sweet. I really like her.

How are you liking Rock Harbor? 

Well...it’s different. It’s a tourist town so it will be really quiet and then all of the sudden all of these people invade the town and crowd the beaches. There’s not much to do around here. The theatre is the main draw to the town.

I know you were unsure about the existence of ghosts, but do you believe in anything paranormal?

I don’t know, ya know? It’s weird. I never believed in any of that kind of stuff before, but there has been some really weird things going on lately. I don’t even know how to explain it. Totally freaky stuff has been happening. Yeah...

You were saying you felt as though you had "lost your mojo" when you first met Molly. Tell us about one of your old moves.

Ha ha, wow. Hmmm...wow. Wasn’t expecting that one. I don’t really know that I had a specific move. It was just always very easy for me to talk to girls and stuff. 

What do you think you'll be doing five years from now?

I just really hope I’ve graduated college by then and I'm starting a new life for myself, ya know? I haven’t really given it much thought. I’d always dreamed about making the Major Leagues when I finished college. That was always my plan. Now I don’t know.

Thanks so much for stopping by, anything else you want to add before we go?

Thanks for stopping by. I hope everyone will come out and support the shows this summer at Rock Harbor Opera House. We’ve got some exciting stuff coming up!

Don't forget to check rest of the tour! Click the banner above for the schedule or head on over to Novel Nerd for an interview with O'Dell Hutchison!

Deadly Little Secrets by Laurie Faria Stolarz

"Some secrets shouldn't be kept...
Until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia’s life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades, an okay relationship with her parents, and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown.  But when a mysterious boy named Ben starts junior year at her high school, Camelia’s life becomes anything but ordinary.
Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend’s accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She’s reluctant to believe he's trouble, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise.  Instead, she’s inexplicably drawn to Ben…and to his touch.  But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help—but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret."

First off, yay for random library books! I've been wanting this since I saw it on NetGalley a while back but was denied. It hurt my soul when I got that email. Anyways, I finally got my chance to get it as a library ebook and was so stoked to read it this past weekend.

Okay yes, it does have slight undertone of Twilight, but the beginning of this series does stand on its own. I loved the organization of this book because we kind of got a back and forth point of view between our main character, Camelia, and our stalker. I actually wished it had more journal entries from the stalker, but they stopped mid-story sadly. I liked those because it was written in a diary format, and it just added to the creep factor of getting into the stalkers head.

The secondary characters in the book were also pretty cool. I loved Wes and Kimmie's banter as friends, but I didn't feel their characters were delve into much. Though I know there are more books, that was one of the big issues I had with the story; I never felt that I knew any of the characters well. Even the main characters of Camelia and Ben were barely described in my opinion. Their interaction with each other was also odd to me. They liked one another, but I never really felt their connection. I think if the story were a bit more developed on relationships it would've helped.

I also felt the story involving the main characters parents could've either been setup a bit more or just left for another book. It honestly didn't even seem like Camelia really cared about the family issues. Yeah I get she was having a crisis of her own as well, but I think a mother having a near mental breakdown would hit her a bit more than it did.

What I will give Stolarz props for though, is her writing style. It was engaging yet fast-paced and definitely kept me from being bored as I tried to figure out who the stalker was. I love things that are like puzzles, so this book was right up my alley. Every time I chose a suspect I kept second guessing myself with what few clues I had. Though I figured it out kind of early(I watch WAY too many episodes of Criminal Minds), I still wanted to finish the book to see what would happen and see if I was right. The ending was a bit quick for my liking, but with more books out it wasn't a huge issue to me.

I wouldn't say this is a must-read book, but it was enjoyable. So if you're looking for a quick read that you won't want to put down this is a great book! I can't wait to get my hands on the next one in the series to see where the story goes.

Book Notes: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

"Mara Dyer doesn't believe life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. It can.     

                                                                                                                                             

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. There is.   

                                                                                                    

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. She's wrong."

I've read a lot of great books since starting this blog and this may be a big statement, but Mara Dyer has got to be one of my favorites. I was so wrapped up in this book that I actually forgot to write notes as I read. I knew the book was somewhat mysterious going in, but I didn't really know what to expect. Not only was this book enigmatic, it was also haunting. It's hard to explain, but all throughout the book the story has this very ominous feel to it. It's as if this book were a haunted house where I was always kept on my toes waiting for something to jump out and surprise me.

I loved how the time switched between current and past; it made the book feel like a puzzle I had to put together.  What really helped this book was the the amount of detail that went into each character. Even if the characters didn't have a big role, Michelle Hodkin still did a great job of fleshing out characters to make you connect with them. Mara, our main character, is who we follow throughout the book. Though battling through a lot of inner demons, she's wonderfully snarky and captivating. The reader is pretty much put in her shoes as she figures out what's happening to her. She's surrounded by a loving family who have their own dynamics and storyline throughout the book.

As Mara moves to a new school, we're introduced to a number of other colorful characters as they enter Mara's life. Noah freaking Shaw. I'm sure this probably isn't the first time you've heard of this book or even him so I'll spare you on ranting about how amazingly beautiful this man is. I'll also stay away from mentioning how much we need to find a way to clone him so every girl can have one for Christmas. Instead I'm going to say kudos to Hodkin once again. Why you ask? Well because I won't lie, Shaw is one hot piece of literary eye candy. However, I'm saying kudos for there being a nice build up to his character. Mara doesn't see him and fall instantly in love! We also aren't thrown into this unrealistic love story when he suddenly comes up. Hodkin actually lets the story develop with him in it, but with a pace that stays realistic to the other pieces of the story.  Also, I don't think I've ever had a book guy make me blush like a little schoolgirl just by reading about him. Shaw has this confidence about him that really makes you kind of want to just be like, "Okay Noah Shaw...Just have your way with me already!" I love when authors make two characters have great chemistry together and make you painstakingly wait for that moment they're together.

I will say that there are a few confusing parts in the book that complicate the storyline, but it wasn't anything that was too distracting for me. I think this book is a must-read that will have you addicted to the very end. With an ending that is nothing but evil torture, I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Book Notes: Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

“I don’t want him to love me because of a potion,” she said. 
 
Izzie loves Mark, and why shouldn’t she? As the captain of the basketball team, he is kind and loving and he’s everything she’s ever wanted in a boyfriend. Her BFF loves . . . somebody, but she won’t say who. So when a hot new guy, Tristan, shows up at school, who better for Izzie to fix up her friend with? And what better way to do it than with a love philtre? 

But even the best of magic has a way of going awry—and Izzie finds she’s accidentally fallen in love with Tristan herself. And that’s a problem. First of all, there’s Mark. Second, Tristan comes with baggage—like the supernatural creatures that keep attacking whenever he’s with Izzie, and the fact that he comes from the place where Izzie’s father was killed, years ago, by an enormous, evil serpent that’s still around—and it knows Izzie is out there." 


I was so excited to read this book when I saw it. I've always loved the story of Tristan and Isolde, and realy wanted to see how it would be retold. Sadly, this is where my positive notes end.  I have no idea what this book was trying to do at all.

Izzie was one of the most annoying characters I've read in a while. I don't know if Harrison did so on purpose, but I never got a great feel from Izzie or any of the characters. Some of the language used for students in high school felt really unrealistic. Nothing in the book really flowed naturally for me. I kept having these, "Really? Why would you do that?!" type of moments while I read.

Though the book wasn't my cup of tea, I do think Harrison did decently well with her writing. If you like books that are a bit over-the-top in imagination, you may like the story. However, I don't think I would ever recommend this book to anyone.  

Book Notes: Intertwined by Gena Showalter

"Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:

One can time-travel.

One can raise the dead.

One can tell the future.

And one can possess another human.

With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now they’re causing him all kinds of trouble. Like, he’ll blink and suddenly he’s a younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he’ll change the future. Or he’ll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she’s going to die.

He’s so over it. All he wants is peace.

And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, as long as he’s near her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He’s a loner; she has friends. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake, he should stay away. But it’s too late…. Together they will enter a dark world of intrigue and danger...but not everyone will come out alive."

Who doesn't want to read about a person who has souls in their head?(Shout out to Wanderer, she's my original soul BFF). Okay, I won't lie, the hot boy on the cover caught my attention too--but really can you blame me? This book had a lot of potential and I wanted to get my creepy tiny hands all over it. Starting off with a great zombie action sequence completely hooking me to the storyline making me have my phone attached to my hands for two days to and from work while on the bus.

The story was a great read and so packed with information, it was almost tiring. We had witches, faeries, zombies, vampires, werewolves, even people who go "omnomnom" on your face! It got to a point where I just had no idea where the book was going. I just stopped trying to figure it out because there was way too much going on. It's like the author wanted to write five books and was like, "Oh hey, I'll just put everything in these three hundred pages and see where we end up." 

Now we have the characters. We had our good, our bad and our look at me; I'm so hardcore. There are a few relationships in this book and though cute, they all felt incredibly undeveloped and rushed. A lot of the storyline seemed to be written because it was convenient to the storyline, but not actually needed. 

I know it doesn't sound like it, but I did actually enjoy the story. I look forward to eventually reading the second and third one, but as a stand alone, this book was too congested. I would've preferred the book to focus on the main story of Mary-Ann and the souls, not bring in a bunch of stories and put that one on the back burner for the majority of the book. I understand the author may have wanted to set-up for further books, but I think it could've been done in a better way. 

Book Notes: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

"Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?"


Okay, I read this book a few weeks ago and I'm still a little unsure about it. Did I like it? Yes, but I also had a few issues with it. However, I won't be a pessimistic Preet and we'll start with the positive. I really loved the pacing of the book. Though fast, it kept me from getting bored and I didn't feel like I was missing much because of it. Finally! We have a strong female character who is fairly badass and thinks for herself. Calla was a nice change from the girls in a lot of YA books who generally kind of annoy me. However, though she was awesome, I did have a few *shakes my fist* moments with her but we'll get to that in a minute. 


I'm a total side characters fan in books and I really liked all the side characters in this story. They seemed to have more of a backstory than the main characters for me. I enjoyed how there were a lot of secondary stories hinted to that I hope are developed more in future books. Throughout the book, I kept wanting to hug Calla's brother because he was so adorable. I also thought the mixing of other creatures within the story really worked for the book. 


The guys, oh the guys! After finishing the story I was pretty torn on who I liked better. Ren is one yummy beast with his confidence and overall take charge attitude. Shay gives me more of that warm fuzzy feeling with his nerdy comic loving nature. They both bring out different sides of Calla and it's difficult to pick one since I loved what they brought to the table. However, man are they really into their sexy time. Like seriously, can you all not see Calla without somehow needing to feel each other up? This brings me to our main lady, Calla.


Calla, I wanted to love, but by the end of the story she lost my vote. Yes, we've heard of all the love triangles and how some girl is torn, but I was hoping this book would change that a little. She was such a strong character! However, throw a guy giving her the eye and she doesn't seem to know what to do with herself. For such a confident alpha female, she seemed kind of ditzy when it came to guys. Throwing away everything you've learned growing up because of a guy doesn't seem to go with the flow of someone with her background. I just think there would be more of an inner struggle. Also, I know they're teenagers, but you'd think if Calla is hanging with two guys and being kinda risque with both of them, she'd have the sense to be a bit more discreet about it. 


Though I had my issues with this book, I think Cremer created a pretty impressive world to get lost in. I do think some areas could be a bit more developed, especially with the main characters however, in no way was it so lacking that it took away from the story. I definitely think this series is worth checking out!

Book Notes: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

"What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing."

After a number of great reviews on this book, I ordered this book right away when I saw it as an e-book at my library. Did it disappoint? No. Samantha was a really annoying character who did a lot to dislike her. Oliver did well to make me hate her. The only aspects that made me like her was her relationship with her baby sister. I felt that was the only time she was truly herself.  

Though I know she was supposed to redeem herself by the end, it was too late for me. Maybe I'm mean, but years of being annoying doesn't get erased by a few days of good deeds. I don't really feel like her actions were selfless. Sure, it's pretty impossible to do a completely selfless deed, but in the end I don't think she ended up helping the other characters. 

Without being spoilerific, I don't think her friends would change their ways and in a way, it makes me dislike Samantha a bit more. 

By no means am I saying this is a bad book. It was a great read and Oliver's writing is so beautiful, I found myself stopping during passages to reread such thought provoking words. However, if you're looking for a happy read with likable characters, go another way. 

Book Notes: Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

"Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else."

I loved this book so hard. Like really, no joke. I've been wanting to read this for a while and was so ecstatic when I got my approved request from Netgalley that I did a little happy dance. There were so many characters in this that I would want to befriend. Emma, our main character, was such a strong and sarcastic character that you had to love her. I loved her reactions where she'd always had a great snarky comeback to insults. She was a personality I related to a lot because things she'd say in a joking manner are things I would say. So big shout out to Shultz for making me feel like less of a loser when laughing at "You're a..." jokes. Ashley was so cute and somewhat childlike that I understood why Emma would be so protective of her within their relationship. Angelique, the best friend, made me love her little quirks and humor. I loved her as the person who did her own thing no matter what anyone thought. Cisco, who is the other friend, made me wish there was more of him as I found him to be refreshing in a school of a lot of snooty kids. Of course I can't forget about Brendan. I seriously fell in love with him. I even chose to totally ignore the fact he was seventeen just so I could swoon over him as I read, haha. There were so many times as I read where Shultz would describe him or where he'd say something and I'd have a dorky smile on my face and get all fangirl-y. I think his lean could give McDreamy a run for his money. I don't know how Shultz's did it, but everything about him was yummy. I don't think there are a lot of books out there that can make a simple kiss sigh worthy for the reader, but this book did it multiple times. Seriously,  if I could build a machine and bring a book boy to life, it'd be Brendan.(Someone really needs to get on building this, please?)

Another aspect that worked real well for the book was the way Shultz was able to describe New York. I felt like she was able to capture what life is like in New York and it made me want to visit it even more as I read.

I also enjoyed the magical aspect and how it somewhat surrounded the story at all times, but it wasn't a main theme. Sure, there could've been a touch more to the magical aspects but I think leaving it out worked for this book.

Overall, this book was a great read and I really enjoyed it. With all of her lovable characters and creative storylines, I can't wait to see what Shultz comes out with next as she's definitely made a fan out of me.