Burning Blue by Paul Griffin

Burning Blue

Author: Paul Griffin

Publisher: Dial

Pages: 288

Rating: 4 Stars! 

How far would you go for love, beauty, and jealousy?

When Nicole Castro, the most beautiful girl in her wealthy New Jersey high school, is splashed with acid on the left side of her perfect face, the whole world takes notice. But quiet loner Jay Nazarro does more than that--he decides to find out who did it. Jay understands how it feels to be treated like a freak, and he also has a secret: He's a brilliant hacker. But the deeper he digs, the more danger he's in--and the more he falls for Nicole. Too bad everyone is turning into a suspect, including Nicole herself.

Award-winning author Paul Griffin has written a high-stakes, soulful mystery about the meaning--and dangers--of love and beauty.~Goodreads

As soon as I read the synopsis for Burning Blue I knew I had to check it out— seriously how awesome does it sound?!

So, I’m glad to say that the story did not disappoint! It was suspenseful and funny and a little bit frightening and I couldn’t put it down! I HAD to find out who was responsible for splashing Nicole with the acid. HAD TO!

I adored the way this story was written. It's told from Jay’s point of view but there are also glimpses into Nicole’s thoughts through her journal entries and I think that helped me as a reader be able to connect with both of them. I absolutely loved Jay and Nicole. They both have so many issues yet they’re such down to earth, nice, sympathetic, sincere people that you can’t help but like them!

Like, seriously, Nicole was amazing. She had his horrific thing happen to her and her life changed drastically but she held it together SO well. I don’t know how she stayed so strong, especially with the media covering the story and stalking her around town. Ugh. I was annoyed for her!

And then we have Jay who’s a hacker extraordinaire and basically a little detective himself, trying to solve who did this awful thing to Nicole. And he was a really good friend to her as well. Their scenes together were absolutely adorable; and even though there were plenty, I wish there would’ve been more! Every scene they were in together made me giddy! I was rooting for Jay and Nicole from the very first page!

Overall, Burning Blue is a story that’ll keep you on edge and keep you guessing. I did NOT see the ending coming AT ALL. The person that actually hurt Nicole?! TOTAL EFFIN’ SHOCK! LIKE, WHOA. ehem *zips lips* that's all i'll say..

If you’re looking for a quick, suspenseful read with a dash of romance I HIGHLY recommend Burning Blue!

So Close to You by Rachel Carter

So Close to You

Author: Rachel Carter

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 320

Rating: 4 Stars!

Lydia Bentley has heard stories about the Montauk Project all her life: stories about the experiments that took place at the abandoned military base near her home and the people who’ve disappeared over the years. When she stumbles into a vessel that transports her to a dangerous and strange new reality, Lydia realizes that all the stories she’s ever heard about the Montauk Project are true—and that she’s in the middle of one of the most dangerous experiments in history. 

Alongside Wes, a darkly mysterious boy whom she is wary to trust, Lydia begins to unravel the secrets surrounding the project. But the truths behind these secrets force her to question all her choices. And if Lydia chooses wrong, she might not save her family but destroy them... and herself.~Goodreads

PSA: After reading this book I have come to the conclusion that I was born in the wrong time period. And, I need to find a boy that will travel back to the flapper days with me. If you happen to know an adorably cute and caring guy, who has access to a time machine, please send him my way. Thanks.

GUYS! I was super confused and anxious for over half of this book, but in a good way!? AND GUYS!  It was action-y and romance-y and mystery-y!? (Yeah that’s not a word. But still!) IT WAS SO GOOD!

The book starts off with the main character, Lydia, at home with her mom, dad and grandfather in Long Island. Ever since she was little her grandfather has told her stories about the Montauk Project and how it’s this huge government conspiracy. The reason he’s so obsessed with the Project is because his father was involved with it and eventually disappeared. Lydia is the only one that really listens to her grandfather and his theories. After Lydia’s grandfather all but drags her to the area that he believes holds the answers, her whole world changes. One afternoon, EVERYTHING CHANGES for her! EVERY.SINGLE. THING.

She literally stumbles in to the past; 1944 to be exact!  And the people she stumbles upon in 1944? Her family! Her great-great grandfather, who is a Doctor that volunteers at a military base and her grandfather’s sister, Mary, that volunteers as a nurse. To them, it looks as though this girl is  seriously lost and they can’t take care of her fast enough! They even invite her to stay with them. Her relatives are very, very nice. I absolutely loved them, especially Mary! But one of the family members isn’t to keen on the idea of a stranger living in his house; her grandfather’s dad, Dean; the man that went missing over sixty years ago.

Oh my gosh, you guys!! Dean was SO sexy. (Keep in mind he’s mid-twenties when we meet him, not an oldie!) He was arrogant and harsh but totally loveable on about 364 different levels. He was such the army bad boy type. *Sighs* Yes, I liked him very much. It was also cute to see her grandfather as a little boy! He idolized Dean so much and it was extremely cute!

So any who, while Lydia is in the past she decides she’s going to fix whatever happened 60+ years ago and stop Dean from disappearing. Only problem? A boy has followed her into the past and he’s determined to prevent her from changing anything. Whatever Lydia does in the past could severely alter her future, and Wes wants to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Oh my sweet, complicated, emotionally scarred Wes, you are the epitome of what I want my boyfriend to be. Please love me? Ehem… i mean...Wes is very levelheaded. He tries to convince Lydia to go back to her time multiple times but she won’t budge. Finally he gives in and decides he’ll help her in anyway he can. Granted Lydia wasn’t 100% honest with Wes at times, but her intentions were good; she was trying to help her family.

So, Lydia and Wes have to race to find a solution for Dean disappearing without gaining the attention of the leaders of the Montauk Project. TALK ABOUT INTESNSE. AND AWESOME. AND INTENSE.

I seriously canNOT wait to find out what’s going to happen next after that INSANE ending! How the hell are Wes and Lydia going to end up together?! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO *&^$%@!?

Overall, So Close to You was a suspenseful time travel romance that should not be missed!

Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London

Darkness Before Dawn

Author: J.A. London

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishing

Pages: 342

Team: Victor ♥

Rating: 4 Stars 

This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

Darkness Before Dawn is a fresh new story with captivating characters, unexpected plot twists, a fascinating setting, and a compelling voice. Written under the name J. A. London by a talented mother-son team, the trilogy is perfect for fans of True Blood and the House of Night and Morganville Vampires series.~Goodreads

I had high hopes for this book. Being a reader who’s over vampires, I needed this book to wow me, dazzle me and not irritate me. Darkness Before Dawn did not disappoint! I was actually surprised at how good it was!

I really liked the writing style in this one. It wove simplistic descriptions with beautiful imagery and I thought the whole book read like a movie. Or at least it did for me! I saw everything play out perfectly in my head.

As for the main character, Dawn, I was actually quite fond of her! She was smart, determined and not afraid to stand up for herself. Following her parents death, she became the youngest delegate to represent both the vampires and the humans in the city where she lives, so those traits are definitely handy! The only thing I didn’t like about Dawn? The people she hung around with; her boyfriend Michael being one of them.

Michael was too perfect for me. Dawn mentioned over and over how perfect they were for each other but I felt nothing between them. They had more of a sibling vibe going on. Also, he was kind of an ass. He wasn’t that supportive of Dawn, and he was more concerned about what a good vamp killer he’d be once he became a Night Watchman. Ugh. I felt that he was too wrapped up in himself. I did not fall for his ‘charms.’

I really wasn’t impressed with Dawn’s best friend, Tegan, either. She was bossy and irresponsible; she really only led Dawn into trouble. I didn’t click with her as a character. But, one good thing about Tegan’s recklessness? It led to Victor!

Oh my gosh *swoon* I love him. So much. He is sexy and charming and protective and intelligent. Oh yeah, and vampire. And once Dawn found that fact out she never missed a chance to tell Victor how much she despised him; but he was not deterred. He wanted to help her lessen the strain between the vampires and the humans; he insisted that they could work together.

So, the more Dawn and Victor spend time together the more she learns about him. Victor does a lot of things to help the citizens of her city and Dawn comes to understand that not all vampires are monsters, especially not Victor. Could she perhaps be falling for this creature of the night? She sure is!

Now, Victor and Dawn....they have CHEMISTRY!! The forbidden-ness of their relationship!? Holy wowza. It was fantastic! But just when things start heating up between them BAM! The end. Oh my Lord Valentine! What the HELL!? How could it end there!? EEEP! That ending was like, whoa.

Overall, Darkness Before Dawn was a really good read! If you’re looking for a book that puts a new spin of vampire/human relationships and one that has a dash of delightful romance, then this book is for you!

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Córdova

The Vicious Deep

Author: Zoraida Córdova

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Pages: 384

Rating: 4 Stars 

For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave.

He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.

His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he’s heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he’s suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods.

Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea…and now it wants him back.~Goodreads

The Vicious Deep is an action packed mermaid tail tale with awesome characters, sweet lore and fantastical romance—a book any merm lover will covet!

At the start of the book we have lifeguard Tristan Hart at his post patrolling the ocean. We also have his best friend, Layla, on the same beach (she’s a lifeguard too!) with the girl Tristan kind of sort of cheated on. As if things couldn’t get any worse for the kid, a huge storm is about to hit and change everything for him....

Tristan may or may not be turning into a mermaid man. A dunk in the bathtub confirms, indeed, he’s part merm. Awesome right? Not so much for Tristan. He’s not just any merman, he’s the Prince of the Sea and has a lot of responsibilities that go along with the title.

I'm honestly not sure how I felt about Mr. Tristan Hart. He’s a charmer, slightly funny and a tad bit cute, okay—a lot of cute, but he’s also a tad too sarcastic, a smidge conceited and a player. Sometimes those boys are undeniably my favorite and sometimes...they’re not. Something about Tristan just didn't click with me. As I got farther into the book, I started to like him a little more though. Especially when he was with Layla. I think she tends to bring out the best in him! (Potential couple alert!) 

But the characters I absolutely adored? Thalia and Ryan! They were SO. EFFIN. CUTE! OMG! MY HEART!! They made my heart SO HAPPY! Ryan is one of Tristan’s best friends and Thalia is Kurt’s (Tristan’s guard) sister. Her and Ryan weren’t together very long but oh my sea lord!!! I loved them! <3

Ehem....moving on! This book had some INSANE twists. (I’m talking about death twists...) twists that scared the shit out of me...I was seriously freakin’!  

Overall, The Vicious Deep is a cool new merman story that you should definitely check out!

Revived by Cat Patrick

Revived

Author: Cat Patrick

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 304

Source: Magical Urban Fantasy Reads ARC Tour

Rating: 4 Startling Stars! 

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life. 

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.~Goodreads

I adored Cat Patrick’s first novel, Forgotten, and her second did not disappoint me either!

With a synopsis like THAT, you’d think the plot would be the element that shines through the most, but I found that the characters are what really stood out in this one!

I liked the main character, Daisy, a lot! She was super down to earth and she handled her situation with so much maturity. She also had a snarky side and I love that in an MC!

But the character who I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVED was her guardian, Mason! For being an older gent he was highly attractive and extremely charming! His relationship with Daisy was completely adorable as well. He took on the roll of being her father figure perfectly and he is just the epitome of what a parent should be; supportive, trustworthy, loyal, and understanding. I think he should get a spin-off!

So, any who! The book starts off with Daisy getting stung by a bee and ultimately dying.....again. Mason then has to use the drug Revive to bring her back to life....again. Annnnd they are forced to move to a different city and start over....again. God, that would suck so bad! But at least in this town, Daisy got to make some really good friends!

Daisy first meets Audrey in the school hallway and then later she meets Audrey’s brother, Matt. Both of them were awesome characters and the more I learned about them the more I grew to love them. Matt was such a compassionate guy, not only towards his family but towards Dais as well. He’d known the girl all of a week and he drove a super long ass way to take care of her drunk. That whole scene?! Was just way cute!  There were a lot of cute moments in this one! :)

Not only was Daisy balancing school, Mason and her new friends, but she was also looking at secret files on Mason's computer about the Revive program. And she happened to find some pretty...strange things which caused her to question the entire program as a whole. Some freaky, cover-up stuff was going on and she wanted to get to the bottom of it.  

In the mean time as the story progresses, we find out about Audrey’s condition and it causes Matt to act...different. Which is totally understandable, considering. BUT, he takes a lot of things out on Dais and asks A LOT of her. (I’m not even going to lie, I really wanted to smack him at one point.) After a MAJOR plot element happens I found myself not liking Matt as much, I couldn’t really connect with him anymore. Just...I feel like he went about handling the situation all wrong. 

When Daisy drifts away from Matt, she starts to get some threats from "God", the head honcho who runs the Revive program, and holy snap! *INSERT HUGE PLOT TWIST/REVEAL HERE!* Yikes! Did not see THAT one coming! 

So overall, with a crazy plot and lovable characters, Revived is sure to give you chills and stick with you for a while! I would definitely recommend it!

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Unraveling

Author: Elizabeth Norris

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Pages: 445

Team: Ben Michaels

Rating: 4 Stars! 

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life. 

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process. 

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.~Goodreads

Unraveling is an awesome debut that I really enjoyed! The main character, Janelle, is one tough chick! Not in a kick-ass-blade-swishing-bullet-blazing kind of way but more in a take-care-of-business-protect-those-she-loves kind of way. She’s very unselfish and she puts her baby brother, Jared, (who’s actually a freshman...so technically I could still date him...hmm) before herself multiple times and I really admired that about her. Janelle and Jared’s home life isn’t exactly the best either. With their mom being bi-polar and their dad being part of the FBI, Janelle and Jared kind of have to fend for themselves. Their relationship is one of the strongest/cutest brother/sister relationships I’ve ever read about! Just the little moments between them, like Janelle fluffing his hair or asking if he was hungry, were my favorites!

At the very beginning of the novel Janelle is kind of just going through the motions—taking care of her brother, working as a lifeguard and sorta dating a boy she’s not even that in to. And then BAM! She gets hit by a truck. No—seriously, she does. And the first person she sees when she opens her eyes is Mr. Ben Michaels. *swoon*

Ben is the bad-boy/rebel/outcast who hangs out with other stoners at Janelle’s school. But something about him is…off. So Janelle becomes obsessed with figuring out who Ben Michaels is and I enjoyed every second of it! They were angsty and adorable. I mean how cute is it that he hacks into the school’s database to switch around her schedule so she gets into the classes she wants!? Pretty cute!

So Janelle and Ben team up and try to figure out this MAJOR thing that’s going on throughout the whole story. Oh yeah, and they only have a certain amount of time to solve the problem before WAVE FUNCTION COLLAPSE! (To find out what Wave Function Collapse is, please visit your local Interverse Agency or pick up Unraveling in April.)

Overall, Unraveling is a fast paced Sci-fi/ end of the world romance mash-up that’ll keep you on edge until the last possible paragraph! And with an ending like THAT...i'm hoping for a sequel!

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis

Glimmer

Author: Phoebe Kitanidis

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Pages: 352

Rating: 4 Stars!

What if you forgot your identity and had to rely on other people to tell you who you were?

And what if to discover your true self, you first had to unravel a mystery so big and terrifying you were not sure you’d survive solving it?

When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other’s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it’s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.

Terrified by their amnesia, the two make a pact to work together to find the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they’re in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town’s perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall’s mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse’s family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school.

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marsh and Elyse fall into an intense relationship...but the secrets they uncover could be the death of this growing love—and the death of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls.~Goodreads

Glimmer starts off with Him and Her (identities yet to be identified) waking up in bed together. Naked. Without clothes. Completely nude. And completely confused as to how it happened. Talk about a captivating opener! (Also, I totally fell in love with this book the moment I read THIS LINE.)

The story follows these two as they try and figure out who they are and how they ended up together, naked (member that part!?), with their memories a blank slate. May i just say that i loved that they were both totally confused and didn’t know a damn thing that was going on, because I didn’t either! For over half of the book I was like, “What in the HELL is happening?!” (in a good way!)

I really liked learning about Elyse and Marshall little by little. In one chapter a piece of her life would fall into place and the next chapter a piece of his. And, OF COURSE, I LOVED that the story was told in duel perspective! (because that = heaven!) I liked seeing not only how they felt about themselves, but also how they felt about each other! Elyse and Marshall were thrown into this crazy situation that made them both really vulnerable and they had to learn to trust each other completely. I think that helped their relationship to build up slowly and it just felt totally natural. It was pretty darn adorable to watch too!

So! Elyse and Marshall are ultimately stuck in the town of Summer Falls, and let's just say it's a pretty interesting town. Creepy, but interesting! Not only does the town itself have a very eerie vibe to it but the towns-people themselves are also a bit...disturbed, shall I say? Everyone is exceptionally happy doodles and they seem to not have a care in the world—they’re kinda like a robot zombie mash-up. And there’s also this thing called a “heat nap” that tends to hit the townsfolk at extremely convenient times. Once Elyse and Marshall find out that it’s not exactly the weather causing the naps...you’ll understand why I say the town is a tad bit creepy.

Learning the town's insane secrets through Elyse and Marshall made it that much more freaky. You guys, THIS TOWN!!! Let's just say i will NOT be vacationing in Summer Falls any time soon! Ghosts and dark magic and cover ups and asylums and a weird homeless lady all add up to one crazy conclusion. 

Overall, Glimmer is a mysterious, magical, mind-bender. Action packed and full of menacing entities, it’s sure to keep you on edge! I would most definitely recommend it! 

In Too Deep by Amanda Grace

In Too Deep

Author: Amanda Grace

Publisher: Flux

Pages: 240

Rating: 4 Stars

I never meant for anyone to get hurt. All I wanted to do that night was make a play for Carter Davis. His heartless rejection was mortifying, but people got the wrong idea when they saw me leaving his bedroom, crying. That’s how rumors of rape started.

Now girls at school are pouring out their sympathy to me. Guys too. But not everyone’s on my side. The school has become a war zone and the threats are getting scary. What began as poetic justice has morphed into something bigger-forcing me to make a terrible choice.~Goodreads

*Takes deep breath* 


In Too Deep is one of those books where everything goes down hill so fast and the next thing you know you’re scared to read the next sentence in fear things will get even worse and then you just want to curl up in a corner and never pick the book up again but the writings really good and there’s this boy named Nick so you pick it up and keep reading and you just shake your head the whole time and wish you would’ve stayed in that corner.

The beginning of In Too Deep was so adorably perfect. The main character Sam comes up with this half-baked scheme to make her best friend, Nick, jealous.  She’s trying to find out if Nick has feelings for her...like more than just friendly feelings for her...yeah, you know the kind! Good intentions, bad...execution.

The way Sam went about everything in this book was so completely wrong. I wanted to reach through the pages and slap some sense into her! She puts this huge lie into circulation because ultimately she just shakes her head in confirmation, even though she doesn't know what she's confirming. When she does find out what she confirmed, she doesn’t even try to set it right...she just...goes along with it. And even when she’s confronted, point blank, by Nick...she doesn’t tell him. WHY!? If she could tell anyone, it’s Nick!! He’s trustworthy and funny and adorable and protective and cute and her best. FREAKING. Friend! What the hell?! I just couldn’t understand her.

She totally ruined this one dude’s reputation. And sure, he was an ass, and he did some rude things to people and I found myself thinking maybe he did deserve This fate. But as I read on...this kid lost everything. His friends, his dignity, respect...so I actually felt really bad for him.

And the whole time I just kept asking myself if people in the real world are really as idiotic and insensitive as Sam? What the HELL was she thinking!? All I wanted was for her to stop being stupid and just TELL THE TRUTH. GAAAH!

Yet. Yet, I think that’s what made this book so damn good. My heart was in my throat the whole time. I was anxious while reading every chapter. I cringed. I swore. I almost cried. Almost. I was literally SCREAMING for Sam to tell the truth!! For her to just TELL NICK. For Nick to trust her, believe her.

The ending of this book was like a kick to the gut. It hurt me to read the last couple of chapters. It seriously made my heart all achy. I felt like I lost something, someone. BUT I'll stop right there before I give anything away!

Overall, In Too Deep was an intense story about what happens not necessarily when you lie, but when you withhold the truth. And boy do the consequences suck. If you like feeling upset and emotional, angry and frustrated, then this book is for you. If you don’t like main characters who make horrible choices and endings that make you do this: O_O !!?! then this book is not for you.

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Carrier of the Mark (Carrier of the Mark #1)

Author: Leigh Fallon

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 342

Rating: 4 Stars!

From the moment she sets foot at her new school in Ireland, Megan is inexplicably drawn to the darkly handsome Adam DeRis. But Megan soon discovers that her feelings for Adam are tied to a supernatural fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that unites them could be their ultimate destruction. 

This electrifying debut novel was first discovered on inkpop.com. the online community for aspiring writers. THE CARRIER OF THE MARK sizzles with unbridled romance, a unique supernatural hook, and a breathtaking Irish setting, and will entice fans of the Need series by Carrie Jones and the House of Night series by P. C. and Kristin Cast.~Goodreads

The story starts off with Megan, the main character, unaware of her elemental power, creeped out by a crow that seems to follow her and distracted by cute boy. But as the story continues Megan slowly starts to realize what all these things mean. She’s a carrier of the mark. DUN DUN DUN....

My favorite thing about this book was by far the setting! I loved that it took place in Ireland! The use of Irish lingo was awesome and honestly cracked me up! Snog= Kissing, Fringe= Bangs! SO ADORABLE!! “I think I’m going to go get a fringe!” C’mon, how cute is that term!? So. Cute.

Another thing that I loved was Leigh Fallon’s imagery! One of my favorite scenes was when Áine (Adam's sissy) was dancing around with a flutter of moths...guys. That scene was seriously so gorgeous and incredible, you should read the book just for that scene!  Seriously. And I believe there was also a part in the book where wind was described as a "sensual caress,” Who knew wind could be so sexy!? :P

And speaking of sexy, we have quite a few boys in this book to swoon over! Especially Adam and Rían. I liked Adam just fine, he was protective, passionate and caring, yet he had some faults. (Anger issues perhaps?)

But oh my lord, I think I might just be Team Rían! (Is that even an option? I don’t know, but I loved him!) He’s extremely guarded and has this bad boy vibe that just screams hotness. Literally. He can control fire! HOW BAD ASS IS THAT?! He was also put in charge of training Megan and teaching her how to use her elemental power. I really wish there would have been more actual training scenes because, you caught me, I not so secretly want more Rían and Megan time! Also because training scenes are awesome!

And dudes, how cool is it that Megan’s mark tingles when she’s in danger? That’s sweet as eff! And let’s just say, she needs those tingles. Trust me when I say the plot of this story isn’t all moths and raindrops. What’s a story without some conflict, right?!

Oh! You thought I was going to tell you the conflicts? Nah, you gotta go pick up this steamy, suspenseful, fast-paced debut and find out for yourself! :)

Fracture by Megan Miranda

Fracture

Author: Megan Miranda

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers

Pages: 224

Rating: 4 Stars!

Team: Decker :)

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine

-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.~Goodreads

I was lucky enough to get a copy of Fracture from Looksie Lovitz a couple of months ago and it was nude. BAHA! Sorry, I mean it didn’t have a cover, but I just wanted to make a naked joke! heehee annnnyway, I read the book and then saw the cover at ALA and was in awe! I think it fits the story so perfectly and I love it!!

But i had a hard time coming up with what to say about this book. When I first finished it, not only was I a little freaked out, I was totally confused as to why I couldn’t come up with how I felt about it. Was it good? Bad? Okay? Great? I wasn’t completely sure at the time.

Fracture is a big pile of crazy, and when I wanted to put it down, there was this pull that kept me reading chapter after chapter. The characters in this book were most definitely likeable and the mystery was frightening! I was thinking about the story for days after I finished it. And that’s how I knew it was pretty amazing. My mind kept going back to the little plot elements and dialogue between characters.

I liked Delaney a lot but it was hard for me to read about her “issues” because they creeped me out! And her journey was just really, really sad & tough & honestly, alarming! But there were plenty of humorous lines that added comic relief to the story:

“You stole my car.”

“Stop calling it a car, it’s a minivan. You’re in denial.”

The little banter above is between Delaney and her best friend, Decker. Ah, Decker....He was super cute, extremely funny but totally stupid! He was so completely blind towards Delaney and his relationship that i wanted to smack him! He had feelings for her but wouldn't act on them and boooooyyyy was I ever rooting for them to just be together!! GAH!!

And speaking of relationships, the story had a some back and forth in the romance department (caught between two guys sorta thing…but not a triangle…gah! Read it to find out what I mean!) And oh my gosh when you meet Troy...zeeep! <-- i'll let you speculate if that's a good "zeep" or a bad "zeep" or a creep "zeep." 

But ultimately this book isn’t focused on romance, it’s about life and second chances, and Delaney’s question of “If you had one day left to live, how would you spend it.” (Personally, I would go to my local Chipotle, make out with the hot guy that works there and then scarf down like 2 burritos. After that i'd probably go take a nap at B&N....yeah, that's my dream day!)

Ehem, moving on...check this book out, it’s a great debut by Megan Miranda! It’s dark and twisted with characters that are deeply flawed, emotionally & physiologically but you’ll love ‘em anyway. If you like eerie/creepy/thriller books this one is definitely for you! 

The Vampire Stalker by Allison van Diepen

The Vampire Stalker 

Author: Allison van Diepen

Publisher: Point

Pages: 272

Rating: 4 Stars! 

What if the characters in a vampire novel left their world--and came into yours?

Amy is in love with someone who doesn't exist: Alexander Banks, the dashing hero in a popular series of vampire novels. Then one night, Amy meets a boy who bears an eerie resemblance to Alexander. In fact, he IS Alexander, who has escaped from the pages of the book and is in hot pursuit of a wicked vampire named Vigo. Together, Amy and Alexander set out to track Vigo and learn how and why Alexander crossed over. But when she and Alexander begin to fall for each other, Amy wonders if she even wants him to ever return to the realm of fiction.~Goodreads

Two words: Literary Physics! My mind was BLOWN! Holy crap, best idea in the history of ever! If you’re planning on skipping this book because it’s about Vampires, DON’T! If you read it for any reason, read it for the concept of literary physics, honestly you guys….. pure brilliance!

The storyline was face paced & thrilling, maybe a tad bit predictable, but enjoyable nonetheless. The characters are fantastic and it’s basically impossible NOT to relate with Amy. I mean come on, how many of us have fallen in love with a fictional character from one of our favorite books *raises hand high*  I for example have fallen in love with multiple! ;)

So, Alex is the main character from the Otherworld books that Amy & her friends read, and he’s on the ultimate quest for revenge. He’s dedicated his life to stalking a vampire named Vigo (for reasons I won’t spoil). And even before Alex jumps off the pages he’s pretty kick –butt. I mean he has a freakin’ scar on his tongue for goodness stakes (haha! Get it, stakes!?! like cuz when you hunt a vampire you use a stake?! Not funny?.....yeah, I didn’t think so either.)

Anyway, when he steps into present day Chicago he bumps into Amy…and the rest is history! If you want to find out what happens when Amy comes face to face with her fictional love in real life, read this book!!

It’s equal parts adorableness, funniness & suspenseness <--- totes not a word, but it fits nicely don’t you think!?

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

The Iron King (Iron Fey #1)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 363
Rating: 4 Stars!

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.~Goodreads

This book is jam packed with a ton of action and adventure! Every page leads to new information and that made it a face paced thrill. This book also picks up a creepy vibe once Meghan arrives in Nevernever, almost like a twisted Alice in Wonderland, which made it even more fascinating! The fights that go on in this book were nothing short of hard-core! I think that The Iron King was a great start for the series and an awesome set up for the more important fates Meghan will encounter. I personally find fey like super confusing and i thought they were all like Tinkerbell fairies, but this book proved me dead wrong. 

With action, adventure and a dash of romance i think this book has it all! 

Break by Hannah Moskowitz

Break
Author: Hannah Moskowitz
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 262
Rating: 4 Stars!

Jonah is on a mission to break every bone in his body. Everyone knows that broken bones grow back stronger than they were before. And Jonah wants to be stronger—needs to be stronger—because everything around him is falling apart. Breaking, and then healing, is Jonah’s only way to cope with the stresses of home, girls, and the world on his shoulders.

When Jonah's self-destructive spiral accelerates and he hits rock bottom, will he find true strength or surrender to his breaking point?~Goodreads

Reason #1 why i loved Break: It’s written in Jonah’s POV, and he is amazing! Break is a story about struggle & control. Jonah feels the only thing he has control over in his life is breaking his bones. His logic? Break bones->heal->grow stronger. His goal is to break every bone in his body once. Sad right?

The descriptions in this book are absolutely awesome! Some scenes made me get the willies! Naomi, Jonah’s best friend, tapes all of the “breakings” on her video camera, so together her and Jonah keep track of what bones have been broken and how many times.
NAS-TEE! I felt like Naomi was messed up in the head, she would always encourage & almost force Jonah into breaking bones. What kind of friend does that?? I’ll tell you what kind, not a good one!

The brotherly bond in this book is not only adorable but kind of inspiring! All Jonah wants to do is protect his younger brother Jesse, who is majorly allergic to almost everything. Jonah feels it is his responsibility to keep Jesse away from anything that might cause his brother to go into anaphylactic shock. Then on the other hand, Jesse also feels the need to protect Jonah. Jesse finds it utterly stupid that Jonah goes out regularly to break his bones to feel in control & begs him multiple times to stop.

My only objections are that I wish the relationship between Jonah and Charlotte would of developed more, because I am a sucker for a good romance! & I liked her! Also the ending felt like it was missing something… the whole book was intense and fast paced but towards the end it sort of just died down.

Overall though, a super great book with tons of F-bombs to go around!