Thursday, January 31, 2013

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Eternal by Kristi Cook

COVER REVEAL EVERYONE! The Winterhaven series is one of my favorite series involving vampires, so I am THRILLED to be part of the cover reveal team! So, here it is!
 
 
 
IT'S SO PRETTYYYY!!!!! Definitely my favorite cover of the series, and I really like the other two covers!
 
Summary: 
THERE’S NO HIDING FROM DESTINY…

In the final book of the Winterhaven trilogy, Violet McKenna and her friends find themselves right in the middle of a vampire war. The stakes have been raised, the danger unavoidable now. As the Warriors’ senior year draws to a close, not everyone makes it out alive. Who will be left standing at the end of it all? Will Aidan be a part of Violet’s future, or is he just a specter of the past?
 


 

About The Author
 



YA author Kristi Cook is a transplanted southern gal who lives in New York City with her husband and two kids. Her YA debut, HAVEN, was released in Feb. 2011 by Simon Pulse.



 
WebsiteFacebookTwitterGoodReads
 


Rules:
 
- US ONLY
 
- Must be 13 or older to enter
 
- Winner has 48 hours to respond to email claiming their prize or a new winner will be chosen.
 
- Enter via Rafflecopter below. 
 
GOOD LUCK!!!! :)




Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Found by Alyssa Rose Ivy

I have ANOTHER stellar cover to reveal for you all today!!! It's an Alyssa Rose Ivy cover - you all know about my current giveaway for Flight? (HERE if you don't know what I'm talking about!). Well, here's the cover to the third book in the Crescent Chronicles, Found, and a GIVEAWAY! See below for the giveaway.
 

Found by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Book Three of The Crescent Chronicles
Publication Date: Summer 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Age Group: New Adult
 
Cover Designer:
 
Once Upon a Time Covers





Book Description:

Levi might be hot, strong, and have a cool set of wings, but it's not enough to make up for keeping Allie in the dark.
 
Allie's tired of being left with more questions than answers. She's tired of loving a guy who refuses to level with her. Most of all, she's tired of her life spinning out of control.
Desperate to save Jess no matter the personal cost, Allie has to face the possibility that the only one she can trust is herself.
 
 
About the Author:

 
Alyssa Rose Ivy is a Young Adult and New Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.
 
GIVEAWAY!
 


Enter to win any ONE of Alyssa Rose Ivy’s ebooks (winners choice).  The author will provide the winner with a Smashwords coupon to receive the ebook.

 
Rules:

- Your choices are (click the titles for links to Goodreads):


 
- Winner has 48 hours to respond to my email
 
- The mandatory entry MUST BE COMPLETED.
 
- Open INTERNATIONALLY, as long as you can accept Smashwords coupons.
 
- DO NOT CHEAT.
 
 
Good luck!
  

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Cover reveal organized by:
AToMR Tours



 

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday (#5): Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare


"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 I'm featuring:
 
Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3)
 
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
Book Three of the Infernal Devices series
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: March 19, 2013
 
 
Summary from Goodreads:
 
Danger intensifies for the Shadowhunters as the New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy comes to a close.

If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you do it?

The clock is ticking. Everyone must choose.

Passion. Power. Secrets. Enchantment.

Danger closes in around the Shadowhunters in the final installment of the bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy.
 
 
 
*sniffle*
 
I don't think I need to say why I am waiting on this book.
 
*wipes tears*

The Crescent Chronicles by Alyssa Rose Ivy Blitz and Giveaway!

 
Hi there! Today I am showing off this brilliant series by Alyssa Rose Ivy! I have the covers, descriptions, purchase links, author information, an excerpt, and a GIVEAWAY (bottom of the page), all in one post! Enjoy!
 
 
Flight by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Book Two of the Crescent Chronicles
Publication Date: August 16, 2012
 
Book Description:

Sometimes you just have to take flight.

A summer in New Orleans is exactly what Allie needs before starting college. Accepting her dad’s invitation to work at his hotel offers an escape from her ex-boyfriend and the chance to spend the summer with her best friend. Meeting a guy is the last thing on her mind—until she sees Levi.

Unable to resist the infuriating yet alluring Levi, Allie finds herself at the center of a supernatural society and forced to decide between following the path she has always trusted or saving a city that might just save her.

 
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
 
 



 

Focus by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Book Two of the Crescent Chronicles
Publication Date: January 23, 2013

Book Description:

Freshman year of college is hard even when you're not tied to the future king of a supernatural society.

Allie dives into college head first with Hailey as her roommate and the city of New Orleans as her backyard. As things within The Society heat up, Allie realizes that whether she’s with Levi or not, she's in far too deep to turn back.

 
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
About the Author:
 
 
Alyssa Rose Ivy is a Young Adult and New Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.
 
 
 
Excerpt from Flight by Alyssa Rose Ivy!
 

I glanced up. Intense gray-blue eyes stared back at me, as I recognized the guy from the hotel. Surprised to see him again, I merely nodded before bringing the shot to my lips.
 
"What was that?" I spat out while the liquor continued to burn my throat.
 
"A jaeger shot." He laughed lightly. "Feeling better?"
 
"Yeah. I can’t believe I did that." I peered over my shoulder at the stage where another group was starting their rendition of Time of my Life.
 
"It really wasn’t so bad. It was more entertaining than if Cyndi Lauper performed it herself." Raking his eyes from my toes back up to my face, he spent an annoying amount of time studying my legs. Long legs were nice, but not when they attracted the wrong type of attention. Normally I would call a guy on mentally undressing me, but I was too busy taking my own inventory. Finished, I glanced around for Jess but couldn’t see her in the crowd.
 
"So, thanks for the shot, but I need to find my friend."
 
"Hey, you can’t run off on me again." He didn’t say it like a question, more like a demand and it annoyed me. "Besides, your friend appears to be unavailable."
 
I followed his gaze and noticed Jess flirting with Dave again. "Run off on you again? That implies we have run into each other before." I tried for coy; I wasn’t going to let this guy unnerve me. Sure, he had the most amazing set of eyes I had ever seen, but I wasn’t interested.
 
"I saw you at the Crescent City Hotel this afternoon, but you took off before I could say hello." He leaned in closer to me, trying to be heard over the loud music.
 
"Oh, I didn’t notice you."
 
He smiled, ignoring my comment. "You here for vacation?"
 
"I’m here for work actually, at the hotel."
 
"Are you around for the whole summer then?"
 
I allowed myself to really look at him. My earlier estimate of his height was dead on; he was much taller than my 5 feet 9 inches.
 
I finally answered. "Yeah, I’m here until I start school in the fall."
 
"All right, so where are you going to school?"
 
"Princeton." I braced myself for his response.
 
"Nice," he said in a way that suggested he wasn’t impressed.
 
"You in school?"
 
"Yeah, I’m going to be a senior at Tulane."
 
"Oh, so you live here?"
 
"Born and raised," he said proudly.
 
"I didn’t think locals hung out at places like this."
 
"We don’t usually, but they’re great spots to meet girls from out of town."
 
I shook my head. "Ah, so you’re one of them."
 
"One of who?"
 
"The type to prey on innocent tourists."
 
"Innocent tourists? You make me sound like the big bad wolf."
 
"And you’re not?" I questioned.
 
"Only if you’re Red Riding Hood," he said flirtatiously.
 
"Wow, that’s original." I caught myself staring at his eyes again and decided it was time to end the conversation. "Well, nice talking to you."
 
"Hey, I didn’t even get your name yet."
 
"Allie."
 
"Is that short for Allison?"
 
"Yes, but no one calls me Allison." I cursed myself. Why couldn’t I just walk away from this guy? I briefly regretted my decision to swear off men because if I hadn’t this one would be exactly my type: tall, strong, and confident. He was exactly the kind to avoid.
 
And now for the GIVEAWAY!
 
Win (1) e-book copy of Flight (Crescent Chronicles #1) by Alyssa Rose Ivy!
 
Rules:
 
- The mandatory entry MUST BE COMPLETED. All other entries are optional
- Open INTERNATIONALLY
- Winner has 48 hours to respond to my email
- DO NOT CHEAT
 
Good luck! 



Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Venom Readalong Week 4!

Hi! This post is for the Venom Readalong that I signed up for (and hopefully you did too!). I've had an ARC of this book AND Belladonna, the sequel, since November, and have yet to read either book. Thank you, Annabelle and Nikki, for having this readalong; otherwise, Venom and Belladonna might sit on my stack of books for a long time.

So! Here are my responses to this week's questions!

QUESTIONS FOR THE VENOM READALONG, WEEK 4

Did Luca's choices and the complexity of his character surprise you?

Not really - I knew there was more to him than Cass's unwillingness to marry him. I actually really like him :)
 
 Michel de Montaigne is quoted a few times. How did you feel this contributed (or did not contribute) to the novel?
 
Well, he's a  FRENCH Renaissance writer, but I think it's a nice touch nonetheless. It didn't really detract from the story, nor did it really add to it.

 Did you trust Falco the whole time?
 
Nope. Still don't.

 Did you find the character of Siena and her habits or fancies cliché overall?
 
No - she's a servant. She's also extremely loyal to Cass. I guess it is a little cliché that she would break certain rules for Cass, but I believe that happened more than a few times back during this period of history.

 As a whole, did you feel this book was sufficiently creepy and mysterious?
 
Not really. I felt like the mystery and intrigue part was overshadpwed by the "romance" between Falco and Cass. I'm putting that in quotes, because I was NOT feeling that romance at all. It felt rushed and unexciting (though it is supposed to be exciting for Cass), and did not feel real. I still sort of like Falco - he seems like an okay individual - but as a love interest, I do not see him as really there. Just a sidenote.

 Were you surprised by the ending?
 
No. I mean, the fact that Cristian was who he was, and what he did with Cass? Kind of. But the way the scenes at the end weer handled, Cass's plight didn't seem that pitiful.

 Do you think Cass made the right decision concerning the boys in the end? Would you do what she did (answer without spoiling!)

YES. YES. We as humans always want what we can't have, or what is forbidden. I guess it seems nice, but who is to say that she developed those "feelings" (if she developed any at all) towards Falco because psychologically, she knows that he is forbidden to her? What if those feelings are not real? Hmm...

 Were you right about the murderer? If not were you surprised?

I was not wrong, but I was not right. I did NOT expect it to be (...), but I had a sketchy feeling about him at (...) when he "helped" Cass.

 Now that you've met both, what Team are you?

*Sigh*
Luca. I usually NEVER like the classicly correct guy for the girl, and usually err on the side of the "new guy", and not the best friend or childhood acquaintance. BUT, I really like Luca. I feel like his feelings and intentions are more genuine. Cass's feelings towards Cass, and vice versa, do NOT seem real.

 What were your immediate thoughts after finishing?

Yay, I finished the Readalong! It's an accomplishment for me :D
Also, I felt a little disappointed by the end - it ends on a "romantic", choosing-a-guy note. I am not a fan of those.

QUESTIONS FOR THE VENOM READALONG FROM FIONA, WEEK 4

Were you surprised when Luca returned to Venice? Why or why not?

It was obvious, in my opinion, that he had been in Venice for longer than he let on. It's oneof those things that readers just know; there is a character that the protagonist DREADS to see. So, what does the author do? Plop him in, unbeknowst to the protagonist. Which was fine with me! I like Luca.

Did you find Luca to be more protective or controlling of Cass? Why do you feel that way? What secrets did you initially think he was keeping?

I do not find him protective or controlling in the sense that he specifically wants to control her. I think he knows more than he lets on (obviously, as we are clued in at the end), and therefore, he wants her safe. I don't think it's about having control or the upperhand. Although it could be. Luca seems like more of a steady, hard-working person that wants stability in his and his fiancée's life. And everyone has secrets. Some people's secrets are just worse of more significant than other people's secrets. I believed he kept secrets about his life (I know, that's really general), which is why he was always away.

Why do you think Falco sent his roommate to deliver his message to Cass instead of coming himself?

Obviously, he does not want to face her. Whether because he wants to give her space, or he is a coward, he makes another person do it (to the ill fortune of that person). I think he thinks it is because he wants her to make a choice without him influencing her directly, but I think it's because he's a bit of a coward.
 
How did you feel about the Michel de Montaigne quote on the top of page 352: "Each man calls barbarism what is not his own practice, for indeed it seems we have no other test of truth and reason than the example and pattern of the opinions and customs of the country in which we live." What does that mean to you?

We don't consider our own actions "barbarism", because really, we base everything we do off of another person's actions, or beliefs, or experiences. That's a perfectly rational and true statement.
 
How did you feel about Cass essentially skipping her best friend's wedding to go look for Falco? Understandable? Unforgivable? How did you feel about her obligating Siena to cover for her?

That's... that's bad. I am going to make an assumption that women in this society (of this time period) were very dependent on their fellow women friends, and therefore, Cass is being extremely selfish in her actions. She should have tried to find Falco LATER.

It is AWFUL that she involves Sienna. I said earlier that Sienna did her duty as a servant and followed Cass's orders, but COME ON. Sienna needs that job, more than Cass needs Falco. Servants come and go in this society (from my understanding). Several mishaps, and a servant is released of service. Cass is extremely selfish by making Sienna lie for her.
 
How did you feel about Luca's reveal of his secret? Would you have been angry at him if you were Cass? Why do you think he felt he couldn't confide in her?

Like I said, everyone has secrets, some greater than others. As a MAN (think about the time period), Luca does not have to tell Cass anything. Oh the anachronisms in this book. This book is so romanticized, to make characters (*cough cough* CASS) more modern.

He does not HAVE to confide in her. And he felt like he couldn't, probably because she never wrote back to him! How could he know her, or trust her, even a tiny bit?! Yes, you can lie in letters. But she never even opened his letters.
 
I initially wanted a different ending regarding "the boys," but came to realize that Cass's decision is kind of the ultimate girl-power choice. How did you feel about her decision?

Girl power?! Hmmm... I disagree with that display of "girl power". Anyway, I am glad that she stuck with her original arrangement. It makes sense to go with stability, especially since I believe Luca is a good person (and he's about her age! HELLO. In this time, young girls married OLD MEN. So, I find this match a good one). I do not trust Falco, for whatever reasons.

So that's the end of Venom! I will be reading Belladonna soon, but I'm not going nuts to do so. I still can't figure out if I liked Venom a lot, or not. SO MANY ANACHRONISMS. They drive me INSANE. But you'll see me review soon :)

Review: The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell


The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell
Publisher: Dial 
Publication Date: January 10, 2013
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Public library

Summary (from Goodreads):

Tamora Pierce meets George R. R. Martin in this smart, political, medieval fantasy-thriller.

There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown's inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers. But when her mentor, a notorious commander recalled from active duty to teach at the Academy, is kidnapped to fight in illegal gladiator games, Renee and her best friend Alec find themselves thrust into a world rife with crime, sorting through a maze of political intrigue, and struggling to resolve what they want, what is legal, and what is right.

What I Liked:

I have always said that a mix of fantasy and medieval fiction is my favorite genre (like, Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers. Or Fire by Kristin Cashore). My expectations for this book were very, very high, and for the most part, I was not disappointed. 

I really liked Renee. I thought she was a tough yet vulnerable girl, who grew from beginning to end. I liked her role in this book - not everything was about her. This book is written in thried person limited, in which we get to see the points of view fo Renee and Savoy most often. So, it did not seem like everything was about Renee and her decisions, which was nice. Even though at times, everything had to be about Renee. But it was brought about differently than most books. It was not the fate of the world (or the kingdom) on her shoulders.

I liked Savoy a lot - possibly more than I liked Renee. We get to see much from his peerspective, which is refreshing. We get tosee his struggles with teaching at the Academy, and his desire to be with the Seventh. It is clear to me that he is a fierce, confident warrior, and I love that about him.

The world-building in this novel is excellent. I was never confused about the setting or the characters or the magical part of the book. Everything was brought across clearly, so even non-fantasy lovers will understand the complex nature that fantasies usually possess. I liked the magic element to this book - and I am happy that Renee does not have some "special ability", like most protagonists of fantasy and paranormal novels usually have.

YAY there is no love triangle, but... there also is no romance (see below).

What I Did Not Like:

My biggest problem with is the ending, and there were several things wrong with it. First, the romance is not resolved. I know, I know, I just said there is no romance. Well, there is sort of. We KNOW Renee has feelings for Savoy. And vice versa. But they do NOTHING throughout the book, like, no interaction in a romantic way. Which is fine, I guess. But sometimes, during some scenes, you can just FEEL the chemistry between two of them. It's not the kind of chemistry you find in romance books - no, it's more subtle and simple than that. 

My point is, it is there. And the ending made no resolution for the obvious romance between Renee and Savoy. Which really, really bothered me, because the author totally led us to believe that there was! Or at least, that's how I saw it. So, yeah, the ending was not good enough for me, in terms of romance. I wanted to see more from Renee and Savoy. 

Also, I wanted more of a resoution about the Family and Vipers and Madam situation. Maybe I just didn't really understand what had happened at the end (which I feel like is NOT the case), but it felt like something was lacking, or waiting to be wrapped up. 

I talked to the author on Twitter, and she said that she is working on a sequel. So, I did not knock off more than one star, because I am giving the author the benefit of the doubt with this one. I loved this book, right up until the very end. I am willing to put my feelings aside and wait for the next book. 

Would I Recommend It:

Yes, HIGHLY. Fantasy lovers will enjoy this book, but romance lovers will not. Be aware of this.

Rating:

4 stars. Probably more like 3.5 stars, but I am giving the author the benefit of the doubt.


Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Cover Reveal: The Only Exception by Magan Vernon

Any fans of the My Alien Romance series out there? Well, here is the cover of the newest book by that author, Magan Vernon!
 
 
The Only Exception by Magan Vernon
Publisher: Beautifully Broken Books
Publication Date: April 9, 2013
 
Book Description:
 
Fiercely liberal Monica Remy prefers to blend in. Despite her tattoos, piercings, and outspoken personality, she transferred to Central to escape—before she finds out that her next door neighbor is the uber conservative governor's son, Trey Chapman.

No matter how hard she tries to avoid Trey, he still finds a way to get under her skin. Monica can’t stand his crisp white shirts or his staunch views on women. But she can’t help counting every freckle on his face and wondering what it would feel like to have him stop talking politics and kiss her.

A class debate project forces the unlikely pair to work together, and the political lines are blurred in late-night make out sessions. But despite their fiery chemistry, Trey’s politics threatens to smother their relationship for good.
 
Add The Only Exception to Goodreads HERE
 
About the Author:
 
 
Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. She is in a very serious, fake relationship with Adam Lambert and constantly asks her husband to wear guyliner. He still refuses. She also believes her husband is secretly an alien, disguised as a southern gentleman.
 
 
 


Monday, January 28, 2013

Review: If I Lie by Corrine Jackson

If I Lie

If I Lie by Corrine Jackson
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: August 28, 2012
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Copy sent from the author

Summary (from Goodreads):

A powerful debut novel about the gray space between truth and perception.

Quinn’s done the unthinkable: she kissed a guy who is not Carey, her boyfriend. And she got caught. Being branded a cheater would be bad enough, but Quinn is deemed a traitor, and shunned by all of her friends. Because Carey’s not just any guy—he’s serving in Afghanistan and revered by everyone in their small, military town.

Quinn could clear her name, but that would mean revealing secrets that she’s vowed to keep—secrets that aren’t hers to share. And when Carey goes MIA, Quinn must decide how far she’ll go to protect her boyfriend…and her promise.


What I Liked:

I have not read many books dealing with the military (other than Something Like Normal by Trish Doller, which I read AFTER I read this book), so I was not sure what to expect from this book. I have to say, this book pulled at my hearstrings and made me want to cry many, many times (and I am NOT a crier, for movies or books or anyone).

I had a feeling I knew what was wrong with Carey, both physically, and why Quinn had to lie for him. I felt so bad for Quinn, because she went through so many awful things, in order to keep a secret. I really felt bad for Blake, because he did not deserve to not get what he wanted.

This story is so twisted, but in a bittersweet, heartbreaking way. Quinn cannot be happy no matter what she does. Blake cannot get what he wants. Carey cannot get what he wants. It seemed like there was no way that anyone could get any silver lining out of this situation.

I really liked the mutliple plots - of Quinn dealing with Carey's secret, and Quinn dealing with her mother, and Quinn's past being revealed. It made me sad for Quinn, sad for Quinn's father, and sad for Quinn's mother. I just felt bad for everyone, even though, in a way, everyone did something that was bad. I do not know how Ms. Jackson did it, but she wove this story in a way that made me hate and love everyone. I think if I had to really hate anyone, it would be Carey, for asking Quinn to keep that secret. Not because of what the secret was, but because he ruined her life by asking her to keep it.

I liked how the story switched from past to present. This kind of thing is either done very well, or absolutely abysmally. Ms. Jackson did a wonderful job with the switches. It kept me on my toes, to make sure I understood what was going on. And it was an interesting way of revealing Quinn's past and present at the same time.

The ending was very bittersweet, but I think it ended well. It is resolved, but there are some things about the end that not everyone will like. I completely respect Quinn's decisions. Honestly, I may have done the same thing if I were her.

What I Did Not Like:

I said it already, but I really did not like the fact that Carey asked Quinn to keep that secret, and I guess, that Quinn actually kept the secret. That is SO not something that you should ask a person to keep quiet. Obviously, there would be no book if Quinn had not kept the secret. But I still did not like this. Also, I really, really wish Quinn could have, um, had a nice ending with that nice boy, instead of doing what she did. But that's okay, because I completely understand why she did what she did.

Would I Recommend It:

Yes! This book is so bittersweet, but it is so, so good. And sad. And good. It's not a light, quick read, but it's definitely worth the time.

Rating:

4 stars. This contemporary novel is definitely one for the ages!

Author Blog | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Review: Losing It by Cora Carmack

Losing It

Losing It by Cora Carmack
Book One of the Losing It series
Publication Date: October 12, 2012
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Amazon
 
Summary (from Goodreads):

 
Virginity.

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

What I Liked:

My reaction after finish this book: 
 
AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, this book was so, so good! I'm going to start with the setting. This book is set in a college scene - Bliss is a senior in college, and Garrick is her new, not-so-much-older prfoessor (theater professor, I believe). I like how Ms. Carmack incorporated theater into this book. It was not just about Bliss and Garrick - the underlying plot had to do with the play and Bliss's acting.
 
I loved Bliss and Garrick. Bliss is so awkward and slightly crazy sometimes, but it's adorable and hilarious! Some things that she did, I do not understand. But most of the time, I was laughing so hard at the situations in which she finds herself. And Garrick - he is so YUM! We American girls like British boys wayyy too much! I really like him, though. He seemed like a good match for Bliss throughout; he is intelligent and witty, yet patient and calm.

I liked the flow of this book - the pacing was perfect. The beginning starts off very quickly, and everythnig just goes from there. I think the romance was pretty well-paced, in terms of Bliss and Garrick getting to know each other (we KNOW there was chemistry from the start).

There is sort of a love triangle, but it's not serious. Like, Bliss and Garrick are THE couple of this book. There is no competition, for anyone. But there are minor characters that may contribute to a love triangle. But again, it's not serious, and it didn't go anywhere (you could tell it was not going anywhere); therefore, I am happy.

And just so we're clear - I am in no way endorsing sex before marriage, nor am I not endorsing sex before marriage. I do not think it is absolutely vital to lose one's virginity before the end of college; really, it is all about that person's choices.

What I Did Not Like:

Uhm. There really is not much that I did not like. Bliss's decisions (some of them) were poor at times. But I understand why she did them, and they make sense for her. So it did not bother me.

Would I Recommend It:
 
Yes! I believe this book is considered "New Adult", and it is a contemporary. And it's full of awkwardness and humor. Trust me, not many books can pull off awkwardness and humor like this one did.

Rating:


5 stars - and so worth it! Trust me, you will WANT to read this book at some point!
 
Author Blog | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Stacking the Shelves (#5)


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, in which bloggers share the books and swag they've received in the past week!

So, what did I get in the week of Sunday, January 20th to Saturday, January 26th?

 
(all links to Goodreads are provided!)

In the mail:

 
A siged copy of False Memory by Dan Krokos
A signed copy of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
A signed copy of Divergent by Veronica Roth
 
(now I have a signed set and an unsigned set of each of those three books. What to do with the unsigned ones..)
 
A copy of My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
A copy of Gates of Paradise by Melissa de la Cruz
A copy of Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
A signed and personalized copy of The Archived by Victoria Schwab
 
 
A prize t-shirt from The Skip Kids
 
In the library:
 
 
The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell
 
On my Kindle:
 
Losing It
 
Losing It by Cora Carmack
 
 Love and Relativity
 
Love and Relativity by Rachael Wade
 
 
People to thank:
 
Katie and Erica from The Skip Kids (for False Memory, Shadow and Bone, Divergent, and the t-shirt)
Victoria Schwab (for The Archived)
 
 
 
 *Phew!* That's it for this week! What did YOU get? :)