My Super Sweet 16th Century ~ Rachel Harris: Author Interview

Hosted by Itching for Books

Rachel Harris My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century Blog Tour from August 20 - 31.

Synopsis via Goodreads:

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.
Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.
Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever? 

Welcome to Random Acts of Books' first ever author interview!

Q: I'm curious about how you reacted when you found out were going to become published. What went through your mind? How did you react? What did you do? Be honest, did you scare squirrels out of the trees with your excitement?

RH: It is a blur. I know I jumped. I know I screamed. I know I danced around the house in a conga line with my daughters—although that itself isn’t that unusual. That night, my husband took our family and my mom and brother (my dad was working) to PF Chang’s for a delicious dinner and at least two bottles of wine, but other than that, it is honestly a blur! And ever since, it hasn’t really been that much sharper. It’s all tinted with those dreamy edges like this isn’t quite happening, that any minute I can wake up. This past year, really two years since I started writing, has been a crazy, amazing, fantabulous, unreal experience, and I’m so blessed. And gratefully, no squirrels have been harmed in the making of this dream =)     

[Yay for safe squirrels! And that sounds like a nice way to celebrate. And even more yays for your book getting closer and closer to its birthday! Here's to many more from you!]          

Q: Looking at your blog, you like chatting about 'Things That Make Me SWOON.' So...what are a few of those swoon-worthy things?

RH: Me and the girls over at YA Bound post weekly quotes from our current reads that made us Swoon… you know, book boyfriends that just steal your breath away, either by the words they say or the way they draw you close. Those steamy first…and second…and third kisses. That tension that snaps in sharp dialogue. Yeah, that makes me swoon.

         Along with that, I’m currently swooning over Logan Echolls on Veronica Mars. Man, why didn’t I watch this show before??? I am so grateful for Soap Opera Network airing the reruns now so I can get my fix. I find I’ve become quite obsessed.

         And last but not least, recently I was swooning over the water polo teams and swimmers in the Olympics LOL. My husband is so awesome because he just shakes his head at me, but yeah, I think I see a future swimmer hero in one of my books…..

[I could totally get on board with a future book with a swimmer!]

Q: And lastly, one of the most important questions there is: brownies, cupcakes, cookies, or what?

RH: Dude, I’m on a diet right now, and I think I see chocolate chip cookies in my sleep. But really, I love all three. Put them together—we can have chocolate chip cookie dough batter filled inside a scrumptious white cake cupcake with a chocolate-y, rich brownie bottom, topped with yummy chocolate icing. Maybe a few sprinkles on top? Yeah, that sounds nice….

                …..and I think I just gained five pounds thinking about it =) But it was so worth it. 

[And I think I just drooled a little on my keyboard. Okay, not really, but wow that sounds yummy.]

Title: My Super Sweet 16th Century

Author: Rachel Harris

Pub Date: September 11, 2012

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Pages

Author website: http://www.RachelHarrisWrites.com

Review Copy provided by publisher

I hope you enjoyed your stop on the blog tour. Don't forget to enter into the big Rafflecopter contest!

a signed bookmark, trading cards, a necklace with a charm backpack on it, and tattoos like the character has. 

 

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Glitch ~ Heather Anastasiu Review & Giveaway

Hosted by Itching for Books

The Heather Anastasiu Glitch Blog Tour kicks off today. Follow the stops and enter for a chance to win a signed copy of the book. 

Description via Goodreads:

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

Title: Glitch
Author: Heather Anastasiu
371 pages
Pub Date: August 7, 2012
Publisher: St. Martins Press
Review copy via Publisher and NetGalley




I liked the dystopia aspect of Glitch. An entire society is living underground because the surface is toxic. And each person is outfitted with a V-chip. I just wish we knew more about it. What exactly is the "V-chip?" The chips allow control by the Community. No one has emotion, or original thought. Instead they are worker bees for the community and once they become unproductive, they are decommissioned.

One thing that the Community didn't count on was the Glitchers. Essentially, it's when people are not Linked and begin to have thought and feelings. And Zoe is Glitching. And trying not to get noticed. But she does, and everything changes.

And now, let's look at the Love Triangle. (What would my reviews be without them!) This one takes the cake in the Top Ten Triangles that I Absolutely DETEST! Adrien & Max. Max & Adrien. Ugh. Adrien isn't too bad per se, but once Zoe meets him, it is insta-love. And they have already declared their 'feelings' for each other. Now Max. Max is...well...a pushy, possessive, obsessive, rapist-in-training dick. He seems to have it in his mind that Zoe is his and only his and that she should spread her legs IMMEDIATELY for him. Seriously? The way he treated Zoe made me nervous. I was afraid we would be forced to read something that I really did not want to!

So, with all of the emotions flying out left and right I was becoming more and more agitated and upset. So I was talking to my husband about the story. And then it hit me. These kids have no clue how to react and handle their emotions! "He's never been taught how to cope with it." And this completely changed my outlook on the book. They have no clue. So when you read this debut novel, keep this this in mind. They have to learn how to deal with emotions.

Okay. At one point in the novel, Zoe sees the sky for the first time. It was such a beautiful scene that I have to share part of it with you.

"The sky was right above me. It was beautiful and horrible all at the same time. It was just like in my nightmares."

Then the History girl in me loved this line, so share time! And it works for just about every dystopia novel!

"History isn't all fact-it's just the story the victors tell to keep themselves in power."

So there you go. Glitch took me much longer to read than I wanted. Simply put, it was just not my cup of tea, but I am glad I stuck with it. The last few chapters alone were worth it. So many shocks; it was amazing!


As part of the tour, there is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Enter the contest fray for your chance at a signed book and bookmark. Good luck and don't forget to travel with the rest of the tour!
 

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Beautiful Lies ~ Jessica Warman

Title: Beautiful Lies
Author: Jessica Warman
Pub Date: August 21, 2012
Publisher: Walker Books for Children / Bloomsbury
Author Website: www.jessicawarman.com
ARC Provided by: Publisher via NetGalley

From GoodReads: Rachel and Alice are an extremely rare kind of identical twins—so identical that even their aunt and uncle, whom they’ve lived with since their parents passed away, can’t tell them apart. But the sisters are connected in a way that goes well beyond their surfaces: when one experiences pain, the other exhibits the exact same signs of distress. So when one twin mysteriously disappears, the other immediately knows something is wrong—especially when she starts experiencing serious physical traumas, despite the fact that nobody has touched her. As the search commences to find her sister, the twin left behind must rely on their intense bond to uncover the truth. But is there anyone around her she can trust, when everyone could be a suspect? And ultimately, can she even trust herself? Master storyteller Jessica Warman will keep readers guessing when everything they see—and everything they are told—suddenly becomes unreliable in this page-turning literary thriller.


Everytime I start a book by Jessica Warman I feel like I am coming home. I absolutely love her writing and her stories. Prior to reading Beautiful Lies, I didn't really know what to expect. Yes I knew what it was about, but it wasn't one of her typical contemps. And that's okay because Beautiful Lies was still exceptional!

For the first bit I was completely lost! From reading other reviews and Twitter buzz, this is common. But for each reader the 'lost-ness' is a little different. I really hope this does not hurt the book in the end because it was fabulous!

There was a set of identical twins. Essentially one 'good' and one 'bad.' But not good and bad in a paranormal way, instead it was a typical sibling way. So, on the night of a fair, the twins go with their friends. Suddenly Alice disappears and Rachel freaks out but no one else is concerned because "that is what she does." If that's true, then why is Rachel determined that something is wrong this time? Well, because something IS wrong! See, the twins have a connection. They can feel each other's pain, distress, etc. Can this connection be used in a way to find the missing twin, or is she gone for good?

I enjoyed the twins as a whole. They felt believable enough to me. Towards the end though, I was becoming exasperated with the non-missing twin. She kept secrets that could have made a world of difference. The aunt and uncle were a little clueless. But I guess when they've put up with the missing Alice for as long as they have, maybe it is understandable. I was a bit perplexed by Officer Martin. Here we have a strong character that is a cop and can play a vital role-but he doesn't. He connects with the twins because of something special, but that's about it. I was a little let down by the down-playing of his character and role. The most likable character for me was the friend, Kimber. She has been through some serious crap in her life and is still likable. She is a rock!

There is one that that Beautiful Lies did that very few books have ever done to me. I got the chills. Yes, the chills. Full blown goosebumps erupted at the end of the book and I was blown away! By far, this is one of the most mind-blowing books I've ever read!

 "Death is a funny thing. It comes for every last one of us eventually, no matter how we might try to avoid it. Despite its inevitability, we are all so afraid of what might happen to us once we've passed away. Why?"

 (and just an aside: I guessed it! /happy dance!) 


What are your thoughts on Beautiful Lies? Is it one that you're going to read? Have you read it?  What book is on your 'It Completely Blew My Mind' List? The quote I posted, what do you think?




And lastly, while you're here, if you've been enjoying the blog, please follow!


 

Stone Girl ~ Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Title: The Stone Girl
Author: Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Pub Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
224 pages
Author Website: www.alyssasheinmel.com
Author Q&A for The Stone Girl: http://www.alyssasheinmel.com/StoneGirl_AuthorQA_WEB.pdf 
ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley

From GoodReads: She feels like a creature out of a fairy tale; a girl who discovers that her bones are really made out of stone, that her skin is really as thin as glass, that her hair is brittle as straw, that her tears have dried up so that she cries only salt. Maybe that’s why it doesn’t hurt when she presses hard enough to begin bleeding: it doesn’t hurt, because she’s not real anymore.

Sethie Weiss is hungry, a mean, angry kind of hunger that feels like a piece of glass in her belly. She’s managed to get down to 111 pounds and knows that with a little more hard work—a few more meals skipped, a few more snacks vomited away—she can force the number on the scale even lower. She will work on her body the same way she worked to get her perfect grades, to finish her college applications early, to get her first kiss from Shaw, the boy she loves, the boy who isn’t quite her boyfriend.

Sethie will not allow herself one slip, not one bad day, not one break in concentration. Her body is there for her to work on when everything and everyone else—her best friend, her schoolwork, and Shaw—are gone.


This was not one of my favorites. I didn't think it was even one of the best eating disorder books I've read. Nonetheless I still feel it is an important book. 

My chief complaint with the book is the POV. As third person we are told what happens: "Sethie gets good grades." "Sethie smokes a lot of pot." "Her fingers smell like vomit." Throughout this perspective it was extremely hard for me to connect with ANY of the characters, let alone the protagonist! I could not sympathize with her, I had 0 emotion for her or any of her friends. Because there was a lack of first person knowledge, Sethie felt like an article on the nurse's wall. There was a story, but no depth. Unless I missed it, we are never told why she does this to herself. As a reader, i would have liked to know why she began starving herself.


One thing I did appreciate about the book was the different angle on eating disorders. Sethie doesn't consider herself anorexic. In fact, she even calls someone else anorexic! Sethie just watches what she eats! I thought this was interesting, and I wonder how many other people with eating disorders have that perspective as well. 


There was just not enough explanation in the book.Then it suddenly stops with a quote-and I could not understand exactly how it fit in. I interpreted it a certain way, but I'm still a little confused.


"...work it out your own way. Have good luck at your age." -Ernest Hemingway Lines to a Girl 5 Days After Her 21st Birthday


After you've read the book, or if you have already, what did you think of the final quote in the book?


In the end, if you're looking to just fill out an Eating Disorder reading list, give it a whirl, otherwise pick up a different one. 

Brief Resource Guide. Note, this is not a complete list, or even comprehensive. I am in no way, shape, or form an expert. Instead I want to offer some pathways to help if it is needed. If I have missed a resource that you feel should be included, please email or comment below and I will be more than happy to add to this list!

• National Eating Disorders Association: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
  800-931-2237 Helpline

•  Helping Someone with an Eating Disorder Advice for Parents, Family Members, and Friends http://www.helpguide.org/mental/eating_disorder_self_help.htm

•  Anorexia Nervosa and Associate Disorders (ANAD) 1-847-831-3438 http://www.anad.org Referrals to treatment and Information 

• The Renfrew Center http://renfrewcenter.com/ 1-800-RENFREW (1-800-736-3739) Referrals

Throne of Glass ~ Sarah J. Maas

US

Title: Throne of Glass
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Pub Date: August 7, 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Author Website: http://sarahjmaas.com/
416 pages

From GoodReads:
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.
Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.
Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.
Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

"Princes are not supposed to be handsome! They're sniveling, stupid, repulsive creatures! This one...this...How unfair of him to be royal and beautiful."

Celaena is stuck in the middle of the dreaded love triangle. As much as I hate them, I actually found this one to be okay. There was a subtlety in the way the Captain of the Guard, Chaol, and Celaena feel for each other. Neither one is overt, neither gives much thought to it. Then we have Prince Dorian who is obvious; in fact many people around him suspect his feelings. And it seems that our assassin feels the same... 


As far as the love interests go, I have nothing invested in Chaol as a character. But Dorian? Try as I might I am falling for him. And he is NOT my book crush type AT ALL! Typically it would be Chaol. As you can see, I am very confused by this turn of events!


The supporting cast for the most part was enjoyable. I wish we could have more about Nehemia. Nehemia is a visiting Princess, she and Celaena become friends and end up helping each other more than they realize. For me, she was the most interesting character. I truly hope we have more with her later on...maybe even her own book!


Overall, I enjoyed the story. My attention and curiosity were piqued throughout the entirety. Not once did I pick up another novel to read in between. (Yes, I have a bad habit of doubling up on books.) I love the initial premise. But there was something about the premise that bothered me. The King is looking for his Champion. So he devises a series of tests to weed out those not worthy, to end with a duel. Okay, that's all well and good. But, why is he testing criminals? There are assassins, thieves, brutes, etc. Not one single "good" person in the mix. That irritated me for some reason. Who knows, maybe the King has some nefarious purpose coming up that would require a criminal.


My biggest issue with Throne of Glass came at the end of the book. I am still puzzled over it two days later. 

"All the clothing Celaena planned to buy when she was free to venture into Rifthold and do some shopping for herself..."

I'm sorry, but what the hell?! First off, Celaena never acted like a woman who was into shopping, or clothes in general. And there is the issue with the use of the word "shopping." While this is a fantasy book, it also has a historical feel to it. And in that sense, would a castle resident really go out to shop? Would they even use the word? Wouldn't there be a tailor that came by to personalize the clothing? This one phrase completely broke the aura of the novel for me. 


Anyway, with the exception of those two issues, I highly enjoyed this book! And I am so ready for the sequel! And to leave you, here is the UK cover of so prettiness! Which cover is your favorite?

UK

So, I have also added Google Friend Connect in the upper left of the blog. Feel free to friend me there-one is such a lonely number :P

Treachery of Beautiful Things ~ Ruth Frances Long

Title: Treachery of Beautiful Things
Author: Ruth Frances Long
Pub Date: August 16, 2012
Publisher: Dial Books
384 pages
Author website: www.rflong.com
ARC provided by author/publisher and DAC Tours

From GoodReads: A darkly compelling mix of romance, fairy tale, and suspense from a new voice in teen fiction. The trees swallowed her brother whole, and Jenny was there to see it. Now seventeen, she revisits the woods where Tom was taken, resolving to say good-bye at last. Instead, she's lured into the trees, where she finds strange and dangerous creatures who seem to consider her the threat. Among them is Jack, mercurial and magnetic, with secrets of his own. Determined to find her brother, with or without Jack's help, Jenny struggles to navigate a faerie world where stunning beauty masks some of the most treacherous evils, and she's faced with a choice between salvation or sacrifice--and not just her own.

The Treachery of Beautiful Things first caught my attention with the cover. Absolutely gorgeous! The dress, the flowers, the light cutting in through the trees. 


The trees. How can trees consume a person? Did it happen? Did Jenny imagine it? Is her brain making an excuse for something else that happened? Seven years after her brother Tom disappears, she decides that it is time to go look for him again. And then she hears it-a flute, much like Tom used to play before he disappeared. And with that, Jenny's whole world gets turned upside down.

Treachery, lies, betrayal, love. This is the novel in a nutshell. Out of a nutshell? Beautiful. Just an absolutely beautiful and elegantly written story. At times, the folklore was confusing, but it was also so nicely wrapped together in one package. We have Titania, Puck, Mab, Oberon, the Green Man, dragons, and fairies. There are even some mythical creatures that I've never heard of before! 

• Foletti
• Nix
• Leczi

With everything going on, at times I had a little trouble staying under the thrall of the story. But in the back of my mind, it was always there, whispering to me. Midway through, there was a turning point. I could not stop reading the book! At this turning point, I was completely lost to Jenny's story. Unfortunately there is one aspect of the book that I was not too fond of, but it is a personal preference more than anything else. Because keep in mind, I still really liked the story! Jenny was such a confusing character. She was strong enough to go into the forest to hunt for her brother. But then she became a damsel in distress. (I don't like distressed damsels.) She was always being rescued by either Jack or Puck. But then she will also be defiant, or face down dragons, etc. So odd..and let's not forget that Jenny also gave a kiss to some strange man-come on.  You're there in fairy world-DON'T KISS ANYONE! So yeah, if not for the confusing behavior of Jenny this book would have been damn near perfect.


Okay. Now on to my favorite quotes from the book!

"Stubborn and impossible, not beautiful, but...compelling. And with that, more beautiful than any I had ever seen."

"She was like the sun, the thing he needed, like earth beneath his feet. She was breath and strength, everything."

So. Something that very rarely happens. In fact, I can count on one hand how many times this has happened. I was 120% COMPLETELY satisfied with the ending. It was perfect. Thank you Ruth for a perfect book ending! 

"They're only trees." 

Something Strange and Deadly ~ Susan Dennard

Pub Date: July 24
Publisher: HarperTEEN
Pages: 400
Author website: http://susandennard.com/
Review copy provided by: Edelweiss & publisher

Top 3 Reasons I was a goner for Something Strange and Deadly.

1. The first sentence
2. There was a "Dead Alarm"
3. Coffin bells. But instead of the bells alerting the public to accidental living persons being buried, they warn against the awakening of the dead!

And this was all on the first page of the digital ARC!

Okay, so the story picks up with Eleanor's brother, who was supposed to be on a train coming home to Philadelphia. But he never showed up. Instead, the Dead did. Now, enlisting the help of the Spirit-Hunters, Eleanor is determined to find her brother, who must somehow be mixed up with a Necromancer. The Necromancer who is bringing all of these dead to life. And while we're at it, a mean spirit is chasing Eleanor!

On top of this, the year is 1876 and Eleanor is a woman. Unfortunately for her, she is expected to act a certain way. Her mother expects her to woo eligible bachelor Clarence Wilcox. Her friends expect her to have money and keep up with the latest fads. Eleanor knows that she doesn't want to rescue her family financially by marriage. Even the Spirit-Hunters treat her differently because she is a female in society. Everyone except Jie. Jie opens Eleanor's eyes to the fact that just because she is a woman, it doesn't mean she should act or be a certain way.

One key conversation between the two compares foot-binding to wearing a corset. Both confine and conform women into an acceptable standard. Both are, as Eleanor feels, barbaric. And thus, Eleanor begins to question her role.

Back to the main story plot! They mystery continues as young men turn up dead-decapitated in fact. Eleanor's nerves are on end because they are connected to her brother, who is STILL missing. Will he turn up as the next victim? And there is something going on with Clarence, who is constantly calling on her. And something is going on with Daniel-one of the Spirit-Hunters. (Daniel = dopey smiley faces)

Gah! I just loved this book! I did not want to stop reading, even when I had to. And the ending? Holy crap. I was blown away by it, as was Scott (the husband) who exclaimed to me, "The author did X at the end of the book? Who does that?!"

"He dropped to one knee and bowed his head. He was declaring fealty to his empress."

BLOWN AWAY. Did I mention that?

Absolutely wonderful. One of my favorite 2012 debuts. The characters were fun, felt real, and easy to relate to. Each character felt different, with their own personality. From gentlemanly to prickly, to snobbish to ditzy. It was all unique. When Eleanor hurt, I hurt. When she loved, I loved. When she was shoved into a corset, thankfully I was not! 

So. Your task for July 24th is to go get a copy of Something Strange and Deadly from Susan Dennard! Then come back and tell me what you thought!

And now, for something fun and exciting...A scavenger hunt, brought to you by Susan Dennard. And once you finish the hunt you will be taken to the super fun book trailer! (The trailer will go public soon, so this is a sneak peek :P ) Something Strange and Deadly website and scavenger hunt.
And remember:       

Nightmare Affair

So, a new book that has come across my to be read pile. The cover is just so adorably cute. And more than that, the premise sounds fantastic! A Nightmare who visits people in their sleep? But what book is this? Well, from Mindee Arnett, The Nightmare Affair!

From GoodReads:

16-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare. Literally. Dusty is a magical being who feeds on human dreams.

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder. The setting is Arkwell.

And then it comes true.

Now the Dusty has to follow the clues--both within Eli’s dreams and out of them--to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.

Mindee Arnett is also hosting a contest. She's giving away ARCs of her book, along with a chance to win An ARC of Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake and/or An ARC of Renegade by J.A. Souders.

For more information, head on over to her blog!

Dark Companion ~ Marta Acosta

Title: Dark Companion
Author: Marta Acosta
Pub Date: July 3, 2012
Publisher: Tor Teen
368 pages
Author website: www.martaacosta.com
Review Copy courtesy of Publisher via NetGalley

From Good Reads:
When foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls and escape her violent urban neighborhood, she thinks the offer is too good to be true. She's even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper's cottage in the center of the birch grove.
Something's not quite right about the school -- or is it Jane? She thinks she sees things in the birch grove at night. She's also beginning to suspect that the elegant headmistress and her sons are hiding secrets. Lucky is the gorgeous, golden son who is especially attentive to Jane, and Jack is the sardonic puzzling brother.
The school with its talented teachers and bright students is a dream for a science and math geek like Jane. She also loves her new friends, including hilarious poetry-spouting rich girl, Mary Violet. But the longer Jane stays at Birch Grove, the more questions she has about the disappearance of another scholarship girl and a missing faculty member.
Jane discovers one secret about Birch Grove, which only leads to more mysteries. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to stay at this school...and be bound to Birch Grove forever?


Oh, Dark Companion, how I love you. Let me count the ways!

1. The first sentence that instantly drew me in and began my reading frenzy of the book.
2. Mary Violet
3. The vocabulary (inchoate, vex, amok, susarration)
4. Witty exchanges
5. The suspense!
6. Modern twist on  a subject
7. The ending!

The more I read, the more I had to know what exactly was going on. Early on, I had to train my brain to understand that this book was CONTEMPORARY and not one set in the past. That took a little doing, but in the end I left the past behind!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I got to say, I did not see it coming. I can't tell you what 'it' is because then that wold ruin the book...but wow. I thought I had it figured out early early on, but dismissed it because Marta informed me it was a contemporary novel and not a paranormal novel. So ... wow. 

Jane was the lead character. You can tell she has been handed the world on a silver platter. Every so often, she can't let go of her behaviors and habits from living in foster systems. She hides her stash of money, etc. She is wary of cars driving slowly. Jane is street smart.She doesn't let anyone treat her like crap. Including Lucky. That pompous jerk named Lucky who thinks he can order her around. Pft. Jane is so much better than that, and she all but tells him. Yet, it doesn't stop her from being his. Then again, can you blame her? She spent all her life being alone; suddenly this gorgeous guy wants her to be his, to be his closest confidante. What else would she do?


One of my favorite exchanges in the book happens between Jane and her new friend Mary Violet.

"Why do the girls here say 'coitus' all the time?"
"Because you can tell someone to 'coitus off' and you won't get detention."

Lol. That Mary Violet. She is just too much! MV is a fabulous girl who uses French in her everyday language, even though she can't speak any French.


So, what should you do for 4th of July? Well, you should be reading Dark Companion! And then go chit chat with Marta, she is an awesome woman!

 

One Moment ~ Kristina McBride

Title: One Moment
Author: Kristina McBride
Pub Date: June 26, 2012
Publisher: EgmontUSA
272 pages
Author website: http://kristinamcbride.com/
Review copy courtesy of: Publisher via NetGalley


What should have been the precursor to the best summer ever turned into tragedy for Maggie. She was on a cliff with her boyfriend, Joey, getting ready to jump into the creek to her friends waiting below. But something goes wrong.

Instead of an amazing summer with Joey, Maggie and their friends are dealing with his death. Maggie was the only one on the cliff with him, but cannot remember what happened that caused him to die.

Told in a first person point of view, Maggie dips back into the past with flashes of memories involving Joey. With the help of her friends and a counselor, Maggie begins to remember what happened that day on the cliff. But maybe she was better off NOT remembering.

Instead of an amazing summer with six friends, their friendships begin to crumble as one dies, one withdraws, one can't remember what happened, and one is hiding something.


I loved this book. It was a quick read and fabulous. Maggie, Joey, Shannon, and Adam were memorable characters. Tanna and Pete were very much tertiary characters, yet they had some of the most important things to say. This is one aspect that makes One Moment succeed. Every book has forgettable characters; but McBride takes those and gives them a part in which they are less forgettable. 

One Moment takes the reader through a roller coaster of emotions. Jump on the roller coaster, jump in, just read it! And part of what makes this book fabulous in my weird opinion-the ending is not all wrapped up in a nice bow. Thank you Kristina.

Mermaids, Sirens, and Seafolk. Day 2 ~ Lies Beneath

Title: Lies Beneath
Author: Anne Greenwood Brown
Publication Date: June 12, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
303 Pages
Review Copy from: Publisher via NetGalley
Author's website: http://annegreenwoodbrown.com/


Four mermaid siblings intent on revenge.
Three with murderous appetites.
One with a conscience.

I hadn't killed anyone all winter, and I have to say I felt pretty good about that.

Calder White is the sole male in his family. He is being called home from the Bahamas to the Great Lakes to help his sisters take revenge on the Hancock family who betrayed their mother. Specifically, Jason Hancock, who will pay his father's debt with his life.

Calder is supposed to lure Lily Hancock in and use her to get to Jason. The plan is going well, all according to his sister Maris' designs. Until Calder does something foolish. He begins to fall for Lily. Will he be able to control his murderous appetite and let her live? Or will he give in to what his sisters have been pushing him to do?


All in all, I enjoyed this book. It was not quite what I was expecting, but in a good way. I really liked having a male's point of view-especially a sole POV in a mermaid book. I was a little surprised by the ending-don't worry, no spoilers here :D But suffice it to say, I didn't see it coming!

If you have a chance to get your hands on this male-centered mermaid book, do so! It won't disappoint. The second book, Deep Betrayal is scheduled for 2013.

Monument 14 ~ Emmy Laybourne

I love how they added the correct
hair to one of the characters on the
cover! But I'm not gonna spoil it
though. Can you see who I am
referring to?

Title: Monument 14
Author: Emmy Laybourne
Pub Date: June 5, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
294 pages
Review copy courtesy of: Publisher and NetGalley

From Good Reads:
Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong.

In Emmy Laybourne’s action-packed debut novel, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart.



In the year 2024, kids are heading to school; adults are off to work. Everything is normal. Until the hailstorm begins. Until a school bus crashes and explodes, while another one plows through a department store. Now a group of elementary, middle, and high school students are stranded in the department store while the sole adult leaves in search of help. 


Riot gates descend and now they are cut off from the outside. There is no way out, and no way in (until later in the story). The students finally find an "old" flat screen tv that is not on the 'network.' Now they know what is going on outside. The truth is almost as frightening as not knowing. From natural disasters to a military experiment gone wrong to chemical leakages.


Life goes on as usual as it can for fourteen kids living in a department store. Then a knock comes on the gate, and the students decide to let the two men in.Will this be salvation or a a mistake?




I started Monument 14 around 10:45 pm Friday night. I was up until 1:30 am Saturday morning finishing it. I could not stop reading! From page one I was hooked. The suspense did not let up. Granted, some of the plot points felt a little far-fetched to me. Five and six year olds knowing the difference in 48 inch and 24 inch curtains? A second grader who is not only a Bible thumper but the next Giada/Paula in the kitchen? Kindergarteners expected to get water, Gatorade, and cookies? Unless it is singles like 16-20 ounce bottles how are they going to carry them let alone push a buggy and put it all in there? Yes, it all could happen, but I had trouble accepting these ideas. That decreased some of my enjoyment. The story also reminded me of The Mist-the Stephen King book to movie. I never read the book, but the movie messed me up for days.


So other than a few personal pet peeves: "Here's what she sang." "Here was my poem." I can't stand that, something like "She sang" then move into the lyrics would have been a much smoother transition in my opinion. Again, other than those peeves, get your hands on this book! It is definitely worth it!

This is Not a Test ~ Courtney Summers

A little larger so you can see
some of the beautiful graphic work

Title: This is Not a Test
Author: Courtney Summers
Publication Date: June 19, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
326 pages
Review Courtesy of: Publisher via NetGalley

Synopsis from GoodReads:
It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?





What can be said about Courtney Summers. Except that I will read anything and everything this woman publishes. This is Not a Test is no exception to her superb writing. The story is realistic and gritty, just like life would be.

 Zombies begin to take over your town. You're stranded in a high school with 5 other classmates. How do you think that would go over? Not well? Full of tension? Rampant hormones? Stress? Or is everything all hunky dory?

Tensions mount as one of the classmates is accused of murdering previous group members, and then someone is bitten. What is going to happen now? Meanwhile, Sloane is struggling with her own demons. Such as her sister Lily who abandoned her to their abusive father. Maybe the zombie invasion is just what Sloane needs to finish her original task.

Stylistically the e-book version of the book is stunning. I cannot wait to see what the finished printed product looks like. Blood splatters across the new chapter pages.


I have a love-hate relationship with zombies. I absolutely love zombie movies and books, but they are also the stuff of my nightmares. I don't know why, but I dream about having a zombie fall-out shelter. One of the reasons I loved this book so much is because it sat with me long after I finished it. it haunted me. It still does. Damn ending!

Flirting in Italian ~ Lauren Henderson

Title: Flirting in Italian
Author: Lauren Henderson
Publication Date: June 12, 2012
Publisher: Random House / Delacorte Press
272 pages
Review Source: copy from publisher via NetGalley

From GoodReads:

Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys!



 
This was quite a different book than the Kiss Me, Kill Me series. I loved this one, and will definitely be reading the next in the series!

Violet is in a museum, starring at an 18th century painting of herself...but wait, this is 2012-how is it a painting of Violet? Apparently it's not; it's an anonymous painting and painter. But wow, does it look like Violet!

After doing some research, Violet decides it is time to go to Italy to see more of these paintings, find out if she's adopted (since she looks NOTHING like her family), and last to see if there are any more paintings of her. Thus, she enrolls in a language immersion program with three other girls: one other Brit, and two Americans. Once they get used to each other, the girls start getting along and are all doing okay with the program and having fun at that.

As for the flirting in Italian, well the other girls are doing good with that. Violet, yeah not so much. She looks 'too Italian' at least that's what Luca tells her. Luca who Violet is smitten with, Luca who likes kiss her, and the same Luca who happens to be a sort of prince at the castle Violet needs to investigate for discovering information about those paintings.

In the process of discovering her past, Violet is almost killed! Will she ever find out the truth? And could it be the worst possible truth of all...are Violet and Luca related?

The Unbearable Book Club for Unsinkable Girls ~ Julie Schumacher

Title: The Unbearable Book Club for Unsinkable Girls
Author: Julie Schumacher
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Pub Date: May 8, 2012

(Borrowed from GoodReads)
I'm Adrienne Haus, survivor of a mother-daughter book club. Most of us didn't want to join. My mother signed me up because I was stuck at home all summer, with my knee in a brace. CeeCee's parents forced her to join after cancelling her Paris trip because she bashed up their car. The members of "The Unbearable Book Club," CeeCee, Jill, Wallis, and I, were all going into eleventh grade A.P. English. But we weren't friends. We were literary prisoners, sweating, reading classics, and hanging out at the pool. If you want to find out how membership in a book club can end up with a person being dead, you can probably look us up under mother-daughter literary catastrophe. Or open this book and read my essay, which I'll turn in when I go back to school.



When this book showed up on NetGalley, I grabbed it. But I left it on my Nook, debating if I wanted to read it or not. But I decided to read it-I've kind of been on a Contemporary kick lately and wanted another one. Immediately I was hooked. This book was just so much MORE than I could have hoped for!

The story starts with an assignment page for an 11th Grade AP English class. Adrienne Haus is the protagonist (to use some of her literary terms) and she is the voice of the novel. At the end of her essay opening she states "And I'll explain how the books affected me-because whoever I was a the beginning of the summer, I am not that person anymore." This statement set the tone for the novel and I needed to know HOW she was different.

Four girls, three mothers, one summer book club. And none of the girls are friends or even really know or like each other, but somehow, it works. Through Adrienne we learn about each girl, and we see how the summer affected them and brought on growth for them. Will the events that took place during the fifth and final meeting mean the end for their tenuous friendship, or will the school year bring on something completely new and different?

I loved Adrienne's voice. She was snarky, sarcastic, yet lovable and lost. I felt connected to her and hurt when she hurt. Her relationship with her mother felt real-more real than other YA novels.

You will not be disappointed with this book! 

Unbreak My Heart ~ Melissa C. Walker

Clem is spending the summer cooped up with her parents and little sister, Olive, on a boat. She really doesn't want to be there, but she wants to be home even less. Something happened and now she is a social pariah. As a result, Clem lost her best friend and she is now depressed and spending as much time alone as possible-not an easy task when you're on a 40 foot boat!

At a port one day, Clem bumps into a red haired guy named James. They keep running into each other on the sea and land. Can James pull Clem out of her funk? Can he help heal her?

All in all, this was a beautiful book. I absolutely adored it, and I am so glad I read it after being disappointed with Small Town Sinners. But somehow I could not put this one down and fell in love. I hope you like it too!

If you're like me, once you find out 'what Clem did' it is probably going to piss you off. The unfairness of it is just ridiculous... UGH! But, sadly, it is very realistic and is quite a common occurrence.

Evil Pixies!

It will soon come as no surprise to you fair readers that I love reading about the fae. Especially the true fae. That is the non-Disney-ish type of faeries. And I extend that out to pixies as well. For example, Holly Black writes a fabulous series of books (Tithe, Valiant, Ironside) where the faeries are evil and mean. I love this. It is the same as Grimm's Fairy Tales. They have been sweetened as years went by. Originally though, they were dark and often had unhappy endings.



The Need Series by Carrie Jones is one of my favorite series. Partially because it has a great mixture of those evil pixies, mythology, shifters, real character voices, and so much more. I adored it from the first, all the way to the end.

Endure picks up where Entice ends. But now things in Bedford are getting a little more dangerous, a little more serious. The pixie threat has gone viral and the town is preparing for a battle. How many lives will be lost? How many saved?

Meanwhile, Zara is still torn between her king, Astley, and Nick. But how you show someone you are still the same person you once were, even though now you can turn blue with sharp teeth?

All this and more will come to a final conclusion in the breath-taking end to the Need series. We've traveled to Valhalla, and now, we enter Hel. Now we follow along with Zara, Astley, Nick, Issie, Devyn, Cassidy, and so many more as they take on Ragnarok.
 
Hold on to your pages readers, Entice is one heck of an awesome ride! And seriously-fan girl moment: HEL!!!!! This is only the second time I've read a representation of Hel! The first was the Everworld series. Jones has done an amazing job incorporating Norse mythology into her series. While I'm glad she is not dragging out the series like some authors do, I am also sad that this is the last of the pixies. 

If you're interested in my reviews for the previous books, hit up my GoodReads account.

Masque of the Red Death ~ Bethany Griffin

A review copy was provided by the DAC Tours

Araby lives surrounded by death and contagion. To help protect against contagion, masks are worn-but only by those who can afford them. To show that you are not sick, people, but especially women, wear shorter dresses, trying to expose as much skin as possible.

Araby and her friend April are frequent visitors to the Debauchery Club. Yes, it is exactly as it sounds. Anything that is deemed debauchery is available there. Meanwhile, Prince Prospero sits in his castle waiting for his steamship construction to be complete.

Life goes on, even though Araby is depressed. Then April disappears and her brother comes to Araby for help. At this point in the story Araby enters the dreaded love triangle.

Anyway, that's pretty much the book in a nutshell. There is an underground revolution, betrayals, truths, etc. A new illness emerges, and begins its destruction: The Red Death. No one is immune.

So that is what we are left with. An escape and somewhat of a cliffhanger. So obviously there will be a sequel. A sequel that I will skip.

To be honest, I was excited to read this book. I love the cover, and I found the idea fascinating. However, I had trouble keeping my interest in the book. I forced myself to read it, and even skipped over a few pages to help. I also didn't feel it was very steampunk, even though that is one of the genres for it. With the exception of the steam carriages and the airship was there some steampunk I missed?