Devoted Review

Rating: ♥♥

Since Sage was kidnapped, Clea has no way of knowing if he is alive or dead. And even though she has only just discovered they were soulmates, she feels like a part of her is lost forever. What’s worse, she can’t even turn to her best friend Ben—because every time she looks at him, all she sees is his betrayal.

But waiting for something to happen is not an option, so Clea is ready for action. Suffering through dreams of seeing Sage with another woman, she makes an uneasy alliance with Sage’s enemies and sets out to be reunited with Sage...in this life or the next.

First thing I have to say; Tired. Of. Freaking. SAGE. Really, Hilary, did you have NOTHING better to write about, that you had to tell us in 10 million ways, how much Clea missed Sage and just couldn't live without him in a few CHAPTERS? The first probably 4 or 5 chapters is Sage Sage SAGE, I thought Clea was searching for her father who mysteriously disappeared???

I thought this was supposed to be a continuation of Elixir, ya, it's the 2nd book in the series but in Devoted, it's all about finding Sage, it would have been so much better if Hilary had kept more with the original story of finding Clea's dad, and search for Sage on the side, not make it ALL ABOUT SAGE. Clea annoyed me so much a lot in this book. I'm amazed Ben was even willing to help her at all.

I think my favourite thing about this book was Amelia's side of the story. It was different and done better than Clea's story. Overall, Devoted was good, but could have been way better. The story line was good, but a lot of it was detailed to death to fill a blank page. The only reason Hilary Duff got a publishing deal is because she's already famous, otherwise she'd have to get a lot more writing experience before she ever made it as an author.

Beautiful Disaster

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Released: May 26th/2011

454 pages

What It's About!

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend America, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the charming college co-ed. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his charms, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’ apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

Cover Reveal!

Cover Reveal: Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt

Release Date: April 2012

Pages unknown

What It's About!

Sixteen-year-old Tess lives in a compound in what was once the Western United States, now decimated after a devastating fourth World War. But long before that, life as we knew it had been irrevocably changed, as women mysteriously lost the ability to bring forth life. Faced with the extinction of the human race, the government began the Council of Creators, meant to search out alternative methods of creating life. 

The resulting artificial human beings, or Chosen Ones, were extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly. Life is bleak, but uncomplicated for Tess as she follows the rigid rules of her dystopian society, until the day she begins work at Templeton, the training facility for newly created Chosen Ones. There, she meets James, a Chosen One whose odd love of music and reading rivals only her own. 

The attraction between the two is immediate in its intensity—and overwhelming in its danger. But there is more to the goings-on at Templeton than Tess ever knew, and as the veil is lifted from her eyes, she uncovers a dark underground movement bent not on taking down the Chosen Ones, but the Council itself. Will Tess be able to stand up to those who would oppress her, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?

♥Cover Candie of the Week♥

This week's Cover Candie is Rippler by Cidney Swanson

Released: June 15th/2011

288 pages

What It's About!

Samantha Ruiz has a freak gene that makes her turn invisible, or ripple. She can’t control it, and it’s getting worse. Afraid of becoming a lab-rat, Sam keeps her ability secret, until fellow runner Will Baker sees her vanish into thin air. Will promises secrecy and help, and Sam begins to fall in love. Together, the two discover there are worse things than being a scientific curiosity. Someone’s been killing people who possess Sam's gene. A mysterious man from France sends letters that offer hope for safety, but also reveal a sinister connection with Nazi experiments. The more time Sam spends with Will, the less she can imagine life without him. When Sam uncovers secrets from her past, she must choose between keeping Will in her life or keeping Will safe.

 

Unleashed Review

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Katelyn McBride’s life changed in an instant when her mother died. Uprooted from her California home, Katelyn was shipped to the middle of nowhere, Arkansas, to her only living relative, her grandfather. And now she has to start over in Wolf Springs, a tiny village in the Ozark Mountains. Like any small town, Wolf Springs has secrets. But the secrets hidden here are more sinister than Katelyn could ever imagine. It’s a town with a history that reaches back centuries, spans continents, and conceals terrifying truths. And Katelyn McBride is about to change everything.

Broken families, ageless grudges, forced alliances, and love that blooms in the darkest night—welcome to Wolf Springs.

I waited forever for this book to come out!!! As soon as I seen it, I HAD to read it, and I have to say, it met my expectations!! I fell in love with Andrea Cremer's Nightshade series, as many of you probably know by now, and I was hoping this would be just as good, and it is! I was hoping for some werewolf stuff right away, but it doesn't really come until later in the book, which was actually, probably better. 

  

I love how they ended each chapter, each one had a cliffhanger that make me want to turn the page even when I had to put the book down. So many things were constantly going on throughout the whole book, I wanted to read it all.the.time.! At first I didn't really care for Katelyn's grandpa, but I totally warmed up to him by the end of the book. I loved Trick right away, he's got that nice-guy, cowboy, but sexy thing going on, I kind of wish there was more of him. And Cordelia's father, I wanted to punch him in the face! What a jerk! I think all the characters are very well written, and planned out.

I loved every minute of this book, from beginning to end. I was so sad when I finished it, I can't wait for the 2nd book already! It's such a page-turner, I constantly wanted more. If you like the Nightshade series, I highly recommend picking up this book :)

Worth a Look!

Just spotted this on goodreads and decided I had to post it!! This book looks freaking amazing, the cover is beautiful and the description makes me wanna read it even more!

In My Dreams by Cameo Renae

Released: April 30th/2011

242 pages

What It's About!

It was happening again. The dreams. The nightmares. It was something seventeen year-old Elizabeth "Lizzy" Hayes thought she'd outgrown; dreams that would come true; detailed premonitions of how people would die. This time she dreams about her boyfriend, Michael Young, and soon discovers that he's been found... dead.
Michael hasn't crossed over because he was murdered, and now his murderer is coming for Lizzy. His spirit won't rest until she is safe, and as a newbie spirit, the easiest way for him to make contact is through Lizzy's dreams. When she dreams, it's as if he hasn't died.
Lizzy must learn to pull on her inner strength to survive horrifying events. Meanwhile, in the spirit world, Michael learns everything he can about his supernatural gifts to help. But will it be enough to save her?

 

IMM♥

Bought:

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindey

Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie (Forgot to include it in the pic lol)

As an early Christmas present, I got Devoted by Hilary Duff from my man :) ♥

Upcoming 2011 Release

This looks like it could be a nice little winter read! I'll be keeping my eyes open for this one! :)

One Moment, One Morning by Sarah Rayner

Release Date: Dec 20th/2011

416 pages

What It's About!

The Brighton to London line. The 7:44 am train. Cars packed with commuters. One woman occupies her time observing the people around her. Opposite, a girl puts on her make-up. Across the aisle, a husband strokes his wife’s hand. Further along, another woman flicks through a glossy magazine. Then, abruptly, everything changes: a man collapses, the train is stopped, and an ambulance is called.

For at least three passengers on the 7:44 on that particular morning, life will never be the same again. There’s Lou, in an adjacent seat, who witnesses events first hand. Anna, who’s sitting further up the train, impatient to get to work. And Karen, the man’s wife.

Telling the story of the week following that fateful train journey, One Moment, One Morning is a stunning novel about love and loss, about family and – above all– friendship. A stark reminder that, sometimes, one moment is all it takes to shatter everything. Yet it also reminds us that somehow, despite it all, life can and does go on.

A 2012 Release

A Girl Of Nightmares (Anna #2) by Kendare Blake

Release Date: Aug. 7th/2012

304 pages

What It's About!

In this follow-up to Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas begins seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he’s asleep, and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong. These aren’t just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn’t know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn’t deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it’s time for him to return the favor.

 

♥Cover Candie of the Week!♥

Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

This is the Cover Candie of the week because I'm IN LOVE with this cover and I'm a sucker for werewolf novels :) Has anyone read this book yet?

 

Katelyn McBride’s life changed in an instant when her mother died. Uprooted from her California home, Katelyn was shipped to the middle of nowhere, Arkansas, to her only living relative, her grandfather. And now she has to start over in Wolf Springs, a tiny village in the Ozark Mountains. Like any small town, Wolf Springs has secrets. But the secrets hidden here are more sinister than Katelyn could ever imagine. It’s a town with a history that reaches back centuries, spans continents, and conceals terrifying truths. And Katelyn McBride is about to change everything.

Broken families, ageless grudges, forced alliances, and love that blooms in the darkest night—welcome to Wolf Springs.

Mercy Review

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

An electric combination of angels, mystery and romance, MERCY is the first book in a major new paranormal series.

There's something very wrong with me. I can't remember who I am or how old I am, or even how I got here. All I know is that when I wake up, I could be any one. It is always this way. There's nothing I can keep with me that will stay. It's made me adaptable. I must always re-establish ties. I must tread carefully or give myself away. I must survive.

Mercy doesn't realise it yet, but as she journeys into the darkest places of the human soul, she discovers that she is one of the celestial host exiled with fallen angel, Lucifer. Now she must atone for taking his side. To find her own way back to heaven, Mercy must help a series of humans in crisis and keep the unwary from getting caught up in the games that angels play. Ultimately she must choose between her immortal companion, Lucifer, and a human boy who risks everything for her love.

It took me a few chapters to get into this book, and get used to Rebecca's writing style, since it's a bit different than the other novels I've been reading. After I got into it though, it was pretty good. A lot of the story seemed to revolve around Carmen/Mercy singing in rehearsal, but it seemed to work for the story, since it helped piece the mystery together. I love love lllooovveed the mystery that was in this book! With the missing girl that's been gone for 2 yrs, yet her twin brother still feels like she's alive and Mercy can feel it too, there's just such a sense of hope when your reading it. Then the other girl goes missing, and there seems to be some romance budding between Mercy and Ryan, and finding out who the creep that kidnapped the girls were. 

I was so sure on who the kidnapper was, then I wasn't, and then I was kind of shocked at who it turned out to be, but at the same time it was like, of course that's who they'd make the kidnapper be! By the end of the novel I actually really enjoyed it, though I wasn't sure at first. Doesn't really feel like it's as much about angels as they try to make it seem in the description, but it's still really good, and I will definitely be getting the 2nd book in the series!

Guest Post by Ellen Wookey

Fever review written by Ellen Wookey

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars (or 4/4)

‘Trust is the strongest weapon.’ a phrase that was used early in the book. It stuck with me for the length of the story. I was instantly drawn back into Rhine’s world. It’s a fast pace novel that doesn’t lack detail. 

I fell in love with little Maddie right away. It was heartbreaking that she had to separate from her mother. But she has a book that offers her comfort and answers for her new journey in life. 

Gabriel and Rhine’s romance was confusing yet compelling. Just when you start thinking if the love was moving forward, it took two steps back. 

Just when you think Rhine is getting closer to finding her brother and about to start living a free life, everything takes a turn for the worst. It seems that death might take her early. 

Sometimes people find the second book before they can find the first book in a series. I can say that if that is the case for you, FEVER will explain throughout the book of what happened in Wither, leaving you with knowledge you would have gotten from reading the first book in the series. Now I don’t want to give out to much spoilers but FEVER is a fast pace rollercoaster with a new twist at every turn. 

Upcoming 2012 Release

Fever (Chemical Garden #2) by Lauren DeStafano

Release Date: Feb 21rst/2012

368 pages

Pre-Order It

What It's About!

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

Amaranth Review

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

A copy was provided for review


Knowledge changes everything…

Hoodoo-influenced Southern Louisiana seems like the perfect place for Camille to escape her abusive past and dysfunctional family. She doesn’t expect to fall in love with the handsome Gavin Devereaux and plummet into the world of Amaranth, a place of exile for reformed vampires.

Wrestling to escape a deadly ex-boyfriend while giving Gavin a chance, Camille is confronted with decisions that threaten not only her life, but the lives of her inhuman friends she has come to love. Entangled in her friends’ quest for freedom, she dives into their realm and faces the threats of Amaranth’s ruler—the mother of all vampires—and her own inner demons.

Now Camille must decide whether she will derail her life and make the ultimate sacrifice for the monsters that interrupted her bumpy path back to sanity—what she still wants so desperately—or escape with Gavin before it’s too late for both of them.

I liked this book right away,  and I instantly liked Camille. One of my favourite things about this whole book was the Camille and Gavin relationship, they barely knew each other but there was instant chemistry that made me wanna read it even more. I really like the world-building Rachael has done, with the whole vampire secret society and the city Amaranth. There were also a few twists and turns that are totally unexpected and you don't know what's going to happen next, I totally loved it. Seems like most vampire books are all about blood-sucking and blah blah blah, but Amaranth isn't really about that, which is one of the things that makes it so good. Most of the story is told from Camille's point of view, but there's a part in the book where we get to see a little from Gavin's, which is nice. For a first book in a series, it's really good, builds up a lot of background and story, so hopefully the 2nd book is even better! :)

Cover Reveal!

Rivals and Retributions (13 to Life #5) by Shannon Delany

Release Date:August 7th/2012

320 pages

My Thoughts:

O.M.G.! I am FREAKING out over this cover!!! Isn't it gorgeous?! I've only read the 1rst 2 novels in this series so far, so this makes me wanna go get the 3rd and 4th now!!

What It's About!

Marlaena’s pack puts more pressure on the Rusakova family with the kidnapping of Jessie and the surprise that comes from triggering the wolf side of Pietr once again. Alexi realizes the impact of Pietr’s change sooner than either Jessie or Pietr and rushes to find a permanent cure for the life sentence lycanthropy brings in hopes it will squelch an unexpected side-effect. 

But Gabriel is still not satisfied with his role in the pack and is determined that getting rid of Pietr permanently in his new and weakened state is the best way he can grab power in the pack. Meanwhile at Junction High, the company’s meddling with the school food may have stopped but it doesn’t mean all of the kids the food triggered are suddenly without powers. With the enrollment of the rest of the pack’s pups, Counselor Harnek, Sophie and Jessie decide to try training the pups alongside the other powerful misfits. But Dmitri’s influence is far-reaching and even pacifist Gareth must make a dark decision or risk the destruction of everything he holds dear.