May Wrap-Up

Hi y’all!

It’s a new month, so I’m going to do my May wrap-up.  May was a good month for me considering that I had finals. School ended one week ago, and I can’t wait to get back to blogging every day and reading. In the month of May, I read a total of 9 books, and here they are (in order I read them):

May Wrap-up

1. Summer Days by Susan Mallery
2. Undone by Her Tender Touch by Maya Banks
3. Summer Nights by Susan Mallery
4. Night Sky by Jolene B. Perry
5. In Honor by Jessi Kirby
6. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
7. First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky
8. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
9. All These Lives by Sarah Wylie

What about you? What are did you read in May? Let me know down in the comment section.

Waiting on Wednesday (26)

Meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

This week I’m waiting on … 

Enshadowed (Nevermore #2) by Kelly Creagh

August 28, 2012

Atheneum

Varen Nethers is trapped in a perilous dream world -- a treacherous and desolate realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. Isobel Lanley, plagued by strange visions and haunted by the nightmares of Varen's creation, is the only one who can save him.

Isobel knows that her only hope lies within a Baltimore cemetery. There, in the early morning hours of Edgar Allan Poe's birthday, a mysterious stranger known as the "Poe Toaster" will make his annual homage at the legendary poet's grave.

Only the Poe Toaster holds the key to the way between worlds. But even greater dangers lie ahead for Isobel. An ancient evil, draped in veils of white, is watching, challenging her for Varen's affections. When Isobel finally finds Varen, he is no longer the quiet and brooding boy who once captivated her, but a dark force, powerful and malevolent.

***

I don’t think I have to expain why I’m dying to read this book.  Nevermore was fantatic, and I can’t wait to read the sequel! If you haven’t read Nevermore, go read it NOW. You are missing a great book. 

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: January 11, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Page: 416

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder. 

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

***

Across the Universe was the first book I bought when I started reading last year, and it’s been sitting on my shelf forever. And I just now found time to read it, and I’m still kicking myself for waiting a full year to read it.

I occasionally read sci-fi or dystopian books, but the few ones I read were great. They just weren’t as good as Across the Universe. I loved this book so much: it’s unique, refreshing and fascinating.  

First of all, the plot is unfreakinbelievable. It’s brilliant. There were some parts I found kinda boring/slow - I’m not going to lie - but other than that Across the Universe is fantastic. The characters (Amy and Elder) I didn’t really care for them. Usually if I don’t care about the characters, I won’t end up liking the book, but in case of Across the Universe, the plot balanced it out for me, since I loved it. The secret/mystery in the ship was great, I saw it coming, but overall it was great.

Warning: Don’t get into this book expecting it’ll be action packed and fast paced because it’s not. (When I say it’s not fast paced, I didn’t mean the book is slow - it’s just doesn’t have the pace that most paranormal books have.) However that was the main thing I loved about this novel. Even if it lacks action and fast pace, Across the Universe got everything from mystery to fascinating sci-fi stuff to a little (tiny tiny) romance.  

I’m dying to get the second book.  Beth Revis is a brilliant author for coming up with such a refreshing, thrilling debut novel. I don’t think anyone could pull this whole book other than her. I can’t wait to read more from this series and from this author.

Rating: 4/5

First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky

Source: Publisher

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Release Date: May 08, 2012
Format: Paperback
Page: 224

Like his name, Gray is dark and stormy. Dylan, a girl always searching for what’s next, seemingly unable to settle down, is the exact opposite: full of light and life. On the outside, they seem like an unlikely couple. But looks can be deceiving and besides, opposites attract.

What starts as friendship, turns into admiration, respect and caring, until finally these two lone souls find they are truly in love with each other.

But staying in love is not as easy as falling in love. If Dylan and Gray want their love to last, they’re going to have to work at it. And learn that sometimes love means having to say you’re sorry.

***

Fun fact: the community college in this book is named Mesa Community College. Isn’t that cool? Ha! I was pleased when I read it in the second page. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, ignore this)

First Comes Love is a very quick, fun summer read. I loved it. From the first page I found myself fascinated by both characters. How the saying goes? Opposite attracts. That’s them, Dylan and Gray.  

Gray is like his name, Gray. He’s quiet, lonely guy. This is because he has these walls built around him. However, he wasn’t like that until he lost his twin sister; a sister who hold his family together and a person who was everything to him. His way of grieving is to avoid everybody and everything, until unusual girl, Dylan, entered his life.

Dylan is one of the most unique, random, happy and carefree character I’ve ever met. I don’t even have the right words to describe her other than saying that she’s… something. (She takes a picture of gecko in a hot day for god sakes.) And that is why I fell in love with her from the first page.

Gray and Dylan are adorable couple! Throughout the book you’ll find yourself pinning for them to end up together. The romance in this book is super cute, fun and entertaining. I couldn’t ask for a better contemporary than First Comes Love.  Don’t let the title or cover fool you. First Comes Love is more than what the cover conveys. It’s about family, grieving, first love and how to stay in love.

I couldn’t put this book down for a second; it was a book that is very hard to put down. First Comes Love was a very short read that I didn’t want to end. I wished for more pages and more Gray and Dylan. I can’t recommend this book enough! First Comes Love is a book for ALL! 

Rating: 5/5

Follow Friday (35)

Follow my blog Friday is hosted at Parajunkee and AlisonCanRead. It’s a weekly meme where bloggers meet and follow one another.

This week’s question:

Activity! Dreamcast your current read.

Oh man! I just finished reading a book, and I’ve not started the book I’m reading next. So I’m just going to do the dreamcast of the book I just finished, First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky. I loved it. It’s an amazing book that I recommend for everyone.

Dylan: 

Zooey Deschanel of Yes Man

Gray:

Blair Redford of The Lying Game


Leave a link to your own post! 

ARC Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: July 31, 2012
Format: eBook
Page: 384

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty muchimpossible.  Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

***

I couldn’t ask for a better contemporary book to start out my summer than this book. Pushing the Limits is amazing. After seeing Simon Elkeles’s blurb on the front of the book a couple of month ago, I’ve been dying to read this book; since I adore Simon Elkeles. So when I finally got a copy in my hands, I started it right away, stopping whatever I was doing. And it did not disappoint. It was worth it!

Pushing the Limits is written in two POV, Echo's and Noah’s. (I've come to love multiply POV for the reason being that you get to see/ get to know each of the characters thoroughly.) I loved both Echo and Noah’s voice in this book; they are truly amazing characters. They went through so much, and the problem they go through is realistic, believable and so heartbreaking. I felt for them both, especially Noah. His love for his brothers broke my heart. I loved Echo and Noah’s relationship; they were there for each other. 

Pushing the Limits had me crying, laughing, and just feeling all at the same time throughout the book. I couldn’t put it down from start to finish. The ending was great, predictable, but great. I can possibly say that this is one of my favorite contemporary I’ve read this year. 

I recommend this book for everyone. I loved it, and I’ve no doubt that if you are contemporary fan, like me, you would love it too. Katie McGarry did a fantastic job with her first debut novel. Plus, I got to read an excerpt of the book she’s working on, Dare You To, and I’m already hooked. I can’t wait for her second book to come out. 

Rating: 4.5/5

Quote from Pushing the Limits:

"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.   

Series everyone read, but me (and my plan to redeem it this summer)

I would say I am an eclectic reader, and I try to read whatever I can. As they say, “too many books so little time,” so I can’t read everything. And here are “some” of the books (among others I want to read) that I – and only I – didn't read, but want to read over the summer. 

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Eon by Alison Goodman

Evernight by Claudia Gray

Gone by Michael Grant

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Which series should I read first? Do you have other series that you recommend for me? Let me know down in the comment section. 

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Source: Publisher

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: May 08, 2012
Format:  Hardcover
Page: 240

Hours after her brother’s military funeral, Honor opens the last letter Finn ever sent. In her grief, she interprets his note as a final request and spontaneously decides to go to California to fulfill it.

Honor gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen Rusty in ages, but it’s obvious he is as arrogant and stubborn as ever—not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. Despite Honor’s better judgment, the two set off together on a voyage from Texas to California. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn’s memory—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

***

I remember seeing/reading exalting reviews for this book from other bloggers, and wanting to read it so badly. So when I finally got my own copy I was static to read it, I even stopped what I was reading to read it. But I’m sad to say, In Honor was a big disappointment for me. Instead of doing review, I thought I’d just list the reasons why I didn’t enjoy this book as much as other bloggers seems to do.

• I wasn’t able to connect with both characters, Honor and Rusty. I felt for both for losing their loved ones, but other than that I didn’t like them.

• There is no romance in this book. I saw reviews saying the romance in this book is great, but to be honest I didn’t see any romance in it. The way I see it, Honor’s and Rusty’s relationship is kind of sister/brother relationship. She cares about him, and he cares about her. That’s it. That’s what I got from this book, in the romance aspect of the book. It was deal breaker for me, since I’m huge, huge fan of contemporary.

• The road trip wasn’t as adventurous as I thought it’d be. I wanted more than a car breaking down in the middle of nowhere. I liked the beginning of their trip, but after 50 or so pages later, the road trip became bickering trip.

• The ending? What was that? The ending is the only reason why I gave it 2 stars instead of 3. I’ve never read contemporary book that ending I dislike this much. It irritates me. I wanted to know more about what was next for Rusty and Honor. I did not like the ending at all. Well, except the last two pages.

Overall, In Honor wasn’t my cup of tea. If you want to check it out, more power to you. I hope you enjoy it more than I did.

Rating: 2/5

In My Mailbox (33)

Meme created by The Story Siren

One week! School ends in one week. I’m so happy. I’ve not finished reading one book since the beginning of May because of finals, and I’m so ready for summer. Book wise, I only got four books in the last two weeks, and I’m happy about it. I’ve a ton of books I need/want to read. Also, I’m in a book buying ban till the end of May, so wish me luck. Anyway, without further ado here are the four books I got.

For Review:

Don’t You Wish by Roxanne St. Claire

Bedding Lord Ned by Sally MacKenzie


eBook for Review:

Burn Mark by Laura Powell (I’m in a blog tour for this one, my stop date is July 4^th)

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Much thanks to Delacorte Books (Random House), Zebras, Harlequin Teen, Bloomsbury for sending me these books. 

Follow Friday (34)

Follow my blog Friday is hosted at Parajunkee and AlisonCanRead. It’s a weekly meme where bloggers meet and follow one another.

This week’s question: 

Summer Break is upon us! What would be the perfect vacation spot for you to catch up on your reading & relax?

Vacation to Pairs, Miami, and other awesome place would be great, but I know that won’t happen anytime soon so I’ll just stick with the lake we have near my house. 

Leave a link to your own post! 

Night Sky by Jolene B. Perry

Goodreads/Amazon/B&N

Source: Publisher

Publisher: Tribute Books
Release Date:  March 01, 2012
Format:  eBook
Page: 247

Girl I’ve loved, girl I’m falling for. Now that they’re both in view, the problem is clear.

After losing Sarah, the friend he’s loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction – his dad leaves for another woman, his mom’s walking around like a zombie, and Sarah’s new boyfriend can’t keep his hands off of her.

As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast.

But Sky’s need for honesty somehow doesn’t extend to her life story – and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year.

***

Night Sky was a quick, easy, and awesome read. I really liked it, and I was able to finish it in less than a day.  It was written from a guy’s POV, which is a plus. Night Sky is a book for contemporary fans out there, like me.  I’ve no doubt that you’ll enjoy this emotional, romanced filled book.

Jameson is a very likeable character. He represented a teenager guy really well. I was irritated with how he acted at the beginning, but we can see him develop throughout the book. I liked both girls in this book as well, but I had hard time understanding Sky. Sarah is nice and likeable. Sky is carefree, honest yet she’s not honest about her life. I didn’t mind her honest conundrum, but how she acted at the beginning was kind of unsettling.

Other than that, I really enjoyed this book. I recommend them for, as I mentioned earlier, contemporary fans. 

Rating: 3.5/5

About the author:

Jolene Perry is an enigmatic figure. She is most often seen behind her laptop, staring at the words flying onto the screen with reckless abandon. One day Jolene was playing her guitar (probably some-thing juvenile for her kids) when she wondered what it would be like to write a song for a rockstar, and her first book was born. 

Waiting on Wednesday (25)

Meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

This week I’m waiting on …

Starling by Lesley Livingston

August 15, 2012

HarperTeen

Mason Starling is a champion fencer for Gosforth Academy, but she’s never had to fight for her life. Until now. When a ferocious storm rips through Manhattan and unleashes terrifying creatures onto Gosforth’s campus, Mason barely escapes alive. Without help from the mysterious stranger who appeared in the midst of the storm, she might not have made it at all. But now, in the aftermath, Mason’s life begins to spin dramatically, mystically out of control, and the only one who seems able to help her is the stranger who can remember nothing but his name: Fennrys Wolf.

As Mason and Fenn uncover more about Fenn’s past and the strange events that surround them, they realize that Mason’s family — and its dark allegiance to the ancient Norse gods — is at the center of everything. A predetermined fate seems to be closing in on Mason, but is it possible to change one’s destiny?

***

Over You by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

August 2012

HarperTeen

After the grand explosion of her relationship, seventeen-year-old Max Scott developed what every girl in the history of the world has been waiting for: a way to get over being dumped. Now Max is the go-to guru for heartbroken high-school girls all over NYC. But when her ex unexpectedly shows up in her neighborhood, Max’s carefully controlled world starts to unravel. With her clients’ hearts hanging in the balance, Max will have to do the seemingly impossible: get over him once and for all.


What about you? What are you waiting on?

The Duff by Kody Keplinger

Source: Library

Publisher: Poppy (Little Brown)
Release Date: September 07, 2010
Format:  Hardcover
Page: 280

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face. 

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

***

The Duff (The Designated Ugly Fat Friend) was one of my favorite contemporary books last year, and yet I’m writing the review right now. Oh well! Anyway, I loved it. The Duff is a quick, funny, and hot read. I was able to read it in one sitting. It was hard for me to put it down.

Bianca, our main character, is a character I’ve never read about before. She’s witty, funny and sarcastic. I loved her, and her sense of humor. One of the reason I loved this book was because of her, and also Will, but mainly her. Bianca and Will’s relationship is fascinating. I loved the back and forth wit between the two.  It made me laugh throughout the book.

Other things that I thoroughly enjoyed were the relationship between Bianca and her friends, which I loved. Her friends are the best! They are friends that you wish you can have. Also, the end of the books is so sweet and romantic. All in all, I believe this is a book that everyone, especially teenagers, will love.

Overall, the pace of this book, the characters, and the plot is just fabulous. The Duff is a book that you don’t want to miss out. For an 18-year-old gal, Kody did more than an amazing job on her debut novel.  I already read Kody’s other book, Shut Out (you can read my review here) and I loved it. I can’t wait to check out her newest book.

Rating: 5/5

Ex-mas by Kate Brian

Source: Library

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: October 06, 2009
Format:  Hardcover
Page: 288

Two Exes. One holiday adventure. Merry Ex-Mas? 

Seventeen-year-old Lila Beckwith's parents just left for vacation, and Lila's all set to throw the holiday party of the season. But when her Christmas-obsessed little brother, Cooper, discovers that global warming is melting the North Pole, he and his best friend, Tyler, take off on a runaway mission to save Santa.

Lila has to get Cooper safely home before her parents get back on Christmas Eve. But the only person who can help her is Tyler's older brother, Beau — a.k.a. Lila's musician, anti-everything ex-boyfriend.

It'll take more than a Christmas miracle for Lila and Beau to overcome their differences and find their fugitive brothers. But could a journey destined for disaster help these polar opposites fall in love...all over again?

***

First off, I’ll start by saying that Kate Brian is a pen name for Kieran Scott. Kieran Scott wrote the He’s So/She’s So Trilogy, a trilogy I really enjoyed. She also uses her pen name to her Private series. Now that’s out of the way, let’s get to the review.

I read Ex-mas two years ago, and I loved it. It was so cute and Christmassy. I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t expect it to be so good, but it was. Lila is a likeable character. She’s outgoing, popular and former musician. Beau is the opposite of her; however, I liked him more than I liked Lila. He’s a musician, quiet and cute.

As Lila and Beau went to find their brothers, they faced what went wrong in their relationship. The journey where they learn their mistakes and try to fix it was great. The story about the past was great too. Kate Brian was able to balance out the past and the present. Also, I really enjoyed Kate’s writing style.

All in all, Ex-Mas is a great read that will get you pump for the holiday. I recommend you check it out during the winter time.

Rating: 4/5

Follow Friday (33)

Follow my blog Friday is hosted at Parajunkee and AlisonCanRead. It’s a weekly meme where bloggers meet and follow one another.

This week’s question: 

This Sunday in the U.S. is Mother's Day. In celebration, what are some of your favorite books with strong mother/child relationships?

The Goddess Test – Kate’s relationship with her mother is solid and healthy and filled with love.

Perfect Chemistry series – The Fuentes brothers have a strong mother, and their relationship is also strong.

Kowalski family series – Mrs. Kowalski is the best! She’s involved in her children's life, even if they are adults and living on their own. 

Leave a link to your own post!

While you are here, check outthe giveaway to win a finished copy of In Honor byJessi Kirby. 

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

Meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

This week I’m waiting on …

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han

September 18, 2012

Simon & Schuster

The start of a brand-new young adult trilogy about three very different girls who overcome their differences and band together to seek revenge on those who have wronged them, uncovering a supernatural secret about what brought them together and why in the process. Each book will rotate back and forth between the perspectives of all three characters.

***

Gilt by Katherine Longshore

May 15, 2012

Viking Juvenile

When Kitty Tylney's best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII's heart and brings Kitty to court, she's thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat's shadow, Kitty's now caught between two men--the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat's meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.

What about you? What are you waiting on?