{Review} Ink by Amanda Sun

Ink
Series: Paper Gods #1
Author: Amanda Sun
Release Date: June 25, 2013
by, Harlequin Teen
Source: Netgalley
Pages: 377

I looked down at the paper, still touching the tip of my shoe. I reached for it, flipping the page over to look. 

Scrawls of ink outlined a drawing of a girl lying on a bench. 

A sick feeling started to twist in my stomach, like motion sickness. 

And then the girl in the drawing turned her head, and her inky eyes glared straight into mine. 

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.{Goodreads}

 ~Review:
  OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!! You guys don't even know how flipping amazing this book is! Wow. Just wow. I thought I understood the definition of unique. I thought I had read some pretty unique books but I guess I never truly understood unique or ever read a book as completely unique as Ink is. Ink by Amanda Sun is the true definition of unique. It is a true breath of fresh air for the Young Adult genre. I seriously don't even know where to begin with this review! Should I start with the amazing writing? The amazing characters? The amazing story line? The amazing cover? The..the...the!!! Ya I am going to have a huge malfunction just trying to explain how great this book really is. I am not going to do much justice for this book but I am sure as hell going to try!

  Ok, so I decided I actually wanted to talk about the cover first. Just real quick because please, a cover like that has to be talked about am I right or am I right? I am a person fond of art. I draw and occasionally paint myself. Its a way of expression just like writing. So, being a person who loves art I think I can say that this cover is well...art. Its gorgeous! I am not sure which cover I am most fond of, the one above or this one:

  I don't know. All I know is that both are absolutely gorgeous! I love them. They are beautiful and whoever designed the cover is genius. They go wonderfully with the book and hell, they are just eye candy! I want a copy just to put on my shelf so I can stare at it all day long! Anyways, there is my brief cover obsession.

  The cover art is not the only thing about this book that has grabbed my attention and affection. The cover art isn't the only thing about this book that needs to  be acknowledged. Its not the only thing that is genius and gorgeous! The whole book in itself is absolutely breathtaking! Yes, I found Ink wonderful, splendid, gorgeous and breathtaking! I loved how Ink was set in a foreign country. It allowed me to see teenage life through a different culture's eye. Its crazy how many things differ from here and Japan! I loved how Amanda gave us little Japanese lessons. I learned some Japanese words thanks to her! Now, if I ever go to Japan I can cuss people out ;D Hahaha JK!!! Mrs. Sun didn't teach Japanese cuss words! Well a couple but that wasn't the only thing! ;P

  The setting being in Japan made Ink that more intriguing! And it totally throws the ordinary Young Adult character stereo types off. It was great! Tomo...Tomo, Tomo, Tomo! I wasn't sure I could love you but I did...I fell hopelessly in love with you! Holy crap! Tomo knocks the usual troubled bad boy thing out of the water! Phew! *fans self* This boy is all sorts of sexy! Skilled fighter, creative and absolutely wonderfully skilled in drawing, devilish smirk that can melt your insides...this boy has got it all. To top it all off...underneath that hard exterior is a broken boy with the ability to be mushy and gooshy!! *sighs* Ya, I got Tomo fever!! ;D (he would probably kill me for saying that hahaha) 

  Ok, enough with the love interest lets talk protagonist. Katie was forced to go to live with her aunt in Japan after her mother died. Normally she would have had her grandparents take custody of her but because her grandfather was weak, fighting cancer, she had no choice but to get an ice cold bath of culture shock. And to top it all off her aunt sent her to a traditional Japanese school. Not a foreign exchange one where American kids go but one where most don't know English and well...ya talk about a huge culture shock for poor 'ol Katie. Lucky for her she is a pretty quick learner! Katie wasn't your all skilled fighting heroine. She was a normal...well normalish girl with not much going for her. Not extravagantly pretty, not extremely skilled in something combat worthy, not incredibly bold and courageous but she was strong when she needed to be, smart when she had to be and as helpful as she could be. She was great in my eyes. Sure she dealt with fear and emotions of a normal teenage girl but I found her...admirable.

  The side characters were enjoyable. I liked Katie's friends! I also found the villains enjoyable. Well, as enjoyable as villains could be. It turned out that the villain was more..inner for most of the book. We didn't get a physical villain or opposing force until the very end. It was more like Tomo fighting his inner uhm, demon? Tomo fighting Katie? Ugh. I can't say too much without giving everything away.Sorry guys, you are going to have to read it yourself! Ok, so I'm not THAT sorry because this book is absolutely amazing and you will thank me later for peaking your interest. Seriously. Let your interest be peaked. ;)

  The paranormal aspect in this book was outstanding! Again, Ink takes unique to a whole new level. It takes Young Adult to a whole new level. I found myself so incredibly enthralled with this book! I don't even know what to label this! Is it paranormal? Urban fantasy? Fantasy? Mythology? I'm not entirely sure but whatever the heck it is...its flipping good! The writing was magnificent. The romance was adorable. The action--not being the main thing going on in this book but when there was action--was thrilling. The characters were enjoyable and the whole book experience was incredible! Where things ended....I have no want to finish because I know it is going to be disastrous and heartbreaking BUT!! Who am I kidding I will finish because it is so good. Oh my gosh. The ending you guys...the ending was *tears up* *sniffles* so cute. I did a little jig I will admit. It was also devastating and it left you thinking "what the hell is this author setting into motion?". But the cute part was the last what? 3 pages? Ya, adorbs.

  If you are looking for something refreshing and unique, this is the book you need. Look no further. I think this is a 2013 debut that everyone should be dying to get their hands on. Amanda Sun delivers something so beautiful, thrilling and extravagant that you are not going to want to miss out on. She has made a favorite out of me. I am not going to hold onto my patience for book two. Take notice that I didn't describe what exactly made this unique or go into much detail about the actual happenings of this book. Why? Because I wanted you to be intrigued enough to read it. I wanted to create a mystery out of it so that you can be as blown away as I. Really, go out and buy this book when it comes out. It is so worth it! 

~Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day!! :D

~Jaiden

{Review} Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Dare You To
Series: Pushing the Limits #2
Author: Katie McGarry
Release Date: May 28, 2013
by, Harlequin Teen
Source: Netgalley

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."  

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....  

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all.... {Goodreads}

~Review:
  Asdfghjkl!!!!!!!!! Where do I even start!!? Ok how about how I jumped up and down squealing like a little girl and dancing like an absolute freak when I got approved on Netgalley for this? Ya, I totally went fan girl crazy on this and let me just say....I wasn't in the privacy of my own home so I earned a few weird "is she ok?" Looks! ;P

  You guys have no clue how much I loved Pushing the Limits (the first book in this companion series). It was absolutely till isn't and gut wrenching and ya I think you get my point. It was definitely one of my top five contemporaries of 2012! Katie McGarry quickly became one of my favorite contemporary authors. Hands down. She just has this amazing way with words. She takes whats so broken and fixes it with love. Her stories are so touching. Katie has got talent that we oh so thankfully get to take a look at. Her characters, writing, word choice, story plotting, everything of Katie's books are a little slice of heaven. And I am not exaggerating at all.

  Dare You To may have just beat my love for Pushing the Limits. Do you know what that means? It means that my love for this book would have to be freaking HUGE!!! And it was. This book was impossibly great! Ryan, Isaiah, Beth, the little bits we got to see of Noah and Echo, it was all brilliant. Katie just has this way of reaching into your hearts through her characters. If you have read Pushing the Limits you know that Beth has a pretty messed up life and we get to see every inch of just how messed up it is. It's your typical story of broken girl meets seemingly perfect boy. The match that seems so unlikely but ends up being so perfect.

  How many stories like that do we get in YA contemporary? How easy would it be to create a replica and it not stand out at all? To just be a blah story? Let me tell you...easy. Way to incredibly easy. I have read many and none of them stand out as much as Katie's. Dare To You will blow you away and steal your heart. If you have yet to read Pushing the Limits I suggest you read it first. It's not necessary but you will thank me. It just gives you a look at where it all began I guess. Either way. Which ever way you choose to read these companions....it's a must. I want every young adult reader to read these books. They truly are some of the best contemporaries you will ever read. Don't hesitate for a moment when you are browsing through your local book store and see one of the two. Buy it. You need these books k? ;D

~Rating:

5 of 5 stars!!!!!! <3

Thanks for stopping by!!

Have a great Wednesday!! :D

~Jaiden 

{Review} Wicked Kiss by Michelle Rowen

Wicked Kiss
Series: Nightwatchers #2
Author: Michelle Rowen
Release Date: February 26, 2013
by, Harlequin Teen
Source: Netgalley
Format: Kindle
Pages: 448

My kiss can kill.  
I used to be ordinary Samantha Day, but that's changed. Now, after one dark kiss from a dangerous boy, I can steal someone's soul…or their life. If I give in to the constant hunger inside me, I hurt anyone I kiss. If I don't…I hurt myself.

Bishop is the one whose kiss I crave most, but if I kiss him, I'll kill him. Then there's another boy, one I can't hurt. One whose kiss seems to miraculously quell my hunger. They're both part of a team of angels and demons that's joined forces in my city to fight a mysterious rising darkness, an evil that threatens everyone I know and love. I just wonder if I'll be able to help Bishop—or if I'm just another part of the darkness he's sworn to destroy….

NIGHTWATCHERS: When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising…{Goodreads}

~Review:
  Ok so for starters I wasn't a HUGE fan of book one (Dark Kiss). I really liked it but I just didn't love it. There was something just missing for me. One thing I did know after I finished it was book two was going to be flipping fantastic. It was a great lead up I should say. Was I right?

  Hell yes I was right!!! Oh gosh I was so excited to get this one because of how book one ended. I knew. I KNEW!!!! Wicked Kiss was going to be great and again it totally was. I loved this book so much! I wasn't at all disappointed. It was everything I knew it would be. Again not one of my favorite series but it was very good. It's possible to have a favorite non-favorite. I liked seeing all the characters again and then getting to meet new ones. You got so much more in this book and it was amazing.

  The only thing I was disappointed in was Kraven. I wanted a love triangle in this one. Normally I hate them because I love one boy and seeing anyone else in the way is torture especially when the one I like doesn't get the girl. I guess I didn't really want a love triangle I just wanted Kraven. He is one hot demon. I like Bishop and I guess he could be her better match but.....nah I think Kraven should have been the one but whatevs!! I liked that we got Kraven and Bishops story and how it all went wrong. That was a rather tragic story. And made me love Kraven one thousand times more. *growls*

  Anyways this book was delightful. It fed my every need and was absolutely wonderful. The writing was great. The conflict was crazy...crazy good ;D and the ending was terrific. I'm not sure if there is going to be a third one or not (of anyone knows comment the detes for me k??) but I don't think there will be one. The way it ended was kin of final but some books do that. I have no clue where it would go but id love to see it if it comes to a third book. All in all Wicked Kiss was a wonderful sequel to Dark Kiss. Better than the first! A series with unique demon and angel lore sure to capture your attention! If you haven't read it yet go and give it a try and don't stop with book one. It is so worth it!! Trust me then thank me later ;P

~Rating:

4 out of 5 stars!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a wonderful day!! :D

~Jaiden

{Review} Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

Uses for Boys
Author: Erica Lorraine Scheidt
Release Date: January 15, 2013
by, St. Martin's Press
Source: *a copy was provided from Netgalley*
Pages: 240

Then comes Sam. When Anna actually meets a boy who is more than just useful, whose family eats dinner together, laughs, and tells stories, the truth about love becomes clear. And she finally learns how it feels to have something to lose—and something to offer. Real, shocking, uplifting, and stunningly lyrical,  Uses for Boys  is a story of breaking down and growing up.

Then comes Sam. When Anna actually meets a boy who is more than just useful, whose family eats dinner together, laughs, and tells stories, the truth about love becomes clear. And she finally learns how it feels to have something to lose—and something to offer. Real, shocking, uplifting, and stunningly lyrical,  Uses for Boys  is a story of breaking down and growing up.{Goodreads}

~Review:
  Short book...short review. ;P I was really looking forward to this one. It had an adorable cover and the premise really reeled me in. I like broken characters that find their place and finally poece by piece fix themselves. When I was approved on Netgalley for it I was so happy! However, this book was nothing I was expecting. Yes it has our broken protagonist. The writing is what really through me off. It wasn't like a normal YA book. It was like a poem. I came to really appreciate the way of writing after adjusting. It didnt really have a point of view at all. you kind of got that it was Anna telling the story but it was...different. that is the main word for this book. Different. and Unique. It also disnt have much dialogue but it worked in a way. i didn't mind it. It was fitting. It was a piece of art really. It was so unique and completely different. I had never read anything like it. Scheidt is what you call an artist, a writer with a magic hand.

  I felt bad for Anna. I truly felt sorry for her. She is probably the most broken character I have ever read. She was troubled and confused. She never truly had any real joy or love in her life so she didn't know there was anything different than being left and used. She didn't know what it was like to have a family or mom. Anna didnt know how she should have been treated. She was completely naive in some ways. Anna didnt know better plane and simple. Her story was one of finding and fitting in. Making mistakes and learning. Some people will take this book on confusion. Some will take it not so well and maybe a bit offensive. Some aren't going to see through the lines. Others will think they have the meaning and it all figured out but won't really. Some will get it truly and fully. Only the author truly know honestly. She knows what she wanted to convey and hope that others will see it and understand.

  All together this book was pretty good. I liked it but in some ways I didn't. Certain things rubbed me the wrong way. The thing I really really liked about Uses for Boys was the writing. It was really good and I loved it for its differences. I liked that it wasn't like anything I had ever read before. I liked the layers you tried to peal and understand. I liked that I may not have truly understand. Again this book may not be for everyone. No. I KNOW it's not for everyone. It's indescribable  It's a hit or miss kind of thing. I suggest you to try it on for size. It wasn't a favorite of mine but I did enjoy it. Not as much as I had wanted to but enough where I will give it a good rating. Just make sure that going into this book you know it's unique. Know that it isn't going to be at all what you think. It's not a fluffy happy go lucky kind of book. It's not a cute I will find my way kind of book. It's not a sweet contemporary. It's less but so much more. It all depends on how you look at it and how you choose to SEE it.

~Rating:

3 of 5 stars!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Have a great day!! :D

~Jaiden

{Review} Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Going Vintage 
Author: Lindsey Leavitt
Release Date: Bloomsbury
by, March 26, 2013
Source: Netgalley
Format: Kindle
Pages: 320

When Mallory discovers that her boyfriend, Jeremy, is cheating on her with an online girlfriend, she swears off boys. She also swears off modern technology. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory decides to "go vintage" and return to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn't cheat on you online). She sets out to complete grandma's list: run for pep club secretary, host a dinner party, sew a homecoming dress, find a steady, do something dangerous. But the list is trickier than it looks. And obviously finding a steady is out . . . no matter how good Oliver (Jeremy's cousin) smells. But with the help of her sister, she'll get it done. Somehow. Lindsey Leavitt perfectly pairs heartfelt family moments, laugh-out-loud humor, and a little bit of romance in this delightful contemporary novel. {Goodreads}

~Review:
  Where to start? One, I wish I had the guts to do what Mallory did...going vintage. I am so in love with the 50's/60's and would do anything to take a trip back in time. I loved Mallory. She was strong in her own way. She wasn't a kick butt heroine who fearlessly took on a whole army with nothing but a twig but she was strong in heart. She wasn't going to sit around broken hearted...she was going to do something. Mallory was going to find a cure for cheating boyfriends and evil technology. Personally, I feel why they broke up was kind of a little silly but in some ways I can still see her point. Yes, he may have not cheated on her in real life but he still cheated. He wasn't honest with her and that hurts. 

  I loved Mrs. Leavitt's writing style. It was easy and fun to fall into. It was one of my "fluff" reads (good fluff..like cotton candy. Light, fun, and sweet.) The idea behind the list and going vintage was cute and unique. Again, I wish I could have Mallory's guts. Major props to her! Not only was Mallory awesome but I loved the side characters too. Her sister was awesome and super easy to fall in love with no matter how much a pain in the butt she was. I liked the relationship of they're parents. To me that's true love. Being able to fight and argue and still love each other to no end. They have their rough patches but they fix them right up. They don;t give up no matter how hard. Too many people give up...the going gets tough and they quit ending in divorce. I wish more people had the strength of Mallory's parents. Its either they give up or jump in too quickly. Its rather sad. 

  Anyways! Do you know what else I loved?...Oliver. Right from the beginning! Goodness did I love him. He was so quirky and honest. He was himself and he didn't give a hoot to what people thought. He brought out the best in Mallory and they were really adorable. Then the ending...*swoon*!!! I want that..bad ;D

  Going Vintage is one of those books you will just devour and feel full after. It will make your smile and walking away with happy feelings. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading anything and everything else by Lindsey Leavitt. She has a true talent in contemporary sweetness. It was innocent and charming. A book I could recommend to anyone looking for something light-hearted and enjoyable! Would I read it again...I believe I would! 

~Rating:

4 out of 5 stars!!!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Have a great day!

~Jaiden 

{Review} Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

Dance of Shadows
Series: Dance of Shadows #1
Author: Yelena Black
Release Date: February 12, 2013
by, Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Source: *a copy was provided by Netgalley for review purposes*
Format: Kindle
Pages: 447

Dancing with someone is an act of trust. Elegant and intimate; you're close enough to kiss, close enough to feel your partner's heartbeat. But for Vanessa, dance is deadly – and she must be very careful who she trusts . . .

Vanessa Adler attends an elite ballet school – the same one her older sister, Margaret, attended before she disappeared. Vanessa feels she can never live up to her sister's shining reputation. But Vanessa, with her glorious red hair and fair skin, has a kind of power when she dances – she loses herself in the music, breathes different air, and the world around her turns to flames . . .

Soon she attracts the attention of three men: gorgeous Zep, mysterious Justin, and the great, enigmatic choreographer Josef Zhalkovsky. When Josef asks Vanessa to dance the lead in the Firebird, she has little idea of the danger that lies ahead – and the burning forces about to be unleashed . . . {Goodreads}

~Review:
  First...is this book really 447 pages?? Well, I guess that's one way to start off a positive review...This book flew by so fast I had no clue!! I completely submerged in this book not paying attention to the pages (or i this case, percentage finished). I just kept reading until I was done or needed to fangirl or vent on goodreads through status. Second...look at that fantabulous cover!! I don't care what anyone says or thinks...this cover has blown my mind. Its absolutely stunning and fits the story so wonderfully. I mean...I want to BE that cover just so I can be that pretty haha xD

  Now, when I started this book I was really really excited! This is one I have had my eye on forever. When I got it on Netgalley I did a little jig ;D Then I started reading and BA-BAM!!! I was hit with the love-bug again haha So here I am enjoying this amazing book when I go to Goodreads and...and see negative reviews. *Mind blown* Seriously. I couldn't wrap my brain around the fact that ANYONE would dislike this book. I mean it was SOOOO good! I fell hard for this book. I was literally lost in its pages and it was agony to stop reading it and do what I was supposed to do.

  I will admit that I did start to find Vanessa annoying towards the end. I was screaming at the book for her to grow some sense and freaking listen to what she was being told. Seriously...she pissed me off at times but from the beginning and all other times I really enjoyed her character. She was strong and determined, loyal. I liked her. I especially loved the side characters. I think they were extremely well developed. The story was clean. No profanity or any real steaminess. There is romance intermixed with this delicious mystery but nothing seriously sexy and where I do like things to heat up from time to mind I found it refreshing and it wasn't something that needed to be missed. The story and mystery filled everything up!

  (People are crazy on Goodreads people. Do NOT listen to what they say..listen to me ;D hahaha If you like a good mystery, some creep factor, humor, and a unique story line then listen to me and give this book a chance. I found the writing well done despite what people have said. The story, again, was extremely enthralling and interesting. The whole concept was so unique. I was glued to Dance of Shadow's pages. A beautiful and wonderful debut. I am looking forward to book two. There is so much I am hoping for from it.

  I loved this book to pieces. I seriosly don't think I can stress the greatness of this book any further. After I finished I was determining whether or not to start another book but I decided against it because I wanted to think about everything I had just read all night long. I wanted to obsorb it all. Dance of Shadows is a gorgous, dangerous and hauntingly beautiful piece of work. I am so in love with (content must be kept secret for it could be vital to all the mystery) now. The end made me sure of my love for him. All my doubts were swept away. I highly and I mean HIGHLY recommend you give it a try no matter what others are thinking. Read the bad reviews. Proceed with caution but TRY IT!!! Please. *begs* ;P

~Rating:

Now, I couldn't determine between a 4.5 and 5 after finishing this book and starting this review. Vanessa pissing me off in those few chapters would be the .5 deduction. I knew though whether it was 4.5 or 5 this book was a NEED book. But, while writing this review I got all these sparks back and all the genius and beauty it was came back and I finally made my decision (which is completely deserved).
 

5 of 5 wonderful stars!!!!!!! <3

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day!! :)

~Jaiden

{Review} Dualed by Elsie Chapman

Dualed 
Series: Dualed #1
Author: Elsie Chapman
Release Date: February 26, 2013
by, Random House Books for Yound Readers
Source: Netgalley
Format: Kindle
Pages: 304

You or your Alt? Only one will survive.  

The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.

Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.

Elsie Chapman's suspenseful YA debut weaves unexpected romance into a novel full of fast-paced action and thought-provoking philosophy. When the story ends, discussions will begin about this future society where every adult is a murderer and every child knows there is another out there who just might be better.{Goodreads}

~Review:
  This book drawed my attention from the very start. From its total kick-ass cover (props to the cover designer!!) and its even awesomer synopsis/book blurb...I knew I had to read it! The whole fighting to the death..with yourself blew my mind. The concept! Could you imagine?

  From the beginning Dualed hooks, lines, and sinkers you. I was fully enthralled in its pages not wanting to put it down. Elsia Chapman is an amazing and talented writer. Not only is her imagination genius to produce a book like this but her writing is very well done. I will admit that at times I had trouble following along. There seemed to be things missing every now and then. At points it wasn't smooth like books should be and I don't know if that's because of the ARC or the writing. The things that did make sense and flowed were writing wonderfully and had my full attention.

  I think I would have liked more background. More history and facts. At the beginning I had a hard time understanding the Alt business. I had questions like "So is one a clone with no real personality?", "Do they have the same families and it just be like them in an alternate life?". I kind of had to make my own assumptions after awhile and I would have liked it all just better explained I guess. Other than that and the piece parts at times...AMAZING! I trully loved this book!

  I enjoyed West. She was a rock solid girl from the beginning that slowly unraveled showing a more vulnerable side but at the same time she never truly unraveled. She just had minor setbacks which in the end made her even stronger. She had to go through some self-finding issues along with grief and trust. West had to obstacle after obstacle and her past haunted her. I liked how she got stronger the weaker she became. (If that can make any sense). I really liked Chord too. Well...ok I really really loved Chord. ;D He was persistent and protective. He is the only stable thing West has throughout the book and as much as she tries to push him away, literally running from him at times...he stays and he follows and he protects. They drove me absolutely bananas cause you could literally feel the attracted tension seeping through the pages and I was yelling at them to hurry up and freaking kiss!!! Then of course when everything went well...it was worth the wait! ;D

  Dualed is a wonderful debut you are not going to want to miss this 2013 year! Edgy, action packed and motivational this book has some awesome factors tied in. I honestly don't know where book 2 is going to go but I guess we will have to wait and see. I highly recommend this book to all you dystopian lovers! It kicks butt for sure! I wanted to give it a full 5 star rating but because of the time-to-time pieciness and the lack of more explaining I will give it a 4.5 but hell...only .5 got deducted. It was seriously good no doubt about it!
~Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day! :) 

{Review} Pantomime by Laura Lam

Pantomime
Author: Laura Lam
Release Date: February 5, 2012
by, Strange Chemistry
Source: Netgalley
Format: Kindle
Pages: 392

R. H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic is the greatest circus of Ellada. Nestled among the glowing blue Penglass—remnants of a mysterious civilization long gone—are wonders beyond the wildest imagination. It’s a place where anything seems possible, where if you close your eyes you can believe that the magic and knowledge of the vanished Chimaera is still there. It’s a place where anyone can hide.

Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star.

But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada.{Goodreads}

~Review:
  Quick note: the cover!!! Love. Love. Love it!! I totally want that mask too..major jelousy right here! The circus tent in the back ground...the everything! Really like this cover! Fits the book like a glove! <3

  More serious matters: Pantomime was a book I was much anticipating. The premise just spoke to me saying "You must need this book Jaiden! MUST!!". So, naturally, I just needed to have it! I was a bit confused at first but I quickly caught on with the different time and POVs. Little did I know though that Micah and Gene were more closely linked than I thought....major shocker when I saw how their paths crossed. Really. There was a few things in the book that had me cautious and wary but all in all this book was fantastic! Also, the only real thing I can complain about this book is the lore and history of the world in the book. I wish the author would have gone into further detail explaining the different towns and history and mythology. I was super confused when it came to that. Maybe I missed something but I literally had no clue what made Byssia people Byssia people and who the Couple was and more. I kinda just had to skim those parts and pretend to know I knew.

  Other than those few hiccups like I said...fantastic! The writing style of Laura Lam was so enticing and wonderful. I felt as if every word had its own magic behind it! The circus was most definitely my favorite part of the book. It was described so wonderfully I felt as if I was there and experiencing the circus through Micah's eyes and truly feeling the awe and magic he felt for it. The imagination ran wild in this book. (even though some of it I didn't understand) Then the time...the era this book was set in was beautiful. I love the time of parasols, extravagant dresses, balls, courting, circus entertainment, etc. And again, Laura did it all perfectly. I felt as if I was truly there smelling the smells, seeing the sights, experiencing the protagonists experiences! Laura used words that described the situation, description, and severity of the subject on hand perfectly. She made me use the dictionary but I didn't find it tiring.

  Pantomime was a work of art! The characters were developed just to my liking. There were tons of side characters but you didn't get confused. At first it takes awhile to get to know everyone but not too long. Then of course those characters you end up loving and then the ones you love to hate! Omg. Drystan....I loved him just so you know ;) I also loved Gene's brother Cyril's best friend..and of course Cyril himself. Cyril was so loyal and understanding. He has a big heart and I would love to have a brother like him. Drystan was adorable and handsome and hilarious..he is a clown! ;D  Then that ending! That ending was the best part of the book. It was fast pace, terrible and emotional. I really hope there is a sequel because you can't just end a book like that. I really enjoyed reading Pantomime. It was unique and beautiful. Magic in its self. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a fun, mysterious, magical and intriguing read!

~Rating:

4 of 5 stars!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day!! :)

~Jaiden 

{Review} Broken by A.E. Rought

Broken
Author: A.E. Rought
Release Date: January 8, 2013
by, Strange Chemistry
Source: Netgalley
Format: Kindle
Pages: 384

Imagine a modern spin on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein where a young couple’s undying love and the grief of a father pushed beyond sanity could spell the destruction of them all.  

A string of suspicious deaths near a small Michigan town ends with a fall that claims the life of Emma Gentry's boyfriend, Daniel. Emma is broken, a hollow shell mechanically moving through her days. She and Daniel had been made for each other, complete only when they were together. Now she restlessly wanders the town in the late Fall gloom, haunting the cemetery and its white-marbled tombs, feeling Daniel everywhere, his spectre in the moonlight and the fog.

When she encounters newcomer Alex Franks, only son of a renowned widowed surgeon, she's intrigued despite herself. He's an enigma, melting into shadows, preferring to keep to himself. But he is as drawn to her as she is to him. He is strangely... familiar. From the way he knows how to open her locker when it sticks, to the nickname she shared only with Daniel, even his hazel eyes with brown flecks are just like Daniel's.

The closer they become, though, the more something inside her screams there's something very wrong with Alex Franks. And when Emma stumbles across a grotesque and terrifying menagerie of mangled but living animals within the walls of the Franks' estate, creatures she surely knows must have died from their injuries, she knows.{Goodreads}

 ~Review:
  Ok....look at that cover...its gorgeous you guys! I know, I know...I start off like this 9 times out of 10 but hey! You have to give credit when credits are due....and this is due...And it totally has meaning to the story. I love the color scheme and the font and ya the whole thing is just unique and lovely!

  Now, on to the review actually for the book and not the cover. At first I was confused and I blame the synopsis. I hate the synopsis for only one reason. It gives way too much away and then you end up focusing on that one piece of information and it ruins the element of surprise....it ruins the building plot. Wait, I forgot to mention the part I mean? Oh! *slaps forehead* silly me! I mean the very beginning and I quote..."Imagine a modern spin on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein where a young couple’s undying love and the grief of a father pushed beyond sanity could spell the destruction of them all. " I think they should totally delete that part. Mentioning that this book is a modern spin on Frankenstein completely ruins the book and the readers mind/thoughts going into this book.

  For one...when the story actually develops into a rendition of Frankenstein...I already saw it coming. There was no gasping and horror for me. Two...I was so focused on the Frankenstein part that I was pointing out things that related to Frankenstein and I was unable to just sit back and enjoy the developing plot. Ya, so...I hate that part of the synopsis and I wish they would have never put it on there. I wish I could have read this book over again with no knowledge of its relation to Frankenstein.

  Anyways!!! Other than my little rant on the synopsis...this book was good...no. It was better than good. It was great! I loved this book a lot. I was very pleasantly surprised. In fact, I have been "pleasantly surprised" with a lot of books lately. I don't know if it is because I don't read the synopsis right before and so I have forgotten what the book is about or cus I have become more untrustworthy in some ways. I don't know. This book wasn't at all what I was expecting. It chilled me more than I thought it would. I knew it was going to be semi-creepy because of the whole Frankenstein thing but I didn't think it would have this creepy fog hovering over it the entire book. It was like having those gloomy thunderstorm clouds with the lightening cackling every now and then. It gave me goosebumps I will admit. It also had my heart squeezing and flipping.

  If it wasn't for Frankenstein's gloomy storm hovering over the pages then I would have taken it as any other contemporary read. A girl loses her love to a tragic accident and along comes a boy who fixes her heart. Again any other mending-the-broken-heart contemporary book except...this was no ordinary contemporary book. It was so much more. Again this book would have been so much more fun if I hadn't known it was a modern spin on Frankenstein. I would have loved playing the guessing game. It would have added to the mystery, suspense, and creep factor. This book was all sorts of amazing. It totally peaked my interest in gothic novels and movies...the old ones. I want the originals baby! ;)

  Now, let me talk about Alex for a moment shall I? I mean, what kinda fictional-boy-obsessor would I be if I didn't set aside a paragraph to talk about the love interest?? Ok, so Alex is plain out gorgeous you guys! Tall, lean, hazel eyes, dark hair with natural highlights. He has scars and a wicked rumor about his past following him around like a ghost. He is mysterious, bad-boy-repped and a total charmer! And did I mention he was totally and completely smexy!? O my. I fell for Alex hard not only for his looks but his heart and words. Again, total charmer and complete eye candy. The makes of a perfect boy. His past is terrible and his father worse. He would do anything for Emma and looks at her as if she is a dream come true every..single...time. *swoon!*

  This book is very much well written. Rought has one heck of a writing hand. She damn well knows what she is doing, wants to do and how to fulfill that all to us readers. She had me feeling the creep factor, love factor, sick factor, every factor in this book. Haunting, emotional, and beautiful...those are the words that come to mind when thinking of Broken. I really did enjoy this book. Started off a bit slow but it didn't take long to get me hooked! Happy with the way it ended! ^-^ Sad too though... :( Dudes, that ending was crazy! I totally recommend this to anyone who loves gothic novels. Then to those who enjoy romance with the paranormal/gothic twist. SO good! All I got to say! Rought has officially made a fan out of me and I will be looking forward to future books from her! :D

~Rating:

4 of 5 stars!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! :D

<3 Jaiden

{Review} Meant To Be by Lauren Morrill

Meant To Be
Author: Lauren Morrill
Release Date: November 13, 2012
by, Delacorte Books For Young Readers
Source: Netgalley
Format: ebook
Pages: 256

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.
It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").
But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.
Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be. {Goodreads}

 ~Review:
  EE!! Let's just say that ever since seeing this book for the first time I knew I needed to read it. The synopsis sounded incredible and the cover was cute and fun. A story set in London? Ya, just added to all the loveliness! What girl can resist a story set in a foreign city, a mystery, a girl set on one thing and finding herself presently surprised? Mmmm none that I know of.

  The book starts off great. Humor, back story, and insight to the character traits of the protagonist. Julia is one of those headstrong girls who has got her life all mapped out. She is a sucker for true love. Her parents were the perfect example after all. Destiny. Meant to be's. She knows it all. She is a straight-A girl who likes things to be in her control. She has a total opposite who annoys the crap out of her and that person is Jason. Fun, up-beat, I-don't-have-a-care-in-the-world Jason. He believes in fate. Things will map themselves out. There is no need for laying out your own life...it will all come to be. Why waste life on making sure it all goes like you want it when you can just enjoy yourself? He is loud, obnoxious, funny, and a total prankster. And...he just so happens to be Julia's partner on the trip. Great!

  I loved Julia. She was a protagonist I loved reading from. She was smart, witty, and had herself in order. She was determined. I liked her "hard" side. It made her credible and admirable  I admired her hopes, dreams, and ambitions. She was driven to complete all of them and I can totally appraise her for it. I LOVED Jason! He was...AH! I don't normally go for the ginger boys but...he and Puck seem to be my exceptions to the rule. He did remind me of Puck (The Iron Fey) and that made him just that more likeable. He was fun, energetic and totally sweet when he needed to be. He truly liked Julia but they had the worst ways of acknowledging it and showing it. They weren't the perfect couple but that's why I liked them so much. they fought, they screamed at each other, they hated each other at times and couldn't stand each other's presence....but at the end...they managed to forgive and get along. And eventually ***Spoiler*** love! It was real and true. No real love is all daisies and rainbows. Couples argue and fight. The true love is imperfect. And that's what theirs was. Perfectly imperfect. Real. It made me jealous!

  Morrill is a wonderful writer. Her story had me hooked from page one then staying up till the early a.m. on a school night...leaving me with only 3 hours of sleep! (Shhh...don't tell my parents!) I was so enthralled with Meant To Be I couldn't stop until the book was done. I loved it! Meant To Be is an adorable read. It will have you hanging on every last word and leave you with a hunger for more! I loved this book SO much it hurt! I laughed. I teared up. I screamed and threw my iPod at my bed. I giggled. I got those silly little butterflies in my stomach. I got jealous! Julia and Jason were a couple to look forward to in your teenage years. Jason brought the best, fun side out of her and she brought out the best, deeper side of him. That ending! Not exactly what I thought was going to happen! It surprised me! And here I thought I had it all mapped out! (Guess I need to learn from Julia hah?) I recommend this book to everyone and anyone who enjoys a cute, light hearted, adorable, and realistic contemporary read. I enjoyed it thoroughly and will read it over and over several times in the future for sure! I need to own this one! Oh, and you know that lately, I don't give out 5 stars to just any book. So when I do...its definitely amazing! So......

~Rating:

5 out of 5 wonderful stars!!!! <3

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day!

~Jaiden

{Review} Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole

Dante's Girl
Series: The Paradise Diaries #1
Author: Courtney Cole
Release Date: June 24, 2012
by, Lakehouse Press
Source: Netgalley
Format: ebook
Pages: 356

I have spent every summer since I was ten years old with my father in London. Every summer, since I was ten years old, has been uneventful and boring.
Until this year.
And this year, after a freak volcanic eruption strands me far from home, I have learned these things:
1. I can make do with one outfit for three days before I buy new clothes.
2. If I hear the phrase, “You’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” even one more time, I might become a homicidal maniac.
3. I am horribly and embarrassingly allergic to jellyfish.
4. I am in love with Dante Giliberti, who just happens to be the beautiful, sophisticated son of the Prime Minister of a Mediterranean paradise.
5. See number four above. Because it brings with it a whole slew of problems and I’ve learned something from every one of them.
Let’s start with the fact that Dante’s world is five light-years away from mine. He goes to black-tie functions and knows the Prime Minister of England on a first name basis. I was born and raised on a farm in Kansas and wear cut-off jeans paired with cowboy boots. See the difference?
But hearts don’t care about differences. Hearts want what they want. And mine just wants to be Dante’s girl.
My heart just might be crazy. {Goodreads}

~Review:
  I was so excited to read this book and uber excited when I was approved to receive it on Netgalley! Love in a foreign city? Yes please! Those are like my favorite. Cliche? Maybe but...who the hell cares? It's a cliche everyone loves!

  The book starts out in the airport while Reece is traveling to see her father. Not something she is too thrilled about but..its a vacation right? Then she (yes literally) runs into uber hot, adorable Dante! Oops! This guy is a replica of a Greek god...both in my eyes and in Reece's. They say their apologies and part ways *sigh* but wait! They are on the same plane! *chu ching!!* But the great...has a change for the worst and a terrible disaster strikes having Dante dragged off the plane and Dante dragging Reece with him. First, uhmmm creepy! you don't even know the dude! But..he is hot and not giving her much choice so she goes and ends up stuck in a place she knew nothing about with the Prime Minister and his son..aka..Dante Giliberti.

  This book was adorably cute. It was funny and it was sweet. I loved Mia and Gavin they were the best of the book. I liked Reece. She was quirky and innocent and somewhat realistic. I have to say...some of her quirky sayings got annoying. I was kind of done with the "sweet baby monkeys" but at the same time I came to realize it was just her. We all have our dumb sayings and that's what makes us..us. But still, a bit annoying at times. I loved Dante but...he was too perfect. There weren't many flaws to him and the ones that were brought forward made him look only dumb and whiny. Put Reece and Dante together and....I wasn't quite feeling their love. I don't know what it was but something was just lacking which made me not feel the realness. Again too fiction. I felt like there was a pixie dust cloud/haze surrounding them.

  Now don't get me wrong, they were adorable. They had their relationship struggles and that helped them out in the "real" factor. The best books put enough real and enough fiction to where you have your toes curling, your cheeks blushing, and your heart fluttering. I just was sadly not feeling it. I was feeling the end though. That...that was possibly the cutest thing in the entire book!! AHH! I can go fan girl on the last 10 or so pages. A-DOR-A-BLE!!! I also felt bad about it too though. I mean, hello! What about her best friend? Was anyone thinking about her!? But, I still loved it! Cutest thing in the book! ^-^ I loved the setting and the culture. I didn't particularly like the amount of "American" jabs. I get there are going to be lots when you go out of the country but in this book...a bit too many? I just felt they were better left out.

  I am super excited for book 2 in the series (Mia's Heart). I loved her! She was so awesome. Her and Gavin were the two stable things in the book that were realistic. They were real and I loved them plus...Gavin..hot guy with a sense of humor and a dash of cockiness? I don't know why but those are what make me drawn to the guys...Humor...the guy has got to make me laugh. Not always serious you know? But also not able to be serious. Mia has a hard life and she puts up with it by wearing black and covering up but deep down she is true to her heart and self. I am SO excited to see what is brought to the table in her book! Hopefully it will be better than Dante. It will be an even balance of real and fiction. She will get deeper with Gavin and...its gonna be nice getting to know Quinn finally! ;D

  Altogether again...Dante's Girl is an adorable read. It makes you giggle like a little school girl and laugh from all the corny humor. A perfect book to read snuggled up on the coach basking in the sun like a cat (since it is no longer summer...but you can imagine! ;D) If you are looking for a quick, cute read, this book is for you! I don't ever for a second regret reading it. I liked it. I really did. I just merely didn't love it. I hope you enjoy it more than I did when you get the chance.

~Rating:

3 of 5 wonderful stars!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Hope you have a great day!! :D

~Jaiden 

The Weekly Throwback & Stacking the Shelves #5

~The Weekly Throwback:

Here's all that happened this week:

Sorry guys! Not much happened this week but my weekly memes.

I totally failed on reviews this week but next week should be better promise! :)

BUT!!! 

Enter to win a SIGNED copy of The Forsaken by Lisa M Stasse by checking out my interview with her here.

Giveaway ends 9/19 so hurry and enter now! :D

Don't miss out on this awesome book guys!! 

~Stacking the Shelves:

This is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Here's what I got this week....

hehehe I always have the most ridiculous faces on this! xD

Books Mentioned:

-For Review- 

*Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole (ebook)
Thanks to Netgalley!! :)

-Bought-
*Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
*Throne of Glass by Sarah  J Maas
*Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols
*The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Thanks to my paycheck ;D

Bloggers Mentioned:
*Giselle at Xpresso Reads

What about you? What'd you get this week?
Leave your link below! :)
Have a great weekend!!
~Jaiden

{Review} Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowan

Dark Kiss
Series: Nightwatchers #1
Author: Michelle Rowan
Release Date: March 29, 2012
by, Harlequin Teen
Source: NetGalley
Format: ebook
Pages: 348

I don't do dangerous,  Smart, ü ber-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back. 
Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.... 
NIGHTWATCHERS 
When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising... {Goodreads}

~Review:
  This book was wishy washy for me. At times I was really loving it and at others...not so much. I never hated parts but some just kinda left me hanging. I felt that the beginning was a bit juvenile. I don't know what it was but something just hindered me from getting hooked. The main character, Sam/Samantha, might be that reason. She lacked charisma with me. She was childish and kinda annoying. Again I'm not sure what it was but...I..I don't know.

  Another thing as it was so predictable! Like seriously. I knew what was going to happen and the "big secrets" were too obvious! I know that in some books of course the reader is going to see it before the character. That's the way some books go and it flows. With this one...It was almost frustrating. I like my books with a bit of mystery to them. I don't want to be able to predict whats behind every bend ya know? the only times I was actually and honestly surprised was when it was Kraven and Bishop's secrets.

  These boys were awesome and I think the only thing that kept me reading for awhile. They kind of remind me of Stephen and Damon from The Vampire Diaries and I really love them soo I adored these boys too and like with VD I am #TeamDamon/#TeamKraven. I love Bishop but I got a thing for the not-so-bad-boy. Both boys have their secrets and their pasts and I want to know them. Kraven really surprised me in the end and well...so did Bishop! I mean woah!! That ending....ya. I am so excited whats in store for each boy in book 2! *wiggles eyebrows* ;D

  So...no I didn't hate this book. I actually really liked it! But it took the ending to be its salvation for me. I will end up reading book two because so much wasn't answered and so much was left unsaid ;D This book has awesome angel lore I mean...the grays?? awesome! A kiss that can steal your soul...HOT!! Would I recommend you buy it?? Mmmm not so much. But that is entirely up to you. I say check it out from the library or borrow it from a friend. But hopefully you'll have better luck with it than I did. Again, I liked the book! I just couldn't find myself loving it ya know? Worth the read?? Yes most definitely! :)

~Rating:

3 stars!! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Have a great day!! :D

~Jaiden

PS....Don't forget to enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Lisa M Stasse's debut novel, The Forsaken! All happening here! :D

{Review} Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits
Author: Katie McGarry
Publish Date: July 31, 2012
by Harlequin Teen
Source: ARC provided by Netgalley
Pages: 384

"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.   
"An edgy romance that pulls you in and never lets go. I was hooked!"-Gena Showalter,  New York Times bestselling author of the Intertwined series  
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 much impossible.  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. {Goodreads}

~Review:
 Ok, there I was, searching through Netgalley, looking for what I could request, and there it was. Hmm... should I? Let me look on Goodreads and see what other people have said and read the summary. *Looks* only one of my friends had read it!! I couldn't believe it...*reads* hmm...sounds pretty good! Request! YAY!!!! I got it!! *Starts reading* HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL!!! Right from the get go, Ms. McGarry had me glued!

 This book was flipping amazing!! I loved the alternating POVs from Noah to  Echo and from Echo back to Noah. Granted, with the Netgalley ecopy I got....it was hard telling when Echo's stopped and Noah's began but I got through it. There was no way that was going to stop me from reading this book! (btw..reading from Noah was absolutely no doubt the best!) ;)

 Katie McGarry had the bad-boy-with-a-broken-past down packed!! She literally got the perfect boy description! Noah was an amazing character! Man! Did I love this boy or what! My favorite part of the whole book would have to be shared with Noah. A certain little scene involving a little boy, his award, his book, and his hero. O. My. Goodness! That was the cutest scene ever!! It had me close to tears! (happy tears ya'll!) Sure Noah has the f word in his vocabulary....sure he was a druggy....sure! he is a social outcast and known for his one-night stands! But that is just the facade he puts up to hide his pain and loss. There is so much more depth to Noah and I loved reading into his mind. Especially when it came to his brothers and Echo!

 And as for Echo? Great too! I loved the way her name had to do with her mom's stories. Weird name. Yes. Cool meaning. Duh! Man, this girl has had it tough the past two years. And not just because of her social decline: popular chica to out right freak! Sad how people do that. Just because someone misses some school and comes back with long sleeves everyday doesn't automatically mean she attempted suicide or cuts now. But that's how it is isn't it? We make assumptions and we don't care if those hurt the person. Sad. Anyways! Yes there is a reason Echo came back with those long sleeves everyday and secluded herself. She was attacked...by her own mother. Her mother tried to kill her. As of that wasn't tough enough....Echo doesn't remember that day. I feel bad for Echo but I also love her that much more. How strong she is. A role model indeed.

 Now...put Echo and Noah together..... Echo+Noah=perfection! Probably the cutest couple since Ash and Meghan!! Katie does an extrodinary job with character description!! Each character you understood in some way. Each character was "hand crafted".

 This is one of those book where you have way too many thoughts (all positive) to put into this review. I will probably just ramble haha Ms. McGarry did a phenomenal job! This book will pull on the reader's heartstrings and leave them wanting more. I sure as hell did!! I couldn't put the book down! I loved following Echo and Noah and seeing them face their troubles and grow together through their troubles!

 This is a book everyone needs to read and love. Everything from the writing, the characters, the puzzle of Echo and Noah's life, the reader's journey to reveal each individual puzzle piece and put it all together, the romance, the heart brake, the tears, the laughs( and there where lots! McGarry does NOT disappoint in humorous wit!), the the smiles, the oo's and ah's, the way Noah's words make you melt and feel all tingly inside ;)


 Pushing the Limits has everything! And I am serious when I say it leaves no disappointment! I would recommend it to anyone and everyone! So get your copy in June! Then thank me later... ;)

~Rating: 
 So, lately I have decided to not rate as generously. Meaning: your gonna see a lot more 4 and 3 stars. Yes, I'm cracking down hard on how often I give out 5 stars so you will know whether or not it is absolutely amazing or not. A book should only get 5 stars if it's well deserving of the title right? I am going to start sticking more true to the meanings I have givin to each star on my Rate Page.That being said....here's my rating of this book....

HELL YES! This book deserved these 5 stars!!!

So....You all need to buy this book when it comes out at the end of July!

No doubt about it!!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Jaiden

{Book Review} Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Lies Beneath
Series: Lies Beneath (#1)
Author: Anne Greenwood Brown
Published: June 12, 2012
by Delecorte Books for Young Readers
Source: ARC by Netgalley
Pages: 303

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistible good looks and charm on unsuspecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him. {Goodreads}

~Trailer: 

 
~Review:
 Lies Beneath is (once again) a first for me. A first of what? My first mermaid/merman book! Ya, I have never read one in my life! ...Well, unless you count The Little Mermaid children's books. Haha And let me tell you.....The Little Mermaid...is...a....lie!!! *gasp!* Yupp! You heard it folks! A lie!!! :O Mermaids aren't these nice happy people...merpeople...of Atlantis. *tears up* Ya, it's kinda depressing. So, what are mermaids you ask? Let me tell you. But be warned....you might be a wittle frightened.... Mer-people are vicious, coldblooded killers! *another gasp* I told you!! You surprised?...to be honest...I wasnt lol I knew that there were sirens and not-so-nice-mermaids. That that is what they actually are. Then why go through all this? Cus...I have a flair for the dramatic and....I had never read a book where the mermaid../mermen...are killers.

 This book took an even bigger turn. In this book the mermaids../mermen..kill for one reason. Reason being: They have to feed(kill) for the chance to feel positive emotion. Now I don't know about you but for me...I had never heard of this. Again I knew mermaids were actually killers but I never heard this reason. Pretty cool right? So yes, indeed, they put on a show to lure they're prey into the water (how exactly...they're good looks! Duh!) and suck out all of the raw positive emotion out of them so that they can fill they're own emotionless void.

 But of course that's not the whole theme of this book. In this book...these mermaids...and one merman...have another reason to kill...revenge. Bumm Bumm Bumm!! Long ago, they're mother was killed. A promise was broken. And a dept needed to be paid. A dept with the price of one man...a Hancock...to be killed. 

 I loved this book for all the creativity and how it goes into a perfect amount of detail of the mermaids. Not too much information where it seems that that is only what the book is about. Not too less where you have absolutely no clue what the heck is going on but the perfect amount where you get your story line and understand everything you need to know.

 I loved that it was written from Calder's pov. I loved Calder! He was hot and he knew it...but not as vain as his sisters. He had depth. Depth no one could see...it made him real, mysterious and oh so very likeable! 

 I loved Lily! How she played along as if she didn't have a care in the world! about Calder!! She is classified in my book as one tough a$$ chica! Sure, she didn't go into battle weilding a sword like some crazy intense girl. Sure she didn't save the world. Sure!!! She didn't have to race against time as the whole world as we knew it was falling apart!!! But! She deserves the title..why? Cus she fought Calder! Haha yes. That wins a metal. She fought his charming good looks and persistent character. His lovely entrancing voice. His perfection and his words. Of course...she eventually gave in but hell! Who wouldnt! She fought as long and as hard as possible! PLus! She made the ultimate sacrifice! She was brave and she fought for family!


 This book was so good!I am soo glad I got it on Netgalley! The ending was twisted and some parts I didn't see coming! The plot kept me intrigued and the writing kept me enthralled! Oh! And the title! Well picked! Two different meanings in itself! I say dive into this book head first and go for a leasery swim! Hahaha look at me! Trying to make puns! ;b I was sucked into this book from the first page! Go read and go love! Seriously guys!

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Thanks for reading and stopping by! :)

~Jaiden