The End of Mara Dyer Week.

Here we are, the last day of Mara Week. It’s gone so fast.

Now that I have gotten you all excited and hopefully some of you have decided to devour book 1, my sights are already on book 2.

The book left me with so many questions, and I am going to try to write down what I want answered in book 2 without giving anything away.

This may end up being a very vague, very incoherent post, but hopefully I can make it work.

Things I want more of -

Kissing. Lots and lots of kissing.
Noah Shaw, Noah Shaw, and Noah Shaw
More dark and twisty scenes
Mara’s sense of humour and sarcastic remarks. LOVE THEM
More of Mara’s friend Jamie. He is awesome, and needs to be around MUCH more
MORE ANSWERS!! *see below*
The paranormal element. I just want more details, more everything when it comes to it. We get a few, and I am sure we’re going to get even more with the second book.
Did I mention Noah Shaw already?


Questions I hope are answered -

The end- I didn’t see it coming. It opens up a MILLION questions. The impact on the characters is going to be felt for the rest of the series, and I am anxious to find out what it means. I have my suspicions but I have a feeling I am going to be totally wrong (and I will love it).

Noah Shaw - *sigh* I can’t help but think our dear Noah has a lot he is not telling Mara. I am hoping some of the questions I want Mara to ask him get answered. We learn some about him, but he seems like a guy with plenty more to tell. There is also that whole “love ‘em and leave ‘em” reputation that he has that Mara may (and should) have more questions about. His whole background is a mystery and I want to know more.

Noah has a necklace that is mentioned in the novel a few times. Is it important? Or am I reading way too much into it?

The accident - yes, we find out quite a bit about the accident and what happened that night. I still think there is more to uncover and more answers that Mara may need to really figure things out. Will Mara’s search for answers take her back to the scene of the accident?

Has anything like this happened previously (the accident, the events afterwards)? I am wondering if there may be others with similar stories.

So there are just some of the questions I am looking forward to having answered. If you have read the book chime in and let me know what you are most looking forward to during book 2 (spoiler free please or email directly if spoilers). Shall we start a support group to help us with the wait?

Thank you all for stopping by, be sure to enter the contest, and a big thank you to Michelle Hodkin for being as supportive of this week as she’s been, and for that awesome interview.

The Men of Mara Dyer

Hopefully you've enjoyed Mara Dyer week so far. We're already at Day 4!

Today's post started out as a "Dream Cast" type post but something kept pulling me towards the guys in the book. All the different men in Mara's life and how the different relationships impact her story.

So without further ado.... May I present....

The Men (and boys) of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Daniel Dyer



Physical Description: Dark hair, and dark complexion. Mara calls him "Mr Perfect" and he resembles his mother (again according to Mara)

Relationship to Mara : her protective older brother

Impact on Mara: he's a support system. He is there for Mara and really cares about his sister.

Note about the picture I chose: I kept picturing a Colin Egglesfield look a like, so I tried to find the youngest photo I could. He's too old now, but something similar to this is what I imagine.



Joseph Dyer

Physical Description: Mara says that he looks like Daniel.

Relationship to Mara: her sweet younger brother

Impact on Mara: he provides a person for whom she worries about. She really cares about how he is going to think, react, etc to the stuff that is going on. She wants to protect him. She care about her whole family, but it seems amplified when it comes to Joseph, most likely because he is younger.

Note on the photo: I could not find anyone that I felt suited. He is described as looking like Daniel anyways.



Jamie Roth



Physical Description:: Dread locks, short, dimples and likes to dress up his school uniform with his own t-shirts

Relationship to Mara: best friend extraordinaire

Impact on Mara: first person to be friendly towards Mara when she transfers schools. He's witty, sarcastic and their banter provides some normalcy to Mara's crazy life. He also happens to be an awesome math tutor and likes to look out for his friends(especially if a Britsh hottie with a certain reputation is involved)

Note on the picture I chose : I picked Corbien Bleu because that is who I kept picturing. Sadly, Corbin does not have the dreads that Jamie is supposed to, but otherwise I think he's about right.



Jude Lowe



Physical Description: All American, blond hair, green eyes and a football player

Relationship to Mara: ex-boyfriend

Impact on Mara: Huge. He was with Mara the night of the accident, and she is haunted by not being able to remember what happened to him.

Note on the picture I chose: I chose Zach Roeig because he reminds me of an "All American" football player, and he's blond.



Noah Shaw



Description: Grey/Blue eyes, chestnut hair, scruffy, British accent, with a panting dropping smile (according to Jamie) and he also happens to love animals. Basically, the hottest boy in YA ever.

Relationship to Mara - Um, let's call him a maybe boyfriend

Impact on Mara- SO MUCH! I don't know where to start. Noah helps Mara in figuring out what is going on with her, he supports her, and listens to her. He's someone that she can talk to.

Note on the picture I chose: Ben Barnes. Sigh. He just needs to be a little scruffy and his eyes are not the right colour but he could work. He just needs to be a little disheveled in this picture.



These are some of the most important men in Mara's life. They will all hopefully play a role in the second book.

Mara Dyer Week ends tomorrow with a look ahead to book 2. Come back tomorrow and see what I am most looking forward to.

Make sure to enter the book contest as well so that you can read this awesome novel for yourself.

My Scary Story...AND a Mara Dyer Giveaway

Welcome to Day 3 of my Mara Dyer week.

For today's post I am going to share with you the scariest/creepiest thing that has ever happened to me.

*Back when I was in Grade 8 or so I had gotten an Ouija Board for my birthday as a gift. My friends and I used to play it all time at sleepovers, etc. I never really thought it worked, as it was usually just silly stuff we asked and you could tell someone was moving it.

One day a friend and I decided to play with it in the graveyard behind her house. I immediately could tell something was different. We didn't have to ask any questions before it started moving. It began to tell us a story.

It told us the story of a guy. Let's call him Jason. Jason had died in a boating accident some years prior on a lake near where we lived. He told us about the accident and that he was the Uncle of a boy in our class at school. I knew the boy (let's call him Paul) but not overly well. My friend knew him a little better, but claimed she had never heard about this Uncle.

We ran out of the graveyard and back to her place as fast we could. I knew I hadn't moved it and my friend SWORE she never moved it.

We went to school the next day and asked Paul about his Uncle. He confirmed the details of the story and was surprised we knew about it.

Do I think it actually worked? Not sure. My friend totally could have read about it and decided it would be a fun joke, but something tells me that wasn't the case.*


So now that you know my scary story let's get to the good stuff. I have a hardcover copy of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer up for grabs along with a mini Ouija Board keychain. If you've seen the trailer, you'll see that an Ouija Board is involved in the story (bonus because it relates to my story as well).



In order to win simply tell me what YOUR scary story is(or what scares you)! Fill out the form below with all the details and I will let Random.org select a winner.

I will be posting some of the most fun answers in a post later on, so please let me know if that is not ok when entering.

Contest is international and will end Oct 12th.

Michelle Hodkin Interview

Yesterday I told you all about why I love The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Today I have the fabulous author, Michelle Hodkin stopping by for an interview.

I was fortunate enough to have met Michelle at Book Expo America this year and she is one of the sweetest, kindest authors I’ve met.

You can learn more about her by visiting her blog, her official website, and Twitter.

1. Describe The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer in 3 words

Dark. Sexy. Twisted.

2. Who is the first person that gets to read your writing?

For THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER, one of my dear friends, Emily, was the first person to read any of it-ever. I ended up with about eight readers, though, for that book-members of my family and friends I've had for many years. I am still so grateful for all of the help they gave me.

3. What kind of research did you do for The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer? (if this is too spoilery please replace with this question - what made you want to become an author?)

Well, the most interesting research involved shooting a Glock 23 uncompensated 40 caliber gun. I was also chased out of a botanica in Little Havana when I went with a friend to do research for the book. Creepier still? We couldn't find the botanica again when we went back the next day. It was just.gone.

4. If you could go back in time to any time period and any place, where and when would you travel to?

Laurelton, Queens (New York) circa 1947. My grandmother would have been 17 and it would be so amazing to know what she was like as a teenager, since she and I have always been so close that in high school, I would routinely tell people she was my best friend.

5. This is not book related, but it is a cause close to my heart as well. You're really involved with animal shelters, and just animal causes in general. I volunteer at my local animal shelter, so I really admire what you do. What made you want to get involved? Any tips for people wanting to get involved?

I have always loved animals (my second word was 'duck') and I've been active in animal rescue for over ten years. I started volunteering for a shelter when I was in college, but I really became inspired when, after volunteering for that shelter, I met Maggie-who I later adopted. Maggie, my rescued pit bull, came from a house with 42 other animals in it and she had so many mental and physical problems stemming from her abuse and neglect. It made me want to help the millions of animals who find themselves in shelters through no fault of their own.

There are so many resources out there for people looking to do more. If you can foster an animal (take one into your home), then contact your local animal shelter and see if they can use you. Or if you have even just a free half-hour a week that you can spare, see if they could use volunteers to help walk the dogs-sometimes that's all the human interaction they get each day. Not because shelter staff doesn't care, but because there are too many homeless pets and not enough loving families to adopt them all.

But if you're limited on time or space, then visit the Animals section of Change.org. It's a grassroots platform dedicated to social change, and you can help tremendously by adding your name to petitions for causes you care about-and there are ALL kinds of causes on there! All it takes is one click, but so many victories have been achieved because people cared enough to click through at all.

Thank you for asking about this, and for doing all of the good work that you do, and for having me on your blog!

Um, shooting a gun for research??! BAD ASS!

Change.org really is a fantastic site and if you are looking to get involved they are a great place to start.

I would like to thank Michelle for stopping by. Come back tomorrow for a chance to win my Mara Dyer prize pack featuring a copy of the book and other goodies!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Release Date – September 27, 2011
Publisher – Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 464
My Rating- 10/10
*obtained from Book Expo America for an honest review*

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

Welcome to the first post in my Mara Dyer week. Yup, that’s right - WEEK! This book rocked my world and I am going to be annoying and gush about it constantly.

So the synopsis doesn’t tell us much - and guess what? I am not going to spoil anything either. This book is one of those books that needs to be discovered, revealed and experienced. Please don’t spoil it for yourself as it’s really almost magical what happens while reading it if you are not expecting what’s coming.

Dark, sexy, twisted, WTF, and OMG. These are the words that went through my mind as I reading this book. It literally grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go.

The writing style is amazing. It’s one of those books where each and every plot point has been thought out and planned for. It’s so lush, beautiful and well written. Michelle can create a mood with just a few words and the timing of her humour is perfect. She builds suspense and intrigue really well. You want to keep reading, you always want to know more.

Mara - I love her. Really I do. I would be friends with her. She’s fragile and broken after the accident. At times she, and the reader, are wondering if she is going crazy. However, there is a strength to her. She is trying to get her life in order, and move on. People are capable of dealing with a lot and Mara reflects this. It makes her very likeable. I enjoyed that she doesn’t remember much about the accident so we are able to take the journey with her. We learn things as she does (mostly) and it makes her really easy to relate to. We can relate to feeling out of place (Mara transfers schools after the accident) and wanting to just blend in in certain situations. The question that is teased with this book “Who is Mara Dyer?”, the answer to this is pretty awesome, and I can’t wait to find out more about her in the next books.

The romance in this book. Sigh...BIG SIGH. Noah Shaw is my book crush right now. The guy I will measure all other book crushes against. I want one of him for my birthday (or Christmas, not fussy). I love how he and Mara balance each other. I love that whenever Noah is snarky, that Mara can dish it right back. Mara has her own stuff going on (hello, she was in an accident that killed her friends, and now weird things are happening) so she makes it clear that she isn’t interested in Noah’s games. LOVE IT! This makes Mara a challenge for him, and he pursues her as a result. I love that he is British (my love affair with the British accent is well known). He ends up being very sweet, and really does care about Mara which makes him even more adorable. The chemistry is off the charts when they are together and they have some of the hottest make out scenes in YA. This is a really sexy book (if Michelle manages to top the sexy in book 2 I might explode). The teasing, and banter between these two is funny, and genuine.

I also want to point out that Michelle’s teenagers FELT like teenagers. They did what I would expect teenagers to do, talked about things like sex, worried about college, dealt with the mean b*@ch in school. I liked that it seemed realistic even with the creepy under current.

The ending of the book…it KILLED me. It is one of the best twists I’ve read in a book. It was something I did NOT expect to happen, and it has me going crazy for book two. It creates a whole new set of questions that I can’t wait to dive into. I am also legitimately scared about what might happen to these characters I already love in book two now. How long exactly until I can read it??!

In My Mailbox

This is a weekly meme hosted by the awesome Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives us a chance to showcase the books we got during the week.

I got a few fun things in my mailbox this week.

First something non book related. I LOVE Gremlins. The movie brings back memories of sitting and watching it with my sisters and I've always loved Gizmo.

One of my sweet penpals (who is really now more of a friend) sent me a present. A Christmas ornament of Gizmo!! It's seriously the cutest thing ever and I squealed when I got it in the mail.



He is so cute he will be in all my pictures this week :)

So I got 2 books this week.






Purchased -

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (goodreads)


From the library -

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead (goodreads)

So I pre-ordered 2 copies of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and ONE of them was shipped early. I am not sure when the second one will arrive (I expect this coming week) so you can expect to see it again.

I have read Shadow Kiss and LOVED it. This series just gets better and better. My heart was kind of broken at the end of this one though. :(

What books did you get this week? Leave me a comment and I will check it out.

Happy reading everyone!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer book trailer...

Sigh...

So I live in Canada and can not watch this. However, I am sure it's amazing, sexy, dark, and twisty..because that's exactly what The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin is.

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

EDIT -

Here is a video that should be viewable to all. The trailer is amazing. Seriously. One of the best I've seen.



Enjoy the video and come back next week for my Mara Dyer week.

Friday Hops!

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. It's a great way to meet new blogger friends. This weeks question is:

Q. Do you have a favorite series that you read over and over again? Tell us a bit about it and why you keep on revisiting it?

I read the Harry Potter series over and over again. I am pretty sure everyone knows them. I have also read the Mortal Instruments books by Cassandra Clare a bunch of times.



Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy For Books. It's a great way to meet new people and friends around the blogworld!

Question - TBD

Happy weekend and Happy reading!

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies
Release Date – September 27, 2011
Publisher – HarperCollins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 320
My Rating- 8/10
*obtained from the publisher for an honest review*

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.
In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

I first stumbled across this book due to it’s GORGEOUS cover. So stunning. I read the synopsis and immediately thought it sounded like a good angel novel.

Jocelyn Davies writing style is easy to read, flows well and keeps you turning the pages. The novel starts off a little slower, but once it gets started you will be sucked into the story.

Her characters are interesting. The main character Skye is really very average. She barely stood out to me. It didn’t distract from the story because the other characters make up for it. Her friends Ian, Cassie, and Dan are amazing. I loved her best friend Cassie. They provided our insight into Skye. These people were real friends that worried about her, cared about her, and were just there for her.

The novel, sadly, has the disappearing parents (parental figure) complex that is so common in YA. While her Aunt Jo has a reason to be out all the time (her job requires it) I would have liked to see her around more.

The other 2 important characters to this story are Asher and his cousin Devin. Asher and Devin are angels. The fact that it tells you fans of Hush Hush will love this one clued me in so I knew going into the novel what to expect. The mythology is actually very interesting, and I am looking forward to learning more. That is what really drew me in and kept me reading.

This love triangle has a twist. I never really knew for sure where Skye stood with either Devin or Asher. There are outside influences, and reasons that both would want her to choose them that have nothing to do with actually being in love with her. I found that very interesting, and unique. I was always second guessing motives.

Asher is the dark, ‘bad-boy” who has a disregard for any rules he and Devin may have to follow. Asher is the one that makes Skye’s pulse quicken and makes her a little reckless herself. I liked him much more than Devin. While Asher is a little self centred, and careless I found his teasing, humour and friendliness much more appealing than Devin’s personality.

Devin is more level headed, likes to follow the rules (almost to the point of rigidity) and his relationship with Skye is more of a slow burn. She is attracted to him but it’s not intense and consuming like it is with Asher. It’s more of a friendship, with feelings boiling to the surface. He is more aloof and cold at times. He is very serious and it’s rare for him to laugh or even smile.

The story really picks up a little ways in and steamrolls to an unforgettable ending. The ending….ooh that torture of an ending. It leaves you one most intense cliffhangers I’ve read. Congratulations to Ms Davies, I am dying to get my hands on the next book as a result.

200 Follower Giveaway!

A HUGE thank you to everyone that is following me. I can not even express how surprised, greatful and happy I am to have reached this insane milestone.

I wanted to give back so I have 2 prizes.

Prize number 1 is



A copy of Amy Plum's Die For Me, and a signed bookmark!


Prize number 2 is

Your choice of book from the following list:

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Anna and the French Kiss or Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Any Cassandra Clare novel

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Divergent by Veronica Roth

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Fateful by Claudia Grey

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

I chose these books as they have been some of my favourites that I've read so far and would love to share one with one of you!

To win just fill out the form below. Contest is international as long as Book Depository ships to your country. Contest closes Oct 5th.

Waiting on Wednesday...Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

I love the sound of this. The cover is quite eye catching as well.

Expected release date - Feb 7, 2012

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Release Date – September 27, 2011
Publisher – Little Brown
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 432
My Rating- 8/10

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

'Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well'

With those words Daughter of Smoke and Bone pulls you in. I wanted to know more about this angel, and this devil who fell in love.

Fans of fantasy will love this book. It’s rich in backstory, plot, and fantastical elements. The writing just flows, and keeps you hooked. I didn’t really find any lags in the story. I was just as anxious as Karou was to find out more of her story.

Karou is the type of heroine that I wish we could see more of. She is very likeable. A student at an art school in Prague that is fully capable of taking care of herself. The best part? She isn’t taking care of herself by having some crazy powers, she trained in different fighting styles. Ok, so there are things about her that are not average, such as the ability to speak a whole bunch of languages and the tattoos on her hands, but she manages to seem very “real”. Her best friend reflects on her character. Her best friend loves her, and is so patient. Karou disappears and her friend just accepts this, and understands. I really liked the friendship, and wished Karou would let her friend in more.

The detail into the world building blew me away. Laini Taylor built this world filled with a backstory that is jaw dropping. You are fully immersed into the world and it’s characters.

Brimstone. I ended up liking the gruff, tough yet caring “monster” that raised young Karou. It is Brimestone that has Karou running these mysterious errands that involve collecting teeth. When I found out what the teeth were used for I was surprised, but it made so much sense.

Akiva is the the other main character to the story. The romance part at first feels very “insta” attraction and I was not feeling the connection. As the story progresses though you really get to understand the reasons behind the connection and the relationship feels right.

The ending of the story isn’t really a twist. I figured that the ending was what had happened, but it does set up the second book wonderfully. I am anxious to see what Karou does with all the new information she has accumulated.

This fantasy novel will leave readers spellbound and eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey
Release Date – September 20, 2011
Publisher – HarperCollins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 336
My Rating- 8/10

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

When her boyfriend, Danny, is killed in a car accident, Wren can’t imagine living without him. Wild with grief, she uses the untamed powers she’s inherited to bring him back. But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy she once loved.

Wren has spent four months keeping Danny hidden, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school and somehow, inexplicably, he can sense her secret. Wren finds herself drawn to Gabriel, who is so much more alive than the ghost of the boy she loved. But Wren can’t turn her back on Danny or the choice she made for him—and she realizes she must find a way to make things right, even if it means breaking her own heart.

How would I describe Cold Kiss? It’s a relatable, haunting story that just happens to involve zombies. Those of you wanting to experience flesh eating and terror may want to skip this one. If you’re looking for a heart pulling, emotionally satisfying read that has shades of reality even with the paranormal aspects than Cold Kiss is for you.

Wren is a typical teenage girl…well except for the fact that she has powers. It was refreshing to see just a normal high school girl. She had normal high school girl issues. She was very relatable as a result. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. Her boyfriend dies, she brings him back and is now having to deal with the consequences. Add this to a new boy in school that confuses her and she’s easy to root for. You want her to experience some happiness. Her grief, guilt, confusion and sadness is all very apparent, and as a reader you feel it.

Gabriel was very sweet. He pushed Wren without being obnoxious about it. I loved that he was willing to help her with Danny, even though he has a crush on Wren. He was the type of guy you can lean on, which is exactly what Wren needed at the time.

If you take away the paranormal aspect the story is one that people can really relate to. A girl loves a boy, the boy dies, and she is filled with grief. So much grief that he haunts her, the event changes her, and she doesn’t see a way out. She meets a new boy. This boy is kind, patient and willing to help her through the process of moving forward. The girl ultimately has to “bury” the past and come to terms with the loss of the first boy on her own and can eventually move on. I loved that the author decided to make Danny physically there, instead of just the “elephant in the room”.

The “sub-plot” of Wren’s powers and her family was interesting. Again, while it dealt with paranormal elements the core of very real: a family with secrets that doesn’t want to talk about the secret. Her mother wishes to not talk about Wren’s father, or the powers the females in the family have. The story shows that in a lot of cases not talking about it is even more detrimental than discussing it. Wren needed help, and support from people who knew what she was going through, and it lead to the situation of her bringing Danny back after the accident.

The ending is bittersweet. I felt both sad and hopeful. If you are looking for a quieter, but emotionally impacting read this will certainly satisfy.

In My Mailbox

This is a weekly meme hosted by the awesome Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives us a chance to showcase the books we got during the week.

I got one book for review this week. It's an ebook.



Crave by Melissa Darnell (goodreads)

I have heard some amazing this about this one so I am excited to start it. Thanks to NetGalley and HarlequinTeen for allowing me to read it.

What books did you get this week? Leave me a comment and I will check it out.

Happy reading everyone!

Friday Hops

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. It's a great way to meet new blogger friends. This weeks question is:


Q. It's that pesky magic book fairy again! She has another wish: What imaginary book world would you like to make a reality?

Hogwarts! I wish I could go to Hogwarts!



Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy For Books. It's a great way to meet new people and friends around the blogworld!

Q- As a book blogger, how do you introduce yourself in your profile?”

I have an "About Me" section that I use for this. I talk about how I came to love books, and important things in my life (my adorable nieces, my cat, etc). I like to give a little about me so you can see how my experience has shaped how I read and react to things. I love that like experience can twist how we percieve a book, and makes it unique for each reader.
Happy weekend and Happy reading!

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Release Date – October 19, 2010
Publisher – Philomela (Penguin Group)
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 452
My Rating- 8/10
*obtained from the library*

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

I read the first chapter of Nightshade and almost stopped. The whole instant connection between Calla and Shay when she saves him almost turned me off. I am so glad I kept reading. Nightshade was nothing like I expected it to be.

I am not a fan of werewolves usually. It is either hit or miss with me. This story, however, had me hooked. I liked the characters, the wolf politics, and of course, the sexy boys.

The writing is addictive and the story keeps you turning the pages. Andrea Cremer had me caring about the characters with a couple of chapters. There are so many great characters in this story. It’s really the novels strong point.

Calla Tor is an amazing main character. She’s tough, strong willed, and takes care of her pack. I like that she thought for herself, but was still loyal to the pack and “family” that she was part of. She tried to stay within the rules they set out while still being her own person. She’s capable of taking care of herself, and that is refreshing to find in YA.

The two men in her life - Ren and Shay are both equally dashing and swoon worthy. I couldn’t really choose between the two with Ren having the slight lead. The connections with both of these guys are different but electric. The kissing scenes (especially with Ren) scorched the pages.

There are other secondary characters are that amazing. I loved sweet and friendly Bryn, adorable and lovesick Ansel, and most of the Nightshade pack. Even a lot of the Bane pack were great. I especially liked Neville and Mason.

The wolf pack politics were very interesting to me. The fact that Ren could “date” other girls but Calla must remain pure until the union; the fact that matches are made and chosen for the pack members; etc are all things that caused me to think. I really hope we get to see Calla standing up to Ren and the alpha males more. I hope she continues to grow and becomes an even stronger heroine. I did have some issues with the whole “Alpha males are stronger than alpha females and they are in charge” stuff, which is why I want Calla to really stand up to them. There is a scene with Calla, her mother, and a Bane alpha that literally turned my stomach.

I am not sure I would have been as blindly loyal as the werewolf packs are. They took what was being told to them as 100% truth without even challenging it. They barely knew things, and didn’t inquire as to why they weren’t allowed access to this information. I am curious to find out more about this relationship between the packs, and the people whom they protect things for.

The book ends with you not really knowing who Calla should believe or trust. There are lies being told to her and as a reader I am still not sure whom I believe.

The ending is an amazing cliffhanger that has me dying to read Wolfsbane right away. I can’t believe I waited so long to read this. If you haven’t yet…what are you waiting for?!

Waiting on Wednesday...Slide by Jill Hathaway

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is Slide by Jill Hathaway

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

It sounds really interesting. I am curious to see if it's a good mystery.

Expected release date - March 27, 2012

Frost by Marianna Baer

Frost by Marianna Baer
Release Date – September 13, 2011
Publisher – HarperCollins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 400
My Rating- 7/10
*obtained from Book Expo America for an honest review*

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Leena Thomas’s senior year at boarding school begins with a shock: Frost House, her cozy dorm of close friends, has been assigned an unexpected roommate: confrontational, eccentric Celeste Lazar. But while Leena’s anxiety about a threat to her sanctuary proves valid, it becomes less and less clear whether the threat lies with her new roommate, within Leena’s own mind, or within the very nature of Frost House itself. Mysterious happenings in the dorm, an intense triangle between Leena, Celeste, and Celeste’s brother, and the reawakening of childhood fears, all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. Frost is the story of a haunting. As to whether the demons are supernatural or psychological . . . well, which answer would let you sleep at night?

Leena, Viv and Abby are moving into Frost House; a cute little Victorian style dorm room at their private school. Their friend Kate is not going to be living with them for the semester and the Dean of the school has put Celeste with them for the semester. Right from the moment Celeste moves in Leena starts noticing things happening…

The atmosphere in Frost is definitely on the creepier side. Right from the first time something happens in the house I found myself waiting to see what was going to happen next. The author does a fantastic job of unsettling you.

I liked that the incidents that were happening were easily explained away at first. They had reasonable explanations. I find that in ghost/haunting stories they tend to be too outrageous to scare me, and that wasn’t the case with this novel.

Leena was a character that I liked at some points and not so much at others. I did feel for her as the story progressed but she could be judgemental and mean sometimes. She goes through a lot during the novel, and the author does an amazing job of making you sympathize with her. It’s easy to imagine what you would do in the same situation.

Celeste was unique. Right from the beginning she’s a little eccentric and has very artistic tastes. We learn that she has a history of mental illness in her family.

David is Celeste’s sister. I found their relationship to be a very close, sometimes a little too close. Leena and the others also pick up on this. Other than his relationship with his sister David seems like a nice, normal, safe guy that Leena could have a real relationship.

Viv and Abby seemed like good friends, however I was less inclined to like them when they ditched Leena after something happens. They refuse to even talk to her about it, or listen to her. They are not in the story much so we don’t really get to know them. I just found them mean and not very forgiving considering the circumstances.

The last half of the novel I felt was more interesting. We start to learn a lot of things that change our perceptions of what was causing the issues at the house.

I loved that the ending of the novel left things open to interpretation. We never really find out what happened in Frost House. Was it a ghost? Was it someone making these things happen? Was it due to the house itself? I think this is the strongest part of the novel. It had me re-examining what I had read and trying to figure out which option fit.

Frost left me a little scared and I really did enjoy the aspect of trying to figure out what was causing the incidents that were happening to Leena and Celeste. You may have to sleep with the light on after you read it though…

Fateful by Claudia Grey

Fateful by Claudia Grey
Release Date – September 13, 2011
Publisher – HarperCollins (HarperTeen)
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 356
My Rating- 8/10
*obtained from Book Expo America for an honest review*

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

It's about a servant girl named Tess in 1912, who wants to escape from the house where she works, and most particularly the lecherous young lord of the manor. But that's not her biggest problem. While on a voyage to America, where she plans to escape and start a new life, she meets Alec, who's ruggedly handsome, fabulously wealthy, intelligent and yet so clearly troubled that she'd rather not fall for him, but she does. That also is not her biggest problem. Alec, it turns out, is a werewolf ... one cursed to change every night, unless and until he surrenders his independence and joins the Brotherhood, a pack of violently misogynistic werewolves who have been tracking him for months. You'd think that would be their biggest problem, wouldn't you?

But no. Their biggest problem -- though they don't know it yet -- is that they're aboard the RMS Titanic

I am fascinated by the story of the Titanic and was very excited when I heard about this novel. I wasn’t really sure if this was going to work, or if it would be awkward. Luckily, it’s anything but awkward. It’s a interesting tale that drew me in right from the beginning.

This was my first novel by Claudia Grey, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Her writing style, at least for this novel, is perfect. She immediately makes you feel like you’re back in 1912. The language conjures up that time period effortlessly, while allowing current readers to enjoy it as well.

The amount of research that had to have be done to write this novel is astounding. The Titanic is fully described and detailed in the novel. I felt like I was on board the ship, and could easily picture the different decks, and areas on board. As you are reading, knowing the outcome of the Titanic, you can’t help but feel a sense of impending panic. You know what’s going to happen and as these characters are dealing with other, very intense (hello, werewolves) issues you dread what is coming.

The characters are well written, fully developed and interesting. Tess Davies is strong willed, intelligent, and sticks to what she believes in. She is also loyal, and very kind. Every time she did something that would anger her employers I had to cheer because she was doing what she wanted.

Alec is noble, a gentleman, and wants very badly to do the right thing. He does not wish to cause anyone harm. He is a good match for Tess, and you hope for a happy ending to their story.

The other characters are just as interesting. I loved to dislike Mikhail, and Lady Regina. Ned, George, Irene and Myriam were all great characters that you ended up caring about. It makes it jarring to realize that not all of them will make it off the Titanic at the end of our story.

The ending, when the Titanic starts to sink, is pulse pounding. I could almost feel what it would be like to be aboard during this horrific event. The panic, the confusion and terror that would have been experienced is something I can only imagine. Claudia manages to give a taste of what it might have been like.

This is a story that while intriguing for it’s paranormal aspects, could stand on it’s Titanic storyline alone, and is one I recommend to anyone interested in either. Don’t be surprised if you want to watch the movie once finished though.

In My Mailbox

This is a weekly meme hosted by the awesome Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives us a chance to showcase the books we got during the week.

I got two books this week, both from the library.





Passion by Lauren Kate (goodreads)
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver (goodreads)

I am looking forward to both of these books. I have heard so many positive things about We Need to Talk About Kevin.

What books did you get this week? Leave me a comment and I will check it out.

Happy reading everyone!

Friday Hops!

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. It's a great way to meet new blogger friends. This weeks question is:


Q. Have you ever wanted a villain to win at the end of a story? If so, which one??

The only example that comes to mind if from Wither by Lauren DeStefano. I wanted Rhine to realize she loved Linden and to be with him. I don't know if that is really having the villian win (because I don't consider Linden a villian) but it's not what most people wanted for Rhine.



Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy for Books. It's a great way to meet new people and friends around the blogworld!

Q. “Many of us primarily read one genre of books, with others sprinkled in. If authors stopped writing that genre, what genre would you start reading? Or would you give up reading completely if you couldn’t read that genre anymore?”

Hmmm... I love anything YA so as long as that didn't disappear I would be ok. I love paranormal romance so if that was no longer available I might be sad, but there are other amazing YA genres that I could read.

Happy weekend and Happy reading!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Release Date – September 13, 2011
Publisher – Doubleday
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 387
My Rating- 8/10
*obtained from Book Expo America for an honest review*

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per?formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.
Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

Have you ever read a book and wished for a place to be real? After I read Harry Potter I wanted to go to Hogwarts. I wished that kind of magic existed in the world. After reading Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus I feel that way again. Her circus is a place of wonder, and enchantment that I fell in love with it immediately.

The circus is so well described, developed and so magical that is sweeps you into the story. The wonder, and amazement of the patrons matches the readers as you read about the wonderful acts, food, and other entertainment that the circus offers. The author was able to create something so fully defined that I found myself wishing I could go and see these things. The clock that is the centre piece of the circus comes to mind as an example of this. The detail and description put into the clock amazed me. I felt like the circus itself was the main character of the story.

My one complaint is characterization. I didn’t feel attached to any of the characters. I couldn’t get invested in them the way I was invested in the circus itself. I would have liked to have spent more time with Marco, Celia and the rest. There were some very interesting characters, that could have really been developed into fantastic character arcs. A lot of the circus performers interested me. I especially wanted to know more about Widget, Poppet and Bailey. I felt that the writing style itself may have kept us at a distance in this kind of story. The love connection between Celia and Marco didn’t come through for me as a result. That being said, the writing itself is easy to read, and quite magical at times. The pacing, however, might be a little slow for some people.

A positive on the writing side is how everything ties together at the end. The story has a few storylines that interconnect at various times and they all sort of come together in the end. The way Erin brought everything together was nice, and completed the story in a satisfying way.

The "competition" itself was interesting to me. Some people may feel it doesn't have enough "action" but having the "duel" be more like a chess game with each opponent making strategic moves worked for me. I liked seeing what Celia and Marco came up with for the circus.

While I wanted more in some areas, the magical setting and tone kept me interested and is what made the story for me. If you enjoy rich, developed settings that delight your imagination this book will be perfect for you.

Waiting on Wednesday.....The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Words are the most dangerous weapon of all.

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she’s spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can’t be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country’s only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

This just sounds AWESOME. The fact that other languages are not permitted to be spoken is scary, and it sounds like a unique premise. Can't wait to read it!

Expected release date - November 15, 2011

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

The Name of the Star (Shades of London # 1) by Maureen Johnson
Release Date – September 29, 2011
Publisher – Putnam
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 370
My Rating- 9/10
*obtained from Book Expo America for an honest review*

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

I’ve read a few Maureen Johnson books and was curious to see what she would do with this. I am thrilled to say it’s AWESOME.

Here is where I admit I have a bit of an interest in criminal cases. I had considered going into Criminology when I left high school. I am, of course, intrigued by Jack the Ripper’s case (especially as it was never solved). This immediately made me want to read this book.

Rory is a fish out of water in the beginning. She moves to London and into a boarding school. She seemed just like a typical teenager which is refreshing. We meet her roommate Jazza who I really liked. She was fun, and amidst creepy factor of the book provided some normalcy to the story. Jerome also provided this as well as having a crush on Rory. Alistair was also a favourite. I liked seeing him whenever Rory would go into the library.

We meet Callum, Stephen, and Boo. I really liked Boo. She’s brass, loud, and funny. She will hopefully provide some much needed humour in the next books as well. I loved Stephen. He is the swoony boy from the book. I felt for him, and the story he tells Rory later on in the book is sad. I think we’re just beginning to find out about him. I also suspect a bit of a triangle with Rory/Stephen/Jerome. Callum is a bit more reckless, and headstrong than Stephen. I enjoyed his sense of humour as well. Now, Callum, Stephen and Boo make up the Shades of London. I don’t want to give away exactly what they do, or how they work, but it’s unique.

The Jack the Ripper element provides a scary undercurrent to the whole story. I was legitimately scared for some of the characters in the book. The pay off with the story coming together at the end is excellent, and having everything tie together worked really well.

I loved the feeling of hype, fear, and paranoia that existed in the book. It really is like a media circus with some of these criminal cases. Networks, newspapers, etc sensationalize things like this and often do create “stars” out of the murders. Maureen was able to show this, and you could feel it along with the characters. It was a nice touch having it be a copycat of a murder from the past and have him copycat the exact dates. It gave them dates to obsess over, and to build the hype around.

The ending of this book was crazy. It sets up the second book in the best way. I have so many questions from just the last few paragraphs that I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one. You may think you’ve read something like this but Maureen makes it fresh, exciting and dare I say...fun!

Mara Dyer Craziness

We are now about 20 days until the release of one of my favourite books (quite possibily favourite) of 2011. I have been working on something extra special for the release of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin and am finally able to share some of the awesome details.



I have some giveaways, discussion posts, and even have Michelle stopping by for an interview. In total it's a week full of posts and other fun things.

Michelle is having an EPIC (hello annotated ARC, I want you) giveaway right now. You can check out the details on how to enter at her blog.

I have a blog button set up for the Mara Dyer week and if you wish to put it your blog you would be my favourite person ever. You can find it on my main page.

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst

Drink Slay Love by Sarah Beth Durst
Release Date – September 13, 2011
Publisher – Margaret K. McElderry
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 320
My Rating- 8/10
obtained - from Netgalley and S&S for an honest review

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire... fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil... until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops.

Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist), and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl's family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King's feast -- as the entrees.

The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends—especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache—to be slaughtered? Then again, she's definitely dead if she lets down her family. What's a sunlight-loving vamp to do?

Right from the moment I read this synopsis I knew this was going to be something really unique. I mean Unicorns, and vampires in the same novel? That makes it automatically awesome. It turned out to be a fun, surprisingly touching read that I really enjoyed.

Pearl was an amazing main character. She had the right amount of humour, attitude, and smarts to make me really like her. She is capable, self reliant and fun. I liked her a lot. Her character development is really sweet, and she provides some really funny moments as her usual sarcastic nature makes room for this new, nicer Pearl. My favourite scene - Pearl seeing the sunrise for the first time and falling in love with how beautiful it makes everything.

Pearl starts high school and her vampire family members provide comedic moments when helping her prepare for school. One of her family members has her do research by watching John Hughes movies like Pretty in Pink. It’s that type of tone and feel that this novel has.

Evan is the boy who “makes her fangs ache”. He is adorable, and such a sweet departure from Pearl’s jerk of a boyfriend Jadrien. Jardrien has some smooth lines, but Evan is a poet and really cares about Pearl. I found the relationship aspect not overly done, sappy or dramatic. It was mixed in with Pearl’s story instead of it being THE story. It was refreshing to see.

My favourite part of this novel was that while it has ridiculous, over the top moments the story is very relatable. Pearl has to do what everyone growing up has to do - make her own decisions. Does she do what her family wants her to, or does she do what she knows and feels is right? It’s about coming into your own, and making those tough decisions that grown ups have to make. It also shows that sometimes other people (even your family) don't always know what is best for YOU as an individual and that you have to do what is in your heart.

I found myself laughing much more than I was expecting to, and it was a more light hearted read as well. If you are looking for something fun, quirky, and unique give it a try. It’s a perfect book to read after you’ve read a “heavier emotional read”.

In My Mailbox

This is a weekly meme hosted by the awesome Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives us a chance to showcase the books we got during the week.

I got two books this week, both from the library.



Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (goodreads)
Want To Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman (goodreads)

I have heard so much about the Nightshade series. Can't wait to start it.

What books did you get this week? Leave me a comment and I will check it out.

Happy reading everyone!

Friday Hops!

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. It's a great way to meet new blogger friends. This weeks question is:


Q. If you could change the ending of any book (or series), which book would you choose? Why and to what?

Hmmm... I am not sure if I would change the ending of any book. That ending is what the author felt suited the book at the time. However, I would have made the ending of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series (Breaking Dawn) more action packed. I honestly felt like NOTHING happened in the last few chapters. I was expecting a huge battle, maybe even some deaths that I wasn't going to like. I think that's the only ending that really came out of nowhere for me.



Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy For Books. It's a great way to meet new people and friends around the blogworld!

Q. “What are you most looking forward to this fall/autumn season – A particular book release? Halloween? The leaves changing color? Cooler temperatures? A vacation? (If your next season is other than fall/autumn, tell us about it and what you are most looking forward to in your part of the world!)”

I am most looking forward to all the amazing books coming out this fall. There seems to be a large amount being released in Sept and Oct especially. I am also looking forward to Halloween. My nieces get so excited and love dressing up.

Happy weekend and Happy reading!

The Predicteds by Christine Seifert

The Predicteds by Christine Seifert
Release Date – September 1, 2011
Publisher – Sourcebooks Fire
Pages - 320
My Rating- 7/10
Obtained - from Book Expo America for an honest review

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Daphne is the new girl in town and is having trouble fitting in. At least she has Jesse... sort of. He wants to be more than "just friends," but there's something he's not telling her about his past. Something dangerous. When a female student is brutally attacked, police turn to PROFILE, a new program that can predict a student's capacity for drug use, pregnancy, and violent behavior, to solve the case. As the witch hunt ensues, Daphne is forced to question her feelings for Jesse-and what she will do if her first love turns out to be a killer.

When I first heard of this book I thought the idea behind it was unique and could be really awesome. It touches on a timely subject matter - violent crimes in schools and how to prevent them - so I was curious to see how that would relate to the story.

Daphne is a character that I like. She had a bit of snarkiness to her, and stood up for herself and others. There are other characters in the book that stood out to me as well - Jesse, Dizzy, January. However, most of the characters are just your typical high school students. It works for the story, but nobody really stands out.

The PROFILE program is interesting. It opens a whole bunch of questions that will get conversations going. Is this type of program a good thing? Can it accurately predict something like this or are there too many outside factors? I kept thinking that if they never knew the results would the outcome have been the same, or are you just putting the idea in someone’s head? We get to see what the effect of finding out you are predicted is on different characters, and that aspect was interesting. I wish it had been explored more.

I felt there were a few places left unexplored that could have made this go from an ok read to an excellent read.

The “predicted” children are separated from the others at school and we never really get to experience their side of the school. We never really get to find out what is going on with the families of these children either. I mean, if my child was separated and basically deemed not worth teaching I would be doing everything I could to protest it. If I was a student and segregated I would not have accepted it. I didn’t see any of them really fighting it.

There is a popular girl who finds out she is predicted and it would have been interesting to see what that did to her, and how she took it, sadly we don’t see much of her after the results are revealed.

The segregation and bias that happens from the PROFILE results being released is the best part of the novel. It’s wonderfully written and handled. I loved that Daphne stuck to what she believed in, and didn’t back down. It really showed you how people can react to things and how quickly paranoia can spread.

The writing style itself is easy to read, kept my interest, and I could see where a lot of people would like this novel. I just wanted to dive into some topics more, as it really touched on some interesting questions that could have been explored.