Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week:

BOOKS

Siobhan Vivian and Jenny Han Talk Burn for Burn



I loved Burn for Burn so much. It totally surprised me and left me wanting the sequel right away. This video is super fun, and the authors let you know a little bit about the characters and setting of the novel.

The cover for After Party by Ann Redisch Stampler

So pretty! I do not even know what this novel is about and I want it. I love the cover so much. I am excited to get a synopsis so I pine even more for this one.

The cover for The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter 

Aimee's novels always have such pretty covers, but I think I love this one the best. Very eye catching. Curious about the tag line 'Immortality or Love. You can't have both.' though. After the cliffhanger of Goddess Interrupted I am glad to hear that this one was pushed up a bit!

TV

Season 2 Once Upon A Time Promo Art

Magic is coming!!!! This makes me so excited. Emma looks bad ass, and the purple smoke from the season one finale is taking center stage. Can it please be the end of September already?!

So that's it for me this week! What are you obsessed with?

Follow Friday

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

Best cover? What is the best cover of a book that you've read and loved?

Easy! The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. Loved it, and the cover is STUNNING.


TGIF at GReads! is a weekly blog hop hosted by Ginger from GReads

This weeks question is

Choose Your Next Read: How do you go about choosing what you read next? Do you have a schedule you follow, or do you read whatever makes you happy at the moment?

I use Google Calendar to keep track of my schedule. I have a pretty strict schedule and only deviate if I am really caught up.

Happy Weekend!

Fathomless by Jackson Pearce

Fathomless by Jackson Pearce
Release Date – September 4, 2012
Publisher Website –  Little Brown and Company
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -  304 pages
My Rating- 3.5/5
**obtained from publisher via BEA for an honest review**

**SPOILERS FOR SISTERS RED AND SWEETLY**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Celia Reynolds is the youngest in a set of triplets and the one with the least valuable power. Anne can see the future, and Jane can see the present, but all Celia can see is the past. And the past seems so insignificant -- until Celia meets Lo. 

Lo doesn't know who she is. Or who she was. Once a human, she is now almost entirely a creature of the sea -- a nymph, an ocean girl, a mermaid -- all terms too pretty for the soulless monster she knows she's becoming. Lo clings to shreds of her former self, fighting to remember her past, even as she's tempted to embrace her dark immortality. 

When a handsome boy named Jude falls off a pier and into the ocean, Celia and Lo work together to rescue him from the waves. The two form a friendship, but soon they find themselves competing for Jude's affection. Lo wants more than that, though. According to the ocean girls, there's only one way for Lo to earn back her humanity. She must persuade a mortal to love her . . . and steal his soul.

The ocean hides many secrets, and many dangers. Dangers camouflaged in beautiful packaging.

This novel blends the previous fairytales in this series with mermaids. We learn in Sweetly that young girls are taken by the wolves and turned into mere-creatures. This Little Mermaid retelling is dark like the original and keeps many similar themes.  The mermaids must get a mortal to love her and drown them to steal their soul. It’s the only way to regain the humanity and leave the ocean behind.

The underwater chapters were moody, creepy and yet strangely beautiful. They had a haunting quality to them and I enjoyed them the most. From the descriptions of excruciating pain when Lo walked on land, to the mermaids ability to drown someone, the mermaid components of the story chilled me. Their singular mind set and viewing themselves as a group rather than individuals added to this. It felt a little like a cult.

Some of these mermaids are desperate, and that makes them dangerous. Many of them do not remember their real names, or the lives they left behind. The ones that do remember are the most desperate of all, and even more dangerous. I thought these girls who have had everything taken from them were quite sympathetic. You can understand their motivations, even if you don’t agree with them.

The relationships in the novel were well developed. I felt I could relate to the relationship the three sisters had. They had moments of such loyalty to each other and yet were capable of hurting each other deeply. Their teasing and banter was also wonderful. They are very protective of each other. The romance between Jude and Celia was another highlight.  It was quite sweet and did not develop too quickly. They each had normal apprehensions about the other, especially given how they met. The friendship that develops between Lo and Celia was touching. Born out of each of them getting something they need from the other, a genuine friendship quickly forms.

Like in previous books in this series, I had a harder time connecting with the characters. I, however, liked a lot of these characters much more than the ones in the previous novels. Lo was the one character that really stood out. She was complex, and intriguing. Her fighting to remember who she really is, and the desire to forget. Temptation to give in is there, and she is fighting natural instincts every time she gets out of the water. The excruciating pain she feels in order to keep what is essentially her sanity made her sympathetic.

My only issue is that so much is left open ended. The ending, while unexpected, was less than satisfying for me. for a fourth book to pull all three together in a way that hasn’t happened yet.  Darkly chilling, and desperate mermaids saved this story, and made it a fine addition to the trilogy.

Waiting on Wednesday....Pivot Point

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 Pivot Point by Kasie West

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Addison Coleman's life is one big "What if?" As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It's the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie's parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with–her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the "Norms," or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it's not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school–but she never wanted to be a quarterback's girlfriend. When Addie's father is asked to consult on a murder in the compound, she's unwittingly drawn into a drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she's willing to live through...and who she can't live without.

This reminds me a little of the movie Sliding Doors which I enjoyed. I am intrigued by the thought of two different paths and having to make a choice. If given the chance I think most people would love to see what the consequences of their choices are. I can't wait to see if this is as awesome as it sounds.

Expected release date - Febuary 12, 2013

Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel

Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel
Release Date – August 28, 2012
Publisher Website – Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader
Pages - 310 pages
My Rating- 5/5
**obtained from publisher for an honest review**

**SPOILERS FOR THIS DARK ENDEAVOUR**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Devotion turns deadly in this second Gothic thriller from Kenneth Oppel.When does obsession become madness? Tragedy has forced sixteen-year-old Victor Frankenstein to swear off alchemy forever. He burns the Dark Library. He vows he will never dabble in the dark sciences again—just as he vows he will no longer covet Elizabeth, his brother’s betrothed. 

If only these things were not so tempting. 

When he and Elizabeth discover a portal into the spirit world, they cannot resist. Together with Victor’s twin, Konrad, and their friend Henry, the four venture into a place of infinite possibilities where power and passion reign. But as they search for the knowledge to raise the dead, they unknowingly unlock a darkness from which they may never return.

Where This Dark Endeavour focused on science and alchemy, Such Wicked Intent takes a darker, more supernatural turn. Kenneth Oppel, once again, captives and chills while making you love his characters for their flaws.

Kenneth Oppel’s writing makes you turn pages late into the night. It leaves you anxiously awaiting what is going to happen to these characters. His greatest accomplishment is making Victor a conflicted, egotistical and yet, incredibly engaging and enthralling character. Victor, for all his flaws, ranks as one of the more crush worthy boys in Young Adult fiction. It’s the writing and characterization that prevents the disconnection that could happen with such a character.

Each character is greatly changed from the previous novel. I enjoyed seeing Henry’s transformation most of all. Henry’s sweet nature often masks the reality - he is Victor’s friend. He does have things in common with Victor. His more confident side shows through in this novel, as the events of the previous novel have impacted him greatly.

The romance aspect of the novel is something I tend to not like in novels. I hesitate to call it a triangle because Elizabeth’s feelings are quite clear. She is focused on Konrad, even in death. There is something captivating about the romance that does sneak in between her and Victor, and even a little deliciously sexy. The spirit world heightens any passions and the chemistry between Elizabeth and Victor is electric. Upon viewing Elizabeth in the spirit world for the first time Victor thinks

“there is absolutely nothing between my gaze and her face. It’s like I am stroking her skin. It feels almost wicked, deliciously so”. (arc page 66) .

This quote sums up how Victor views her perfectly. The relationship between Elizabeth and each brother is different. She’s different things to each brother. She’s both light and dark. Her character fascinates me because she’s so wholly complex and developed.

Victor’s motivations are thinly veiled under the guise of wanting to resurrect his brother. Part of his motivation does stem from this, but Victor’s thirst for power is what pushes him. He is a perfect example of power twisting someone and becoming their driving force. Victor is accused of thinking he is a god; this is not far off. What he, Elizabeth and Henry unleash is powerful, and addicting. Victor’s personality makes that pull even more dangerous. He becomes obsessed and pushes boundaries, even if those limits shouldn’t be pushed.

The ending leaves us with Victor that has had a taste of immense power. The dark and chilling path he is on leads to the events in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. A wonderfully detailed, twisted and compelling prequel that shines light on a descent into madness ignited by a lust for power.

The Prophet by Michael Koryta

The Prophet by Michael Koryta
Release Date – August 7, 2012
Publisher Website –  Little Brown and Company
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -  416 pages
My Rating- 4/5
**obtained from publisher via BEA for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Adam Austin hasn't spoken to his brother in years. When they were teenagers, their sister was abducted and murdered, and their devastated family never recovered. Now Adam keeps to himself, scraping by as a bail bondsman, working so close to the town's criminal fringes that he sometimes seems a part of them. Kent Austin is the beloved coach of the local high school football team, a religious man and hero in the community. After years of near misses, Kent's team has a shot at the state championship, a welcome point of pride in a town that has had its share of hardships. Just before playoffs begin, the town and the team are thrown into shock when horrifically, impossibly, another teenage girl is found murdered. When details emerge that connect the crime to the Austin brothers, the two are forced to unite to stop a killer-and to confront their buried rage and grief before history repeats itself again.

 Faith, forgiveness, and redemption. How closely are they tied, and who should grant it? The Austin brothers are forced to examine themselves, and the death of their beloved sister when a high school student in their town is discovered murdered. This classic mystery is not filled with twist and turns but rather focuses on character development and a sound plot.

The writing in this taunt “whodunit”  keeps the reader on edge and fully invested in the characters. It could have skimped on character development in favour of the mystery but the author equally fleshes out both.  The emotional struggle each brother faces make the story more dynamic and made me care about the outcome much more. The characters are flawed, but even their negative choices are true to character. The author even made the football part of the story. A perfect backdrop to the main plot of two brothers trying to find their own way to forgive themselves for their perceived roles in events leading to not only their sister’s murder, but the recent crime as well.

The overall mystery is strung together with the idea of faith and if it can be broken. Faith not only in religion but faith in yourself. Adam and Kent each are tested in their own way. They are each dealing with the death of their sister in different ways. Kent has grieved, moved on and believes that there is no point in drudging it back up. Adam hasn’t dealt with it in the slightest and still struggles daily. The guilt each man is carrying is palpable. It was intriguing that they each blamed themselves, but part of their anger was directed at the other as well.  It made the characters more realistic as most are prone to rationalize away their guilt, or look for others to attach it to.

The bond between the brothers, even through everything they have dealt with, is believable and stronger than they think. The author manages to show that no matter what family will always be there for each other when it counts.

A novel that is so much more than your typical crime thriller. A tightly written, thought provoking murder mystery that delves a little deeper than I was expecting. A wonderful portrayal of family bonds, and how forgiving ourselves can be the hardest thing to do.

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

Just one book for me this week. A friend finished this and passed it along as I figured I would like it.

The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay (goodreads)

Happy Sunday and Happy Reading!

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week:

BOOKS

Trailer for Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel

**SPOILERS FOR THIS DARK ENDEAVOUR**

I loved This Dark Endeavour and I am just starting Such Wicked Intent right now. A captivating prequel to the Frankenstein story that will leave you dying for more. This also happens to be written by a Canadian author (so total bonus points).

Cover of Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

Not only does the synopsis sound amazing, but this cover.....STUNNING. I just stumbled upon the cover this week and it's so pretty!

OTHER

Sears Christmas Wishbook

The excitement for Christmas when I was younger started when Sears (a department store here in Canada) published their annual Christmas catalog. The Sears Christmas Wishbook comes out around this time every year and I would rush to look through it for ideas to add to my Christmas list. A tradition that I have carried on with my nieces. I am excited to bring my freshly delivered copy to them so they can start creating their own lists. *Yes, I just said the dreaded "C" word (Christmas)*

Fall TV Season

With September being right around the corner I am starting to get antsy about my beloved TV shows coming back. The Vampire Diaries, Once Upon A Time, Dexter, and Revenge are some of the shows that I am looking forward to having back! After those season finales I am dying to see what happens next.

So what you are obsessed with this week?

Follow Friday

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

Q: Worst cover? What is the worst cover of a book that you've read and loved?.

I was not a huge fan of the cover for Storm by Brigid Kemmerer, but I did love the novel.

I am not sure what exactly it is, but I don't feel it represents how awesome the book is.


TGIF at GReads! is a weekly blog hop hosted by Ginger from GReads

This weeks question is

Back to School Reading: Which books would you like to see in today's high school Literature classrooms?

Thirteen Reasons Why would be one that I wish all students had to read. The Harry Potter series would be great for the teacher to have classroom discussions as well.

Happy Weekend!

Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh

Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh
Release Date –  August 28, 2012
Publisher Website –  Simon and Schuster
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -  429 pages
My Rating- 3.5/5
**swapped with fellow blogger**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

True love takes a twisted turn in the second book of this modern gothic romance trilogy channeling the dark brilliance of Edgar Allan Poe.While Varen remains a prisoner in a perilous dream world where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life, Isobel travels to Baltimore to confront the dark figure known throughout the world as the Poe Toaster. This man, the same man who once appeared to Isobel in her dreams and abandoned her in Varen’s nightmare world, holds the key to saving Varen. 

But when Isobel discovers a way to return to this dream world, she finds herself swept up in a realm that not only holds remnants of Edgar Allan Poe’s presence, but has also now taken on the characteristics of Varen’s innermost self. It is a dark world of fear, terror, and anger. 

When Isobel once more encounters Varen, she finds him changed. And now Isobel must face a new adversary—one who also happens to be her greatest love.

If your loved one was trapped somewhere what would you do to get them back? In this creepy and darkly romantic novel, Kelly Creagh examines that question and offers some long awaited answers that were left from the Nevermore cliffhanger.

The world Kelly Creagh has built is astounding. It’s complex, and rich. The descriptions make everything seem lush,  beautiful and visually stunning. It’s a world that is easy to imagine. It’s one of the greater strengths in the novel. Kelly’s writing is meant for the descriptive passage and her dialogue is quite witty.

The characters are just as wonderful as they were in Nevermore. Isobel proves how far she is willing to go for Varen in this sequel. She’s not some damsel in distress and proves capable of taking care of herself. She’s reckless, and impulsive, but you understand her motivations. Her teamwork with Gwen provided some great comedic moments that are a nice offset to the creepiness.

The romance between Varen and Isobel might have suffered from Varen’s absence, but that is far from what happens. Instead we are treated to a romance that is quite beautiful. Isobel is determined to go to the ends of the earth for her love, and it’s the quieter moments she spends reflecting that showcase how true her feelings are. Even some of the images are romantic, if darkly romantic. The descriptions of ashes strewn with rose petals have a beauty to them that is softly romantic. This is how see the relationship between Varen and Isobel.

The bonds in Isobel’s family feel so authentic and realistic. The relationship with her brother especially feels real. Her parents deal with what is happening to Isobel in different ways, but each of them care deeply. Her parents are involved and notice what is going on with their daughter which doesn’t happen often in YA novels. The emotions that Isobel grapples with when thinking of the pain she is causing her family shines light on her character.

This novel is what I call a “bridge” novel. We learn just enough new information to take us into final novel. We  get a few answers, and Varen's dream world becomes a little more clear. I did not feel a lot happened or changed until the very end. It felt a little slower than Nevermore at some points. The ending leaves you crushed and anxious about what is next for the doomed couple.

A beautiful and Gothic setting, a romance that is surprisingly beautiful, and fantastic writing make the Nevermore series one worth reading. I just wished the plot had moved along a little more in this second instalment.

Waiting on Wednesday....Natural Born Angel

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

***SPOILERS FOR IMMORTAL CITY***

My pick this week is Natural Born Angel by Scott Speer

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Life turned upside down for Maddy Montgomery when she found out she was half-Angel and was catapulted into the scene of flashbulbs, paparazzi, and the fervent adulation that comes with being in the celebrity Angel world. She's trying to juggle her ordinary life—high school, family, friends—with the intense demands of being in the public eye as heartthrob Angel Jackson Godspeed's girlfriend. 

And now Maddy must face the most difficult choice of her life. She's been offered the chance to become a Guardian. This means entering into dangerous and high stakes training, with no guarantee that she can succeed. But more than that, it would mean leaving her mortal life behind—forever—and allying with the Angels at a time when their relationship with humans is heading for war. . . .

I really enjoyed Immortal City, and loved the crime noir feel of the novel. The glitz, and glamour of Hollywood back dropped against angel murders made for an intriguing read. I can't wait to see what's next for Jackson and Maddy.

 Expected release date - April 2013

Beautiful Lies by Jessica Warman

Beautiful Lies by Jessica Warman
Release Date – August 7, 2012
Publisher Website –  Walker Childrens
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -  422 pages
My Rating- 3/5
**obtained from publisher via BEA for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

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

What if your world was unravelling and you could not trust anyone, not even yourself? When Alice’s sister goes missing she quickly finds everything around her slipping away and her sanity might be next. Filled with twists and turns this murder mystery is a quick, enjoyable read.

The characters of Alice and Rachel are the most developed characters in the novel. The secondary characters remain background characters and are not as fleshed out.  This novel relies on plot twists rather than the characters to propel the story forward. This writing technique works as the mystery is quite captivating, but the end result is a lack of investment in the characters.

This novel is one mind trick after another. It’s filled with things that will make you second guess the characters and the plot itself. The connection to mental illness, and the character second guessing everything, makes for an intriguing premise and will leave the reader with much to ponder.  It’s hard to discuss as so much is left to interpretation. How much of the events actually happened? How much is truly due to the special connection the twins share and how much is mental illness? Nothing is concrete and that makes this mystery even more engaging.

Rachel and Alice’s relationship. While each twin kept secrets from the other their bond is undeniable. The death of their parents served to strengthen that bond. They know each other better than anyone else. They appear to be the classic good twin/naughty twin stereotype. However, the revelation that they both can slip into being the other effortlessly shows they have more in common than seen at first glance.

The murderer and his motivations were believable and there are enough viable suspects to make it a compelling mystery. The reveal is creepy, and shudder inducing and one of my favourite parts of the novel.

A compelling murder mystery combined with an unreliable narrator make for a creepy, twisty read. It ended up being just an ok read for me as I would have loved to go deeper into the characters and the murder mystery itself.

Autumn Book Buzz

As summer comes to end my mind drifts to cooler evenings spent with warm tea and a good book. Luckily this year's Fall selection is better than ever. I have read a few Fall releases and offer some of my favourites that will have you reading long into the crisp autumn nights.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - release date of October 23

If you haven't read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the first novel in this series, do so immediately. The sequel offers everything you loved in the first novel, and more. Dark, sexy, and decadent. Noah Shaw is sexier, the answers lead to more questions, and Mara is just as intriguing as ever. Michelle provides us with a ending that will leave you breathless for some Retribution.

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian - release date of September 18

This delicious tale of teenage girls and revenge surprised me in the best way possible. Something in this story brings to mind the movie The Craft whenever I think of this book. It's not the witchcraft elements, but the bonding of the girls in search of vengeance for wrongs done to them, that causes the comparison. Revenge can have some unforeseen consequences however, and this story still has a few surprises in store.

The Diviners by Libba Bray - release date of September 18

Part murder mystery, part paranormal, and all awesome! This 1920's set novel has well developed characters, and amazing world building. It's creepy, it's cool and pos-i-tute-ly stunning. A dark and thrilling novel that you'll want to read with the lights on.

So there are three of my MUST read Autumn selections. All three blew me away and left me anticipating the next installments in the series.

What fall releases are you must looking forward to? Let me know in the comments.

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

One book for me this week. An eARC that I received from the publisher for review.

On The Island by Tracey Garvis Graves (goodreads)

I was excited to get a copy of this for review as I have been hearing great things about it. I hope to get to reading it very soon. A huge thank you to Penguin and Netgalley!

Happy Sunday and Happy Reading!

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Short and sweet this week. I have been working like a crazy person and therefore haven't had time to obsess over anything! Here are my obsessions this week:

BOOKS

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

I am a couple of chapters until the end of this book (and will be done tonight) and I am so impressed. I love Scarlet and Wolf so much. I may even love this one more than I loved Cinder! Wolf is a total book crush that I predict will make a lot of crush lists at the end of the year.

TV

Dexter Season 7 Promo

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR SEASON 6!

This promo....OMG! So much I want to talk about but can't because it's such a spoiler for season 6. This season looks to be one of the best Dexter seasons yet! If you have not watched this show, DO IT! Michael C Hall is brilliant.

OTHER

Vacation

As mentioned above this has been the longest week EVER for me. I am so looking forward to my vacation next week. I am having a relaxing week filled with sleeping, reading and visiting with my family.

So what you are obsessed with this week?

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Release Date – August 26, 2006
Publisher Website –  Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader
Pages - 419 pages
My Rating- 4.5/5
**borrowed from the library**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham, now seventeen, is finally being confronted with her past. But as the reluctant leader of her boarding school dorm, there isn't a lot of time for introspection. And while Hannah, the closest adult Taylor has to family, has disappeared, Jonah Griggs is back in town, moody stares and all.

In this absorbing story by Melina Marchetta, nothing is as it seems and every clue leads to more questions as Taylor tries to work out the connection between her mother dumping her, Hannah finding her then and her sudden departure now, a mysterious stranger who once whispered something in her ear, a boy in her dreams, five kids who lived on Jellicoe Road eighteen years ago, and the maddening and magnetic Jonah Griggs, who knows her better than she thinks he does. If Taylor can put together the pieces of her past, she might just be able to change her future.

An abandoned girl, a missing teenager and a horrific car accident. Tragic events that are more connected than they seem at first glance. A mystery of a girl's past that unravels as she is on the cusp of her future, and changes her life forever. I had been hearing amazing things about Jellicoe Road and finally read it. I was happy to discover that it is just as wonderful as expected.

The writing and characterization are both superb. It's not hard to see why this novel is a Printz award winner. Each of the characters are fleshed out and made unique. It's writing captivates and draws you into the story effortlessly in this mostly character driven novel. The beginning is a little jarring, and makes more sense the deeper you delve into the novel. It might be hard to stick with at first, but the rewards for doing so are worth it.

Taylor is a fiercely guarded girl. Her life hasn't been easy and she is hesitant to let anyone in who could hurt her. Seeing her begin to open up and let others in was my favourite part of the journey she takes. She is a character that you instantly feel connected to and therefore invested in her story.

The relationship between Taylor and Jonah is one of those rare ones in young adult literature that is developed naturally. They have a connection, a history and a chemistry that isn't forced or rushed. It builds until it just seems unnatural for them not be together. They're both messed up, and they each challenge and better the other.

As the mystery of Jellicoe road unravels, the connections between these life changing events are quite obvious. It is, however, the journey, and the characters that make this story what it is. The story slowly builds and all comes together for a bittersweet, yet hopeful ending.

Jellicoe Road deals with growing up, falling in love, finding yourself, and learning that people can love you more than you expected. A wonderful novel that shows that the connections and friendships you make when you are younger can have the deepest impact on your life.

Follow Friday

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

Q: What blogger inspires you? It can be any kind, it doesn't have to be a book blog.

So many book bloggers inspire me! Evie from Bookish, Brodie from Eleusinian Mysteries, and Christy from The Reader Bee are all inspiring to me. Each of these amazing ladies works hard at their blog. They all have a busy life away from their computers and books and yet still manage to produce quality reviews and fun features.

TGIF at GReads! is a weekly blog hop hosted by Ginger from GReads

This weeks question is

Pimp Your Review: Feature a favorite book review you've written in the past that you feel deserves more love!

I have selected two reviews that I have gotten compliments on in the past.

My Masque of the Red Death review and my review of Anna and the French Kiss.

Happy Weekend!

Waiting on Wednesday...The Madman's Daughter

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 Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

London, 1894. Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father’s gruesome experiments. But when she learns her father is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations were true.

Juliet is accompanied by the doctor’s handsome young assistant and an enigmatic castaway, who both attract Juliet for very different reasons. They travel to the island only to discover the depths of her father’s madness: he has created animals that have been vivisected to resemble, speak, and behave as humans. Worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island’s inhabitants. Juliet knows she must end her father’s dangerous experiments and escape the island, even though her horror is mixed with her own scientific curiosity. As the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father’s genius—and madness—in her own blood.

This sounds amazing! There is a Gothic creepy vibe, but it also sounds romantic as well. The cover is great too! I love the dress.

Expected release date - January 29, 2013

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Release Date – January 1, 1999
Publisher Website – Simon and Schuster
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages - 224 pages
My Rating- 4/5
**purchased**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Standing on the fringes of life... offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor. 

This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a provocative new voice in contemporary fiction: The Perks of Being a Wallflower. 

This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.

And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.....

Your teenage years are some of the most turbulent, formative and intense times of your life. Every emotion is heightened, everything is about the here and now. The Perks of Being a Wallflower offers a realistic voice to a life changing experience - growing up.

The characters in this novel are it’s driving force. They are nuanced, complex and achingly real. They could be your best friends or the friends you used to have in high school. Through them the experience of high school is a shared, collective experience WITH the reader. It’s a wonderful example of an experience versus story.

Charlie is character that fascinated me. A naive, almost much younger than his years point of view made for a unique perspective. The mystery of Charlie drew me in and kept me reading. He has panic attacks, sees a therapist and is socially awkward. You will be captivated by the mystery surrounding the whys of his behaviour.

Patrick was one of the favourite characters in the novel. A young man trying to not only navigate the treacherous halls of school, but also dealing with a secret relationship. Patrick is a little self destructive in that way that some teenagers are. His voice was so vivid even as a secondary character. I wanted more of him in the novel, and would read an entire novel from his perspective.

Sam is a wonderful love interest for Charlie. We immediately see why Charlie would be attracted to her, but the author uses her character to deepen Charlie’s character. It’s her impact on Charlie that is important, and his treatment of her that speaks volumes about his character. Her insistence that she does not want to be anyone’s crush was refreshing. Her urging Charlie to live his life provided Charlie with a much needed push.

There are many heartbreaking things that happen in this novel. Fights, family drama, being bullied, and date rape are just some of the issues tackled within this relatively short novel . They all lead to the end reveal of Charlie’s dark secret. As it is a huge spoiler I can not reveal what it is, but it makes you rethink the book once you are aware. The quote “We accept the love we think we deserve” was fitting for so many characters in the novel. Charlie himself is drawn to fractured, damaged people, even in friendship.

The notion of not living for other people is reflected throughout the novel. Living the life YOU want, and growing into that life is something that Charlie is trying to figure out. He needs to start living for himself and in the end, he's on his way.

Adults will be able to reminisce about their own high school experience and teenagers will see themselves reflected in the characters of Charlie’s world. It is a book that almost demands a second reading.

Beautiful Disaster by Jame McGuire

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Release Date – August 14, 2012
Publisher Website –  Atria/Simon and Schuster
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -  416 pages
My Rating- 2.5/5
**received from publisher for an honest review (via Netgalley)**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

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

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

Love is a pretty powerful emotion. It can make us strive to be better, and it can also bring out our worst. Some relationships are toxic, and yet the people involved can not stay away from each other because the connection is that strong.  Travis and Abby are an example of such a relationship.

This is going to be one of the strange reviews for me, because I did somewhat enjoy this novel, and yet it has so many things that normally would turn me off.

Both Travis and Abby aggravated me beyond belief. Their inability to talk and let each other frustrated me. Travis will most likely cause a lot of women to swoon. I, sadly, could not get past his dependence on Abby. He’s scarily obsessed with her, and is quick tempered to the point where I was afraid he would eventually hit her. His reaction to her leaving the house after the first time they sleep together is to TRASH the entire place. He’s a walking temper tantrum and I didn’t find that appealing.

Abby plays mind games, doesn’t communicate, and at times even encourages Travis’ violent behaviour. She even goes so far to entice Travis to beat up a guy to “teach him some manners” after the guy makes some disparaging remarks about her. I get the whole “sticking up for your girl” thing but Travis’ violence was intense.

It may sound as if I didn’t like these characters, but that could not be further from the truth. I enjoy flawed, intense, messed up characters. I fully enjoyed them for their faults. It is a fascinating look a dysfunctional, broken relationship between two people who are just as damaged. I would have loved this novel even more if that were what the author was trying to show. It brings me to my only real compliant with this novel - that it depicts this sort of relationship as romantic. Relationships like these are anything but romantic. It’s absolutely real, raw, tortured but not something to strive for. I would have appreciated a more healthy, realistic approach to this sort of relationship.

The writing is crazily addictive. Once you start reading you will instantly be hooked. It is easily one of those books you’ll breeze through quickly and is perfect for those last days on the beach before summer ends.

A look at a messed up relationship between two damaged people and what borderline obsession can do to a person. Beautiful Disaster adequately describes not only the relationship, but the characters as well. It falls a little short with the romanticism of what is clearly an unhealthy and abusive relationship, but is insanely readable.

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

This week is filled with library books and an amazing title thanks to Katherine at The Lady Critic's Library.

Starting off with my library books

Savages by Don Winslow (goodreads)
Dare Me by Megan Abbott (goodreads)
The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott (goodreads)

I am curious about Savages and hope to get around to reading it. I have been hearing good things about The Dressmaker and I do enjoy anything set on the Titanic. Dare Me was a title I missed out on at BEA and was eager to pick it up when it came free at my library.

I have two other books. One I purchased and the other was lent to me by Katherine.

The Perks Of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (goodreads)
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (goodreads)

I am very excited about the movie coming out and decided to read the book before it's release. I usually do not like movie poster book covers, but I happen to LOVE this one. I am reading this right now and am almost done. Not really sure how I feel at this point, but a review will be up this coming week.

I may have squealed when I found out Katherine had a copy of this. I am reading it as soon as I catch up on one or two more books (so basically this weekend). Cinder was amazing so I am excited to see what happens next. A huge thank you to her for lending it to me!

Happy Sunday and Happy Reading!

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week:

BOOKS

Stephanie Perkins new book news

Stephanie announced that she has 2 new books with Penguin coming out after Isla and the Happily Ever After. The first novel is the only one we have details for and it's completely different from her previous novels and it sounds AWESOME. As per the publisher it is "a horror novel in the vein of the movie Scream in which a cadre of high school students are being stalked and attacked by a mysterious killer with no obvious motive"

Scream is a great, fun movie. It doesn't take itself seriously and points fun at the usual horror cliches. LOVE THIS. I bet Stephanie's will blend horror with humour and some sexiness.  I am very excited about this and can't wait for other details (eg title, cover, etc).

cover of Game (Jasper Dent #2) by Barry Lyga

I really liked I Hunt Killers. Jasper Dent is so chilling, so charming and fascinating! I hope this sequel delivers everything I loved in the first book, and more. I happen to also like this cover. If you haven't already be sure to add it to your Goodreads to be read list.

cover and synopsis for Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green

I have not heard much about this book, but I knew I wanted to read it when I saw the cover! It totally reminds me of the opening sequence for the TV show Pretty Little Liars. The Goodreads synopsis also sounds amazing and I can't wait for this one to be released in 2013.

TV

Once Upon A Time season 2

I can not believe I have yet to include this. I heard about it awhile ago. I am a huge Peter Pan fan so this video made me extra excited.



So Hook is for sure part of season 2 of this addictive show. I am hoping that means we will get to see Peter, Wendy, and Tinkerbell as well. I am counting down until the fall TV season starts....really missing my shows!

MOVIE

The Mortal Instruments movie cast

The casting for the movie is complete and I can now freak out over the unbelievable actors they have lined up.

The last big announcement was the casting of Valentine (who is the the villain) and it tipped my excitement to epic levels. Jonathan Rhys Meyers will be portraying the cold, dangerous and cunning Shadow Hunter.

The rest of the cast is also very happy making with Kevin Zegers lined up to play Alec Lightwood, and Aiden Turner set to play Luke. They join the already large cast. There is a movie website already set up and the full casting details are provided there if you are curious.

So what you are obsessed with this week?

Follow Friday

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

Q: What would you do over if you were to start your blog again from scratch?

I would do more research into book blogging. I was not at all prepared for how much goes into it.


TGIF at GReads! is a weekly blog hop hosted by Ginger from GReads

This weeks question is

Unexpected Books: Which books did you have reservations about reading, but ended up loving once you did?

I have never read a book thinking I would not enjoy it. There are too many books out there, so I have to at least think I might enjoy it to consider reading it. There have been books that really surprised me though. Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian is an example of a book that surprised me with how much I ended up liking it. I also recall not being 100 percent sure about Cinder and ended up LOVING it.

Happy Weekend!

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer
Release Date – June 26, 2012
Publisher Website –  Simon and Schuster
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -   358 pages
My Rating- 3/5
**received from Ottawa Blogger meet up and swap**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

What happens when happily ever after... isn’t? 

Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah. 

And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom. 

Delilah and Oliver work together to attempt to get Oliver out of his book, a challenging task that forces them to examine their perceptions of fate, the world, and their places in it. And as their attraction to each other grows along the way, a romance blossoms that is anything but a fairy tale.

The words Once Upon A Time and Happily Ever After bring to mind beautiful princesses, handsome princes, dangerous dragons and frightening witches. What if the Happily Ever After wasn’t what it appeared to be? What if it was just something that allowed those beloved characters to go back to their real, but hidden, existence?

Fans of Jodi Picoult expecting one of her classic novels with a jaw dropping twist at the end may find themselves disappointed. This is a classic fairytale in every sense of the word.

Oliver, the fairytale prince who dreams of a life outside his storybook pages. He wants the excitement and adventure of something else. Delilah is also looking for something else. She’s always felt average and not special. Since her  father’s death Oliver’s fairytale has been a source of comfort. Book lovers everywhere will find it easy to identify with Delilah. The premise will appeal to every reader out there. How many of us have fantasized that our favourite characters would interact with us, or somehow become real?

I found this novel to be rather endearing and sweet. Simplistically so. I think that older middle grade readers will really enjoy this novel.  Parents look for a entertaining, and safe read for their children before bedtime will find this more than meets those expectations.

This novel ends with a beginning rather than a happily ever after, and it is quite fitting for the theme of the novel. It shows that our happy ending is what we make it, and to always reach for what makes us happy.

A sweetly magical tale of a young woman trying to save her prince that is quite charming. Those looking for a deeper story may want to look elsewhere, but those who want a classic fairytale will find much to love in these pages.

Waiting on Wednesday...Unravel Me

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 Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

tickticktickticktickit's almosttime for war. 

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance. 

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch. 

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible. 

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life

I LOVED Shatter Me, and that ending made me so eager to get my hands on the sequel. It sounds amazing and I am also looking forward to Destroy Me; the novella from Warner's point of view.

It must also be said that I adore these new covers! So pretty.

Expected release date - February 5, 2013

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
Release Date – August 7, 2012
Publisher Website –  Bloomsbury
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -   416 pages
My Rating- 3/5
**received from publisher for an honest review (via Book Expo America)**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. 

Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. 

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. 

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

My opinion is most likely going to be an unpopular one when it comes to this book. While the novel has an intriguing storyline, and a well developed main character it fell a little off the mark for me.

Celaena both drew me in and frustrated me at the same time. She is strong, capable, beautiful, intelligent and quite skilled. She is not afraid to let anyone know this either. I was quickly disappointed when the promised kick butt heroine started fretting about her hair when the handsome Prince showed up. Her quick quips and lethal skill show tons of promise for a character that is not of the usual variety, but she ends up being quite unlikeable. There was never a doubt that Celaena would succeed, and therefore I was less invested in her journey.

The secondary characters are not as well developed. The Prince, Dorian Havilliard, is little more than a beautiful face with father issues. Chaol, the captain of the guard shows some promise, but wasn’t fleshed out enough in this novel. The exception to this is Nehemia, the Eyllwe princess. Nahemia motivations are constantly unclear and she made for a fascinating character that I was captivated by whenever she was present.

The love triangle may not appeal to many, but I found this one to be interesting. I found her interactions with the Prince charming enough, but at times it felt forced. Her relationship with Chaol felt more developed and true. I do, however, think it is pretty obvious who will win Celaena’s heart in the end, so I would hesitate to call it a triangle.

This novel’s writing style was not for me either sadly. I found the beginning a little hard to get through. There will be many who loved it, but I found myself not as invested as I wished to be. The found that the beautiful dresses overtook the assassinations and political intrigue.

The novel has a much stronger second half when the plot begins to unravel and things start to come together. The suspense is kept taunt throughout the novel, and the ending does set up the second (and subsequent) novels wonderfully. The political motivations of the characters were interesting and quite detailed. I enjoyed the fact that there is not a cliffhanger at the end of the novel, but rather a new beginning for the next instalment to start from. It was a refreshing change from other YA novels.

There will be many people who love this novel, and I urge you to read other, more positive reviews. In the end the stellar crown politics, and suspense, were not enough to make up for the undeveloped characters, and an unlikeable main character for me. There is a lot of promise for the future novels in this series, and I do intend on checking out next instalment to see where this goes.

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
Release Date – August 7 , 2012
Publisher Website –  Tor Teen/Raincoast Books
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -  336 pages
My Rating- 4.5/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

**SPOILERS FOR ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on.
His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live--not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.
Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.
Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

Letting go of a loved one that has died can be hard. It can feel like they haunt us, and our grief can make us do irrational, impulsive things sometimes.

Cas is haunted by what happened to Anna, and is literally being haunted by her. She is appearing to him in various visions filled with torture. Cas quickly realizes that he can’t leave the ghost girl he loves to experience this hell for an eternity and sets off to rescue her. Those who loved his snark and voice will be happy to hear that they are both present in abundance in this novel. He is fiercely determined, no matter what the risk, to save Anna. At the end of it all, he’s just a guy who lost the girl he loves and is struggling with letting her go. That pain and heartbreak is something everyone can understand.

The tone of this novel is just as creepy and horrific as the first, but in a different way. The stakes for Cas and the gang feel higher, and much of that has to do with Cas himself. He is distracted, and it all comes back to Anna. The distraction makes for much more peril filled ghost hunting. I will admit that the chapters dealing with the suicide forest are some of the creepiest I have read. Kendare knows how to provide the laughs and the chills in equal measure.

Carmel's strength becomes evident in this novel. It’s easy to see why she became part of Cas and Thomas’ gang and while she may not have powers like they do, she is capable in her own right. I enjoyed her much more in this novel.

Kendare takes the characters from the first novel and had the events that happened to them actually impact them in the second. They behaved in realistic ways and changed from those experiences. It is challenging to make this feel authentic. Balancing this needed change, while still keeping the characters true to what they were presented as in the first novel is something Kendare does masterfully.

I have often read second novels where the plot is a re-packaged version of the first, but this is something different. The author not only makes it feel like one seamless story, a true continuation, but she changes everything - the location, what they are dealing with, and surprisingly, limited appearances by Anna.

There were a lot of questions that needed to be answered, especially about the athame and it's creation. Kendare Blake handles this wonderfully, and manages to show us the answers as part of the story, rather than simply tell us.

The ending of Girl of Nightmares is quite bitter sweet, but it could not have ended any other way. It was touching, heartbreaking, and both Cas and Anna can finally be at peace. Leaving their story at this point feels right, even if it did bring some tears.

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

So let's just call this mailbox the EPIC edition because I got the sequel to one of my favourite books of 2011 this past week!

Starting off with some books I got from the Ottawa Blogger meetup and book swap

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer (goodreads)
The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova  (goodreads)

Some library books

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta (goodreads)
The Jane Austen Marriage Manual by Kim Izzo (goodreads)

And lastly 2 eARCs for review

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (goodreads)
The Lost Prince by Julia Kagawa (goodreads)

A HUGE thank you to Simon and Schuster and Harlequin Teen for these 2 titles. I have read The Evolution of Mara Dyer and am pretty much obsessed. SO GOOD!

Happy Sunday and Happy Reading!