Waiting On Wednesday: Rites of Passage by Joy Hensley

WoW is weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking The Spine in which bloggers can share books they're excited to get soon :)



Rites of Passage by Joy Hensley

Sam McKenna’s never turned down a dare. And she's not going to start with the last one her brother gave her before he died.

So Sam joins the first-ever class of girls at the prestigious Denmark Military Academy. She’s expecting push-ups and long runs, rope climbing and mud-crawling. As a military brat, she can handle an obstacle course just as well as the boys. She's even expecting the hostility she gets from some of the cadets who don’t think girls belong there. What’s she’s not expecting is her fiery attraction to her drill sergeant. But dating is strictly forbidden and Sam won't risk her future, or the dare, on something so petty...no matter how much she wants him.
As Sam struggles to prove herself, she discovers that some of the boys don’t just want her gone—they will stop at nothing to drive her out. When their petty threats turn to brutal hazing, bleeding into every corner of her life, she realizes they are not acting alone. A decades-old secret society is alive and active… and determined to force her out.
At any cost.

Now time's running short. Sam must decide who she can trust...and choosing the wrong person could have deadly consequences.

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I've been DYING to feature this book for months!
And now the cover is finally out and I friggin love it!
But like, I don't even care about the cover, it could have been a brown paper bag and I'd still read this book because it sounds AMAZING.

The only thing, though is that I reeeeeeeeeeeeeeally really wish it'd come out earlier because September 9th is pure torture.

 

Review: Split Second by Kasie West

Title: Split Second 
Author: Kasie West
Published February 11th 2014 by HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depo
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An explosive, action packed sequel, designed to please fans of the first installment. Split Second has it all, fast-moving plot, non stop action, dangerous situations, undiscovered abilities and of course lots of romance and relationship drama.

I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive at first because Split Second has an split point of view, from both Addie (who I loved in Pivot Point) and Laila (who was not on my good graces), and I didn't know if the story would pull me as much as before.

But it did, I should have trusted Kasie West because if there is someone who can change my opinion it's her. I rooted for Laila right away and even though she can be a little too hard headed at times, I really liked her as a character and as the perfect match for Addie's controlled demeanor.

And the romance on both sides was scorching. Really, I was already sold on Trevor, I didn't really need any further proof of his complete awesomeness but I am glad West provided more anyway, for my utter pleasure. And then of course there is Connor, who I hadn't had the pleasure of meeting before but I absolutely loved him too. He's sexy and quiet and obsessed with motorcycles, he was just this gentle soul that you can't help but fall for.

I don't know what else I can say about this book to make you read it because I am sure everyone who was hooked on the story from Pivot Point would end up adoring this one too. You won't be disappointed.

 

Waiting On Wednesday: No Place to Fall by Jaye Robin Brown

WoW is weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking The Spine in which bloggers can share books they're excited to get soon :)



No Place to Fall by Jaye Robin Brown

Amber Vaughn is a good girl. She sings solos at church, babysits her nephew after school, and spends every Friday night hanging out at her best friend Devon’s house. It’s only when Amber goes exploring in the woods near her home, singing camp songs with the hikers she meets on the Appalachian Trail, that she feels free—and when the bigger world feels just a little bit more in reach.

When Amber learns about an audition at the North Carolina School of the Arts, she decides that her dream—to sing on bigger stages—could also be her ticket to a new life. Devon’s older (and unavailable) brother, Will, helps Amber prepare for her one chance to try out for the hypercompetitive arts school. But the more time Will and Amber spend together, the more complicated their relationship becomes . . . and Amber starts to wonder if she’s such a good girl, after all.

Then, in an afternoon, the bottom drops out of her family’s world—and Amber is faced with an impossible choice between her promise as an artist and the people she loves. Amber always thought she knew what a good girl would do. But between “right” and “wrong,” there’s a whole world of possibilities.

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Even though it is still a long way to go before this one comes out (December 9th) I can't help but being excited about it. It sounds like a really good contemporary about growing up and discovering yourself, which is always awesome.

Review: Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt

Title: Bright Before Sunrise 
Author: Tiffany Schmidt
Published February 18th 2014 by Walker Childrens
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depo
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Bright Before Sunrise was an amazing surprise. Even though I knew I would like it just by reading the synopsis I wasn’t prepared to this amount of awesomeness. If you don’t know yet, this book is set around a course of events that happened one night, yes, just one night. And if you are unsure about how someone can build up realistic, swoony romance; let me tell you that you have nothing to worry about.

Schmidt did a marvelous job at making you root for each of her characters from the start and make you slowly fall for them. And believe me, I don’t fall for anything, but this book is so well-done and the story is so wonderfully splendid that it will convince you and transport you to this magic night in the life of Jonah and Brighton.

And speaking of Jonah and Brighton, I absolutely loved them. I thought they are perfect for each other and that their qualities complement them well. I liked that we get to see both their points of view and that got me even more involved in their lives and personal stories.

So I really don’t know what to say because when I think about this book all I want to do is gush about everything it made me feel. Because it gave me a lot of feelings, all the joy and the giddiness, delight and amusement. It was a magical experience that I want to relive again. Yes, I have actually place this one on my re-read shelf (which is composed of maybe five books). It’s one of those books that have an unexpected depth that will leave you dazzled. Great book!

 

 

Review: Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

Title: Rose Under Fire 
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Published September 10th 2013 by Disney Hyperion
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction, WWII
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depo
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I am seriously ashamed of myself right now, because I am realizing that, six months after I read this beautiful, amazing book, I am just about to publish the review I wrote so long ago. And I seriously hope someone else did her job and made you all grab this book before today because books with this amount of heart-breaking, earth-shaking power don’t come often.

Elizabeth Wein wrote a powerful story. Even if it’s fiction, the characters come across as such incredibly three-dimensional people that is hard to think there weren’t more women like them inside and out of every concentration camp in Europe during World War II. I know that there are a lot of unknown Rose’s somewhere in this world and this book makes me want to toast to all of them. We have to believe this because all the evil had to be neutralized somehow, and brave hearts like this girls’ ones make me stand for what I believe in today.

The friendship that blossomed between Rose and the other prisoners drove me to the edge. It brought me jealousy and glee and tears and I really enjoyed reading about it. And of course my heart broke at their obsession with food :( I can’t even handle it right now, months after I read the book. The courage and the hope that these ladies show makes all the reading about the awful things the Germans did in their camps, they make it all worth it.

And it makes me wonder if the reason some of them survived was because they had each other. I don’t know. I just know that this book is wonderful and it set my heart on fire. And the writing and the characters will move you, and I’m sure this story will turn into one of your most beloved ones. Like it happened in my case. A favorite of mine for sure.

 

Battle of the Book Boyfriends GIVEAWAY! #TeamGrayson

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

And if you're like me and are currently:

 

then you'll want to stay and enjoy our fictional boyfriends!

This year I am participating on the

 

Which is an awesome fight between Kelly Oram's boy characters from all the books she's written. If you've read her books before, or even if you haven't, you are invited to take a look at the blogger's choices of most swoon worthy book boyfriend of them all OVER HERE.

 

(Oh and by the way, ALL HER BOOKS ARE ON SALE RIGHT NOW FOR ONLY $.99)

So let's get going, because my choice (clearly the best) awaits.

ID FORM:
Name: Grayson Kennedy
Swoonworth level: 10/10
Physical apperance: blue-eyed devil, sexy hair and even sexier body.
Personality: funny, outgoing, life of the party, the handsome older brother.
Reputation: Womanizer, Casanova, Bad-boy, Actually super sweet and caring, Gentleman.


What? You need further proof of Grayson's awesomeness?!

Well, you're lucky I can provide a small teaser (from one of my favorite scenes) for your pleasure:

"I was so out of it that I'd slipped into the bathroom while Grayson was in the shower, and I didn't even notice until he poked his head out from behind the curtain with a surprised look on his face. 'Aves, babe, I'm a Little busy here.' He cocked an eyebrow and gave me a crooked smile. 'Unless you're planning to join me?... '

Just then there was a loud knock on the door, and my mother's worried voice called out to me. I looked up at Grayson and in a momento of sheer panic didn't think twice before jumping behind the curtain with him.

'Whoa, Avery, I was only teasing!'

I could hear Grayson, but I couldn't really respond. I leaned my back against the cold tile Wall and closed my eyes, letting the hot wáter rain down on me. 

There was another knock, louder this time, and then the door opened. 'Avery? That you in here sweety?'

I frantically shook my head, praying that Grayson would do the right thing.

'Sorry, Kaitlin. It's just me.'

'Oh. Sorry Grayson. I thought maybe you were Avery.'

'Yeah, I get that a lot,' he teased. 

Sooooooo, did I get you interested?... good, because you have to VOTE #TeamGrayson! And don't forget to get a copy of the book for only $.99 cents this weekend! The Avery Shaw Experiment

 

And lastly, here's your chance to try Kelly Orams books! ENTER HER GIVEAWAY AND MAY THE LUCK BE WITH YA ;)

 

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Waiting On Wednesday: Of Scars and Stardust by Andrea Hannah

WoW is weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking The Spine in which bloggers can share books they're excited to get soon :)

 

 

Of Scars and Stardust

by Andrea Hannah

 

After her little sister mysteriously vanishes, seventeen-year-old Claire Graham has a choice to make: stay snug in her little corner of Manhattan with her dropout boyfriend, or go back to Ohio to face the hometown tragedy she's been dying to leave behind. 

But the memories of that night still haunt her in the city, and as hard as she tries to forget what her psychiatrist calls her "delusions," Claire can't seem to escape the wolf's eyes or the blood-speckled snow. Delusion or reality, Claire knows she has to hold true to the most important promise she's ever made: to keep Ella safe. She must return to her sleepy hometown in order to find Ella and keep her hallucinations at bay before they strike again. But time is quickly running out, and as Ella's trail grows fainter, the wolves are becoming startlingly real. 

Now Claire must deal with her attraction to Grant, the soft-spoken boy from her past that may hold the secret to solving her sister's disappearance, while following the clues that Ella left for only her to find. Through a series of cryptic diary entries, Claire must unlock the keys to Ella's past—and her own—in order to stop another tragedy in the making, while realizing that not all things that are lost are meant to be found.

 

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Sisters! I love Reading about their relationships, it's always nice to see a book focusing on family (but I also love that there is romance involved too, Go Grant!). And troublesome pasts are another plus! (:

Review: Alienated by Melissa Landers

Title: Alienated 
Author: Melissa Landers
Expected publication: February 4th 2014 by Disney Hyperion
Goodreads | Amazon
Young Adult Fiction / Sci-fi / Dystopian
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Alienated is a book from Disney Hyperion and as a result, I expected tons of fun times and an easy breezy story. And I did got it. With a concept like an intergalactic high school exchange program one is bound to have a good time.

Cara is our human and Aelyx is our alien. Their personalities, cultures and races couldn't be more different, but somehow they found a way to coexist in the same house. But not without a few amusing clashes though.

While I liked the whole concept of this book, I just had a 'meh' time reading it. I don't know why but it never fully grabbed me. From all the explaining of the differences between the races and, especially, all the explaining of L'eihrs, I just couldn't make myself care. And there were many points where it just got so preachy I didn't want to even keep reading.

I got tired of hearing again and again all the ways these L'eihrs are so perfect and have all these awesome abilities and whatever. I mean I am no member of Humans Against L'eihrs Occupation but I still don't want to read the same thing on and on. But I pushed through and at the end the book as a whole wasn't so bad, I liked the characters and Aelyx was hot but I just thought overall it was too preachy for me.

So really, I don't know about this one, maybe if I were younger I would have enjoyed it more but at this point in my life it just didn't work for me, though who knows you might love it!