Swoon Thursday (#25): TMI by Patty Blount

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from TMI by Patty Blount!

Meg lowered her eyes, stared at their clasped hands, pulled in a slow, careful breath, and prepared to stab deep. "I'm sorry, Chase, but I don't feel that way about you."

She braced for his reaction. A frown, A sigh. An argument... or something. Instead, his eyes glinted with humor.

He leaned closer,

She pulled back.

He grinned, flashing a smile that was purely predatory, and before she could form any protest, he kissed her. Damn it! She knew what he was trying to do. His lips teased hers. Well. she was not going to play - oh! His fingers skimmed softly down her arms, carefully around her injured hand. No, she was stronger than he - God! His hand reached reached her thigh and squeezed and she couldn't remember what she wanted to say, couldn't remember her vow until he whispered in her ear.

"Bull."

- ARC, page 209

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

AH! One of my favorites parts of this book is when Megan is at Chase's house because of her injured hand - and this scene takes place there. I highly recommend this book to you all! I beta-read it back in December, and I was impressed! It's an excellent read about the dangers of Facebook and email and texting and online communication.

Waiting on Wednesday (#27): Across A Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund

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

This week, I'm featuring:

Across A Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund

Book Two of the For Darkness Shows the Stars series

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: October 15, 2013

Summary (from Goodreads):

Centuries after wars nearly destroyed civilization, the two islands of New Pacifica stand alone, a terraformed paradise where even the Reduction—the devastating brain disorder that sparked the wars—is a distant memory. Yet on the isle of Galatea, an uprising against the ruling aristocrats has turned deadly. The revolutionaries’ weapon is a drug that damages their enemies’ brains, and the only hope is rescue by a mysterious spy known as the Wild Poppy.

On the neighboring island of Albion, no one suspects that the Wild Poppy is actually famously frivolous aristocrat Persis Blake. The teenager uses her shallow, socialite trappings to hide her true purpose: her gossipy flutternotes are encrypted plans, her pampered sea mink is genetically engineered for spying, and her well-publicized new romance with handsome Galatean medic Justen Helo… is her most dangerous mission ever.

Though Persis is falling for Justen, she can’t risk showing him her true self, especially once she learns he’s hiding far more than simply his disenchantment with his country’s revolution and his undeniable attraction to the silly socialite he’s pretending to love. His darkest secret could plunge both islands into a new dark age, and Persis realizes that when it comes to Justen Helo, she’s not only risking her heart, she’s risking the world she’s sworn to protect.

In this thrilling adventure inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel, Diana Peterfreund creates an exquisitely rendered world where nothing is as it seems and two teens with very different pasts fight for a future only they dare to imagine.

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ahhh, I can't wait to read this one! I got rejected for it from Edelweiss THREE TIMES. I hadn't been rejected for a single Harper title until this one! So I'll just have to wait the old-fashioned way. HOW ANNOYING ;)

Review: Rush by Eve Silver

Rush by Eve Silver

Book One of The Game series

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Publication Date: June 11, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?

When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn't really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn't. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

What I Liked:

OH MY GOSH I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! This one is definitely going on my list of favorites at the end of the year. Yes, I didn't rate it five stars, and I have good reasons why I docked that one star, but seriously, people. I was so impressed when I finished this book. I've never read anything by Eve Silver, and I'm glad that this was the first one of her books that I read. 

Miki is an incredible character. At first, I wasn't sure if I liked her or not. She's extremely tough, smart-mouthed, inquisitive, and really, in short, strong. I guess I wasn't expecting such a strong protagonist, but Miki definitely packed one heck of a punch (both in the story and as a character). 

Miki is pulled when she jumps in front of a truck to save a little girl, and instead, gets killed. Sort of. She wakes up to find herself in the Lobby, waiting to attack alien creatures. Her "team" includes Jackson, Richelle, Tyrone, and Luka (Luka, she already knew from her school). 

I thought the premise of this story sounded awesome - and it really was! I'm kicking myself for having an early review copy of this books for MONTHS and not reading it sooner, because I was completely sucked in to the story. This sort of reminded me of Epic by Conor Kostick, but in an obscure way. Being pulled into this different setting is sort of like being in a video game.

There is a ton of action in this book, and it almost seems non-stop. Being pulled means that you are taken into the "video game" world, and if you survive, you are dropped back into your real life, at the exact second you left. So, while a good amount of the book was spent in the "video game" world, not a lot of time passed in the real world. I loved the anticipation of fighting the creatures (called Drau) - I think Ms. Silver does an excellent job building up the tension and the nerves before Miki and the team fight the Drau.

This book is full of twists and turns! I thought it was going to go one way, and then it goes another way. I could not believe what Ms. Silver threw at us, with the bodies (not telling!). And then to find out Jackson's secret... I was shocked and intrigued! Ms. Silver definitely keeps readers guessing, but throughout the book, she tells us enough so that we won't be completely confused as we read.

Speaking of Jackson... oh man. He's the leader of the team, and he is full of mysteries. He never takes off his sunglasses, he doesn't like answering questions, and he seems to be extremely good at what he does... why? We find out as we go. He's definitely my favorite character of the book. He isn't a wimp, or a coward, or a big softy. He doesn't really have "moments". And when he tells Miki he's dangerous - he means it. This isn't like Edward telling Bella to stay away from him because he "might" hurt her (bullcrap) - I find Jackson's reasons more tragic.

And of course, he's an amazing love interest. I love his continual banter with Miki throughout the book. One of my favorite scenes of the entire book (I have many favorite scenes of this book... like, the whole thing!) is the lunch scene. Jackson isn't a soft and squishy guy - he's definitely and iron and steel guy that you don't want to mess with. But somehow, he's so lovable! And swoonworthy! And officially one of my favorite male protagonists of all time! Check out my Swoon Thursday (#22) post if you don't believe me.

That being said, I love the romance in this book. The plot is definitely NOT the romance, and the romance is second to the plot, though both are much more connected than readers believe (we find out this in the end of the book). There is a sort-of love triangle, but it's really not one at all. In any sense of the phrase. At least, I don't think it is.

The book ends in a cliffhanger, and I need Push (book two) like, yesterday. I was emotionally distraught over this cliffhanger! So, not a favorable ending. But it's a good ending! Like, well-written, makes sense with the plot, understandable, mean... I need Push.

What I Did Not Like:

There were a few things that stuck out to me that I didn't really like, and that's why this book got 4 stars instead of five. For one, the massive cliffhanger that I absolutely abhorred and possibly cried over because I couldn't believe Ms. Silver would do such a thing. Cue the water works!

Another is the amount of info dumping that happens. Readers (and Miki) get a ton of information in like, three spots in this book, all at once. When Miki firsts enters the Lobby, she gets a boatload of information then. Then she talks to Jackson when they were at the playground later in the story. And there are more spots that are smaller, but basically, the info dumping was kind of painful.

And there are some small things that were never really answered in this book (maybe in the next books?). Like, I don't really understand why the Drau are stuck in the "video game" world. And why does dying selflessly pull someone into the "video game" world? There are other questions I had, but I'm hoping that they aren't important details, or that they will be answered in the next two books.

Would I Recommend It:

Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes. 

Yes.

Go get a copy now! Buy it, borrow it, whatever, just get it! You don't have to be a video game lover (I'm not!) or a science fiction lover to read and love this book!

Rating:

4 stars. I must have re-read this book about 4 times already. It's that good, people!

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Cover Reveal: Finding It by Cora Carmack

COVER REVEAL TIME!

I really should make a graphic for these. 

I seem to be taking part in so many.

BUT THERE ARE SO MANY AWESOME BOOKS AND SO MANY AWESOME COVERS OUT THERE!

So, here is the splendid cover for Finding It!

(Did I really just use the word splendid?)

Finding It by Cora Carmack

Book Three of the Losing It series

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Publication Date: October 1, 2013

Summary (from Goodreads):

Most girls would kill to spend months traveling around Europe after college graduation with no responsibility, no parents, and no-limit credit cards. Kelsey Summers is no exception. She's having the time of her life...or that's what she keeps telling herself.

It's a lonely business trying to find out who you are, especially when you're afraid you won't like what you discover. No amount of drinking or dancing can chase away Kelsey's loneliness, but maybe Jackson Hunt can. After a few chance meetings, he convinces her to take a journey of adventure instead of alcohol. With each new city and experience, Kelsey's mind becomes a little clearer and her heart a little less hers. Jackson helps her unravel her own dreams and desires. But the more she learns about herself, the more Kelsey realizes how little she knows about Jackson.

Author Blog | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

I can't wait to read this book! And I like how they switched it up a little with this cover - instead of having one person at the top of the cover and one person at the bottom, both people are at the top, together.

But I'm not really a fan of all the words and compliments at the bottom. Kind of unflattering and unappealing, if you ask me.

But that's just me. What do you think? 

Cover Reveal: Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

ANOTHER COVER!!!

THAT MEANS TWO FOR TODAY!!!!

AND THIS ONE IS KIND OF COOL!!!!

WITH LOTS OF COLORS!!!!

WHEN I WAS CHOOSING A FONT COLOR FOR THIS POST, I WASN'T SURE WHICH TO CHOOSE! COLORS!

ANYWAY. ENOUGH WITH THE CAPS. HERE IS ORIGIN!

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Book Four of the Lux series

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Publication Date: August 27, 2013

Official Summary:

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive. 

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.  

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together? 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

About the Author:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you've heard about her state aren't true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

What do you think? Honestly, I'm not a fan of the animated look of the cover. The other covers of the Lux books look real - or at least, the models do. Pepe/Daemon on this cover... looks plastic.

But I LOVE the colors of the cover! And ABS! That makes up for it ^_^

And just for the record - I chose burnt sienna instead of royal blue because burnt sienna shows up better against the background than the blue :)

Review: Born of Illusion by Teri Brown

Born of Illusion by Teri Brown

Book One of the Born of Illusion series

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: June 11, 2013

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

Anna Van Housen is thirteen the first time she breaks her mother out of jail. By sixteen she’s street smart and savvy, assisting her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, and easily navigating the underground world of magicians, mediums and mentalists in 1920’s New York City. Handcuffs and sleight of hand illusions have never been much of a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping her true gifts secret from her opportunistic mother, who will stop at nothing to gain her ambition of becoming the most famous medium who ever lived. But when a strange, serious young man moves into the flat downstairs, introducing her to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, he threatens to reveal the secrets Anna has fought so hard to keep, forcing her to face the truth about her past. Could the stories her mother has told her really be true? Could she really be the illegitimate daughter of the greatest magician of all?

What I Liked:

It's a known fact that I don't read too much fiction set in the 1900s. I like historical fiction that is set in the 19th century and before, and modern fiction. But fiction in the 20th century... for some reason, it's never really appealed to me. So I was really hesitant to read this book, though I was curious about the magic described in the synopsis.

I wasn't overly impressed with this book, but I still found the idea of the book very interesting. The main character, Anna, has exceptional skills with magic and illusions. But she's more than a girl with magic tricks - she seems to be a medium, who can communicate with spirits and see things in the future. So, as an illusionist working with her mother, she has to be careful with her gift as a medium.

I liked Anna, and I don't think I ever got frustrated with her as a character. It was easy to follow her decisions and thoughts throughout the novel. I don't know much about the 1920's and how young ladies are supposed to act, but I assume the author did a good job with the authenticity of Anna's character.

The romance was kind of silly, in my opinion. There is a "love triangle", but it's pretty obvious from the beginning which guy Anna really likes. I saw right through the secondary love interest, as soon as we meet him.

The plot was not that interesting, in my opinion, but it wasn't hard to finish this book. I was interested and invested enough to make it through the book, especially once I hit the climax. I wanted to know what would happen, but at the the same time, I had an excellent idea of what would happen. And it did happen. Predictable end.

What I Did Not Like:

I think my biggest problem with this book was that the plot wasn't all that engaging, and I was sort of bored the entire time. I knew that I wasn't going to NOT finish this book, but at the same time, I sort of skimmed parts of this book. I wasn't really sucked into the plot, though I did think it was kind of interesting. It seems like the first part of the book was sort of interesting, but I lost interest as the book went on. Until the climax occurred. But then the end was so predictable.

I hate Anna's mother. Anna spends the entire book saying how much her mother doesn't care about her, or trust her, or doesn't like her, but then in the end... what!? Maybe this is a 1920's thing that I just don't understand. But if you think someone doesn't like you THAT MUCH, I would distance myself from that person. Or at least, NOT put up with their crap all of the time.

And the romance. What?! I feel like the author did a great job of putting together Anna and the secondary interest, but then the author sort of shoved Anna and the primary love interest together. It seemed forced. If I hadn't seen through the secondary love interest's facade from the time he is introduced, I might have been on his side. But the romance just kind of flopped, for me.

And I'm still confused about the whole Houdini-is-your-father angle. Who cares?! What does that have to do with anything?! That didn't seem to be a major plot point, and yet, it's in the summary, and it's mentioned throughout the book. And people freak out when they hear that Anna is (supposedly) Houdini's daughter.

Again. Who cares?! Why does that matter?! Does that make a difference in Anna's life? Is that where she got her medium ability? And do we ever get a proper explanation? No. Anna meets Houdini, Anna's mother is mad, Houdini remembers Anna's mother, but no one actually says anything about the truth of the matter, and why it is such a big deal. UGH.

Basically, I got bored after a while, but the plot was still interesting. The romance was blah, and the end was predictable.

Would I Recommend It:

No. I know that this is a big Harper title, and many people were excited to read this one. But I still don't really recommend it. There are so many books that I need to get through (this being one of them), and I'm glad I was given the opportunity to read this one, but I wish I could have liked this one more.

Rating: 

3 stars. Not the most impressive debut, in my opinion.

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Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

The Time Has Come! Great Changes Are Upon Us!

I know, I know. 

You've probably already seen this a thousand times. But I need to do this.

As you know, Google Reader is shutting down tonight. Google Friend Connect (GFC) is most likely going with it. Now, I just hit 700+ GFC followers, which is great! So I'm disappointed to know that GFC will most likely be disappearing along with Google Reader. 

So, please. Please, please, PLEASE follow my blog in another way.

EMAIL/RSS

LINKY

GOOGLE PLUS

Also, PINTERST and TUMBLR and TWITTER.


I infinitely prefer EMAIL or BLOGLOVIN, but I'm not going to be choosy. Any way of following my blog would be so appreciated.


Thank you all SO MUCH for following me. It means the world that anyone would follow me after six months of my blather and rambles. Thank you for staying with me!