BEA Book Spotlight: Dare You To by Katie McGarry Book Review

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

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

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


There are some books that I read and are completely blown away by. Last year, one of those books was PUSHING THE LIMITS by Katie McGarry. Not only did she deliver a powerhouse of a novel, but she delivered a complete story arc that satisfied me to the bone. Therefore, I was utterly excited to read the next book. Not only was Beth Risk such an interesting character when she first showed up, but the edgy tension and so, so real environment promised to continue, and even be ratcheted up a notch.

To my surprise, McGarry takes Beth out of her friendly space, the space that I loved during PUSHING THE LIMITS, plops her down in a totally foreign world, then has Beth deal with all manner of distractions. The Beth Risk that I wanted to know more about was revealed layer by layer, in such a complex and engrossing story that I read 300+ pages in one sitting. I couldn't put the book down until I read the last page. That's how compelling it was.

Everything I have to say about DARE YOU TO is a rave. From Ryan's very detailed character, to Beth's family relationships and hardships, to the peek we see of old favorites, Noah and Echo... McGarry brings an awesome character-driven novel to the table, grabs the reader by the throat and pulls us along for a ride. Anyone who likes books should read this.

I dare you.

My Rating:
14/15
Must Read
4.5 star
A


I obtained this book from Harlequin Teen. No other compensation was given for the expectation of an honest review.

ARC Review: Big Sky Summer by Linda Lael Miller

Blurb:
With his father's rodeo legacy to continue and a prosperous spread to run, Walker Parrish has no time to dwell on wrecked relationships. But country-western sweetheart Casey Elder is out of the spotlight and back in Parable, Montana. And Walker can't ignore that his "act now, think later" passion for Casey has had consequences. Two teenage consequences!

Keeping her children's paternity under wraps has always been part of Casey's plan to give them normal, uncomplicated lives. Now the best way to hold her family together seems to be to let Walker be a part of it-as her husband of convenience. Or will some secrets-like Casey's desire to be the rancher's wife in every way-unravel, with unforeseen results?


Linda Lael Miller has been a long-time favorite author of mine, from the time I glommed every romance I could get my hands on through middle and high school. Though I prefer science-fiction and fantasy genres overall now, there is something really nice about reading a well-written contemporary romance. Especially right at the beginning of the summer, when the days are longer and I can sit on the front porch with a glass of iced-tea. In fact, this is the feeling Miller's books invoke in me. The modern western settings, the blossoming romances between mature adults and the sense of community that comes across in each novel, that's what made BIG SKY SUMMER so enjoyable.

Walker and Casey have an interesting relationship. I secretly love when a heroine/hero get together over an unexpected pregnancy, find a deeper love, and make a real family. Miller took this same idea, except the pregnancy is in the past, the children are older, and the father has already figured out the "shocker" that he's a "dad". I really liked Miller's approach in BIG SKY SUMMER. Neither of the main characters have made perfect choices in regards to their children, and supposed shared responsibilities. However, the journey of all the characters in the book echo and resonate as more than just a novel.

Walker and Casey's children are also very well-fleshed characters. One of the things that I like about authors like Miller (Robyn Carr, especially) is that the setting and the community are just as important as the individual main characters. Returning to the series means that, though the spotlight might be elsewhere, the characters that I have been introduced to previously won't be abandoned. There's a growth that happens, and the reader gets to see this every step of the way.

My Rating:
12.5/15
Highly Recommend
4 star
A-


I obtained this book from Little Bird Publicity. No other compensation was given for the expectation of an honest review.

ARC Book Review: Prophesy by Ellen Oh

Blurb:
Kira’s the only female in the king’s army, and the prince’s bodyguard. She’s a demon slayer and an outcast, hated by nearly everyone in her home city of Hansong. And, she’s their only hope...

Murdered kings and discovered traitors point to a demon invasion, sending Kira on the run with the young prince. He may be the savior predicted in the Dragon King Prophecy, but the missing treasure of myth may be the true key. With only the guidance of the cryptic prophecy, Kira must battle demon soldiers, evil shaman, and the Demon Lord himself to find what was once lost and raise a prince into a king.

Intrigue and mystery, ancient lore and action-packed fantasy come together in this heart-stopping first book in a trilogy.



PROPHESY throws the reader directly into the story, with an action-packed beginning that introduces Kira and her world. The beginning also serves to show the reader why Kira is an outcast and considered by some to be a monster, instead of the demon-hunter that she really is. Protecting the royal family of Hansong is her privilege and duty and Kira takes it seriously. Though it is billed as being "heart-stopping", I liked that the plot didn't seem built around high intensity just for the sake of it. There is a good story that Ellen Oh carefully constructs and unfolds to the reader.

Relationships seem very important in PROPHESY. Kira's with the royal family in general, and the prince in particular. Kira's with the rest of her society, and the mythology that is interwoven throughout the novel. It's the last point the really drew my attention. The setting is in an Asian city, with all of the lore and mythology that goes along with that culture. It's engrossing and intriguing, and though I can only guess at the authenticity, I feel that it is much more genuine than some of the other YA books have read this year that attempt to incorporate other cultures.

PROPHESY was a quick read, but definitely not a quickly forgotten read. Oh is adept at revealing and explaining a culture that might be foreign to most American readers. She mixes ancient beauty with a sometimes cruel world and does it well. Not only that, this book has whetted my appetite for more Asian culture reads, and I think that it would do the same for a YA audience looking for a fantasy that has just that little bit of differentness that makes it not so ordinary.

Book Rating:
13/15
4 star
A-



This book was provided by the publisher via Around The World ARC Tours, with no other compensation other than the expectation of an honest review

ARC Review: Black City by Elizabeth Richards

Blurb:
In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.


In some ways, I thought that BLACK CITY was a totally predictable YA dystopian, but in others ways I thought it was a fierce kick-ass vampire young love/coming of age story. What? you ask. How can that be? Yeah, I'm not sure either, but there you go. I really struggled with writing this review because my bullet points were basically:

• Typical post-apoc esque YA
• Somewhat dystopian world with us and them dynamic
• Vampires, really? (Even at the height of the vampire craze, I've always always preferred shapeshifters/werewolves)

My notes in my head sounded vaguely critical, but when I would actually try to translate them into thoughts via typing, mostly praise and accolades would spill out. Wait? I would say, what just HAPPENED here? And so I would start over, but the truth is, I DID like BLACK CITY. I think that Elizabeth Richards did a fine job crafting a NOT typical post-apoc, dystopian, vampires versus humans, ruthless YA world. Spinning everything on its head, the vamps were not at the top of the food chain at all.

In fact, I found the most interesting part of the plot line to be the vampire (or Darkling situation). Living in a ghetto, reminiscent of the Jews in Poland (and other places) during WWII, the vamps are starved, treated poorly, and dangerously isolated. One of my bullet points about the post-apoc world makes this a typical set-up, but it is usually the humans who suffer from this type of treatment, by a government or group that is evolutionarily or anatomically superior. There were scenes that I could predict were coming and situations that I earmarked as set-up for a future event, but predictable or typical is only negative when the book becomes boring as a result of this. And BLACK CITY was anything but boring.

The social commentary and resultant actions that come about because of the Darkling situation, is skillfully handled by Richards in a way that echoes the wave of rebellion that sweeps the Districts throughout THE HUNGER GAMES series. In the end, what I thought might sound like a critical review is not. Richards kept me on my toes, even when I thought I had the upper hand. This is a world that I will definitely return to, and relish the thought of continuing adventures. Brava.

Book Rating:
12.5/15
4 stars
A-

I acquired this book at Book Expo America 2012, with no other compensation but the hope for an honest review

The Night After (Release) Dual Review: The Prince by Tiffany Reisz

JL from An Avid Reader's Musings guest posted at Read My Mind when we double reviewed THE ANGEL by Tiffany Reisz. She's back in another dual review of the next book in the ORIGINAL SINNERS series, THE PRINCE!

Plug: THE PRINCE by Tiffany Reisz just released yesterday, November 20th, from Mira Books (Harlequin)

Blurb:
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer...preferably in bed. That's always been Kingsley Edge's strategy with his associate, the notorious New York dominatrix Nora Sutherlin. But with Nora away in Kentucky, now it's Kingsley's chance to take her place at the feet of the only man he's ever wanted -- Søren, Nora's on-again, off-again lover -- until a new threat from an old enemy forces him to confront his past.

Wes Railey is still the object of Nora's tamest yet most maddening fantasies, and the one man she can't forget. He's young. He's wonderful. He's also thoroughbred royalty and she's in "his" world now. But Nora is no simpering Southern belle, and her dream of fitting into Wesley's world is perpetually at odds with her dear Søren's relentlessly seductive pull.

Two worlds of wealth and passion call to her and whichever one Nora chooses, it will be the hardest decision she will ever have to make... unless someone makes it for her...


Lillie says:

Favorite Character And What Scene Decided Favorite:

It's gotta be Kingsley, doesn't it?! Ok, so Søren is my overall favorite from the first time his name was uttered in THE SIREN, but this book exposes (pun intended) so so much about Kingsley, his personality and his kink. The way that Tiffany Reisz explored his feelings and the pain that he endured in the days and weeks after Søren and he are first together... that's what made me respect Kingsley as a character. And especially as a boy-man who's discovered that his sexuality is not, by any means, average.

Outstanding Quotes:

Kingsley looked down and saw his hand had developed a subtle tremor. Matthew saw it, too.
"Don't feel bad." The boy nodded with the wisdom of a sage. "He does that to everybody."

Reaching up to his neck, Søren pulled off his Roman collar. He stepped back into Kingsley's bedroom and locked the door behind him.
God closed His eyes.

"Wesley... never fuck with a sadist. For Søren, torture's just foreplay."

"I do love him. Love and having an escape plan are not mutually exclusive. They are, in fact, both highly recommended."


Final Thoughts:

I've liked every novel to date, in THE ORIGINAL SINNERS series. Reisz has a talent for drawing the reader in, and I've seen others that have been seduced by the books, even when they say BDSM isn't their "thing".

THE SIREN was sharp, smart and echoed the sassiness of Nora, as well as the no-holds-barred attitude of Zach. THE ANGEL was sumptuously sexual, as it explored the "while the cat's away..." situation that Nora, Griffin and Michael found themselves in. However, THE PRINCE was much more lyrical and turbulent at the same time.

Though Nora and Wes are back together, what shone was the relationship of Søren and Kingsley. The reader gets a chance to see how the two met and evolved. Reisz lays out a land mine of a story here. At every turn, a new bomb is discovered, and the reader has to navigate the intricacies of a field set to explode.

Book Rating:
13.5/15
4.5 Stars
A


JL says:

Favorite character and what scene decided this favorite:

Kingsley is still my favorite character by far, in THE ORIGINAL SINNERS series, but I have to say Søren endeared himself to me in THE PRINCE. My favorite scene is between Kingsley and Søren, after their first sexual encounter as teens, when Søren explains to Kingsley that he can only get aroused if he causes pain. The conversation between the two is great. Søren is unapologetic about the level of pain and damage he caused to Kingsley, yet there is something about him saying he will make an effort to not be as brutal during their next encounter, that pulled at me. Their discussion is frank and open and Kingsley accepts Søren for who is he, without reservations.


Outstanding quote(s):

"He drank pain in those days, drank it like water, got drunk on it like wine. For years now, his tongue had been dry with the thirst to drink it again."

"Perhaps people like him-the men who felt that rush of power when bringing a woman to the edge of terror...or who, also like him, felt that rush of bliss when brought to their knees-really didn't belong in the world. Not in the daylight world, anyway, the downstairs world, the world that made itself presentable for company. He and his kind belonged in darkness, in the night, in the upstairs rooms where no one was allowed to go."


Final thoughts:

This was me on reading the ending of THE PRINCE. Talk about cliffhanger! Author Tiffany Reisz isn't kidding around when she says she is the queen of the mindfuck.

But going beyond the ending, THE PRINCE gives readers valuable insight into the past relationship between Kingsley and Søren, something that is only hinted at in the two previous books (THE SIREN and THE ANGEL). Nora is also presented in a different light as she explores her relationship with Wesley. It's very interesting to see the juxtaposition of Søren's past relationship and Nora's present one. I also loved seeing a different facet of Kingsley's character. 

If you haven't had a chance to read THE PRINCE, go out and buy it today! Be aware though, this book is clearly in a series and you must read THE SIREN and THE ANGEL first. Both can be purchased from the Harlequin website HERE, in print or ebook format.

Book rating: 4.5 stars


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About The Author:
Tiffany Reisz lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her boyfriend (a reformed book reviewer) and two cats (one good, one evil). She graduated with a B.A. in English from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and is making both her parents and her professors proud by writing BDSM erotica under her real name. She has five piercings, one tattoo, and has been arrested twice.

When not under arrest, Tiffany enjoys Latin Dance, Latin Men, and Latin Verbs. She dropped out of a conservative southern seminary in order to pursue her dream of becoming a smut peddler. Johnny Depp’s aunt was her fourth grade teacher. Her first full-length novel THE SIREN was inspired by a desire to tie up actor Jason Isaacs (on paper). She hopes someday life will imitate art (in bed).

If she couldn’t write, she would die.

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This book was provided by NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review only

Gothic/Gaslamp Wednesday Review: The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart by Leanna Renee Hieber

Blurb:
For Natalie Stewart, a normal life has never seemed so far away. Her only solace, Lord Jonathan Denbury, is wanted for murder. To clear his name, Denbury must return to England and assume the role of his demon doppelganger. 

But Natalie begins to doubt his true motives, especially as a new gentleman begins whispering in her ear. Natalie and Denbury may be able to visit each other in their dreams, but they can't escape the darkening shadows. 

spontaneous explosions, friends turned enemies and dangerous secrets revealed, there's still a demon who has Natalie's scent, and someone is trying to resurrect the ultimate evil.


It's funny that I happened to read THE TWISTED TALE OF MISS NATALIE STEWART just before I read another gothic tale. Perhaps, after reading this wonderful addition to the DARKER STILL series, I still had a taste for a good gothic mystery. Regardless, this book continued the tale of Natalie Stewart and her love, Jonathan Denbury. having been rescued from the painting that he was trapped in, the two embark on a journey (figuratively and literally, at points) to find and uncover the villain they can't seem to shed. I've already slightly spoiled DARKER STILL, the first book in the series, and to avoid major spoilers for both, I won't speak too much on the plot.

However, Natalie has regained her voice, which makes her part in discovering more about the demon that walked about as Jonathan slightly easier, as now she can talk to her confidantes and help Jonathan don the personality of his demon doppelganger. In DARKER STILL, Natalie is an intelligent young woman, and rather unlike the truth of a majority of Victorian women. She has a freedom that is seldom contained, and a sharp mind that the reader gets to experience more of in THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART.

What I like about Leanna Renee Hieber's writing is that is has little touches here and there that seem to go beyond one-dimentional research. There is an authenticity employed in the dress, the speech, and the personalities that seem impossible for someone who could never have experienced Victorian or Gaslamp society themselves.

THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART was all that I could hope for in a follow-up to DARKER STILL. Everything that I liked about the characters from the first book has perfect continuity in this one. Hieber knows how to spin a great tale, where the setting is just as important as the story, and she captured my interest with the unusual tale of Denbury and Natalie. Starting out as a tribute to the Dorian Grey idea, the series has gone beyond what most know about the "picture". Hieber has molded and twisted the idea into her own with great success.

Book Rating:
13/15
4 Stars
A-

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About The Author:
Author, actress and playwright Leanna Renee Hieber grew up in rural Ohio inventing ghost stories. She graduated with a BFA in Theatre and a focus in the Victorian Era from Miami University. She began her theatrical career with the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and began adapting works of 19th Century literature for the stage. Her one-act plays such as Favorite Lady have been published, awarded and produced around the country. Her novella Dark Nest won the 2009 Prism Award for excellence in the genre of Futuristic, Fantasy, or Paranormal Romance.

Her debut novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, first in her Strangely Beautiful series, landed on Barnes & Noble's bestseller lists, was named a favourite of 2009 by 14 book blogs, won two 2010 Prism Awards (Best Fantasy, Best First Book), the 2010 Orange County Book Buyer's Best Award (Young Adult category) and is currently in development as a musical theatre production with Broadway talent on board. The Strangely Beautiful series has been translated into several languages and was selected for hardcover editions via Rhapsody and SciFi Book Clubs. The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess, the prequel in the series, won the 2012 Prism Award (Best Fantasy).

DARKER STILL: A Novel of Magic Most Foul, first in Leanna's Gothic Historical Paranormal saga for teens (Sourcebooks Fire), hit the Kid's/YA INDIE NEXT LIST as a recommended title by the American Booksellers Association. Seventeen Magazine said of DARKER STILL: "This chilling tale will draw you in and keep you guessing until the very last page!" The book has been praised by Shelf Awareness, The Chicago Tribune, Pixie Magazine and more. DARKER STILL will also be translated into several languages and has been selected for a SCHOLASTIC edition as a "highly recommended" title.

Leanna's short fiction has been featured in anthologies Candle In the Attic Window and the upcoming Willful Impropriety: Tales of Society and Scandal, "Too Fond"; a forthcoming short for Tor.com and Queen Victoria's Book of Spells: Tales of Gaslight Fantasy (March 2013, Tor).

Represented by Nicholas Roman Lewis, Leanna is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Romance Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. She is proud to be a co-founder of the original Lady Jane's Salon Reading Series in New York. Leanna was named the 2010 RWA NYC Chapter Author of the Year.

A member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, Leanna works often in film and television on shows like Boardwalk Empire and is thrilled to be playing a principle role as Deputy Kellion in the forthcoming web-series Auror's Tale. When not writing or on set, she's busy telling ghost stories, frequenting Goth clubs, corset shopping, channeling Narcissa Malfoy, wandering graveyards and generally adventuring about her adopted hometown of New York City, where she resides with her real-life hero and their beloved rescued lab rabbit.

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This book was provided by Around The World ARC Tours, in exchange for my honest review only

Gothic/Gaslamp Wednesday Review: Ours Is Just a Little Sorrow by Gwen Hayes

Blurb:
The colony of New Geneva has risen from the ashes of her dying mother planet, Earth, by rebuilding a society based on a time before everything went horribly, horribly wrong... the Victorian Era...

Violet Merriweather first sets eyes on Colonel Winston when he purchases her at auction from Witherspoon Academy, the orphanage where she’d been raised after her rescue from Earth. Dutifully, as she was taught, Violet pushes away her fear of the monstrous, forbidding Thornfield Abbey, and throws herself into her work as governess to the Colonel’s youngest son.

But the Colonel's elder sons have other ideas.

John and Gideon Winston are as different as night and day, and each wants to claim Violet for his own. John immediately charms her with his intelligence and cordial demeanor, while Gideon, the dark rogue, delights in flustering her at every opportunity, awakening a yearning she doesn't understand and most assuredly does not want. She tries to deny her pull to both men, but an uneasy midnight bargain with one forges a new alliance as she’s dazzled by an underground New Geneva she hadn't known existed. And temptations she cannot resist.

But something is preying on the women of New Geneva, something that threatens to unleash the ghosts of Thornfield and drag them all into hell. And that something wants Violet most of all.


OURS IS JUST A LITTLE SORROW starts out at an auction, where orphans are sold into service to wealthy families. Sounds a bit harsh for a beginning? Gwen Hayes is adept at capturing trepidation Violet Merriweather feels as her story opens. The story thrusts the reader into a futuristic world, which has reverted to the Victorian way of living, post-apocolypse. A world where the serving class happens to be those that are raised in orphanages, and the upper class can hold some dangerous secrets.

The reader lives mostly in Violet's head, getting a chance to experience her life in the household of Colonel Winston, where she meets his two sons, John and Gideon. Now, here's where Hayes impressed me. The two guys/one girl trope could have turned into a typical love triangle, but it didn't seem there just for the sake of being there. Violet's attraction and friendship with the two brothers is a revelation for how she had grown up. For someone who is supposed to know that she is lesser and not worthy of the same affection between her and her "employers", it is quite interesting to see how the two vastly different personalities of the brother affect and beguile Violet.

Hayes has a lyrical quality to her writing that is perfect for this novella. The darker aspect of the plot is a gothic tale at its best. Though Hayes throws in several different themes -aspects of steampunk/gaslamp culture, mystery, suspense, romance, and shades of JANE EYRE- she twists all of these together to create a novella that read like a 400 page sci-fi/fantasy. My attention was captured throughout, even though the action was low-key. The autumn season is a perfect time to try out OURS IS JUST A LITTLE SORROW. It's short enough to be just the tidbit for a chilly weekend indoors, but fulfilling enough to not be left wanting.

Book Rating:
13.5/15
4.5 Stars
A

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About The Author:
Gwen Hayes lives in the Pacific Northwest with her real life hero, their children, and the pets that own them. She writes stories for teen and adult readers about love, angst, and saving the world.

Gwen's first novel, Falling Under, was released in March of 2011 by NAL/Penguin and followed up by the sequel, Dreaming Awake, in January of 2012.

She is represented by Jessica Sinsheimer of the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency.

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This book was provided by the author, in exchange for my honest review only

E-ARC Review: Send Me A Sign by Tiffany Schmidt

Blurb:
Mia is always looking for signs. A sign that she should get serious with her soccer-captain boyfriend. A sign that she’ll get the grades to make it into an Ivy-league school. One sign she didn’t expect to look for was: “Will I survive cancer?” It’s a question her friends would never understand, prompting Mia to keep her illness a secret. 

The only one who knows is her lifelong best friend, Gyver, who is poised to be so much more. Mia is determined to survive, but when you have so much going your way, there is so much more to lose. From debut author Tiffany Schmidt comes a heart-wrenching and ultimately uplifting story of one girl’s search for signs of life in the face of death.


Cancer is scary. And it doesn't matter how old the person is that has it. Right now, I am struggling with accepting my father's diagnosis, which is why, up until I was pitched SEND ME A SIGN, I was Not In Any Way Interested In A Cancer Book. But, something intrigued me about Tiffany Schmidt's debut YA novel. Perhaps, because I thought that it would probe deep and become more than just about cancer (a la Laurie Halse Anderson's SPEAK, where a young girl didn't reveal the fact that she had been sexually assaulted). Not that the two events are totally comparable, just that in SEND ME A SIGN, Mia has to endure a traumatic experience also, and she does it without revealing the fact really, to anyone close to her.

Anyway, I had a hard time connecting with Mia. She just didn't seem like a very sympathetic character in the way that she handled her family's concern, her closest male friend, Guyver's concern, and indeed her own fears and concerns about how she would have to proceed in a life gone topsy-turvy. Mia had her moments as I was reading, but they were kinda few and far between. As was my ability to relate to the female characters that were Mia's supposed best friends. To say they were mostly self-involved, is kind of an understatement.

I remember in high school I had several very close friends where we shared many woes, trials and tribulations. Some of them involved illness. Some of them involved injury. Some of them involved grief and loss. My friends and I needed each other, and there wasn't a second that I didn't think that things were different. Maybe I had exceptional friends, or an atypical high school experience, but I wish Schmidt had written in those kinds of friends for Mia. High school is hard enough without them. Cancer is hard enough without them.

I came away from SEND ME A SIGN feeling just a little disappointed. On the one hand, I do think that it avoided being Just A Cancer Book. Schmidt definitely has a writing style that I enjoyed, especially for a contemporary YA that can be enjoyed by most YA aged and reading level readers. There was just something missing that didn't make me say WOW! However, Schmidt has potential, and I won't deny that I'd like to see more from her.

Book Rating:
10/15
3 stars
C+/B-

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About The Author:
Tiffany Schmidt grew up in Massachusetts where she spent a significant part of her childhood getting into mischief and sitting in the naughty chair. All those time outs turned out to be a blessing; they forced her to sit still long enough to hone her storytelling skills. Her audience was the family dog.

She now lives in Pennsylvania with her saintly husband and impish twin boys. She's repped by Joe Monti at Barry Goldblatt Literary. She still gets into mischief, she still has dogs, and she still tells stories. She very much hopes you like them.


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This book was provided by Bloomsbury Publishing, in exchange for my honest review only

Steamy Days 5 Star Review: Wicked Nights by Gena Showalter

Blurb:
Leader of the most powerful army in the heavens, Zacharel has been deemed nearly too dangerous, too ruthless—and if he isn't careful, he'll lose his wings. But this warrior with a heart of ice will not be deterred from his missions at any cost…until a vulnerable human tempts him with a carnal pleasure he's never known before.Accused of a crime she did not commit, Annabelle Miller has spent four years in an institution for the criminally insane. Demons track her every move, and their king will stop at nothing to have her. Zacharel is her only hope for survival, but is the brutal angel with a touch as hot as hell her salvation—or her ultimate damnation?


I Say:
So right up front, I will admit that WICKED NIGHTS is the first Gena Showalter book that I’ve read. I’ve seen her books in the bookstore (who could miss those covers!) and I’ve even heard accolades from other readers and bloggers who like the same darker paranormal romance/urban fantasy novels that I like. But, I just never picked up one of her books before. After reading WICKED NIGHTS, I realize that I’ve been missing out.

Annabelle Miller has suffered for years at an institution for the criminally insane, all because she can see the demons that hunt her. She’s been brutalized and abandoned by those she thought she could trust, but Annabelle has not been broken in the four years she’s lived in virtual hell. Zacharel is on the cusp; leader of a powerful angelic army, he’s still in danger of losing his wings when Annabelle catches his attention. WICKED NIGHTS is a very dark and sensual novel about a ruthless angel and a vulnerable, but not spineless woman.

There were so many little touches in the novel that made me like it more with every page turn. Zacharel is painted as ruthless and possibly even brutal (though his class of angels are warriors), but Showalter gives a peek here and there of his heart. He truly cares about the redemption of his men. The scenes that involve Zacharel and Annabelle have just the right touch of sexual tension and heightened awareness. He is a protector, a warrior, and a man. Showalter gives equal time to all of these parts of his character.

WICKED NIGHTS opens pretty early with some of the explicit torture and degradation that Annabelle had to endure while at the institution. Instead of being off-putting, Showalter does a good job expressing how this has affected Annabelle. She is just as strong, maybe even stronger for her experience. As I said before, this woman has never been broken, despite her suffering. I absolutely loved this novel. It was gritty and wrenching; a total page-turner from start to finish.
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About The Author:
Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of the White Rabbit Chronicles, Otherworld Assassins, Angels of the Dark, Lords of the Underworld, and several of other series. She has written over thirty novels and novellas. Her books have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, and have been translated in multiple languages.
Website | GoodReads


This book was provided by Littlebird Publicity, in exchange for my honest review only

Steamy Days 5 Star Book Review: The Siren by Tiffany Reisz

Blurb:
Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more serious, more personal—and she's sure it'll be her breakout book...if it ever sees the light of day.

Zachary Easton holds Nora's fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it's no deal.

Nora's grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining…and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous—staying away from him...or returning to his bed?

Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.


I Say:
Unlike many of the reviews that I have seen about THE SIREN, I was pretty sure that it wouldn’t push my boundaries too much. I’ve already read BDSM novels, some of which deal with non-consent, edge play, and blood play. So when I accepted the review request for THE SIREN it wasn't laced with trepidation. Tiffany Reisz has written the first book in a new series, THE ORIGINAL SINNERS and it is a stunner. Nora Sutherlin is a kinky writer of kinky fiction, and Zach Easton is the editor that will challenge her and whip (pun intended) her newest novel into shape.

THE SIREN is truly a journey, and it has many characters that bring their own spice to the table. Yes, Nora is saucy and incorrigible, but she is also true to herself. She never pretends to be other than she is. Some of Zach’s story does get overshadowed by Nora’s, but Reisz did his character justice by illuminating some of his own personal life. It wasn’t about Nora all the time. But the characters that Reisz really left me wanting to know more about were Griffin Fiske and Kingsley Edge. (I’ve read the next book in the series, THE ANGEL, and anyone with me on Griffin, have no fear. He definitely gets more of the spotlight!)

Let’s get to the erotica. Yes, there are some very powerful scenes in THE SIREN. But what I liked about it was that it emphasized that kinky is as kinky does, and not all BDSM relationships are “safe, sane and consensual”. Let’s be honest, at least for the first two, the same can be said about any relationship. Some readers are going to be appalled by Nora and Soren. Some readers are going to see themselves in Nora and Soren, and some readers are going to want to find out more about a relationship like Nora and Soren’s. When a novel elicits such a wide response of emotions, I think the author is doing something right.

I read THE SIREN in one sitting, staying up until 3:30am just to reach the last page. This is a book about power, pain, love, lust and growth. It’s about life and the choices that a person makes and how they choose to tell their story. Kudos to Reisz for bringing to life a story as raw and emotional as THE SIREN.
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About The Author:
Tiffany Reisz lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her boyfriend (a reformed book reviewer) and two cats (one good, one evil). She graduated with a B.A. in English from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and is making both her parents and her professors proud by writing BDSM erotica under her real name. She has five piercings, one tattoo, and has been arrested twice.

When not under arrest, Tiffany enjoys Latin Dance, Latin Men, and Latin Verbs. She dropped out of a conservative southern seminary in order to pursue her dream of becoming a smut peddler. Johnny Depp’s aunt was her fourth grade teacher. Her first full-length novel THE SIREN was inspired by a desire to tie up actor Jason Isaacs (on paper). She hopes someday life will imitate art (in bed).

If she couldn’t write, she would die.
Website | GoodReads | Twitter


This book was provided by Littlebird Publicity, in exchange for my honest review only

ARC Review: Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill

Book: DEAD RECKONING
Author: MERCEDES LACKEY and ROSEMARY EDGHILL
Genre: YA FANTASY/WESTERN/STEAMPUNK
Published: June 2012, BLOOMSBURY

Series: none
Source: Around The World ARC Tours, no other compensation given for an honest review

From Good Reads:
Jett is a girl disguised as a boy, living as a gambler in the old West as she searches for her long-lost brother. Honoria Gibbons is a smart, self-sufficient young woman who also happens to be a fabulous inventor. Both young women travel the prairie alone – until they are brought together by a zombie invasion! As Jett and Honoria investigate, they soon learn that these zombies aren’t rising from the dead of their own accord... but who would want an undead army? And why?



My Review:
When steampunk is mentioned, most people think of a Victorian setting, but DEAD RECKONING integrates the steam sensibility into a western setting, and does it well. I've only read Mercedes Lackey's high fantasy books, and though I enjoyed every single one that I read, I was really happy to see her branching off into a new genre, especially in the YA category.

DEAD RECKONING tells the tale of a disparate group of young people that find themselves embroiled in a mystery involving the disappearance of a whole town, the possibility of a zombie army, and a creepy cult that has created a religion around a fanatical leader, and the idea that reanimation is holy. Even with the relative ease that this book can be read, there is still a fair amount of meat to it, owing to the writing skills of both Lackey and Rosemary Edghill.

Though some of the background of the main characters, Jett, Honoria and White Fox is revealed as the story unfolds, DEAD RECKONING keeps its focus on the three trying to figure out the truth behind the zombies. Honoria's science blends nicely with Jett's street smarts and White Fox's tracking skills and intellect. They make a good team and I like how each one has their chance at POV, while not narrowing the rest of the plot.

DEAD RECKONING is a good read for someone looking for a book that straddles the line between western, steampunk and paranormal/fantasy. It has a nice adventure plot, mixed with two smart female characters, and an interesting male character. It is the type of book that would appeal to both sexes over 12, and has appropriate language and content for those readers also. The journey swept me along, the plot wrapped up satisfactorily for the pace, and DEAD RECKONING is a stand-alone that stands on its own.

4/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
4.5/5 for language

My Rating: 12.5/15 (3.5 stars)

Highly Recommend, if you liked:
The Girl In The Steel Corset by Kady Cross
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
Wilder's Mate by Moira Rogers

Find Mercedes Lackey at:
Website | Blog | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook

Find Rosemary Edghill at:
Website | Journal | GoodReads

ARC Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Book: THE SELECTION
Author: KIERA CASS
Genre: YA FANTASY/DYSTOPIAN
Published: April 2012, HARPER TEEN

Series: The Selection #1 (upcoming series)
Source: Around The World ARC Tours, no other compensation given for an honest review

From Good Reads:
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My Review:
I'll start off by saying that I am not a big fan of ___ meets ___ book pitches, and I had heard that THE SELECTION was THE HUNGER GAMES meets The Bachelor. I hate The Bachelor. Did this deter me? The fact is that, whatever the book was pitched as, I had read the blurb and was intrigued. It sounded like more than a fight to the finish with the winner gaining a husband. Other controversy and a few trusted people saying it wasn't great aside, I really wanted to read THE SELECTION.

There was one major thing that didn't work for me, and I've got to get it out before I burst. I DESPISE the way the book ended. So what if this is just the beginning of a story? I still expect some kind of payoff after making it through more than 250 pages. Leave me in suspense about who Prince Maxon takes to wife? Fine. But, this book did not end. It paused. And that's one of my pet peeves about YA series (particularly trilogies). In fact, it's more likely to make me NOT wait with bated breath 10-12 months until the next book comes out, UNLESS I really super adored it. That's my little rant done.

Truthfully, I liked THE SELECTION. I think that Cass has a way with creating a world where everyone has to fit into an extremely rigid caste system that offers no upward mobiity and has a majority population that is at or below poverty level, where parents do without food to feed their children. AND YET, if there is a prince in the royal house, one girl of his approximate age might be lifted out of her caste and become royalty. It is like THE HUNGER GAMES, in that hope is the only thing that keeps the population from a complete revolution.

In the end, THE SELECTION kept my interest and explored some of the issues that should be brought to light in a good YA dystopian. Despite my dislike of how the novel (didn't) end, the journey there was interesting.

3.5/5 for plot
3.5/5 for characters
3.5/5 for language

My Rating: 10.5/15 (3 stars) Recommend


Find the author at:
Website | Journal | Twitter | GoodReads

ARC Review: Masque Of The Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Book: MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH
Author: BETHANY GRIFFIN
Genre: YA FANTASY
Published: April 2012, HARPER COLLINS

Series:
Source: Around the World ARC Tours, no other compensations given for an honest review

From Good Reads:
Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

My Review:
When I first started MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH, I wasn't sure if it might be a help or a hindrance that I've read the original Poe work. See, Poe is spooky and creepy and super odd, but his work has a draw for me; a magnetism that I've never been able to resist. I was worried that Bethany Griffin's adaptation wouldn't hold the same charisma. But, I needn't have worried. Griffin's MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH is an homage in the truest sense. It takes the original idea and updates it, but retains all of the skin-crawling, wide-eyed appeal that drew me to Poe.

Griffin's language is as lyrical as the pace of the book. Almost mirroring the languidness of Araby when amidst the, well, debauchery of The Debauchery Club, the novel exposes the world that has arisen out of a devastating plague, while concealing tidbits and details of the people that live in this world. Araby herself is a puzzle. Though she spends time at The Debauchery Club ingesting naughty substances she isn't an unsympathetic character. Living in the world she lives in (and being one of the few fortunate favored) has necessarily dulled her happiness. She, Will and Elliott, along with Araby's parents, and Will's siblings make up a motley cast of characters that stay true to the idea of Poe's MASQUE.

The masks the citizens have to wear do the dual job of protecting them and hiding their true nature. And MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH does a fantastic job of exploring human nature, while following Araby on her self-discovery, and illuminating a world that sounds very scary indeed.

4.5/5 for plot
5/5 for characters
5/5 for language

My Rating: 14.5/15 (5 stars)

Must Read, if you liked:
Starters by Lissa Price
Partials by Dan Wells

Find the author at:
Website | Blog | Twitter | GoodReads

Entangled Publishing Flirts Review: Table For One by Ros Clarke

Book: TABLE FOR ONE
Author: ROS CLARKE
Genre: CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Published: February 2012, FLIRTS (ENTANGLED PUBLISHING)

Series: none
Source: Publisher, no other compensation given for an honest review

From Good Reads:
When food critic Claudia Thomas gets dumped on Valentine’s Day, she finds herself occupying a table for one at London’s hottest new restaurant. If her job wasn’t on the line, she’d skip the whole affair, but her editor’s waiting for a review—and with luck, an interview with sexy chef Ward Nicholls.

Ward, intrigued by the single woman in a restaurant full of couples, sets out to tease her palate. Claudia has never tasted anything so luscious as the special meal Ward prepares for her, but when the seduction moves from the restaurant to his bedroom, Claudia discovers the only thing more tempting than his food is the chef himself.

Their connection is instantaneous, sizzling, and spicy—until Claudia comes clean about her job, reopening a wound Ward had thought long-healed. Could one accidental lie of omission end a delicious relationship before it even has a chance to start?

My Review:
TABLE FOR ONE was sexy. There's something about a seduction via a really good meal, and I loved the set-up for Claudia and Ward's relationship. Going into the reading I knew that this was going to be a novella, and that it would probably be quite titillating, because of the moniker FLIRTS given to the imprint. All of my expectations for the novella were met with resounding success.

Ward was a very tempting character to fall in love with. Not only does he whip up delicious-sounding recipes, but he almost has this need to match up a customer with the perfect food. Even without knowing Claudia in the very beginning, he wants to give her the food that he feels is the right meal for a person alone on Valentine's Day. Ditch the menu and go by gut instinct, because to accept less is, well unacceptable.

There is a great attraction between the two, and Clarke really had me smiling at the heat they generate. To say that I wanted more is true, but I wouldn't want to invalidate how well I think Clarke did in telling a complete, short, flirty and mesmerizing tale. Sometimes and appetizer can be just as filling and enjoyable as an entree, and that was certainly the case here.

4.5/5 for plot
5/5 for characters
5/5 for language

My Rating: 14.5/15 (5 stars)

ARC Review: Digit by Annabel Monaghan

Book: DIGIT
Author: ANNABEL MONAGHAN
Genre: CONTEMPORARY YA
Published: June 2012, HOUGHTON MIFFLIN BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

Series: none
Source: Around The World ARC Tours, no other compensation given for an honest review

From Good Reads:
Farrah "Digit" Higgins may be going to MIT in the fall, but this L.A. high school genius has left her geek self behind in another school district so she can blend in with the popular crowd at Santa Monica High and actually enjoy her senior year. But when Farrah, the daughter of a UCLA math professor, unknowingly cracks a terrorist group's number sequence, her laid-back senior year gets a lot more interesting. Soon she is personally investigating the case, on the run from terrorists, and faking her own kidnapping-- all while trying to convince a young, hot FBI agent to take her seriously. So much for blending in...

My Review:
From the very beginning, DIGIT appealed to me. I liked the idea of a smart teen with an extreme affinity for numbers, patterns, codes and things like that. When I read beyond the first few pages and found that Monaghan had also written in normal parents (not absentee or with extreme issues of their own), I really started to like DIGIT. This is a novel that balances out some of the other YA books I've read where smart girls are "geeks" or play the sidekick. It balances out the YA books with rubbish parents and very serious issues. While issues-driven books have their place, DIGIT was a refreshing change.

This book was a fun and funny short read. I did think the plot was slightly predicable, but not so much that I didn't want to finish or care about the journey to the end. It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the novel, but the mystery and suspense was not a tightrope walk, by any means. I figured out where the story was going to end up. I did have a bit of a "meh" attitude about the romance. Funny how I don't mind sexuality in YA, but sexuality between a minor and a 21+ just doesn't sit right with me.

Monaghan created a character in Digit that steals the show with her slightly snarky, slightly sarcastic, slightly vulnerable, but always intelligent voice. The chapter headings were laugh-inducing, but despite the humor that permeated DIGIT, it was not without it poignant moments that served to show both Digit's maturity and fear because of her skill and the situation she found herself in.

Mathletes can save the world from a terrorist plot, just as well as a trained federal agent, and Digit proves she has the tenacity and temerity to do it with a snappy attitude and a Fibonacci code. DIGIT is a solid contemporary YA, and despite my one issue with the romance, I do feel that it could still be appropriate for younger readers, as well as teen readers, and readers looking for a lighter vacation or beach read type of novel.

3.5/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
3.5/5 for language

My Rating: 11/15 (3 stars) Recommend

ARC Review: Redwood Bend by Robyn Carr

Book: REDWOOD BEND
Author: ROBYN CARR
Genre: CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Published: February 2012, MIRA (HARLEQUIN)

Series: Virgin River #18
Source: Little Bird Publicity, no other compensation given for an honest review

Katie Malone and her twin boys’ trip along the beautiful mountain roads to Virgin River is stopped short by a tire as flat as her failed romance. To make matters worse, the rain has set in, the boys are hungry and Katie doesn’t have the first clue about putting on a spare. As she stands at the side of the road pondering her next move, she hears a distinct rumble. The sight of the sexy, leather-clad bikers who pull up beside her puts her imagination into overdrive.

Dylan Childress and his buddies are on the motorcycle trip of a lifetime. But the site of a woman in distress stops them in their tracks. And while the guys are checking out her car, she and Dylan are checking out one another.

In one brief moment, the world tilts on its axis and any previous plans Katie and Dylan might have had for their futures are left at the side of the road.

My Review:
I was really happy to return to Virgin River, after my first foray there with HIDDEN SUMMIT last month. One of the reasons that I liked both books, and have made it my mission to read more Robyn Carr, is the realness of the dialog and characters. Even for contemporary romance, I find that Carr writes as realistically as possible, including male and female point-of-view.

In REDWOOD BEND, the sister to Conner Danson, mentioned in HIDDEN SUMMIT, gets her turn at the spotlight. Conner no longer has to testify against the man he saw murder someone, Katie can now leave her temporary protected location, and without a permanent plan in place, she heads to Virgin River with her twin boys. As with Conner, she meets her match almost immediately as the novel opens. The instant attraction, or at least notice, is definitely present.

But, it's what Carr does with the rest of the book that makes it an enjoyable and rich read. None of her Virgin River couples come to love easily. In fact, there is much that the characters do and get involved in that does not necessarily revolve around romance. Dylan is trying to figure out what his next business move will be, while pondering a return to Hollywood, and Katie wants to find a place where she can raise her twin boys.

The fact that there is more to her book than just a sexual attraction between her characters is actually very attractive to me. I like that Katie is a mature character with her own mind and two children that don't always make it easy for Dylan. I like that Dylan has to make his own decisions about issues in his life and the two don't just fall into insta-love and miraculously all problems are solved.

The plot and the romance in REDWOOD BEND develop organically over the course of the book. Though Dylan and Katie have to be separated at one point, it reads like a normal relationship where two people have different goals and have to find their way through, then back to each other. Ultimately, a happy ending is reached. Carr's an author that I can count on to deliver a nuanced and engrossing contemporary novel and her VIRGIN RIVER series is one to read.


4/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
4.5/5 for language

My Rating: 13/15 (4 stars) Highly Recommend

Find the author at:
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Purchase book at:
Barnes and Noble | IndieBound | Books-A-Million | Amazon

Available formats: Print (Mass Market Paperback), NookBook, Kindle

ARC Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Book: INCARNATE
Author: JODI MEADOWS
Genre: YA FANTASY
Published: January 2012, KATHERINE TEGAN

Series: Newsoul #1 (upcoming series)
Source: Around The World ARC Tours, no other compensation given for an honest review

From Good Reads:
NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

My Review:
INCARNATE caught my eye with its amazingly beautiful cover. I hoped that the story contained in the pages would impress me as much as the cover art. In some ways I really loved the story and the characters. Ana is an anomoly in her society. She's the first new soul; the first soul to have not been reincarnated from the 1000 souls that have existed for generations. Meadows starts off with Ana leaving the home where she was raised. I use this word with a huge dose of sarcasm, because Ana basically raised herself. While her mother treats her with disdain, the rest of her society treats her with indifference.

It was interesting to see the way that Meadows shaped Ana as a character and her personality with this type of upbringing. In fact, I liked how Meadows shaped all of her characters. Sam was thoughtful and modest (considering his talent) and other ancillary characters that became friends (or at least friendly) with Ana seemed to enrich the plot, not only in terms of how each soul seemed to have their own talent or personality that made them interesting, but also that each soul somehow contributed to the overall enrichment of the community.

The plot itself of INCARNATE had some issues for me. The world initially seemed very similar to a human world, even with the idea that each person living in it had been reincarnated, retaining the memories and connections from past lives. However, the meeting of Sam and Ana was precipitated by Ana being attacked by a sylph, a creature that is mentioned as the attack happens. Very convenient. So too were the dragon attacks that randomly come during certain times, where they served to put someone in danger.

I wasn't necessarily pulled out of the story during these times, but I did feel the introduction of the sylphs and dragons were incongruous with the rest of what was going on at the time. What did it serve for me to read about these events? How did it advance the plot while I was reading? I could see how some readers would find an added danger and heightened mystery about this fantasy world here, but I could also see how some readers might be confused about its relevancy, and even other readers might be put off.

The bottom line: I enjoyed INCARNATE. Perhaps I didn't love it quite as much as I expected, and perhaps I might have found some parts to be odd, but I liked it. I liked the premise of a whole society, save for one, that is solely reincarnated souls. I liked Meadows writing and her characters. For a reader looking for a less complex fantasy story, with a little self-discovery, a little romance and some heart-stopping moments, INCARNATE is the book you want to read.

3/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 11/15 (3 stars) Recommend

ARC Review: Slide by Jilll Hathaway

Book: SLIDE
Author: JILL HATHAWAY
Genre: CONTEMPORARY YA
Published: March 2012, BALZER AND BRAY (HARPERCOLLINS)

Series: none
Source: Around The World ARC Tours, no other compensation given for an honest review

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

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

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

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

My Review:
There's something about the concept behind SLIDE, the perceived seizure or fugue state where the person experiencing it isn't really in a seizure or fugue state, that really appeals to me. I think it's that edge of speculative fiction that I like, that edge of something else, even in a wholly contemporary world. Vee's narcolepsy that allows her to body share seems really cool to a science fiction loving reader like myself, while the mystery about her sister's friend's death intrigued me.

One of the sub-genres that I wish would show up more in YA is mystery/suspense. Jill Hathaway presents a good one here. Her main character, Vee, finds herself in the middle of something that she feels compelled to investigate further, but can't really share her concerns with others. Hathaway spins out the story well, exposing different things that are going on, exposing different people's secrets.

While the end wasn't that surprising, there is enough plot that I didn't get bored while reading. Again, Vee's situation and condition was interesting enough that I would have still though the concept well-written, even without the murder mystery aspect. I think the hardest thing for me to put my finger on is the exact reason why I liked SLIDE so much. The writing was good. The concept flat out had me reading from start to finish in one sitting. Vee was a good character. Ordinarily, one of these might be good enough to have me raving. All of these would definitely have me raving.

The truth is that I read SLIDE almost like I would a book that I bought for myself, and not one that I was planning to review. When I read books for review, I tend to take mental notes and do a fair bit of dissecting. It's almost like I plan an argument. This is why I liked or disliked. When I read books for pleasure, I try to turn off the critic and just enjoy. That's what I unintentionally did with SLIDE. I just plain enjoyed it.

4/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
4.5/5 for language

My Rating: 13/15 (4 stars)

Highly Recommend, if you liked:
Rosebush by Michele Jaffe
Fracture by Megan Miranda
Always A Witch by Carolyn MacCollough

Find the author at:
Blog | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook