What's On The Agenda (1)

♥ January 5th-11th ♥

(New Sunday Feature where I share what's planned for my week!)

Reading:

  

 

Reviewing:

 

      Jan 6                       Jan 10          

Cover Reveals:

AS YOU TURN AWAY by Molli Moran (@bookwhimsies) Jan 8

What's New This Year:

I'm going to be doing some awesome challenges this year! I've signed up for a series challenge, stand alone challenge, bingo challenge, and will be introducing a challenge of my own. Each week this month I'm going to be introducing each challenge I signed up for and the one I will be starting next month hosted on my blog. This coming Friday I will have all details up about the challenge I will be hosting, then each Friday after in Jan I will tell you more about the other challenges and what I plan to do to accomplish them! So excited to share all the things that are in store in the blogging world for me this year. :-)

Hope you stop by and see all the awesome things posted this week. Let me know what's on your agenda ;-) And if anyone else is interested in doing this feature with me let me know!

Stacking the Shelves (6)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews. Stacking the Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books your borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course eBooks.

I have not done a STS since September but I plan to keep up with it much better now that things in my personal life have calmed down! 

So this week I went on a bit of a eBook buying binge. O_O Uh-oh right! Well in my defense they were all SUPER good deals, soooo.....yea! But here are my lovelies:

eBooks:

       

     

 

  

  

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore (Amazon sale $1.99)

The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore (Amazon sale $1.99)

Mila 2.0: Origins: The Fire by Debra Driza (Amazon FREE)

Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza (B&N 50% off sale $2.99)

Jordyn and the Caverns of Gloom by Tiffany King (Amazon deal $0.99, #1 is on there for FREE)

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E Smith (Amazon daily deal $1.99)

15 Winter Reads by several YA Authors (Amazon monthly sale $0.99)

Wait For You by J. Lynn (Jennifer L Armentrout) (Amazon deal $0.99)

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Sheperd (Amazon daily deal $1.99)

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson (Amazon daily deal $1.99)

Resisting the Hero by Cindi Madsen (Entangled Pub for review)

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (Random House via Netgalley)

**Some of these are still at the low prices, some of them have gone back up sadly. ALSO I have this one already but for those that don't Incarnate by Jodi Meadows is $1.99 on monthly deals. :)

Prints:

The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow (Harlequin Teen)

So that's it for me this week. What all did you get? Let me know guys ♥

No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale

**I received this eARC from HarperTeen via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

No One Else Can Have You

by Kathleen Hale

Small towns are nothing if not friendly. Friendship, Wisconsin (population: 688) is no different. Around here, everyone wears a smile. And no one ever locks their doors. Until, that is, high school sweetheart Ruth Fried is found murdered. Strung up like a scarecrow in the middle of a cornfield.

Unfortunately, Friendship’s police are more adept at looking for lost pets than catching killers. So Ruth’s best friend, Kippy Bushman, armed with only her tenacious Midwestern spirit and Ruth’s secret diary (which Ruth’s mother had asked her to read in order to redact any, you know, sex parts), sets out to find the murderer. But in a quiet town like Friendship—where no one is a suspect—anyone could be the killer.

My Thoughts:

This review is really difficult to write. The book is so unique that it makes it hard to out into words just what I thought about it, besides the fact that I liked it. But I will try! 

Let me start off by saying...this book is not going to be for everyone. I've noticed it's a pretty much "you love it or you hate it" kind of book. I think it will take a certain person to love it. It is definitely one of the weirdest, quirkiest books I have ever come in contact with. The characters are weird, they talk weird, and they make extremely weird, inappropriate jokes....BUT somehow I still completely adored it. I was thoroughly entertained on every page. I don't know if it was Hale's intentions for the book to be quirky or to be seen this way...but I don't say it in a bad way. This book definitely is unique and very refreshing. 

It did a really good job in capturing a small town and what truly are some of their ways. They don't want to let outsiders in and you all have these little quirky ways of doing things when it comes to your neighbors. That was shown spectacularly. It also did a good job of showing how a small town girl was able to look outside of the box and see what even the police weren't able to see. 

The mystery part of the story isn't going to be one for people that are REALLY into mystery/thriller books. I was able to guess who it was before even halfway through. I know a lot of people that didn't figure it out until the very end, but I don't read any mystery/thrillers really so I feel like if I guessed it an avid reader of that genre would of gotten it quickly too. Also it isn't dark, well maybe one part, but I won't say when for spoiler purposes. So if you are looking for some intense thriller, this isn't it. But if you are looking for an entertaining, fun read that will make you laugh, go "say what", and learn a little along the way you would probably enjoy this. Just keep an open mind. ;-)

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥

Inhuman by Kat Falls (Mini Review)

** I got this e-ARC from Scholastic via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

Inhuman (Fetch #1)

by Kat Falls

In a world ravaged by mutation, a teenage girl must travel into the forbidden Savage Zone to recover lost artifacts or her father’s life is forfeit.

America has been ravaged by a war that has left the eastern half of the country riddled with mutation. Many of the people there exhibit varying degrees of animal traits. Even the plantlife has gone feral.

Crossing from west to east is supposed to be forbidden, but sometimes it’s necessary. Some enter the Savage Zone to provide humanitarian relief. Sixteen-year-old Lane’s father goes there to retrieve lost artifacts—he is a Fetch. It’s a dangerous life, but rewarding—until he’s caught.

Desperate to save her father, Lane agrees to complete his latest job. That means leaving behind her life of comfort and risking life and limb—and her very DNA—in the Savage Zone. But she’s not alone. In order to complete her objective, Lane strikes a deal with handsome, roguish Rafe. In exchange for his help as a guide, Lane is supposed to sneak him back west. But though Rafe doesn’t exhibit any signs of “manimal” mutation, he’s hardly civilized . . . and he may not be trustworthy

My Thoughts:

(Mini Review)

I'm a huge lover of dystopian and this is one I was really excited to get a chance to read. The story line is certainly unique and intriguing and overall I enjoyed this book. 

At first, I thought I wasn't going to get much into it...I honestly don't know why, there was nothing wrong with it, maybe it was just me, but I quickly found myself very caught up in everything that was happening with Lane, Rafe, and Everson. Lane was an awesome YA heroine who could really hold her own; Rafe was your "bad-boy", outcast who you just couldn't help but love; and Everson was your "good guy" strong soldier. There is definitely what looks like a love triangle...but you won't get any complaints from me because it was done right! Team Rafe by the way ;-)

 There was AMAZING world building, I really felt like I was there with them. The whole dystopian spin was something definitely new and different that I have not seen even remotely done before. The ending is one that will leave you wanting more ASAP. I definitely added this to my list of books to buy in hardcover...because I mean come on...do you see that cover? 

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥

Defy by Sara B Larson

**I received this ARC from Scholastic Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Scholastic Press. 

Defy (Defy #1)

by Sara B. Larson

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

My Thoughts:

This book really took me a while to get through, almost 2 weeks. At first I thought it was just the fact that I have been in a bit of a reading rut over this last month, but nope it wasn't. It in fact was that I started a book I thought was a high fantasy but turned out to be mainly about romance. Now I'm not against romance in any way, shape, or form, BUT when I think a book is about something completely different.....well I get a little bit irritated. It's like ordering a Dr. Pepper from Sonic and going to take a drink and it's Rootbeer instead.....SURPRISE!!!! Not in a good way either.  (I can't stand Rootbeer)

Anyways, the romance wouldn't have been SO bad IF it hadn't completely taken over the plot for at least 60% of the book, and it had been believable. I mean the high fantasy part of the novel....pretty much nonexistent. Instead it was all about romance and what seemed to be a forced love triangle. Now I'm no fan of insta-love but I can handle love triangles when done right....this was not done right sadly. Thing is...it really could of been though. A little tweek here and there and this triangle would of been the kind that would of had all us girls saying #TeamRylan #TeamDamian on twitter and raising our pitchforks and such! But nope....instead I eye rolled my way through several pages when these little "love scenes" happened. 

Now I will say that after the 50% mark the plot started to pick up and we started to get a little action outside of the Alexa/Damian/Rylan triangle and I started thoroughly enjoying the book. The high fantasy part kicked in BUT we still had no world building for the most part and the end shifted right back to the triangle. *sigh* Honestly the only point I see for the next book is to see who Alexa picks, which means I don't have much interest in reading it...because as I said before that's not what I was getting into this book for and it's just not all that believable. 

I know it may sound like I really disliked this book, so why give it the rating I did? Well despite all the unbelievable things with the romance I really did like Damian. I mean he's super swoony, seriously he is. I liked him so much I think the book might have even been better if written from his POV and told his story instead. It's not that I didn't like Alexa, she just focused on boys too much, and that's not what I really was hoping for. I also really found the little bit of back story we did get to be quite intriguing, had it of been more focused on that and the sorcerers and the kingdoms I could of really loved it I think. 

Do I think this book is BAD? No, not at all. Do I think others will love it? Yes I really do. I think some girls will definitely get in a tizzy over Rylan and Damian, and they will love the triangle and all the romance. BUT if you are looking for a high fantasy with a plot focused on high fantasy, best to skip this one.

My Rating:

♥♥♥

THE huge Jan Giveaway

OK guys I know  you have all seen my crazy VAGUE tweets on twitter about this AWESOME giveaway that is going down this month....well the time has come to give you some details. But FIRST lets talk about the goodies you could win by completing this task I will be giving you ;-)

Prize #1:

This lovely stack of 2014 January ARCs



AWESOME right???


Prize #2:

This lovely stack Erin Albert has so kindly donated! (Lullaby is signed)



There are some AMAZING prizes there :-)


Now while shipping costs are INSANE for shipping outside of the US me and Erin do NOT want to leave you Canada/INTL people out SOOOO we offer those winners a $50 bookish gift card....see we love y'all ♥♥

So now that we know what awesomeness is up for grabs lets get down to the details. I got the chance to read this AMAZING YA High Fantasy in 2013...I mean it is PERFECTION. Everyone that I know that has read it has agreed and fallen completely in love with it. Christina over at Ensconced in Lit loved it so much she got with Erin to give away FIFTEEN copies of it on her blog these past 2 weeks.

Let's introduce everyone to THE PROPHECY who hasn't heard of it shall we?





Growing up on a small farm in the kingdom of Vanguard, seventeen-year-old Layla Givens lives a deceptively tranquil existence. But her carefully constructed life quickly falls apart when she’s abducted by a religious zealot who proclaims her The Fulfillment of an ancient peace prophecy and whisks her away to marry her greatest enemy.

Wilhelm, Prince of the Ethereals, is reluctant to meet his new bride. He's grown up believing Vanguards are evil, an enemy to fight and fear...not love. Can he set aside his prejudices and work alongside Layla to bring lasting peace after centuries of war?

Nash, a loner who has never fit in, carries a huge secret, one big enough to destroy both kingdoms. When he accidently meets Layla, he’s no longer content to live in the shadows, but he must resist his growing attraction—for her safety and for the longevity of the two kingdoms.

When Nash's secret is revealed, a firestorm sweeps through both realms, with Layla at the center. Now she must choose between duty and desire while the fate of two nations hangs in the balance.


It seriously is as awesome as it sounds. SERIOUSLY. It's hard to believe that it is Erin's debut novel. 

So what we are challenging you to do is READ AND WRITE A REVIEW for THE PROPHECY by Erin Albert before the end of January. Yes, really, that's it. Really it's a win, win for you. You get to spend time winning a spectacular book and you may get some kick butt prizes because of it. To top it off the book is inexpensive. It is NOT in print so you can only do e-book but it only runs for $4.76 on Amazon. I mean that's less than $5...can't beat that. It is also on B&N, Kobo, Smashwords. Now after you do a review you will be able to get tons of other entries but the main goal is get reviews. 

SO THERE IS MY TASK FOR YOU! Are you ready to accept it?

Rules for contest:
-All entries are checked, if any are dishonest you will be disqualified
-Must be 13 yr or older to enter
-You do NOT have to be a blogger to enter this contest
-First winner picked will get to choose which Prize Stack they want, then the second winner will get the other, unless they are INTL

Starts at midnight on Jan 1, ends at midnight Jan 31. 

GOOD LUCK, if you have any questions please let me know :)






a Rafflecopter giveaway

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Crash Into You (Pushing the Limits #3)

by Katie McGarry

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane 

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind. 

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look. 

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

My Thoughts: 

If you haven't picked up a book by Katie McGarry I highly advise you to go do so NOW. You will not be disappointed. All of her books have been written beautifully and full of emotion but CRASH INTO YOU by far is my favorite. The characters are amazing and the plot engrossed me the entire way through. Once I started reading Isaiah and Rachel's story I didn't want to stop, and now that I'm done all I want is more. Now I want to know what happened with Rachel and Isaiah in the future, what happens to Logan, Abby, West, Ethan...just everyone. I don't think there are many books that I can honestly say that I am equally invested in the secondary characters as I am in the main ones, but I can definitely say that about CRASH INTO YOU. 

CRASH INTO YOU is mainly about Isaiah and Rachel's story. If you have read Katie's previous books you have already met Isaiah in PUSHING THE LIMIT and DARE YOU TO. He is a tough foster kid just trying to get by and make something of himself in the future. Rachel is from a ritzy part of town and just living her life the way her family wants to, but underneath it all she has a love for cars, much like Isaiah, and a need for speed. In an off chance situation Isaiah and Rachel find themselves deep in a sketchy situation and desperate to find their way out. Isaiah just wants to protect Rachel, and Rachel is determined to show that she no longer needs protection. 

All this time I've just thought there was no way that Katie's books could get any better, just no way...boy was I WRONG! I adored Isaiah in the previous books, but my love for him is on a whole new level now. I loved being able to see into his heart and his mind. How much he loved and protected Rachel stole my heart entirely. There were moments though that broke my heart completely when Isaiah didn't feel worthy of anything good. One quote that tore me up was: 

"What's wrong with me that nobody wants to keep me?"

Talk about heart breaking with an ugly cry going on my way. *sobs*

Rachel was the perfect match for him. She balanced Isaiah out so well, opened his eyes, and brought down his walls. I also enjoyed seeing her character growth. She grows so much from the shy, obeying person that she is to her parents and her brothers and I was so glad to see her forge her own path finally.

Some side characters that cannot go unnoticed were Logan and Abby. I sure hope to see future books about these two. I actually completely ship these two. ♥ Abby was an unexpected person to become so big in Rachel's life but it was so perfect. I love Abby and am dying to know what becomes of her. I met Logan in DARE YOU TO and didn't think much of him then but he really grew on me in CRASH INTO YOU. Plus if Isaiah approves of him he's alright with me ;) 

As for the story line in this book...it was just absolute perfection. Start to finish I had a hard time ever putting it down. Katie drew me into this world of danger and speed and I didn't want to ever leave. My emotions went from high to low at the turn of a page and I loved every second of it. There were several moments that tears were streaming down my face and my stomach was in knots, then I would be laughing and saying aw right on the next page. It was definitely an emotional roller-coaster that I would ride again any day. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. 

I'm so ready now for TAKE ME ON, coming in May 2014, which is West's story. 

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥