Sweet Peril Cover Reveal

I'm extremely excited to share the cover of...

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Anna Whitt, daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a claim. She’d been naive about a lot of things. Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

 When can you expect Sweet Peril? HarperTeen will be publishing it on April 30, 2013!

(Book 3 of The Sweet Trilogy, Sweet Reckoning, is slated for spring/summer 2014.) 

About the Author:

Wendy Higgins was born in Alaska, grew up an Army brat, and lived all over the United States before settling in the Washington, DC area. She attended George Mason University for her undergrad degree in creative writing, and Radford University for her masters in curriculum and instruction. Wendy taught 9th and 12th grade English in a rural school before becoming a mother and author. She now lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and son. Sweet Peril is her second novel.

Find Wendy on her blog or on Twitter.
You can add Sweet Peril to your GoodReads shelves or pre-order it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or even The Book Depository.

Waiting on Wednesday #59

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

Mind Games by Kiersten White

Summary via Goodreads:
Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

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Why am I waiting on Mind Games by Kiersten White? Because it's Kiersten White and this sounds like it's going to be a page turner.

Mind Games by Kiersten White is published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins, and its expected publication date is February 19, 2013.

How gorgeous is that cover!? Also, what are you waiting on this week?
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Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

If you enjoy fantasy, you'll be wanting to check out Carnival of Souls. Told from multiple points of view and written entirely in third person, you'll be transported between The City where daimons reign and the human world where witches roam free.

Think of the Carnival of Souls as an enormous market, the heart of The City, and where the competition takes place. As for the competition itself, it's a way for even the lowest of the low to become ruling caste and hold a powerful position at Marchosias's side. Aya wants to win in order to keep from having to marry and breed, Belias only entered because Aya did so, and Kaleb? Kaleb is a cur who wants to protect his pack and improve his position in the process.

On the other hand, there's Mallory, a girl who has been raised by a witch to despise daimons. I won't say anymore than that about her--but trust me, you'll learn a lot about her throughout Carnival of Souls. If she feels a little weak willed to you at first, hang in there. Why? Because there's a reason for it. As for Kaleb, I didn't expect to like him as much as I did, to be honest. The romance felt a little too sudden at first, but I loved how it worked out as Carnival of Souls progressed. Oh! And I can't forget Adam, the witch that has been raising Mallory. I didn't start off loving him, but that quickly changed as I delved into Carnival of Souls.

Carnival of Souls is an immersive read and one that I think readers will enjoy. And while I won't talk about the plot itself--because I'm pretty sure I'll accidentally give spoilers--I will tell you that it moves along nicely and that you're never in one place for too long. It's a world that I didn't mind getting lost in and one that I'm eager to return to--even if the wait will probably kill me. (No, really, I wanted to shake it to see if another page--or fifty--would magically appear.)

Overall Rating: ★★★★ and a half.

Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

Publisher: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date: September 4, 2012

Edition: ARC

* Picked up at ALA Annual.

Over You by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Meet Max, the founder of Ex, Inc. which is--as you might've suspected--designed to help girls get over their ex-boyfriends. And the program? It works. Or, at least it's worked for her clients. But Max has never really gotten over her ex. Name? Hugo Tillman. She thought she'd left him behind when she left her old school but he's in New York now and inevitably, this means she'll likely run into him. So how do you measure the success of your project when you haven't completed the program yourself? Will Max finally have her Moment? Or will Max succumb to Hugo Tillman all over again?

It needs to be said that I absolutely love the idea behind Ex, Inc. A company that specializes in helping you get over a bad breakup? Yes please! And while I could ramble on about Ex, Inc. for a while, I'll resist. Why? Because it's so much more fun to read about it in Over You and see the results first hand! (Well, you know what I mean.) You'll get to meet Bridget, one of the girls currently enrolled in the Ex, Inc. program and watch her go from moping over her ex-boyfriend to- well, you'll see!

As for characters, I really did love Max. I mean, I'm sure that if I were working in the closet at Teen Vogue during Over You I wouldn't exactly like Max--all I can think about is having to account for missing clothing. However, as a reader? I really loved how she pep talked her clients and how dedicated she is when it comes to getting into college and working on turning Ex, Inc. into something much larger. Then there's Ben, who is definitely adorable and he seems like a really great guy. He also happens to be friends with Taylor. Problem? You bet. And Max's life is already a roller coaster of ups and downs to begin with!

And I can't not mention Max's partners in crime, Zach and Phoebe! Admittedly I could've done with more of them in Over You, but ultimately I love how supportive they are of Max and they definitely seem like really awesome friends. As for the plot itself, I think it carried along nicely. You get the main plot throughout and Bridget's recovery as well. It was a bit difficult for me to get into the present tense writing at first but once the plot really began to take off, I ceased caring.

Would I recommend Over You to you? If you're looking for books that involve break-ups, recovery from said break-ups, and a bit of romance too, definitely! Over You was a cute read that I think readers will definitely enjoy.

Overall Rating: ★★★★

Over You by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Publisher: HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date: August 21, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and Edelweiss.

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Eleanor Fitt's family is clinging to high society. Her father is dead, her brother--who was supposed to be on his way home--has gone missing, and the family coffers are almost empty. Her mother wants to marry her off to an eligible young man and Eleanor? She's too busy trying to understand why one of the Dead left her a note from her brother and what exactly it might imply.

All I want is for Eleanor to get a heavy duty parasol in the next book--to better whack zombie knees with. I mean, preferably one that won't cause her mother to faint (which means it should be somewhat fashionable) but it's such a ladylike way to go about battling zombies! As for Eleanor as a character, she's brave and stubborn, but within reason. You'll also get to meet the Spirit Hunters (Joseph Boyer, Daniel Sheridan, and Jie Chen). I immediately took a liking to Jie--and you'll see why--and Joseph; however, it's taken me some time to warm up to Daniel. And yes, you've caught me! I liked Clarence more than I liked Daniel. Clarence is far from perfect--at times he's paranoid--but I think he has the potential to make Eleanor happy. Er, maybe. I'm not going to say anymore about the characters and I can't even say what I want to say--because oh my goodness is that a spoiler-- but believe me, if you read Something Strange and Deadly, you'll understand what I'm talking about (even if I'm not really talking about it right now).

So, the seance scene at the Fitt house? I will admit that it freaked me out a bit. But other than that,  the Dead fascinated me more than they frightened me. Other than that, the plot itself definitely kept me turning pages and I loved the ending. It wrapped up Something Strange and Deadly nicely without killing me with a cliffhanger while still leaving it open enough for the reader to realize that there will be another book.

Would I recommend Something Strange and Deadly to you? Yes, if you enjoy books set in the Victorian era, zombies, and want a page turner. There is romance in Something Strange and Deadly, but I wouldn't say that it overpowers the plot at all (which 99% of the time is my primary concern). So if you've been thinking about picking up a copy, definitely do so! (It just came out today after all!)

Overall Rating: ★★★★ and a half.

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Publisher: HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date: July 24, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and Edelweiss.

So Close to You Blog Tour (An Interview with Rachel Carter)

Today I'm the blog tour stop for So Close to You and I'm absolutely thrilled to have Rachel Carter on the blog! If you're debating over picking up So Close to You, I have two words for you: time travel.

 

Lydia Bentley has heard stories about the Montauk Project all her life: stories about the strange things that took place at the abandoned military base near her home and the people who've disappeared over the years. Stories about people like her own great-grandfather.

When Lydia stumbles into a portal that transports her to a dangerous and strange new reality, she discovers that all the stories she's ever heard about the Montauk Project are true, and that she's in the middle of one of the most dangerous experiments in history.

Alongside a darkly mysterious boy she is wary to trust, Lydia begins to unravel the secrets surrounding the Project. But the truths behind these secrets force her to question all her choices--and if Lydia chooses wrong, she might not save her family but destroy them . . . and herself.

What inspired you to write So Close to You?

 

I was inspired by a lot of things! I’ve always loved time travel books, so as soon as I heard about the real life conspiracy of the Montauk Project, I knew I wanted to write a story about it.

What was your favorite scene to write?           

There’s a scene where Mary and Lydia go into a general store in the 1940s, and Lydia is marveling at all of the products and advertisements on the walls. That was fun to write, because I loved imagining a modern teenager reacting to this foreign time period.

Is there a song that you think summarizes So Close to You?

It’s tough to pick just one! But probably The World Spins Madly On, by The Weepies.

What are you working on now?

I just finished writing and editing the sequel to So Close to You, and now I’m starting to outline book 3. I also have about a million other story ideas that are rolling around in my head.

What are some of your guilty pleasures?

Yikes - I have so many guilty pleasures it’s embarrassing. Reading romance novels in the bathtub. Eating sunflower seeds with the shells on them. Anything on the CW. Right now my biggest one is probably The Bachelorette. It was a slow start, but Emily has officially won me over. (Team Jef!)

What have you read and loved recently?

           

The Morning Gift, by Eva Ibbotson. I think it was the fourth time I’ve read it. I love that book. I love all Ibbotson’s books; they’re so fun and clever and romantic. I’m exceedingly envious of her prose!

 

Rachel Carter grew up in the woods of Vermont. She is a graduate of the University of Vermont and Columbia University, where she recently received her MFA in nonfiction writing. Rachel has been a teacher, a nanny, a caterer, and a bellhop. She is currently at work on her next book in Brooklyn, NY.

Want to know more about Rachel Carter? Check out her blog or follow her on Twitter! 

So Close to You by Rachel Carter comes out on July 10, 2012--don't forget to pick up a copy!

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Dreamless by Joesphine Angelini

If you haven't read Starcrossed yet and dislike spoilers, then I would suggest that you stop reading my review right about now and come back to it once you've read Starcrossed. Having said that, if you don't mind some spoilers for Starcrossed, do feel free to read on--but if I were you, I'd read Starcrossed first.

Helen is the Descender, the only Scion able to cross into Hades as she wishes and because of this, it's up to her to find the Furies and find a way to end their cries for vengeance which drive the Scions to kill members of other Houses. Determined to get it over with as quickly as she can, Helen descends every night, only to find herself completely alone and wandering aimlessly until she is saved one night--from quicksand--by a male Scion she's never met before. And the problem with all this descending? It's taking its toll on both her body and her mind. All the while the Hundred are still out there, plotting away and they're not the only ones plotting to use Helen.

To put it simply, do expect some romantic scenes in Dreamless, but don't expect it to be the bulk of the book. Seriously, the focus is definitely on Helen, Hades (realm), and the Furies. Having said that, I can't quite put my finger on it, but it felt like Dreamless was missing something--I think I was hoping for a more heart wrenching case of the "we cannot be together"-ness? Don't get me wrong, Lucas definitely doesn't take it well and Helen is less than pleased with it, but it didn't really grab me this time around. Maybe it's because I like the new guy? That's definitely possible because he seems like a genuinely nice guy--at least so far. But personally? I'd take Morpheus over the two Helen has to pick between any day--this coming from someone who likes to dream (and sleep) though.

Definitely do expect to learn more about the Gods in Dreamless and do expect to get familiar with the many landscapes in Hades. If you enjoyed the first book, then I definitely think you'll enjoy Dreamless as well. You'll get to see all of your favorite characters again and you'll get to meet some new characters as well--which is always a plus. In all, another engrossing read written by Josephine Angelini and I can't wait to see what will happen in the third book!

Overall Rating: ★★★★ and a half.

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

Publisher: HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date: May 29, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and Edelweiss.

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Warning: You may need a fainting couch and a bathtub full of ice for this one.

I don't even know where to begin but let me tell you this: I fell in love with Kaidan Rowe. Why? Because he's an extremely hot guy who happens to be the drummer for a band called Lascivious and he has a British accent. Oh, and his father happens to be the Duke of Lust. Yes, he's a bad boy; but at the same time, when Anna is around him... he's better behaved. The romance is definitely a big part of Sweet Evil and it's what I consider well written romances to be. What do I mean by that? It makes my heart beat a little faster and maybe even skip a beat every now and then. I swear I'm not an overly emotional reader but every now and then, I find a book that really gets to me. Sweet Evil is one of those books. But again, if you don't like books with a heavy helping of romance, this might not be for you--although if you're on the fence, I'd definitely recommend that you read it for the sake of forming your own opinion.

Asides from the red hot romance, you'll learn about the Nephilim, their parentage, and the role that they're expected to play. It was, in my opinion, very fascinating and I should warn you that there is some mention of drugs and alcohol in Sweet Evil. Because of this, I'd say that this is probably a book for older teens. And then there are the minor characters like Kopano (one of Kaidan's Nephilim friends) who happens to be wonderfully complex. To be honest, I'm really glad that Jay, Anna's best friend, isn't also going after Anna--which means that yes, there does not appear to be a love triangle which is definitely a welcome change. Oh, and Scott is a sleazeball who should probably go rot in a hole somewhere. Anna's adoptive mother, Patti? She's wonderfully supportive of Anna and at heart, wants what is best for Anna--although she can be a tad overprotective.

Anna isn't exactly your typical teenaged girl though. After all, she's Nephilim too--although her heritage is unusual when compared to the other Nephilim (she's half Angel and half Demon). In all, she spends a ton of time keeping herself from giving into her darker side and I love that about her! She also does her best to keep Jay from going down the wrong path as well--although up until recently she didn't know what she is. Because of this, you could say that Sweet Evil is about Anna finding the balance between her two sides and learning about who she really is. 

Sweet Evil will take you from Cartersville, Georgia to California and back again. You'll learn about the Nephilim, Anna's unique abilities, and the steamy romance? It's pretty darn steamy. If Kaidan Rowe sounds like your sort of guy, definitely pick up a copy of Sweet Evil. I promise you that he's not that bad of a guy.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Publisher: HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins.

Release Date: May 1, 2012

Edition: ARC

* Received for review via publisher. 

The Selection by Kiera Cass

So, I enjoyed The Selection so much that I'm currently having a hard time putting into words just how much I loved it. It's heavy on the romance and the "The Bachelor" aspect is definitely there too, but Prince Maxon? Way too adorable for words. I mean, he has no idea what to do when a girl cries and he genuinely wants to make Illéa a better place. Wondering what makes The Selection a dystopian? There's a caste system that dictates what jobs you can have and with it, the amount you get paid and thus, how well you live. Because of that, there are two groups of rebels who are actively attacking the palace and you'll run into them--briefly--in The Selection. (And if you're wondering, America Singer is a five in a caste system where the lowest paying working class is a seven.)

It was insanely easy to fall into America's world and I really ended up rooting for her during The Selection; perhaps more importantly, I loved her as a character--she's strong, stubborn, and kind all at once. I should probably also mention Aspen although, to be honest, I didn't love him--I think this has something to do with their relationship already being established and me having a hard time falling for the guy in question when it's like that (and he wasn't present that often either). But don't worry, I do believe that we'll be seeing more of him in the next book--although I seriously don't think that he'll woo me away from Prince Maxon.

The other thing that I loved about The Selection is definitely the dresses--because yes, I'm a complete and total sucker for all things pretty. This means that I absolutely love the cover--and hope that the next book's cover will be similar but spectacular--but it also means that I ate up the dress descriptions (which aren't for every garment in The Selection, just in case that's your worry). As for the other girls, you'll meet the terrible Celeste (who is out to win the crown through any means) and the extremely wonderful Marlee (who America is fast friends with) and to be honest, those were the two that really stood out to me--but we'll see if any of the other girls make an impression on me in the next book.

The Selection will take you from America Singer's home in Carolina to the palace, where she'll meet Prince Maxon for the first time and hopefully, you'll fall for him too. So in case you couldn't already tell, I really loved The Selection and I read it in one sitting--but if you don't like the romance of your dystopians to be at the forefront, consider this your warning that the romance definitely is what makes The Selection so great.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Publisher: HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date: April 24, 2012

Edition: ARC

* Received for review via publisher.

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

If you haven't read Delirium yet and do not wish to have spoilers, you'll want to stop reading now.

There's a very strong emphasis on change in Pandemonium. You have Lena rising like a phoenix from the ashes of her old life and then there's the resistance--its ranks have been growing lately. Taking place during "then" (during Lena's time in the Wilds after her escape) and the "now" (when Lena is working with the resistance), you'll meet a new cast of characters and definitely see Lena evolve into a stronger person.

For the sake of not giving you spoilers, I'm not giving you a summary. I'll tell you that there's definitely some action in Pandemonium and that there is indeed a new boy--who Lena does seem to be falling for. There's the DFA (Deliria-Free America) trying to convince everyone that being cured is the only way, the rebellion growing in numbers, a kidnapping, and an ending that will leave you dying for the next book. 

If you've seen my review for Delirium, you'll know that I was a bit skeptical coming into Pandemonium and to be honest, I really feel that Pandemonium delivered. There was more action, more character growth, and I'm really, really excited to see where things will go in Requiem. The pacing was excellent and unlike most books that go back and forth between two different time periods, I was able to keep up without having to go back and re-read each time period separately (yes, I've had to do it before for other books).

As for our new boy, I think it's a little too soon for me to give my opinion on Julian Fineman though as he's really just beginning to come into his own--having lived as the poster boy for the DFA up until this point. Then there's Raven who I'm guessing we haven't seen the last of and she's sort of a mother (and sister) figure to Lena and the rest of their group in the Wilds. You'll definitely learn about her during Pandemonium and well, I just couldn't help but like her. She puts up a brave front for the sake of their group, but there are definitely moments when she's worried for her group in a way that makes you think that she doesn't want to lose anyone else.

In short, I'd definitely recommend Pandemonium to you--under the condition that you've read Delirium. The plot is definitely moving along and it's not as focused on the romance--or at least, in my opinion--although the next book should definitely have you covered on that front.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Publisher: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date: February 28, 2012

Edition: ARC

* Received for review via publisher.

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

If you haven't read Unearthly yet, you should probably stop reading now--unless, of course, you're fine with some spoilers. Having said that, if you have not read Unearthly yet, I'd definitely recommend it to you. Why? Because it's one of the few series involving angels that I adore.

I can't really summarize Hallowed for you. Well, I can tell you that there's a funeral, some serious secrets come out, and things on the Christian and Tucker front are... interesting. I think that's my favorite part about Hallowed--seeing as how I was all about Tucker during Unearthly. Seriously, I might've been a diehard Tucker fan during Unearthly, but I couldn't help but like Christian in Hallowed. Character relationships definitely play a huge role in Hallowed and you have no idea how I wish I could say more than that. Needless to say, Hallowed is an amazing follow-up to Unearthly and you shouldn't even need to think about reading it, because it's great.

Jeffrey is bitter throughout most of Hallowed and when you find out the reason behind it, well, let's just say that my mind was blown. Maybe I'm the only one who didn't see that coming, but I can honestly say that I was surprised. Then there's Clara who continues to face challenges... really big challenges. I am dying to tell you more than that, but in the spirit of being spoiler free, I shall say no more. You'll meet some new characters in Hallowed as well and it's hard to dislike Billy (who, for the record, is a woman). She's not the only new character that you'll meet, but again with serious spoilers!

In short, I couldn't put down Hallowed and I'm definitely dying for the next book because yes, I love the series that much. There's definitely some serious character growth, story development, and a perfect ending that will leave you dying for the next book.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Publisher: HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date: January 17, 2012

Edition: ARC

* Received for review via publisher.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky really surprised me--and I mean this in an absolutely positive manner. I loved it so much more than I thought I would and if you've been thinking about picking up a copy, I'm going to give you a helpful nudge towards the bookstore (or the library).

Cast out of Reverie, Aria doesn't expect to last long in the barren world beyond the Pods known as the Death Shop. But it's there that she meets an Outsider named Perry (Peregrine) who will help keep her alive--if she'll help him find his nephew, Talon. Together they'll embark on a journey that will lead them to the answers that they seek... and more.

I'm pretty sure that I've mentioned this by now, but I'm pretty terrible at summarizing things. Maybe I just should've said, "This book is amazing, go forth and read it now!" Because honestly? That's exactly what I think and well, my summary is just not doing Under the Never Sky justice. My absolute favorite part of Under the Never Sky? How Perry and Aria's relationship develops. This is not a case of instant love and by the time they realize their feelings you'll be tossing up your hands yelling, "Finally!"

But wait! There's more! In Under the Never Sky, there's a set of Outsiders with special skills (referred to as the Marked and then by ability). Some can hear you from quite a distance, others have exceptional sight, and others still can tell your mood based on scent. It added a really fascinating angle to the story and I practically ran for my small collection of perfume oils when--in a particular scene--Aria's scent (violets) is mingled with mint (what alertness smells like in Under the Never Sky) as I'm a geek like that and happen to have a perfume that smells like that.

Then there's Roar, who I'm looking forward to (hopefully) seeing more of in the next book as I'm quite taken with him and Cinder--who has an extremely unique skill that you'll learn about in Under the Never Sky. And I can't forget about Marron, the owner of Delphi where Aria, Perry, Roar, and Cinder spend some time during Under the Never Sky. It sounds like quite the place to visit--or live at! *ahem* One of my favorite scenes happens to take place at Delphi during a bit of knife fighting practice between Aria and Perry. Believe me when I say this, you will understand what I'm talking about when you get there.

Under the Never Sky is easily a new favorite of mine and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book. There's nothing that I disliked about it and the ending? Well, the ending was just perfect. I could not imagine it ending other way. I can definitely see why the film rights were optioned by Warner Bros. Entertainment and I really do think that it'd make for an amazing movie (as long as they don't screw it up). In short, if you're looking for a 2012 debut to read, I'd say that Under the Never Sky is definitely a book to consider and I hope that you'll enjoy it as much as I did!

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Publisher: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins.

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Edition: ARC

* Received for review via publisher.

Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala

Life at home for Joy is suffocating. Her mother is constantly keeping track of Joy's medications, her older brother, Jesse, has been Joy's keeper up until recently, and Asher, her boyfriend, is abusive. Unable to breathe, Joy runs away from her home, taking refuge in the streets of Seattle. Once there, she meets Creed, a runaway, who lives on the streets and with his help, she'll regain her freedom and the ability to breathe.

I swear that my summary of Don't Breathe A Word looks extremely short, but without giving anything serious away, that's all I can tell you. Also, let's face it, I would've never had the courage to do what Joy did. Run away from home? Maybe. Live on the streets? I'm a wimp, so definitely not. Bleach my hair? Definitely not. I mean, don't get me wrong, her hair turns out fine in the end, but she still managed to burn her scalp.

However, Don't Breathe A Word is also about a small group of homeless teens. There's Creed, the unofficial leader and caretaker of the group, who has his heart set on getting a record deal and well, Joy too. Next there's May who has mad hair cutting skills; she's been living on the streets for almost all of her life and she's pretty much hollow inside due to things you'll discover while reading Don't Breathe A Word. Lastly there's Santos, who has a ferret named Faulkner and a thing for May. The three of them are pretty much family to one another and needless to say, they look out for one another. When Joy arrives, it doesn't take long for her to be taken into the fold and taught how to survive.

It hurt a bit to read about Joy's initial experience while living on the streets and well, the fact that she needs an inhaler doesn't exactly help matters either. With that said, there's really not much that I can add. Holly Cupala's writing style was easy to read and I finished reading Don't Breathe A Word much faster than I initially thought that I would. Although Joy's decision is not one that I would make, I enjoyed watching her work towards becoming more confident and well, happy.

If you enjoy reading contemporary fiction, then I'd definitely recommend checking out Don't Breathe A Word.

Overall Rating: ★★★★

Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala

Publisher: HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Edition: ARC

* Received for review from HarperTeen.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

If you haven't read Shatter Me yet, you should definitely do so! By now I'm sure that you've read the summary, but if you haven't, to summarize: Juliet's ability is both a gift and a curse, one that the Reestablishment would love to use against those who would oppose them. But Juliette isn't the monster that they make her out to be and she'll fight for her freedom. (I really need to get better at writing summaries--but I hate giving plot points away.)

Admittedly, it took me a little bit to get used to the fact that some of the words were struck out--on purpose, of course--but once I got over that, I fell in love with Shatter Me. Also, I have a confession to make... I like Warner a little more than I like Adam. Don't get me wrong, I love both of them and the shower scene between Adam and Juliet? Hot--and not nearly as dirty as it sounds. But, I tend to root for the underdog and in this case, it's definitely Warner.

I loved Juliette's world and I'm now filled with questions that only the second book will answer--which does indeed mean that I'm dying for the next book (that doesn't come out until Fall 2012). However, I would not call the ending a cliffhanger as it does bring Shatter Me to a close. Yes, you'll have questions but no, the ending isn't a life ending cliffhanger. On top of this, you'll definitely see why it has an X-Men vibe towards it at the end--but don't you dare skip ahead to find what I mean!

Needless to say, I adored Shatter Me and it's easily one of my favorite reads of 2011. If you're still unsure whether you want to read it or not, I'd definitely suggest that you give it a go. (And now I need to go buy the e-book because I hear it's got some pretty awesome extras!)

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

P.S. Did I forget to mention that--thanks to HarperCollins--I got to meet Tahereh in October!? She's extremely sweet and if you ever get the chance to meet her, definitely do so!

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Publisher: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date: November 15, 2011

Edition: ARC

* Received for review via publisher.

Eve by Anna Carey

Eve 
Author: Anna Carey
Publisher: HarperTeen (an imprint of HarperCollins)
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Edition: e-ARC
* Received for review via HarperTeen and NetGalley.

Eve attends School and like all the other graduating girls, she's looking forward to life after School. Things like learning a trade, moving to the City of Sand, and in Eve's case, becoming at artist. But when Eve catches Arden escaping from School, she learns that her fate might be wildly different than what she believed it would be. Confronted with an unwanted fate and with graduation looming on the horizon, Eve will have to escape School to escape the fate that awaits her and all the other Graduates. To do this, she'll have to trust a boy named Caleb, avoid the soldiers that are hot on her trail, and make it to Califia in one piece.

This is honestly going to be a difficult review to write simply because I'm probably going to fail miserably at putting into words just how much I enjoyed reading Eve. The world that Anna Carey created is just incredible and it's extremely easy to picture Eve's plight as she sets out for Califia from School. Due to the plague, death really is everywhere and well, it really is everywhere. It's on the road where cars sit empty or with skeletal passengers and in the houses where decay has set in and pictures of the house's former inhabitants still sit upon the mantle. It's eerie to read and yet beautiful in its own way--actually, I keep wanting to say that the world itself reminds me of The Walking Dead, but minus the zombies. 

But let's talk about Eve, who has grown up at School ever since her mother gave her up. I know, that sounds bad. What I mean is, her mother was infected by the plague and was pretty much on her deathbed when she gave up Eve. Yes, most kids in Eve are orphans. Also, the School that Eve attends educates them in a sort of Victorian manner and then when they graduate... well, you'll see. I will tell you that the young ladies in Eve are taught that men are terrible people and that they should both fear and avoid them whenever possible--which ought to let you know how well Caleb was received when they first met. When compared to the "School" that Caleb attended though, Eve's School is extremely cushy. You see, the boys are pretty much forced into work camps and well, they don't tend to last long in there. This is precisely why the boys tend to try to escape and well, the girls are generally ignorant of their fate.

I know I should probably talk about Caleb and I do want to, but there's just so much that one can talk about when it comes to Eve that it's insane. At first, I wasn't too sure about Caleb. I mean, sure, he saved Eve, but as far as I was concerned, that didn't mean that I had to like him. However, once they make to to the cave, Caleb does indeed grow on me and by the end of the book... well, you'll see. Seriously, I'm trying not to spoil anything for you and that's why I've taken on the unfortunate habit of saying "you'll see." If you've been thinking about reading Eve, definitely do so! It's easily one of my favorite reads this year and I really do hope that you'll enjoy reading it too.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

A Beautiful Dark
Author: Jocelyn Davies
Publisher: HarperTeen (an imprint of HarperCollins)
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Edition: e-ARC
* Received for review via HarperTeen and NetGalley. 

First and foremost, you know that I'm dying to read a book when I'll willingly read an e-galley. Secondly, oh my goodness the ending is amazing! I'm officially dying to read the next book!

Skye's seventeenth birthday party isn't what she expected it to be. Not only is it a surprise party, but a fight breaks out and then there's an earthquake-like rumble beneath them (which, as it turns out, is the new boiler exploding). Better yet? The two boys who were fighting at the party the day before turn out to be new students at her high school and if Skye didn't know any better, she'd say that they've been following her. However, if that wasn't troubling enough, they're both there to keep an eye on her and to help her pick a side. But what will she decide on? Those who encourage chaos? Or those who believe in rigid order?

Yes, this is technically about angels; however, there aren't any fallen angels in this. Why do I say that? Because although Asher is amongst the Rebels (a group of angels who inspire/encourage chaos), more or less they just broke away from The Order (or "jumped" as Asher puts it). Because of this, their abilities differ from the Guardians' abilities; as in, they're pretty much polar opposites. Although the whole angel storyline can be too predictable, I found myself pleasantly surprised by A Beautiful Dark. Jocelyn manages to put her own spin on the angels and well, I certainly enjoyed it.

Then there are the boys. You have Asher, the Rebel, who Skye finds herself attracted to almost immediately and well, he's a real (lady) charmer. He's tan (although it's winter time in Colorado), from what Skye can tell he has a nice body, and he's got both dark hair and dark eyes. On the other hand, there's Devin, a Guardian (and as such, a lackey for The Order), who--as Skye puts it--looks like a fairytale prince. There's a calmness to him that Skye envies and well, he's terrible at making small talk or being anything less than serious. Perhaps I ought to mention that there's a (different) girl that according to the Seers, he's destined to be with. Her name is Raven and honestly? She strikes me as psycho. Which boy do I prefer? You have no idea how torn I am. However, if you forced me to pick one of them, it'd be Devin--although, I mean to say that if I were Skye, I'd probably try to "drag him down" so to speak.

Oh, wait, I should probably mention Ian too, right? I mean, he's been crushing on Skye for a while and she's been doing her best to ignore it. Needless to say, he's less than pleased by Asher and Devin... although mostly Asher. And then there's Skye, whose parents died on her sixth birthday. She's been living with her legal guardian, "Aunt" Jo (her mother's best friend) and lately, Jo has been extremely busy with work (and rarely home because of it). Loved Skye's friendship with Cassie and well, Dan's feelings for Cassie.

Personally I loved the pacing, Jocelyn's writing style, and well, the boys! On top of that, I adore the setting--a small town called River Springs in Colorado--and the fact that Skye loves to ski. So if you're not tired of reading about angels or have been debating over reading A Beautiful Dark, then I'd definitely tell you to give it a go. But don't say that I didn't warn you about the ending!

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Cold Kiss
Author: Amy Garvey
Publisher: HarperTeen (an imprint of HarperCollins)
Release Date: September 20, 2011
Edition: e-ARC
* Received for review via HarperTeen and NetGalley

When Danny dies, Wren is heartbroken. She can't imagine living without him and in her grief she does something both frightening and amazing, she brings him back from the dead. Unfortunately he's not quite the Danny that she remembers; to put it simply, he's merely a shade of who he once was. And if dealing with her dead boyfriend wasn't enough, Gabriel, the new boy at school, knows what she can do. On top of this, Wren finds herself attracted to Gabriel and this is problematic, given the whole "dead boyfriend is not quite as dead as he once was" thing--it's the veritable elephant in the room. She'll have to find a way to control her powers, reconnect with her friends, and hopefully put Danny to rest.

Everyone grieves in their own way, but when you're able to do some extraordinary things (like Wren can), maybe you don't have to. At least, that's what I like to imagine Wren had thought when she decided to bring Danny back. I suppose Wren's biggest problem is her impulsiveness; it seems like she's constantly doing things without really thinking about what their long term effects might be. Luckily, she has Gabriel who does that sort of thinking for her. After all, storing your undead boyfriend above a neighbor's garage? Probably not the best idea. I mean, neither is bringing him back from the dead, but I think Wren gets that now.

I loved Amy Garvey's take on zombies. They're not mindless, they don't crave human flesh/organs, and for the most part, they have to listen to what their summoner tells them to do. They're (mostly) who they were before they died, just more compliant. And while I loved how sweet Wren and Danny's relationship was, Gabriel definitely grew on me--and he's probably the only person who she'd never really need to keep secrets from. I mean, not that she could considering the fact that he can technically read her mind (in the literal sense).

It really is heart-wrenching to read though (due in large part to Amy's wonderful writing style) since although Wren wanted him back, she's growing tired of how clingy Danny has grown. And with the way that Cold Kiss left off, it seems like there could be a second book considering the fact that Wren was never reunited with her father although I'd be perfectly happy with Cold Kiss as a standalone too. (Although there will be a second book.) So would I recommend Cold Kiss to you? Definitely. I mean, unless you don't like or care for zombies.

Overall Rating: ★★★★ and a half.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperTeen (an imprint of HarperCollins)
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Edition: Hardcover
* Purchased on my own.

Love is a disease. One that Lena will be happy to get rid of once she turns eighteen. But when she meets  a boy named Alex, she’ll learn that maybe love isn’t the disease that society has made it out to be—and that it’s not the only thing that they’ve been lying about. 

I have a feeling that this is going to be a short review and not because I have nothing to say about Delirium, but because so many people have read it now that I feel that I’d just be reiterating things. First, it’s important to say that I loved Lauren Oliver’s writing style and that yes, this is the first time that I’ve read anything written by her. Was I madly in love with Delirium? Alas, not precisely; while I enjoyed it immensely, I think I’m used to dystopians with more action than romance—not that the romance was in any way, shape, or form bad, but it’s definitely the driving force for Delirium. 

Lena is a senior in high school and more importantly, she’s looking forward to getting “cured.” To her, being cured means that she’ll be given a fresh start, one in which no one whispers about her mother’s suicide behind her back. And Alex? He’s a security guard at the labs and there’s a lot more to him than you might think. I know that it’s an incredibly vague statement, but since I’m trying not to give you spoilers, that’s all that I’ll say on that matter. 

Honestly, I really like the idea of love being a disease and I’m looking forward to seeing how things develop in Pandemonium which has an expected publication date of (date here). And that ending? Oh my goodness! I mean, it’s not exactly a crazy “must have the next book this instant” cliffhanger, but it’s still pretty insane! If you haven’t read Delirium just yet, I’d definitely suggest that you give it a go if you enjoy dystopians that don’t necessarily involve constant bouts of action. 

Overall Rating:  ★★★★

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Supernaturally
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: HarperTeen (an imprint of HarperCollins)
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Edition: Hardcover
* Purchased on my own.

If you haven’t read Paranormalcy yet, stop reading now—unless you don’t mind some spoilers.

As if life as an Empty One wasn’t bad enough, Evie’s dream of a perfectly normal life is turning out to be… boring. But when the IPCA needs her help again, she’ll have to face a serious dilemma. Does she decline because Lend and his father are against the IPCA? Or does she help them out to add a bit of excitement to her otherwise dull life? But the fun doesn’t stop there as Reth has reappeared in Evie’s life and he’s got some truths for her that will change everything.

I’m letting you know now that I really enjoyed Paranormalcy and as such, I had a feeling that I was going to enjoy Supernaturally. Was I right? Yes! Admittedly it started off a bit slow (in my opinion) but quickly picked up with the reappearance of Raquel and as such, the IPCA reappearing in Evie’s life—along with a boy named Jack, who seems to be more trouble than he’s worth. Really, I did not like Jack and just as I started to like him? Well, you’ll see. Honestly? I think he’s a tad suicidal.

I loved that we got to learn more about Arianna in Supernaturally and that we got to see a bit more of the Faerie Realms! We also got a healthy helping of Lend—although he hasn’t really continued to grow on me at this point—with a side of Reth.

Overall I really enjoyed Supernaturally and am looking forward to the last book in the trilogy Endlessly! If you haven’t read Paranormalcy yet, I’d definitely suggest giving it a go if you’re looking for paranormal that involves a highly unique female main character (with a penchant for the color pink and a love of tasers).

Overall Rating: ★★★★ and a half

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have)
Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Publisher: HarperTeen (an imprint of HarperCollins)
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Edition: ARC
* Picked up at ALA Midwinter.

Summary from GoodReads:

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn’t jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although, maybe “opportunity” isn’t the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: “Lied to Our Parents”). But she and her housemate, Vi, are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up “Skipping School” (#3), “Throwing a Crazy Party” (#8), “Buying a Hot Tub” (#4), and, um, “Harboring a Fugitive” (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

My Thoughts:

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) was a very fun read featuring April's adventures in independence. When her father (and stepmother) announce plans to move to Cleveland--and take her with them--April puts her foot down. And that, it what I like about April. She's the last member of her family to stay in Westport and she's determined to see things through. Besides, her boyfriend Noah is in Westport; why on earth would she want to leave?


Better yet, April knows that she'll be uprooted from Westport if she gets caught living with her friend Vi--minus Vi's mother. Together they explore the freedom that living parent-free allows them and after everything is said and done, April will never be the same. Wait, that sounded ominous. I promise you that the event that I'm referring to does change things for April and it is big, but it's not horrific. Asides from that, I did like Vi--and she reminds me of someone that I know. She's mature for her age, responsible, can be a bit of a b-word, and believes that she knows how things will turn out. I really can't say much about Noah or Hudson without giving spoilers (asides for the fact that Noah is keeping something from April) and then we've got Dean. Dean is friends with both April and Vi and he's always hungry. Did I mention that he's got a sense of humor? Or the fact that he helped April name a kitten Donut? Because it's true.


Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) had me flipping pages, laughing out loud, and contemplating changing my parents' ringtone to a police siren. If you enjoy contemporary romances, then I'd definitely recommend this book to you--and hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did! 


Overall Rating: ★★★★★