Book Review: The Girl in the Park by Mariah Fredericks

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  When Wendy Geller's body is found in Central Park after the night of a rager, newspaper headlines scream,"Death in the Park: Party Girl Found Strangled." But shy Rain, once Wendy's best friend, knows there was more to Wendy than just "party girl." As she struggles to separate the friend she knew from the tangle of gossip and headlines, Rain becomes determined to discover the truth about the murder. Written in a voice at once immediate, riveting, and utterly convincing, Mariah Frederick's mystery brilliantly exposes the cracks in this exclusive New York City world and the teenagers that move within it.

My Thoughts:  I love a good mystery and this was a good mystery!  There were lots of clues to "who dunnit" and I figured it out early but it didn't necessarily take away from the book.

Rain and Wendy used to be friends.  They have grown apart though and don't talk much anymore.  They attended the same party though and when Rain is woken up by a phonecall from Wendy's mom, things start to spiral downhill.  Wendy's mom calls Rain to find out if Wendy is over there because she didn't come home that night.  Rain had seen Wendy at the party the night before but had left before Wendy had. 

Later, Wendy's body is found in the park.  She had been strangled and left there.  Rain feels that she needs to help find out what happened to Wendy, especially after everyone is saying mean things about her.  It's true that Wendy wasn't the most liked girl and she had her issues but Rain doesn't feel that she deserves to be treated in death this way.

As you  follow the clues with Rain, you also get taken back in time to when Rain and Wendy were friends.  You find out how Rain became accepted finally in her school and how Wendy became so intensly disliked by most of the girls.  You find out why Wendy and Rain parted ways as well and you get glimpses into Wendy's life and clues as to what may have happened. 

So, like I said, I figured it out about halfway through the book but I didn't necessarily know why this person killed Wendy.  I had a pretty dang good idea as to why but I wanted it confirmed.  I also wanted to see how Rain came to find out who it was. 

This book is a very fast read and definitely keeps your interest through the whole book.  I loved that the flashbacks were not confusing at all and they all made sense and helped develop the story.  If you like mysteries, I am pretty sure you will enjoy this one.  It's a great book to pick up for a quick, fun read!

Book Review: Amber House by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed & Larkin Reed

**I received this book from Around the World ARC Tours for review**

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  "I was sixteen the first time my grandmother died . . ."

Sarah Parsons has never been to Amber House, the grand Maryland estate that's been in her family for three centuries. She's never wandered its hedge maze or explored its secret attics; she's never danced in its ballroom, or hunted for the diamonds said to be hidden in its walls.

But as Sarah, her brother, and their icy mother settle into Amber House, she finds herself drawn to both handsome Richard, who introduces her to a world of wealth and privilege, and intriguing Jackson, who dares her to find the diamonds. She discovers she can see visions of the mansion’s history—like her mother as a young girl, unimaginably warm and happy, or the cruel sea captain who lost the jewels long ago. Piece by piece, she uncovers the secrets of Amber House: its ancient crimes, and its fresh betrayals.

Where are the diamonds? Who caused her mother’s unhappiness?  And what tragic act still echoes through Amber House? Sarah needs answers soon. Because when her visions threaten the person she holds most dear, she must untangle the web of the past before it traps them all forever.

My Thoughts:  I love me a good ghost story!  This was a fun ghost story that kept my attention from the beginning.  The end threw me for a loop and I am glad to know that there are more to come because if that was it then I would not be a happy camper!

Sarah is at her grandmother's house for her grandmother's funeral.  She hardly knew her grandmother and had never visited her at Amber House.  Amber House is one of the most talked about houses in Maryland and Sarah is anxious to see what all the fuss is about.

Sarah meets Jackson while at Amber House.  Jackson and his grandma, Rose, live on the property.  Rose took care of Sarah's grandma and helps around Amber House.  Jackson appears to know quite a bit about Sarah before he even meets her.  She is very perplexed by this and a little put off by it.  Jackson tells Sarah about a lost treasure and asks her to help him find it though so she gets to know him more and starts to understand how he knows so much about her.

Sarah's mother hates Amber House and does not want to stay there at all.  It is only after Sarah and her little brother, Sam, come up with a plan that she gives in and they end up staying for the 10 days that they are in Maryland.  She warns Sarah that the house makes funny "noises" but Sarah and Sammy are excited to be able to stay and explore the house. 

The next day, Sarah meets Richard who is the son of one of her mother's friends.  Sarah's mother decides to throw Sarah a Sweet 16 party at Amber House and Richard is put in charge of helping Sarah meet some friends.  Sarah's mom thinks that the party will help her sell Amber House so they can get back to Seattle as soon as possible.

There was a love triangle (of course) but it wasn't too horrible.  The relationship between Jackson and Sarah was a little more muted than that of Sarah and Richard.  Sarah's mom is also very quick to point out that the boys must want something from her because everyone uses everyone else so you are constantly wondering (as is Sarah) if Sarah is being used or if these boys honestly like her.

The ending was a little confusing for me but it's only because it left me with more questions than when I started the book.  Like I said though, there are more books to come so I think that will answer a lot of those questions. 

I enjoyed this book and thought there were some really great spooky moments.  I liked all the treasure hunts but I wasn't sure about Sarah's "gift".  Sometimes it seemed a little cheesy the way she was able to "see" the past and some of the flashbacks were a little pointless but for the most part it was a great read!

Book Review: The Blessed by Tonya Hurley

**I received this book from Around the World ARC Tours for review**

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  From the author of the "New York Times" bestselling ghostgirl series, the start to a captivating and haunting teen trilogy about three girls who become entangled with an enigmatic boy--a boy who believes he is a saint.What if martyrs and saints lived among us? And what if you were told you were one of them?

Meet Agnes, Cecilia, and Lucy. Three lost girls, each searching for something. But what they find is Beyond Belief.

My Thoughts:  I probably won't be popular here and I'm sure I'll be in the minority on this one but that's okay with me.  I'm asked to give my honest opinion on books and this is my honest opinion.  I did not like this book at all!  It was just bizarre and didn't flow well for me.

The story begins with three teen girls all in the same Catholic hospital E.R.  Agnes has just tried to committ suicide, Cecilia was found face down in a mud puddle, drowning and Lucy was highly intoxicated.  They are all kept overnight for observation.  While there, Cecilia meets Sebastian, a young man that snuck into her cubicle in the middle of the night.  He gives her a beautiful but strange bracelet and then leaves.  When Lucy wakes up in the morning, she finds a very similar bracelet on her nightstand.  Agnes, while waiting for the psychiatrist, meets a young boy who gives her yet another similar bracelet.

Lucy goes home after her stint in the E.R.  She is a self-made socialite and only cares about herself and how she can promote herself more.   Her mom ran out on her and her father when she was young and her father is nowhere to be seen.  Lucy has dropped out of school and spends her time partying and making sure she gets a lot of free stuff.  She runs through her monthly allowance quickly and then relies on all hte free promotional stuff she gets to get her through the rest of the month.  She blows all her money on her appearance so she comes across as very wealthy. 

Cecilia is a runaway musician.  She ran away from her parent's home in Philidelphia and made it to New York where she sleeps with anyone and everyone and plays in dumps.  She obviously has also dropped out of school and lives on her own.  Her only "friend" is Bill, a homeless junkie, that she lets live on her apartment rooftop.  She brings him breakfast and booze in the morning.

Agnes is the only one who attends school (a Catholic school) and has a parent.  Her mother is very overbearing though and Agnes rebels by dating Sayer, a boy who her mother hates.  When Sayer  cheats on Agnes, Agnes decides to slit her wrists.  Her mother isn't really worried about her daughter though.  She is more worried about what everyone will think of her.

As a storm is brewing, Lucy gets kicked out of a club and takes off (driving drunk) in a taxi cab...and yes, I said she was driving the cab.  Cecilia leaves a show early and gets evicted from her apartment and Agnes decides to leave home.  They all end up in this old Catholic church and guess who is also there?  Yep, Sebastian.  During the worst storm of the year, all four get stuck in the church for 3 days.  And from there, it just gets weird. 

I did not connect to any of the characters and found the whole thing just strange.  First, Lucy and Cecilia both drop out of school and have no parents around but are making it just fine in NYC.  Well, okay, maybe.  But it just didn't work for me.  Then the whole Saint thing was messed up.  I am not *technically* Catholic.  I was baptized Catholic and that is all so I don't really know a lot about the Saints.  I am, however, a religious person and this book just made me completely uncomfortable.  It is my opinion and my opinion only.  But I didn't like the way the book left me feeling at all.

I also didn't like all the extreme violence at the end.  For three girls who are suppose to be Saints, they are EXTREMELY violent in the end.  One of the girls did make the comment that they were Saints, not Angels but still, that did not work at all for me. 

So, this was just one of those books that did not work for me at all.  I didn't get the point in it and will not be looking to read any more in this series (if it is a series). 



Book Review: The Diviners by Libba Bray

**Received this book from Around the World ARC Tours for review**

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."
When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

My Thoughts:  Flapper girls, speakeasies, romance and ghosts!  What more could you possibly ask for in one book?  This book had it all for me and I did not want it to ever end!  However, like all good things must, this book did end so now I have to wait for the next book in the series.  Hopefully it won't be too long!

Evie has a gift.  At least, some people call it a gift.  She kind of thinks of it as a curse more than a gift.  Especially when this "gift" gets her in trouble.  The good thing though, she gets sent to New York to live with her uncle and who doesn't love New York? 

Back to Evie's gift though...Evie can "read" items from a person.  If she gets a personal item from someone, especially if that someone had strong emotions while wearing it or holding it, etc., she can tell what happened in the past. This comes in handy later in the story.

Evie meets Sam as soon as she gets to NYC.  She is not impressed with him however, especially after he steals $20 from her!  She continues on her way to her uncle's museum of "creepy crawlies".  There she meets her Uncle Will and his assistant, Jericho.  Everything is fun and games for Evie until her uncle gets called to help solve a ritualistic murder.  While at the scene with her uncle, Evie touches the dead girl's shoe and gets a vision.  She doesn't want to tell her uncle though because she doesn't want him to think she is crazy.

Theta is a Ziegfield girl who lives in the same building as Evie's uncle.  She lives with her friend, Henry, who is a piano player.  Theta has a past she is hiding from and a secret that no one but Henry knows.  She doesn't realize it but she is tied to Evie in a way that neither suspects.

Memphis and his brother, Isiah, live with their aunt.  Their mom died when they were young and their father left them shortly after.  Memphis is a numbers runner just trying to stay under the radar.  At one time, Memphis could "heal" people but after he tried to heal his mother, the gift left him.  His little brother, Isiah, can see the future.  Memphis tells Isiah to tell no one but Isiah is young and doesn't want his brother to boss him around. 

Evie, Jericho, Sam, Theta, Memphis and Isiah all come together with their gifts as Diviners.  The only thing is, they have no idea what is in store for them!

I loved how the story was told through the POVs of Evie, Theta, Memphis and sometimes Jericho, Will and Sam.  It made it interesting and wasn't the least bit confusing for me.  I also really enjoyed the paranormal mystery surrounding the murders.  It was very spooky and kept me up at night when my hubby was gone!  Not very many books can freak me out like that but I loved it!

I liked the relationship between Sam and Evie a lot and was actually very surprised by the romance that happened at the end.  I'm not sure I like the match but I did like that it was a little unexpected for me. 

This book is a seriously fun read with the very spooky mystery and murders!  If you like ghost stories, flappers and fun, this one is definitely for you!

Teaser Tuesday: The Diviners by Libba Bray

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"The ritual begins again," the stranger said.  He pulled Ruta into the hidden room, and all she could do was scream.                 ~Page 71 of The Diviners by Libba Bray

Book Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

**Received book from Around the World ARC Tours for review**

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  “There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

My Thoughts:  I loved this book more than I liked the Shiver series!  Seriously!

Blue lives with her mom, her mom's best friend, her two aunts and more recently, her third aunt, Neeve has shown up.  All of these women are psychics however Blue did not inherit any of their gifts.  She has always been told though that her true love will die by her kiss.  Therefore she has vowed never to kiss a boy.

Blue lives in the small town of Henrietta, which lies on the Ley Line (also known as the Corpse Road).  Every St. Mark's Eve, Blue and her mom go to the Corpse Road where Maura (Blue's mom) is able to see what town people will die in the upcoming year.  Blue has never been able to see the spirits but there is something about Blue's energy that helps the psychics "see" things more clear. 

This particular St. Mark's Eve, Blue is on the Corpse Road with Neeve, her aunt.  For the first time, Blue is able to see the spirit of a boy.  The boy goes to the local private school, Aglionby.  All she knows is that his name is Gansey and that the only reason she can see him is because he is her true love or she kills him.  When she meets Gansey in real life, she isn't sure she wants to get to know him at all but something pulls her into Gansey's little group.  Together, they all must find out how to wake the Ley Line but someone else does.

This book was so entertaining!  The characters were funny in their own ways.  I loved all of their names as well!  Blue is down to earth and fun and all her aunts are quirky and eccentric. Maura was always there for Blue and I loved that she wasn't one of those "absent" parents.  Neeve was different and I'm still not sure what her part was in the book.  I imagine we will find out more about her in the upcoming books.

I loved Gansey, Adam, Noah and Ronan.  Ronan is broody and sullen.  He is sarcastic and sometimes just downright mean.  But you were able to see his softer side when he was with Chainsaw and Noah and even in the end, with Adam. 

Gansey is a rich boy but he doesn't act spoiled.  He honestly doesn't understand why someone like Adam won't let Gansey help him financially.  He often says things that come across as inconsiderate or rude but he really doesn't mean to me.  I liked how much he cared for Adam and wanted to protect him and how he would go to bat for Ronan at the school.  He definitely seemed like the "parent" of the group.

Noah was a very interesting character!  His story took me completely by surprise and I loved that I totally didn't expect it.  He is very quiet and you don't see a ton of him at the beginning of the book but it is explained later on with a great twist!

Adam is very proud and shy.  He really likes Blue but at first is too shy to speak to her.  Adam is not rich like the other boys but he also attends Aglionby with a partial scholarship.  Adam has his fair share of family problems at home and there were times I just wanted to yank him out of there and make him listen to Gansey.

This book had me at the first page and I could not stop reading it.  It was fast paced and constantly throwing you for a loop.  I thought I had something figured out and then it would totally surprise me.  I cannot wait to read this whole series!

Book Review: Diva (Flappers #3) by Jillian Larkin

**I received this ARC from NetGalley for review**

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Parties, bad boys, speakeasies—life in Manhattan has become a woozy blur for Clara Knowles. If Marcus Eastman truly loved her, how could he have fallen for another girl so quickly? Their romance mustn't have been as magical as Clara thought. And if she has to be unhappy, she's going to drag everyone else down to the depths of despair right along with her.

Being a Barnard girl is the stuff of Lorraine Dyer's dreams. Finding out that Marcus is marrying a gold digger who may or may not be named Anastasia? A nightmare. The old Lorraine would have sat by and let the chips fall where they may, but she's grown up a lot these past few months. She can't bear to see Marcus lose a chance for true love. But will anyone listen to her?

Now that the charges against her have been dropped, Gloria Carmody is spending the last dizzying days of summer on Long Island, yachting on the sound and palling around with socialites at Forrest Hamilton's swanky villa. Beneath her smile, though, Gloria's keeping a secret. One that could have deadly consequences . . .

My Thoughts: I know I have said this before but I love the 1920s! The flappers, the dangers of drinking and getting caught, the music and dancing...I love it all! So it was no surprise to me that I enjoyed this series. I was sad that this was the last book but it was a very enjoyable and quick read.

Gloria is out of jail but only on one condition. She needs to find how Forrest Hamilton has so much money. The FBI is sure that it is something illegal and they send Gloria in, undercover, to find out. Gloria, not knowing where Jerome is, agrees to do it in the hopes that she can keep herself and her fiance out of jail.

Once she meets Forrest, she realizes he is actually a good guy. She meets him, his shady man, Pembroke, and his other houseguests, Glamour and Glitz and Ruby and Marty. She quickly discovers that there is more between Forrest and Ruby than meets the eye. She must discover how Forrest is getting his money and get proof for the FBI, find Jerome and help Forrest and Ruby. Sounds easy right?

Meanwhile, Clara, Goria's cousin, is still heartbroken over her breakup with Marcus Eastman. This is made worse when she finds out that he has quickly found another woman and gotten engaged. She tries to put Marcus behind her and continue with her journalism career at The Manhattanite, the local rag magazine and even goes out with her boss, Parker, a few times. At a party put on by Forrest Hamilton, she is reunited (sort of) with Gloria and Lorraine Dyer. Lorraine tells Clara that the woman Marcus is marrying is a gold digging con artist and together they must expose her and stop Marcus from making the biggest mistake of his life.

Lorraine is a student at Barnard College. She is still disliked by everyone for her part in putting Gloria in jail. Her only friends are her roommate, Becky, and Melvin, the nerdy guy who has hung around her since school started. Lorraine thinks she is madly in love with Marcus Eastman and follows him through the campus of Columbia. When she discovers that he is engaged to a con artist, she seeks out Clara and together with Melvin, they attempt to expose the con. While working with Melvin, Lorraine finds out that maybe there is more to a guy than just his looks and his wallet.

I loved all the main characters in this book! They were strong, smart and funny! I liked how everything came around full circle and even though they all left each other in the first book, they all find each other again in this one. Lorraine grew up a lot in this book and I enjoyed seeing that.

The secondary characters were great too! Glamour and Glitz were flaky and all they cared about was drinking and dancing but they were fun to listen too. Pembroke was completely creepy and Forrest was very mysterious. Melvin was sweet and he put up with a lot from Lorraine but wasn't a total pushover.

I liked how this book ended the series. It was a complete happy ending, for the most part. I thought the wedding events were a little unrealistic. I mean, really? How much excitement can you have in one wedding? But it was still fun to read and it was definitely exciting!

This book comes out in July and if you have read the first two books, I highly recommend picking up this one. If you haven't read the first two books, what are you waiting for? Go read them so you can be ready when this one is released (July 10th)!

Mid Summer's Eve Giveaway Hop Winner

Congratulations to the winner of my Mid Summer's Eve Giveaway!  My copy of Deadly Cool is going to....

Amanda Dunville

Amanda, I sent you an email and you will have until Friday at noon to respond before I pick a new winner.

I want to thank everyone for entering my giveaway and say welcome to my new followers!  Stick around for some great reviews and more giveaways!

Teaser Tuesday: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser this week:

 Maura whirled toward Blue.  "Blue, if you ever see that man again, you just walk the other way."
"No,"  Calla corrected.  "Kick him in the nuts. Then run the other way."

~Page 126 of The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
**Quote taken from an ARC and subject to change** 

Book Review: Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.

My Thoughts:  We live in a very rural area and my library is just now able to let you check out books on your e-reader.  I was pretty excited about this so decided to give it a try.  I was browsing through the books and saw this one and decided to give it a try.  I had no idea what it was about, just that it was a new release and I had seen it on some giveaways recently.  I am so glad I chose this book!  I finished it in one day because I simply could not put it down!

Travis is coming home from deployment over in Afghanistan.  He is 19 and joined the US Marines after high school to get away from his father, a former Green Bay Packers football player.  Travis and his father don't have a good relationship at all.  His father is controlling and was furious when Travis quit playing football.  

While in Afghanistan, Travis' best friend gets killed by a sniper.  Travis is suffering from hallucinations and PTSD.  He see's his friend Charlie everywhere and can't fall asleep without dreaming about Charlie and being in Afghanistan again.  However, all anyone from home wants to know is if he killed people over there.  No one understands what Travis is really going through.

Once home, Travis finds out that his family life wasn't what it was like when he left.  He mom and dad are having some problems.  His little brother, who is extremely envious of Travis (typical "older sibling gets everything" syndrome) has taken over Travis' car, girlfriends and friends.  

Travis runs into Harper, a girl he once knew in middle school and he actually feels like someone understands a little.  He feels like he can be normal with Harper.  Harper is a sweet girl and is there for Travis, even during the bad times.

I connected with Travis immediately!  I started the book and got wrapped up in Travis' life from page one.   Travis was a sweet guy that felt guilty that he was alive when his friend didn't make it.  He didn't feel like his home was his home anymore.  I loved that Travis had flaws too. He wasn't perfect but he was realistic.  


I really appreciated how the author didn't tame down the language.  I know there was some rough language there but they are young men in the Marines.  They talk like that. It was realistic.  The descriptions of fighting in Afghanistan were chilling but again, realistic.  There was no sugar-coating the war.

This review really doesn't come close to doing this book justice.  It's one of those books that you can't really tell people how great it is.  So, just take my word for it.  You will get caught up in Travis' life and you won't be able to put the book down!

Book Review: Elemental by Emily White

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  Just because Ella can burn someone to the ground with her mind doesn't mean she should.

But she wants to.

For ten years—ever since she was a small child—Ella has been held prisoner on an interstellar starship. Now that she has escaped, she needs answers.

Who is she? Why was she taken? And who is the boy with the beautiful green eyes who haunts her memories?

Is Ella the prophesied Destructor… or will she be the one who's destroyed?

My Thoughts: This was such a fun book to read!  I couldn't put it down and easily finished it in one day.  It was refreshingly different from most YA novels and for that it get extra points right away!

Ella is a prisoner on a ship. She has been living in her cage for the last 10 years but suddenly she is freed.  Ella hesitates to escape just in case it's a trick but in the end she does it.  She just escapes.

Ella is taken in by Meir.  Meir is very protective and helps Ella along the way.  Ella connects quickly with Meir but after 10 years on a brutal prison ship, I would think Ella would connect to any kind person quickly.  

I loved how the reader found out answers along Ella.  Ella doesn't remember anything of her past (except the boy with the green eyes) and so we are finding out about her just as she is finding out about herself.  I actually enjoyed how nothing (and I mean nothing) came easily to Ella.  It made her a stronger character.

This book was a little hard to understand in the first couple chapters because you are literally just thrown into Ella's life.  And, remember, Ella remembers nothing and knows nothing about her world, other than the prison ship she is on.  You learn all this with Ella and it gets easier to understand.  The questions are answered and things start to make sense so keep with it if you find yourself saying "huh?" after the first chapter.  I really liked that you found out these things with the main character.  

Aside from having a little issue in the first two chapters with understanding what is going on and how things were in Ella's world, I enjoyed this book immensely and most of my questions were answered.  The ones that weren't answered make me want to read the next book to see if they are answered there!  It was a fast read that held your attention the whole time.  

A huge thanks to Kate at Spencer Hill Press for sending me an ARC copy for review!  

Winner of the Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop!

Another giveaway is over and it's time to announce the winner!  I want to thank everyone who entered and welcome my new followers! 


Now, what you are really all waiting for...the winner!  Congratulations to....

Tracy Awalt Juliano

I have sent an email and Tracy has until Saturday at noon to get back to me or I will pick another winner.  

If you didn't win this one, head on over to my Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop and enter to win an ARC of Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday!

Book Review: The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge by Christine Nolfi

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  A savage rape on hallowed ground. Secrets buried for decades by the town’s most influential family.

Now Ourania D’Andre will learn the Great Oak’s secrets as construction begins at the Fagan mansion. She can’t afford to turn down a job that promises to stir up the long-buried guilt—and the passion—she shares with powerful Troy Fagan.

She’s already juggling the most important job of her career with her new responsibilities as a foster mother for young Walt and Emma Korchek. And there’s a hard, older man on the construction crew with eyes void of emotion—cold and killing. The secrets of his brutal past will pose a grave threat to the children in her care. Will she find the courage to face him?

My Thoughts:  This is the second book I have read by this author and I have to say, she has not disappointed me at all with either book!  The author does an amazing job of making you connect with her characters that you feel like you know them on an intimate level.

Ourania is an electrician that has been contracted to help remodel a new wing in the Fagan mansion.  Troy Fagan is against having Ourania do the job but his sister overrides him and hires her anyways.  Troy does not want Ourania there because she stirs up memories of his brother, Jason, who was murdered years ago.  It doesn't help that the new wind is where Jason's room was.

At the same time as Ourania gets this job, she also gets two children.  Ourania has never been married and never had kids but when her mother, the head of CPS, asks her to foster Walt and Emma, she relents.  Walt and Emma have been abused by their father and Ourania knows what they are going through.  She was also abused as a child.  They start to get into a routine and be happy.  If only they could rid themselves of the children's father, all would be good.

While working in the mansion one day, Ourania finds a box in Jason's old room.  In the box are letters that could change everything.  Now Ourania must decide what to do with these letters.

This book was an incredible read!  It was full of mystery and suspense and love and family.  I enjoyed reading about adoption and multi-racial families as my own family is embarking on this same journey.  I enjoyed the relationship between Ourania and Emma and Walt and between Ourania and Troy.  The characters were so life-like and you can't help but fall in love with each and every one of them. 

This book was wonderful and certainly did not disappoint!  I can't wait to read what Christine Nolfi has in store for us next!



Book Review: House Haunting by Mary Merrell

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  Rosemary Fernandes is a divorced, naïve woman, determined to make it in the tough world of real estate. Keith Laumer is a ghost, eager to leave his earthly haunt. As a real estate and a womanizer in life, Keith is the perfect partner to teach Rosemary the ins and outs of the real estate business, and he’s perfectly willing to teach her anything else she wants to know.

Frank Perez is a tough guy tattoo artist with ah-so-wide shoulders, and a chest Rosemary can’t wait to get her hands on. He thinks she’s a tease, jerking him around with this ghost story. And it won’t bother the ghost if the tattoo artist just disappears.

In struts Laura Toste, Rosemary’s gorgeous, best friend. She’s going to make all the bad voices go away. Keith wishes he can join these two lovely ladies, but all he can do is watch, as they recklessly investigate his death, staying one step ahead of the killers.

Can there be a love triangle between a goodie two-shoes, a tough guy, and a ghost? And how long will Rosemary remain naïve and alive when her less-than-subtle sleuthing drops her and her friends into a sinister years-old plot?

If you enjoy Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, you’re going to find a kindred “spirit” in Rosemary Fernandes.

My Thoughts:  I was contacted by the author to review this book and was excited to get it!  I love ghost stories and this one sounded fun and quirky.  I was not disappointed.  It was a fun, fast pacesd read that was perfect for summer!

Rosemary is divorced with a teenage son.  She has a new job as a real estate agent and is suddenly dealing with a new "talent".  Rosemary can see the dead.  This is something she really doesn't want to deal with.

Then Keith enters Rosemary's life.  He offers to help her learn the ropes of the real estate business.  There is only one catch...she has to help him figure out how he died.  Yeah, that shouldn't be all that difficult now, should it? 

Rosemary starts to investigate Keith's death and becomes aware of some dark secrets in her new business.  As she digs deeper, she discovers that person who killed Keith may be someone she acutally knows.  Now she must solve this crime before the killer silences her.

I liked Keith a lot.  He was very arrogant but at the same time you felt sorry for him as he saw in death what he never could see in life.  He was a fun character!  I also liked Rosemary.  She didn't back down even with the death threats.  I loved her relationship with Keith. 

This book has humor, mystery, thrills and chills!  It was fast paced and kept your attention from page one.  I was able to finish it in no time and now the only bad thing is I have to wait for the next book in the series.  If you enjoy cozy mysteries, this one is a must read!

Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop

The Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop is hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Uniquely Moi Books.

This giveaway runs from June 20 - 26.  It is US only.  (Sorry International followers...I am trying to alternate my giveaways to save money so check out the next one)!  All you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter below!

I am giving away a copy of Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday.  This is an ARC copy.

This is a great book!  You can read my review here.  So, just fill out the rafflecopter below and then hop on to the next blog! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my part of the "Clear Your Shelf" Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

I have a TON of books!  Seriously overflowing shelves, books sitting on my piano, my counter, my bedside table.  I kinda hoard books so it is time for me to do some serious cleaning!  Especially since I have almost all of my books on my Nook Color now.

So, I am cleaning off my shelves and here is what I have to offer (one winner will get their choice of 1 book):

  Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delaney (13 To Life book 2)

  Prom & Prejudice (ARC copy) by Elizabeth Eulberg

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink

All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecoptor and then hop onto the other great blogs participating in this hop!  This giveaway is international!  Good luck and have fun :)

Book Review: My Life in Black and White by Natasha Friend

**I received this book from Around the World ARC Tours for review**

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  What if you lost the thing that made you who you are?

Lexi has always been stunning. Her butter-colored hair and perfect features have helped her attract friends, a boyfriend, and the attention of a modeling scout. But everything changes the night Lexi's face goes through a windshield. Now she's not sure what's worse: the scars she'll have to live with forever, or what she saw going on between her best friend and her boyfriend right before the accident. With the help of her trombone-playing, defiantly uncool older sister and a guy at school recovering from his own recent trauma, Lexi learns she's much more than just a pretty face.

My Thoughts:  I really enjoyed this book!  Once in awhile it's nice to get away from the YA paranormal genre, even if it is my favorite.  I really enjoyed seeing Alexa actually grow and I didn't want to put the book down.  I really became involved in Alexa's world.

Alexa, or Lexi as her friends call her, has always been told she is beautiful.  From the time she was just a little girl, she grew up with strangers coming up to her and telling her mother what a gorgeous child she was.  There are pictures in every corner of the house of her.  In fact, she became friends with her best friend, Taylor, because of how pretty she was.  Now, Lexi and Taylor are about to begin high school.  They are the "it" girls and super popular.  Lexi has a great (and super cute) boyfriend, Ryan too. 

One fateful night, Lexi and Taylor decide to go to a party.  That night changes Lexi's life forever.  After seeing something that completely breaks her heart and shocks her, Lexi takes off from the party.  She ends up in a car accident that scars her face.  She is no longer known as the "beautiful" girl but the girl with the "scarred face".

Now Lexi must get through life without her looks.  She comes to realize that her looks aren't what define her.  She must deal with what she saw at the party and she is able to bond with her older sister, Ruth. 

Lexi did whine a lot in this book but you have to realize, she is young and immature and has always counted on her looks.  While she threw herself pity parties on a regular basis, you really couldn't fault her all that much.  At age 33, if I had my face scarred up, I would probably whine for awhile too!  Lexi has always been told how beautiful she is and now all of the sudden, she isn't "beautiful" anymore.  I love how she finds other ways to become beautiful instead of just her face. 

I really liked Ruth.  She didn't put up with Lexi's pity parties at all.  She didn't walk on eggshells around Lexi, just told her how it was.  Yes, it is horrible that Lexi's face is messed up but guess what?  Lexi was ALIVE!  Ruth was the least shallow person in Lexi's life. 

This book had some moments that made me very happy I am passed that stage of my life but it was a very good read.  Lexi was a very forgiving person (way more than I would have been!) and she had to deal with some serious issues.  She overcame them though and became a better person in the process.  This is a book that you won't want to put down though!

Teaser Tuesday: My Life in Black and White by Natasha Friend

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 

My teaser comes from My Life in Black & White by Natasha Friend. 

It is unaviodable.  Wherever you go in my house, there I am.  Hanging in the alcove over the stairs, propped on the mantel, stuck to the refrigerator door with alphabet magnets.  After what happened, you would think someone would tear down every photo in the universe so I wouldn't have to look at myself.  But no one has.

~page 1 (prologue) of My Life in Black & White

**This quote is from an ARC and is subject to change**

 

Book Review: Survive by Alex Morel

**I received this book from Around the World ARC Tours for review**

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  Hatchet meets Lost in this modern-day adventure tale of one girl's reawakening

Jane is on a plane on her way home to Montclair, New Jersey, from a mental hospital. She is about to kill herself. Just before she can swallow a lethal dose of pills, the plane hits turbulence and everything goes black. Jane wakes up amidst piles of wreckage and charred bodies on a snowy mountaintop. There is only one other survivor: a boy named Paul, who inspires Jane to want to fight for her life for the first time.

Jane and Paul scale icy slopes and huddle together for warmth at night, forging an intense emotional bond. But the wilderness is a vast and lethal force, and only one of them will survive.

My Thoughts:  Do you remember that song, Ironic by Alanis Morrissett?  That song played through my head while I read this book!  This is not your carefree, fun read.  This book talks about big issues such as death, suicide, love and of course, survival.  That being said, I thought this was a very interesting book and I thought it a little ironic.  Here is a girl that WANTS to die and yet she is one of the only survivors of a plane crash...

Jane lives at Life House, a mental hospital for kids.  Jane was sent their after an "incident".  Her incident was a suicide attempt.  You see, Jane's grandmother and her father have both committed suicide.  Jane has been dealing with depression and suicidal tendencies and they come naturally to her.  Jane is also a planner.  In fact, she has planned how she is going to end her life this time.  It's a good plan too. 

Jane has earned enough "points" to go home for Christmas.  This is part of her plan.  She is going to get on the plane, take a lethal dose/mixture of sleeping pills and be dead before the plane hits the ground.  She has planned every little detail from earning her points, to getting the pills, to making sure none of the staff at Life House suspect a thing.  What she doesn't plan is for the plane she is on to crash.  She also didn't plan to be one of only two survivors.  Now Jane and Paul must figure out how they are going to survive.

I had mixed feelings about Jane.  As someone who has had to deal with depression for many years, I know what it is like and thought I would connect with her a little more.  Now, I haven't dealt with suicidal tendencies so I knew I wouldn't understand that part but Jane blames her suicidal thoughts on the fact that it's in her family.  That's it.  No other reasons there.  I just didn't buy it.  Once she is put in the position of fighting for her life (and wanting to live), I felt better about her.  I thought she was a stronger character and she obviously did want to live.  She could have thrown in the towel a few times and I was glad to see her fight.

Paul was a great character too!  He was funny and he was good for Jane.  I really liked how there was no "insta-love"!  That made the story much more realistic for me.  His experience dealing with his brother's death helped Jane deal with her father's death a little more too, I think.  I really enjoyed watching Jane and Paul's relationship grow and be something more than just your "love at first sight" romance.  Plus, the romance obviously didn't take over the story. 

This was a fast paced and exciting read.  Not a fun and carefree read but one that is definitely worth picking up.  There were some things left unanswered for me but for the most part, I enjoyed this one.

Book Review: Hidden by Sophie Jordan

**Received this book from Around the World ARC Tours for review**

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.

My Thoughts:  Wow!  This book started out with excitement, suspense and action and never stopped!  From the first page to the last page, you are wrapped up in this book and won't be able to put it down.

This is the last book of the Firelight series.  We start off where Vanish ended with Miram being captured by the Enkros, Jacinda and Tamra leaving the tribe (initially to find their mother who was banished) with Cassian to rescue Miram and Will helping so he can leave with Jacinda after Miram is rescued.  The plan to get into the Enkros lab is for Jacinda to be "caught" by the hunters (Cassian and Will) and to be put into the lab so she can find Miram.  Then she is counting on Will, Cassian and Tamra to get them out. 

Of course, it never happens that easily.  Jacinda enters the lab and is immediately put into a cell.  She is able to speak to a few other draki and she has seen Miram!  However, Miram is laying in a heap on the floor of her cell and the other draki are busy warning Jacinda of "the gray one".  Before she can fully understand what the other draki are telling her, she is forced to meet "the gray one" for herself. 

After what feels like days to Jacinda, Will, Cassian and Tamra finally come to her rescue and just in time!  They manage to free all the draki, including "the gray one".  There are some seriously intense scenes during this time that I can't go into due to spoilers but hang on to your seats!  Unfortunately, even after they escape the Enkros, the hunters are still after them.  Now they must get Miram back to the pride and then leave to find Jacinda's mom.  Again, nothing is ever that easy.

I loved Jacinda and Tamra in this book!  They were strong characters but caring and loyal to each other and their pride. They were smart and able to outsmart the hunters for the most part.  I loved watching Tamra's relationship with "the gray one" (for the life of me I cannot remember what his name was...sorry!) grow and of course I loved reading about Will and Jacinda's relationship. 

Cassian and Miram were also amazing characters.  Miram was so broken after her stay with the Enkros and while there was still some tension between her and Jacinda, Miram finally realized how Jacinda helped her and their relationship became a little less tense.  Cassian was bonded with Jacinda so I enjoyed how their "bond" worked and how they could feel each other's emotions.  You knew he was jealous of Will but understood that was who Jacinda picked. 

The ending broke my heart but was a good ending in all.  It tied most everything together.  I would have liked to have found out what happened to the other draki that escaped and seen the Enkros shut down but the loose ends with Jacinda, Will, Cassian, Miram and Tamra were all tied up nicely.  I really enjoyed this fast paced ending to a wonderful trilogy!



The winner (of My Favorite Reads Giveaway) is...

The My Favorite Reads Giveaway has ended.  I want to thank everyone for entering my giveaway and welcome all my new followers!  I hope you stick around for some fun reviews and more giveaways!

Okay, now for the news you are all waiting for....the winner!  Congratulations to...

Keetra Smith!

Keetra has until Saturday to email me or I will pick another winner. 

Again, thanks to everyone that entered!  Stay tuned for another giveaway soon!

Teaser Tuesday: Hidden by Sophie Jordan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser is from Hidden by Sophie Jordan.  It is the 3rd book in the Firelight series.

"Something else has him...is with him.  His fear tastes different...more acrid."
~Page 81

*Quote taken from an ARC.  Quote and page number are subject to change.*

What are you reading?

Book Review: The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  In 1897 England, 16-year-old Finley Jayne is convinced she's a freak. No normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch. Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special . . . that she's one of "them."

My Thoughts:  I have read a lot of good and bad reviews of this book.  I was a little hesitant to read it and put it off for quite awhile.  Yeah....I am pretty sorry I did that!  The only good thing is that the sequel is out on NetGalley so I can read it right away instead of having to wait!  I really enjoyed this book!

Finley is a great character!  The story starts out with Finley fighting for her virtue as a housemaid.  The young man of the house has decided that he deserves to get whatever he wants from the young housemaids...and I do mean WHATEVER he wants!  As he tries to assault Finley, we find out how unique she really is. 

Finley has a good side and a "dark" side, much like Jekkyl and Hyde.  When her dark side emerges, she has incredible strength and is very sarcastic.  As she is running away from her job, she gets hit (literally, she gets run over) by Griffin King.  Griffin and his friend, Sam, take Finley home so they can tend to her.  Once there and awake, Finley learns that she is not the only one with "special" powers.  She quickly makes friends with Griffin and Emily but Sam is hard to win over. 

While at Griffin's, the four try to solve the case of "The Machinist" and stop this madman from harming the Queen and taking over England.  He has sent his automatons after Griffin, Emily, Finley and Sam and they must discover who he is, how he is controlling the automatons and how to stop him!  With the help of an unsavory character, Jack Dandy, and an American cowboy, Jasper Renn, the group attempts to take down this madman.

I really liked Finley.  She wasn't a wimpy character at all and she really loved to fight!  I enjoyed how she spent time with Dandy even though he wasn't an appropriate person to hang out with.  I liked how sarcastic and witty she could be and her dark side was fun too.  She really wanted to fit in somewhere and she wanted to understand what was going on with herself.

Griffin was a charming character.  He cared about Finley and really wants to help her "merge" her two selves together.  He was jealous of the time she spend with Dandy but put his feelings aside a few times when the moment called for it.  He was very loyal to his friends and family and hiw power was also fun. 

I absolutely loved Jack Dandy and his cockney accent!  He was really a likeable character despite the fact that he was a "bad boy".  I loved his boldness and how he interacted with Finley.  He was by far my favorite character!

I loved the mystery and I didn't think I was going too.  I didn't think I would enjoy a book about automatons and Organites but it really kept my attention.  I am really sorry that it took me so long to read this book but I am glad that I finally got to it!  It was definitely refreshing to read something so different!