Stacking the Shelves #3

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews where you can share books obtained via the bookstore, the library, online, through trade, borrowed from friends, gifted and/or received for review that you're adding to your shelf.

(pssst, if you click on the cover of the books it'll take you the Goodreads page!) 

Thanks to Jessica, Harlequin, Philomel and Dutton!

(ps. the cover for Kindred is not the final cover)

Integration bookmark/postcard from Bailey @ Novel Nerd

Thanks so much Bailey <3

Venom bookmarks (signed) 

Thanks to Fiona Paul! <3

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That's all I got this week!

Small but awesome :)

Let me know what you got in the comments below!

REVIEW: What A Boy Needs by Nyrae Dawn

Title: What A Boy Needs
Author: Nyrae Dawn - Website || Twitter
Published: June 7, 2012
Format: Kindle ebook, 164 pages
Rating: 5/5 (if I could give this more stars I would)

Jaden Sinclair knows he'll never amount to anything...so why would he deserve a girl like Priscilla Mendoza?
Since last summer, things have been screwed up between Jaden and Pris. He knows it's his fault, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to go a few rounds with her new boyfriend. He also knows he’s the loser his dad calls him, but it doesn’t stop him from wanting her.

After getting a huge bomb dropped on him, Jaden lashes out and lands himself in jail. Everything in his chaotic life is turned upside down and to make it worse, his mom kicks him out in order to side with his dad. Yeah, he’s totally a prize for a girl like Pris.

Sebastian, Aspen, and Pris are all going places in their lives...and he knows he can't keep tagging along for the ride.

The group has one last chance for The Epic Adventure they've been looking for: a road trip to New York, where Jaden's friends will be going to college. Unfortunately, the more time Jaden hangs around Pris, the harder it is to keep the carefully constructed walls between them so she doesn't find out what a train wreck he really is.

When the trip ends, Jaden has to decide if he's ready to say goodbye to his friends, and the girl he loves. He knows what he needs, but will he be man enough to go for it?

Amazon || B&N 

My thoughts, feelings & reactions

What A Boy Needs by Nyrae Dawn was simply stunning. I didn’t think I could love this book more than I did with What A Boy Wants. I didn’t think my heart was big enough to fit in Jaden since it had already been claimed by Bastian, but I was so wrong. Somehow, Nyrae Dawn was able to allow me to open my heart for Jaden, to love him in and out all the way. Diving back into this story with Jaden, Pris, Aspen and Bastian was like a breathing in a breath of fresh air that I have been holding for so long and only these four were able to give me the oxygen I so desperately needed. I didn’t truly realize how much I missed them until I read the first page.


Nyrae Dawn’s writing is exceptional.


• I don’t think I’ve ever encountered an author who can write in a male POV so well. Nyrae Dawn just knows boys. Their voice, their actions, their ways, everything. It’s all evident in WABN. PLUS, Nyrae can write one (or maybe two or three) hell of a kissing scene. Her writing is vivid, imaginative, descriptive and all kinds of addicting. I came to know Jaden in What A Boy Wants, but Nyrae brought his character to life in this book. He was alive and more real that I could have ever imagined. I’ve never felt so close to a character before. And with the way Nyrae uses words to create Jaden’s story? Sheer perfection. I was entranced, hypnotized and dazzled beyond belief.


The storyline was brilliantly thought out.


• Nyrae Dawn really knows how to tell a story, and tell it well. The pacing was excellent and the the development of the story was realistic and true. WABN really hits home for me. Jaden’s story really tugs at the heart strings and it’s extremely emotional. It was hard to read what happens when Jaden is at home. I couldn’t help but feel anger and resentment towards certain characters. Compared to WABW, the plot of this book is slightly more serious and intense. It deals with issues that will certainly affect any reader.


Jaden is and was and will always be amazing.


• I love Jaden, so hard. I adore him and probably worship him to bits. Right from the start Jaden had this powerful voice that hit every part of my soul. He was funny and snarky, and of course, a good guy at heart. I knew he was struggling with his own inner demons in WABW, so I was so glad I was able to get to know him better in WABN. If I thought I loved Bastian so much, I epically loved Jaden more. He was just so deep, so thoughtful, so damn extraordinary in all aspects. I’ve always seen Jaden as cocky and as arrogant as Bastian, but Jaden was also vulnerable, full of emotion. I sensed his fear, felt his pain and brokenness. I also saw his strength and determination, along with his selflessness. He’s definitely got a sweet and soft side with an unforgettable personality to match. It’s not hard to fall in love Jaden at all. You don’t know how much I ached for him in this book and how much I was able to relate to him. I know what it’s like to feel unworthy, To feel like nothing and to feel like you’ll never be good enough. He broke my heart every time he thought this way because Jaden was good enough. He was everything. He was worthy of all things. He could be anyone, anything and I’d still love him. And if I could tell Jaden one thing, I would tell him that he does matter. So much.

Over all, Nyrae Dawn blew me away with What A Boy Needs. She wowed me to the end. She made me smile, she made me laugh, she brought tears to my eyes and she moved me with Jaden’s story. It’s always a little bittersweet because it’s the end, but I’ll never forget it. I’ll never say goodbye to Jaden, Sebastian, Pris and Aspen because for me, they weren’t just characters in a book. They’re my friends.

Check out my review for What A Boy Wants also by Nyrae Dawn

Theme Song Thursday (2)

Theme Song Thursday is hosted and created by my favorite: Jena @ Shortie Says where you choose a book you've read or are currently reading and pair it with a song that you think describes the book and why.

This week I chose to do a book that I absolutely LOVED. One that affected me like no other dystopian novel could. I couldn't pick just one song to describe this book, so I ended up with two songs.

The Book:

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Song #1:

The Beauty & the Tragedy - Trading Yesterday

I love this song as a whole, but for me, it fits Delirium because of these lyrics:

For I am finding out that love will kill and save meTaking the dreams that made me upAnd tearing them awayBut the same love will take this heart that's barely beatingAnd fill it with hope beyond the starsOnly love

I feel like these lyrics describe Lena and Alex's love and their overall relationship. How they're both learning to love one another, how they know that their love saves one another, makes them whole, but it's also their love that will ultimately tear them apart. Even though their love is dangerous, it's worth it because their love brings hope. 
And these lyrics:

Another day, another sunriseWashing over everythingIn its time, love will be mineThe beauty and the tragedy

Another place is where their love can thrive. Another time is where Lena and Alex can have their love without hiding. Their love is beautiful, but tragic all at once.
Song #2:
In My Veins - Andrew Belle
If you've read Delirium, the perfect part to play this song is the end of the book. That heartbreaking ending. This song plus that ending broke me so bad I still can't bring myself to read Pandemonium just yet.

Nothing goes as planned.Everything will break.People say goodbye.In their own special way.All that you rely onAnd all that you can fakeWill leave you in the morningBut find you in the day
Oh you're in my veinsAnd I cannot get you outOh you're all I tasteAt night inside of my mouthOh you run awayCause I am not what you foundOh you're in my veinsAnd I cannot get you out.

It must have been fate when this song played the exact moment I reached the end of Delirium. Tears were streaming down my face because this song described that end for Lena and Alex perfectly. And even when I finished reading the book, this song became my solace.

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So what do you think? Did the songs I choose go with the book? Are there any other songs you think go with Delirium? 

Let me know in the comments below! I'd love to hear your thoughts.

REVIEW: Heart Waves by Danielle Sibarium

Title: Heart Waves
Author: Danielle Sibarium - Website || Twitter
Publisher: KFR Communications
Published: June 1, 2012
Format: Paperback* 251 pages
Rating: 5/5 

Jenna Kingsley has a gift. She knows things. With a simple touch she can pick up personal information from jewelry or objects. While at a neighbor’s party, a voice mesmerizes her. Jenna is momentarily frozen as a ring is placed in her hand. White electricity surges through her and a dire prediction is made. “It’s like Romeo and Juliet. You’re going to break my heart.”

From the moment they meet Jenna is enchanted and entranced with Reece Walton. She’s thrilled to learn he’s spending the summer two houses away from hers. Every moment they spend together is magical. But she can’t get the prediction out of her mind. As the summer draws to a close and secrets are revealed, can Jenna get past the fear of being left with a broken heart to live in the moment with Reece or will her fear of being hurt fulfill the prophecy?

My thoughts, feelings & reactions

Heart Waves by Danielle Sibarium was such an outstanding book I came to love so much. Right when I started I knew it would be one book I couldn’t possibly part with. It was so compelling until the very end.



Danielle Sibarium’s writing was familiar and refreshing all at once. Her previous book and Heart Waves are different in concept, but the simplistic writing I loved was still there. For me, Heart Waves was a lot more complex when it came to the plot. There was a lot of intrigue, mystery and secrets surrounding the characters that I wanted to uncover and find out. I loved how Danielle Sibarium added in a little flare of paranormal into this contemporary novel. She combined them both perfectly without either one overpowering the other in the story. Jenna’s ability was realistic and completely believable. It was something I could imagine easily. There is still a lot to learn about Jenna’s ability and I’m hoping to find out more in the next book.

Jenna was a simple character with a spunky personality. She’s a very likable character and I had no problem connecting with her at all. She’s level headed and strong and she certainly takes no crap from anyone. I absolutely loved that about her. Sometimes I saw myself in Jenna when she was guarded and cautious. Her weariness of trusting other people also reminded me of myself and the way she carried herself. What I loved most about Jenna was how real she felt. She seemed like someone I could be friends with, someone I could count on the way she was with her best friend Grace. What made Jenna real for me was her flaws. Like everyone, Jenna has fears, doubts and apprehensions especially towards Reece. At times I did get frustrated with Jenna with her constant worry, but I understood why she felt that way and still, I loved her. 


I have such a strong feelings of love for Reece. I swear that boy is after my own heart. He’s alluring, flirtatious, sexy and mysterious. He’s slightly cocky and arrogant, but he has immense charm and charisma. He loves books and computers and he’s highly intelligent. Reece exuded plenty of confidence, but he showed shyness and vulnerability when it came to expressing his emotions. I really loved how he never gave up on Jenna and how he continued to gain her trust. I also loved the mystery behind Reece‘s past. Danielle Sibarium doesn’t reveal much, making him a more enticing and complex character. Even through Reece’s sweet side, I felt there was something dark about Reece. I have a feeling that he is hiding something and although this scares me a bit, I found that he made me even more attracted to him.

Jenna and Reece’s relationship developed more quickly than I was comfortable with. However, this did not take away my love for this book. Danielle Sibarium made them work because she allowed Jenna and Reece’s relationship to grow throughout the story despite them being together almost from the beginning. Jenna and Reece had such intense chemistry making them seem like they’ve been together far longer than they have. What I loved about this relationship was the imperfections and the obstacles they faced. Although Jenna and Reece loved each other they struggled with parental disapprovals, trust issues, jealousness, and secrets from their past. They had trouble opening up to one another, coupled with Jenna’s personal doubts and Reece’s unknown past, sometimes they hit a wall. When this happened, I literally felt this ache and fear in my heart for both of them. I love Jenna and Reece and every time they fought, the fear that Jenna felt became my own. Despite their arguments, Jenna and Reece had plenty of sweet moments that made me extremely giddy. I loved their witty banter. They’re very playful and comfortable with each other. I felt how much their love ran deep.

All in all, Danielle Sibarium continues to impress me with her excellent writing, her ability to create such amazing characters and the fact that she can seamlessly draw me into any story she creates. The romance she created between Jenna and Reece was so intoxicating she had me begging for me! 


*Thanks to Danielle Sibarium for sending me a copy for review <3

Teaser Tuesday #23

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading.

What A Boy Needs by Nyrae Dawn
Published: June 7, 2012

I swing my arm and connect my fist with his jaw. It feels good. There's so much in my life I have no control over, but this? Protecting her? This is all me. Location 926.
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"First of all, you're nuts. I'm way hotter than you. And second, I'm being serious man. We're like, Batman and Robin. Scooby and Shaggy. Actually, none of those duos have shit on us. We're Sebastian and Jaden." Location 2162.
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It's cool because she's happy and she's smiling, and damn it feels good to be the one to make her feel that way. I just want to keep it going. Location 3215.
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I kiss her deeper, letting my tongue get intimate with every part of her mouth. And she does the same, tasting me and then letting me taste her. Location 5358.

Ok, I may have gotten a little carried away there. LOL.
But serious shit, you guys. This book.. (please excuse my language, I don't usually say things like this) is fucking amazing. After finishing it, I'm proud to say that Nyrae Dawn is the shit. She has become one of my favorite authors, ever. So if love those teasers, please please please go check out What A Boy Wants then read What A Boy Needs. I promise you that you won't regret it. :)

Check out my review for What A Boy Wants

Stop by Thursday for my review of What A Boy Needs <3

What did you think of those teasers?
Make sure to leave me your teasers and/or cool links! <3

Heart Waves Blog Tour: Character Post

Hello, my lovelies! Today is really special because Danielle Sibarium, author of For Always and her new book Heart Waves, has allowed me to be a part of the Heart Waves Blog Tour! Thanks for much Danielle! It's a real honor to be a part of this tour.

If you don't know, I absolutely loved both of Danielle's books and I'm super excited to have my most favorite character here with me today. If you guessed Reece Walton, you get bonus points ;)

Reece will be talking about how felt when he first met Jenna <3 

Prepare to swoon guys.

***

Thank you so much Jessirae for having me as a guest today! It’s very cool here! Okay, I know, you want to hear about when I first met Jenna. 

I never believed in love at first sight. Lust maybe, but not love. I wasn't at the party to meet girls or hook up like Jenna accused. I couldn't help but notice her. She was so beautiful. A small crowd gathered around as she'd take a piece of jewelry and tell its owner something about himself. I say himself because the guys were drawn to her like mosquitos to those electric light machines that buzz as it electrifies them to death. That was Jenna, a bright light I couldn't resist that threatened to have deadly consequences. Okay, there was nothing deadly about her, but she did steal my heart. 

Spending the summer at my college roomate's house meant I was only two houses away from her. That was it. We were that close. She hated Mike and in return transferred her feelings for him onto me. Not that she hated me. She felt that same draw. I could see it, I could feel it, which never ever happened before. But she fought it all the way. I had to find a way to convince her to take a chance on me. That's where being two houses away gave me an advantage. I looked for her, watched for her. Sure some people might consider it stalking, but that wasn't it at all. I knew she wanted me. I just needed to get her to admit it.  

And then I saw her sitting by her pool, alone under the light of the moon. I raced down and quietly snuck up on her. When I see an opportunity I go for it. I wanted to kiss her, needed to taste and feel her sweet lips against my own. I thought I'd lose my mind if she kept pushing me away, because I could see she wanted me too. I've never been the type of guy to kiss and tell, so if you want to know if we kissed, or when we kissed, you're just going to have to read and find out.

***

*sigh* Reece, you are such a tease! Thanks so much for sharing that heartwarming story. I'm sure you'll have all my readers intrigued and swooning over your charm. I know I sure did! 

What did you guys think of Reece? 

Don't forget to stop by tomorrow where my review for Heart Waves goes live! :)

GIVEAWAY ALERT-

 Danielle is giving away a signed copy of Heart Waves + other goodies on her website. 

To enter, just click HERE, scroll down until you see the Rafflecopter!

Want to know more about Heart Waves?

Heart Waves Excerpt

Watch the Heart Waves Trailer

Like the Heart Waves Facebook Page

Connect with Danielle Sibarium:

Webpage || Twitter 

Purchase Heart Waves:

Amazon || B&N

Before you go, check out the other stops on the tour!

June 1st: withabook.blogspot.com- Review + Giveaway

June 4th: alisondeluca.blogspot.com- Guestpost + Giveaway

June 8th: prettyniftyyareader.blogspot.com- Interview+ Giveaway

June 10th: thebloggingbook.blogspot.com- Character Post + Giveaway

June 13th: thebookcellarx.com- Interview

June 16th: averyolive.blogspot.com  Interview + Giveaway

June 19th: whatsbeyondforks.com Character Post

June 22nd: myoverstuffedbookshelf.blogspot.com- Character Post

June 25th: www.jessiraelloyd.blogspot.com- Character Post

June 28th: supagurlbooks.blogspot.com- Character Post

July 1st: paperbookprincess.blogspot.com- Character interview

Stacking the Shelves #2

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews where you can share books obtained via the bookstore, the library, online, through trade, borrowed from friends, gifted and/or received for review that you're adding to your shelf.

(pssst, if you click on the cover of the books it'll take you the Goodreads page!) 

For Review:

*Thanks to Netgalley & Angry Robot/Strange Chemistry

ebook haul:

Gifted:

#DaemonInvasion T-shirt (front&back) 

Thanks to my Team Leader for #DaemonsDreamTeam:

Amanda @ BookLove101 <3 :)

(psst, you can see my twitter name on the back of the shirt! *dances*)

Won:

Grave Mercy bookmark (signed)

"Why be the Sheep when you can be the wolf?" pin

 Essential Oil set

*Thank you so much to Robin LaFevers <3

*BIG Thank you to Stephanie Campbell!

It's sooo awesome. I screamed when I got the books! <33

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And that's all of it!

What did YOU get this week?

Let me know in the comments and/or leave cool links below :)

Happy happy Saturday!

REVIEW: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Title: Of Poseidon (Of Poseidon #1)
Author: Anna Banks - Webpage | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Published: May 22, 2012
Format: ARC 324 pages
Rating: 5/5

Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been  looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves  that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk 

Amazon | B&N | Mysterious Galaxy

My Review:
Anna Banks really surprised and totally floored me with Of Poseidon. The Syrena mythology she weaves into the story is utterly fascinating and coupled with her clever writing, it makes up one brilliant and highly entertaining novel. The overall storyline is complex, but still simple and easily understandable. It piques interest and is definitely well developed as a whole.


My favorite part of this book is the alternating point of views of Emma and Galen. Anna Banks is brilliant for doing this because I believe it brought more depth to the story. She made Emma and Galen’s voice clearly distinguishable so I knew who exactly was narrating. It allowed the reader to connect more with Emma and Galen as individuals and when they were together. The split POVs definitely gave the book more character. I loved getting to know Emma this way, getting to Galen in another way and seeing how they each made one another feel. I also loved the fact that this helped me see the story in full circle.

Emma is one heck of a narrator. Her strong and gripping voice really grabbed me. She was hilariously funny almost every moment. The inner workings of her mind were immensely amusing. I connected with her effortlessly. I loved her energetic personality, her stubbornness and even her wild tempers. I especially enjoyed her kind-heartedness. Her overall good nature left me admiring Emma all the way. I really loved that she stood her ground and that she didn’t let anyone step all over her. She was spunky and snarky and all kinds of awesome.

I adored Galen so much. At first I thought he would be a snob considering his title and superiority as a Royal, but he was nothing of the sort. Sure, he was regal and poised and had this air of power around him, but he was immensely enchanting, super charming to bits and definitely seductive in more ways than one. I loved his sense of humor and even some of his innocence towards human life. I enjoyed watching him squirm around Emma and I liked that I got to see his internal struggle of choosing between love and duty. For me, Galen was otherworldly and beautiful. He’s all kinds of romantic and he’s sweet to the bone. He’s loyal and he really cares for the people he holds dear to his heart. If I could have him for myself, I would keep him forever.  I loved how Galen could push Emma’s buttons and I loved that Emma could take Galen’s breath away. The tension between the two was mounting up to that one moment and it was worth the wait.


I really loved the setting of the book and getting to know the Syrena world bit by bit. I was extremely captivated by the Syrena. I loved knowing about the Royals, learning their customs and ways of life. I enjoyed being introduced to sifting and mating rituals and learning about the two powerful houses: Poseidon and Triton. I liked that Anna Banks added some background story, giving enough information to make everything clear, but still keeping readers in the dark by hiding essential details that will be revealed in the future books to come.

Overall, Of Poseidon was a fun and very quick read! It definitely met my high expectations. With a fantastic storyline full of frustrating and teasing romance and engrossing adventures, Of Poseidon will not only please you, it will enrapture you. And with the ending that could kill, you’ll begging for more Emma and Galen and the rest of the Syrena!

Theme Song Thursday

Theme Song Thursday is hosted and created by my favorite: Jena @ Shortie Says where you choose a book you've read or are currently reading and pair it with a song that you think describes the book and why.

The Book
Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

The Song

Hang On - Plumb

The Why + the Lyrics
I chose Hang On because the song itself fits perfectly with Zoe's battle throughout the story. The feel of determination and desperation are all mixed up into this song. Hang On is the song that drives Zoe to push through. When I listen to this song, I feel like I'm silently cheering her on.

I'm so stubborn, it's how I got hereSo alone, feels like foreverWanna swim away and breath the open airBut I feel so afraid, then I hear you say

I feel like this verse describes Zoe's fear and her struggle perfectly. She's afraid because of her constant glitching. She wants to turn herself in because it's "supposedly" the right thing to do, but at the time same time she can't give up the glitching because she loves the freedom of feeling. Yet the freedom has a price and it's being alone, feeling alone. This changes when she finally meets Adrian.

Hang on when the water is risingHang on when the waves are crashingHang on, just don't ever let go 

There's a scene in the book that describes the chorus, water and everything, where Zoe and Adrian are barely holding on to survive. Before this point, it's Adrian telling Zoe to "hang on", to keep going. Faced with uncertainty, Zoe is determined to not let go, even if it means losing her life in the process. 
I love the chorus because I know the feeling of just wanting to give up, but knowing that something, someone wants and needs me to hold on no matter how I wish to let go.

I'm so hungry, how can I stay here?Starving for what I hold so dearLike a hurricane it takes everything from meWake me from this dream

This second verse describes Zoe's epiphany moment when she realizes that she's been lied to her whole life. The first line describes Zoe literally questioning her reasoning for staying in the Community while the second line is the truth in which she now knows she can't give up. 
"Like a hurricane it takes everything from me"-- Zoe's knows the Communiy's lies is that metaphorical hurricane taking everything: her freedom, her choices, her senses, her emotions, her whole being. 

Three days, thirty yearsSo hopeless, doesn't matterDon't say it's too late if you blink your eyesThe sun is rising, the sun is rising, oh

Live. Hope. Survive. Escape. Zoe doesn't know what she'll do next, but she knows that there's a new day to start. 
***And that's it. What do you think of the song and the lyrics? I know Glitch is not out until awhile from now, so I hope maybe this would make you want to read the book. And if you've read the book already, do you think Hang On goes with Glitch? And is there any songs that come to mind that you think describes this book? 
If you want to join in on TST, head on over to Jena's blog! Her TST post will tell you all you need to know and while you're there, go leave her some commentLOVE for her Theme Song Thursday book and song choice! <3 :)
Let me know your thoughts/comments/suggestions below :)

Waiting on Wednesday #24

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where you share an upcoming release that you're anticipating on reading.

Touched by Corrine Jackson

Expected publication: November 27, 2012

From Corrine Jackson's website:

Remy O’Malley heals people with touch—but every injury she cures becomes her own. Living in a household with an abusive stepfather, she has healed untold numbers of broken bones, burns,and bruises. And then one night her stepfather goes too far.

Being sent to live with her estranged father offers a clean start and she is eager to take it. Enter Asher Blackwell. Once a Protector of Healers, Asher sacrificed his senses to become immortal. Only by killing a Healer can a Protector recover their human senses. Falling in love is against the rules between these two enemies. Because Remy has the power to make Protectors human again, and when they find out, they’ll be coming for her—if Asher doesn’t kill her first.

Why I'm waiting?

 1. Remy!
She heals people (which by the way, I'd so love to be able to do) but then the injury becomes her own, (so not cool). That alone got me. I knew I HAD to read this book. No questions asked. I have a feeling Remy will grow to become a strong woman throughout the books despite her dark, abusive past. I just love a good heroine who can get overcome such struggle.

2. Healers & Protectors
What's their deal? How did they come to be? I have so many questions and I cannot help but wonder where is Corinne Jackson going to take this story. I need to know! I'm so fascinated.

3. Asher Blackwell.
I'm not sure if I should hate him or love him or what. Seems like a typical girl meets boy but boy wants to kill her for his own personal reasons but he changes his mind because they fall in love type of deal or something along those lines. I don't know? It could go that way, it may not. I don't care. I just want to know! Can you blame me? I love a good forbidden romance. Don't judge me!

What are you waiting on?
Leave your links, lovelies and I'll come and stop by :)

Teaser Tuesday #22

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading.

The MayFair Moon by J.A. Redmerski
Published: January 6, 2012

"Can't stand reality TV." I said. "And when someone uses my bar of soap--it's gross to think you're washing yourself with something someone else has rubbed all over their private parts." I visibly shuddered and noticed Isaac quietly laughing at me. Location 3614.

---

Against everything my instincts were telling me, I crept up further from behind to get a better view. Blood smeared the side of her face and dropped down her wrists. The sound of raw meat stretching and ripping was stomach turning as she shredded a raw roast with her teeth. Location 4021.

I'm loving this book so so much!


What  did you think of my teasers?
Don't forget to leave your teasers or links below!
Happy Tuesday! :)

REVIEW: For Always by Danielle Sibarium

Title: For Always
Author: Danielle Sibarium
Publisher: KFR Communications
Published: October 27, 2011
Format: Paperback, 280 pages

You never really get over your first love. Such is the case for fourteen-year-old Stephanie Barrano, self-proclaimed misfit and death magnet. A freshman in high school, Stephanie is befriended by Jordan Brewer, a hot, in-demand senior, who pulls her from the outer circle of obscurity into the realm of acceptance. Jordan quickly works his way into Stephanie’s heart. He’s her everything. And the only person she trusts with the truth about her father’s death. But he won’t act on the strong feelings he has for her. Stephanie vows to wait for him, knowing in time she’ll win his heart.

Two months before her eighteenth birthday, Jordan serves as an impromptu prom date. After sharing a magical evening, Jordan leaves Stephanie with the promise of a future together. Then tragedy strikes. Jordan not only shuts Stephanie out, he also blames her for what happened. Feeling broken and beaten, will she try one last time to get through to Jordan or will she lose him forever?

My Review:
I wasn’t expecting to be pulled into Stephanie’s life so easily and I certainly wasn’t expecting to be affected by everything that happened to her. Most of all, I wasn’t expecting to be moved by Stephanie and Jordan’s story. Not only did Danielle Sibarium impress me, but she captivated me with her beautiful writing. She wrote Stephanie’s story with so much depth and passion, I felt it deep down inside me through her writing alone. Each page and each part of For Always stayed with me and kept me riveted to the very end. 


I loved diving into Stephanie’s life from the very start. Every moment with her was interesting and entertaining. I loved getting to know her. I was able to relate and connect to her instantly. I understood why she thought she was cursed, even though I knew she wasn’t. I was sad that she distanced herself from other people and I could see how quiet, insecure and self conscious she was. However, I could see an inner strength coming from Steph, along with her compassion and selflessness. Even when other students treated Stephanie badly, she only showed kindness. Stephanie was an honorable and admirable person. Stephanie just wasn’t a character in the book, but she felt like a close friend I have known all my life.

I loved Jordan. He was funny, kind and such a gentleman. He respected Stephanie way more than her other boyfriends did. He was a true friend and confidante. When Stephanie got closer to Jordan throughout the story, I can see how Stephanie changed. He helped bring down the walls that Stephanie always had up and he brought overall happiness into her life. Jordan helped Stephanie to be more confident. He always encouraged Steph, helped her and was always there for her whenever she needed him. I understood his hesitation and his resistance to go further into a relationship with Steph, even when she didn’t. Jordan seemed well put together, but I could tell that he was broken. What made Jordan more real was his vulnerability, the demons he tried hard to bury and the fact that he was afraid. I saw a side of him that wasn’t there before and I really did ache for him in his worst moments. 


Steph and Jordan’s relationship felt so real to me. I have to admit that I was so frustrated because it was so obvious how much they loved each other. It was obvious that they needed each other and that they belonged together, but it seemed like everything was always in the way. I felt so involved with Steph and Jordan’s relationship I couldn’t help but root for them in the end.

Overall, Danielle Sibarium really brought the perfect mix of heartache, loss, tragedy, friendship and passionate romance into the book. She also added excellent plot twists to really make the book exciting, causing a great deal of tension for my two favorite characters. I smiled and laughed plenty of times and I even cried. I thought For Always was well written and thoroughly thought out. The pacing was perfect for the development of Stephanie and Jordan’s relationship. She put Steph and Jordan’s love into words, but the pages of the story brought their love to life.
 


My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

*Thanks to Danielle for sending me a copy to review :)

Connect with Danielle Sibarium:

Webpage || Twitter

Purchase For Always:

Amazon || B&N

Stacking the Shelves #1

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews where you can share books obtained via the bookstore, the library, online, through trade, borrowed from friends, gifted and/or received for review that you're adding to your shelf.

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Hey guys! I finally decided to join in on Tynga's Stacking the Shelves because I just wasn't feeling a weekly book haul anymore. For some reason, it just felt wrong to me, but this feels completely right. So starting today I'll be participating in Stacking the Shelves from now on. Don't worry because I'll still be commenting on book hauls, IMMs, weekly updates or whatever you chose to do!

(pssst, if you click on the cover of the books it'll take you the Goodreads page!)

For Review:

*Thanks to Random House!

Purchased:

Short but Sweet <3

Let me know what you got for your shelf this week in the comments below!

REVIEW: One Moment by Kristina McBride

Title: One Moment
Author: Kristina McBride
Publisher: Egmont USA
Published: June 26, 2012
Format: Netgalley* 272 pages

This was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie’s life. Now it’s the one she’d do anything to forget.

Maggie Reynolds remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a blowout party the night before. She remembers climbing the trail hand in hand with her perfect boyfriend, Joey. She remembers that last kiss, soft, lingering, and meant to reassure her. So why can’t she remember what happened in the moment before they were supposed to dive? Why was she left cowering at the top of the cliff, while Joey floated in the water below—dead?

As Maggie’s memories return in snatches, nothing seems to make sense. Why was Joey acting so strangely at the party? Where did he go after taking her home? And if Joey was keeping these secrets, what else was he hiding?

My Review:
I started this book not knowing what I was really getting into and in the end, I couldn’t shake off what I was feeling for this book. I couldn’t get the book, the characters and how the story all came together out of mind. Over and over, I kept replaying the events of the book and I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmingly amazed at how much this book really hit home. 


Kristina McBride’s writing in One Moment is completely impressive and exhibits her brilliance in telling a story that evokes deep emotion from the characters and from the reader. Her writing is crisp and clean with descriptions that are vivid and colorfully detailed making me able to lose myself completely into the story. The words that McBride created to make this incredible book imprinted on my mind, my heart, and on my soul.

I thought Kristina McBride did an excellent job developing the story and Maggie’s background. She started off the story introducing Maggie, Joey and their other friends. By the end of the first chapter, I was already put on edge, shocked by Joey’s outcome and completely mystified by Maggie’s memory loss. I loved how McBride made this story mysterious, allowing me to question what really happened with Maggie and Joey before his death. Not only does she take us along Maggie’s grieving process and recovery, but she gives more insight on how she and Joey began with flashbacks. These flashbacks were weaved into the story with great ease and the transition between the present and past was flawless. The way Maggie retrieves her memories were believable and realistic, without leaving doubt on Maggie or Kristina McBride’s writing. The pacing of the book matches Maggie’s character and the circumstances that she was put in. The build up to the truth flows beautifully, giving the reader, including me, a great amount of nervousness, anticipation and fear. 



I really admired Maggie’s character. She had a strong and lively voice inside my head. Her story in this book was already tragic from the start and even with her immense pain and vulnerability, I thought Maggie was really strong and brave for wanting to recover her memories and for trying to uncover the truth even though she had a feeling that her life was going to turn upside down. She didn’t give up and she never once closed herself off even when she felt so hurt and even when she was angry. The way Kristina McBride created Maggie allowed me not only to seamlessly connect to her, but she allowed me to put myself into the story and become one with Maggie. I was able to understand why Maggie put Joey on such a high pedestal, making him seem like this perfect iconic boyfriend. I also understood why it was hard for her to accept the truth and to forgive because I felt what Maggie felt. All the pain and sorrow coupled with the anger and resentment; I felt it from Maggie like it was my own. The way Maggie carried herself to the end was just amazing and the decisions she made in the end just proved how extraordinary she really was. 



I have to admit that One Moment was a tough read for me because of the constant emotional roller coaster I was on while reading. It was the type of book that made me want to rip through it right away, but also pause and put the book down to gather all my thoughts and feelings all at once. This is the first book that literally made my heart race in anticipation to the point where I could hear and feel my heart pounding in my ears all the while making me want to pull my hair out in frustration. One Moment is an extremely moving and powerful read. It’s gut wrenching, heart twisting, and emotionally devastating. My heart was breaking so much throughout the story, but Kristina McBride managed to put the pieces of my fragile heart back together. There is nothing that I didn’t love about One Moment even with my intense hatred for certain characters and their actions. I loved how each part had me reeling and how some parts made me smile and I loved the fact that this book broke me inside. 


One Moment is anything but a simple story about a girl trying to cope and deal with a tragic event that has rocked her life along with her close group of friends. It’s a story about finding out the truth, overcoming heartache, learning to accept and learning to forgive. Most of all, it’s getting past ultimate betrayal from someone you really love and it’s about opening your eyes and heart to what’s right in front of you.


This poignant tale is truly unforgettable and completely exceptional.  For me, One Moment is a must read, must have, must own type of book. I make no mistake when I say that One Moment has become one of my all time favorites. It’s that good.


My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

*Thanks to Egmont for allowing me to read this book.

Connect with Kristina McBride:

Webpage || Twitter || Facebook

Purchase One Moment:

Amazon || B&N || Mysterious Galaxy

ReAwakened by Ada Adams Cover Reveal Sign Up!

Did you love ReVamped by Ada Adams? Are you a blogger and fan of ReVamped and Ada Adams? Do you just want to help spread the word!?

Why not join in on the ReAwakened Cover and Excerpt reveal!?
All you have to do is fill out the form below and you're set! I'll be emailing everyone who signs up in a few weeks with all the information needed!

*You don't need to have read and/or reviewed ReVamped! However, you must have blog in order to participate in this cover reveal!


UPDATE: The ReAwakened Cover Reveal is to be posted up JULY 5th.  I will be emailing you all the necessary information a week before!

 SIGN UP IS NOW CLOSED!

Teaser Tuesday #21

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading.

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu
Expected Publication: August 7, 2012

He reached out and put a sweaty hand on my face, then moved it slowly down my neck. What was going on? I tried to pull back or yell but my lips didn't move and no sound came out. He started laughing, a chill ran down my still spine. page 40

But his face was tight with alarm. He flashed the beam behind us and I saw a small army of rats, big fat ones, some a foot long, all coming towards us.
   "Cracking hell."page 79

What do you think? 
Let me know in the comments below and don't forget your teaser links!