Hi Everyone!

Welcome to my stop on the 2nd Annual- Authors are Rock Stars Tour! I am so excited to be a part of the tour this year, featuring one of my all time favorite YA Authors, Michelle Gagnon! Eeeek!!! You guys may remember that last year I read Don't Look Now and couldn't stop gushing about it. It turned out to be one of my favorite books of 2012 and I've been obsessed with Michelle's work ever since! I am so addicted to the Persefone series, it's unreal! Michelle has a brilliant way of writing epic stories full of heart racing action, adventure, heart stopping romance, and chilling suspense, which is why she is a ROCK STAR in my book!

Today Michelle has graciously answered a few questions so let's get right to it!

The Princess of Storyland: I was absolutely blown away by Don't Turn Around. Computer hackers in a YA suspense/thriller. Heck yes! It was amaze-balls! How did you come up with such a unique idea for this series?

Michelle Gagnon: Oh, yay!!! Thanks so much, I’m beyond thrilled to hear that you enjoyed it! An editor and I actually brainstormed the initial idea together. At the outset, we knew that Noa would wake up on an operating table with no memory of how she got there, and that Peter would have his house broken into after hacking a website. But from there, it really progressed in fits and starts. I’m not an outliner, so one idea just led to the next. When I sat down to write every day, I rarely knew how Noa was going to get out of her latest predicament unscathed—for me, that’s always the fun part (and also the most terrifying!) 

The Princess of Storyland: You are quite an accomplished author in adult fiction. Were you nervous about crossing over into the YA world?

Michelle Gagnon: I was a little nervous, but one day when I was having lunch with a friend of mine (who also happens to be a book editor), she pointed out that nearly all of my adult novels feature a teenager who has a POV and a major role to play in the story (in fact, THE GATEKEEPER kicks off with the kidnapping of a fifteen year-old girl who ended up becoming one of my all-time favorite characters). She urged me to go for it, and I’m so glad I did; I swear, DON’T TURN AROUND practically wrote itself, I finished the rough draft in less than eight weeks.

The Princess of Storyland: In the series, Noa and Peter are very talented hackers! Are you a bit of a hacker yourself or has that always been a fantasy of yours?

Michelle Gagnon: I wish! I’m actually pretty computer illiterate (I’m still trying to figure out tumblr!) It’s such a fantasy of mine, though: I want to be a hacker AND a pool shark, that would be super cool. The irony is that I suffered a total computer meltdown during the writing of EACH book in the trilogy. I’m calling it the PERSEF0NE curse!

The Princess of Storyland:  Are there any future projects in the works?

Yes! First of all, the next book in the trilogy comes out on August 28th (next week!) DON’T LOOK NOW picks up a couple of months after the end of DTA, and shows how Noa and Peter have taken their fight against Project Persephone to the next level.
And I’m just finishing up the final book in the trilogy (DON’T LET GO); it’ll be released next summer.

Plus, I’m about to pitch another YA book idea, but at the moment we’re keeping that hush-hush (so shhh!)

The Princess of Storyland:  Don't Turn Around is one of my all time favorite books!!! What are some of your favorites?

Michelle Gagnon: Let’s see…definitely THE BOOK THIEF and EVERY DAY. But I’m such a huge YA fan, I just devour series: Divergent, Under the Never Sky, the Knife of Never Letting Go, anything by Cassandra Clare, Dust Lands, Shadow and Bone, Delirium, Maze Runner…I really could go on and on. I’m always interested in series recommendations, so if you have any let me know!

A huge thank you to Michelle for stopping by and answering our questions! 

Michelle has generously offered a paperback copy of Don't Turn Around for one lucky winner! Eeek! I hope you will love this book as much as I did!

One lucky winner will be chosen at random. The winner has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be selected. Prizes can only be shipped to a US address.

Comment below with your email address or twitter handle (this is how I will contact you about the prize) for one entry. Follow Michelle on twitter @Michelle_Gagnon for an additional entry. 

For more information about Michelle Gagnon, as well as her current books and upcoming projects, check out her website HERE

Review: Unbreakable (Legion #1)

Unbreakable (Legion #1) by Kami Garcia

Release Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: Arc Tour
Format: ARC
Pages: 320
Amazon  |  Goodreads

Supernatural meets The Da Vinci Code in this action-packed paranormal thriller, the first book in a new series from New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia.

I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.

When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.

Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.

Suspense, romance, and the paranormal meet in this chilling urban fantasy, the first book in a new series from Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels.

Trust me when I say, I am really not into ghost/paranormal stories, so I was pretty hesitant about this book. I finally decided to give it a shot because it sounded interesting and very different from a lot of the YA books that are out right now. I was wildly surprised by Unbreakable. It was such a thrilling ride!!!

I braced myself for the utterly creepy, prepared for the grotesque. But honestly, I had nothing to be worried about! I think this book is the perfect amount of creepy, and suspenseful without being too over the top and alienating the more squeamish readers.

It felt like a ghastly treasure hunt with huge odds at stake! It was such a well written book and I loved it immensely! The pacing was fast and kept my attention the whole time. It is a fantastic start to a series and I look forward to many more!

Waiting on Wednesday (31)

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

Hello and Happy Wednesday everyone!!! :)

Waiting on Wednesday is one of my favorite meme's where you can showcase upcoming releases that you are most excited about! I can't believe I haven't posted a WoW pick in 10 months. ACK! Bad Crissy! 

I am so excited about my pick this week. I am a HUGE fan of historical fiction and recently finished Tarnish by Katherine Longshore and I was completely and utterly captivated by it! So this week my pick is. . .

Manor of Secrets by Katherine Longshore

Lady Charlotte Edmonds: Beautiful, wealthy and sheltered, Charlotte feels suffocated by the strictures of upper-crust society. She longs to see the world beyond The Manor, to seek out high adventure—and most of all, romance.

Janie Seward: Fiery, hardworking, and clever, Janie knows she can be more than just a kitchen maid. But she isn’t sure she possesses the courage—or the means—to break free and follow her passions.

Both Charlotte and Janie are ready for change. As their paths overlap in the gilded hallways and dark corridors of The Manor, rules are broken and secrets are revealed. Secrets that will alter the course of their lives…forever.

Squeee!!! I can't wait to read Manor of Secrets which will be released January 28, 2014 by Scholastic.  

Thanks for stopping by my blog today and if you have a WoW pick this week make sure to leave me a link so I can stop by and check your pick!

Happy Reading!

XOXO

Review: Tarnish

Review: Tarnish by Katherine Longshore

Release Date: June 18, 2013
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Source: ARC from publisher
Format: eARC
Pages: 448
Amazon  |  Goodreads

Anne Boleyn is the odd girl out. Newly arrived to the court of King Henry VIII, everything about her seems wrong, from her clothes to her manners to her witty but sharp tongue. So when the dashing poet Thomas Wyatt offers to coach her on how to shine at court—and to convince the whole court they’re lovers—she accepts. Before long, Anne’s popularity has soared, and even the charismatic and irresistible king takes notice. More than popularity, Anne wants a voice—but she also wants love. What began as a game becomes high stakes as Anne finds herself forced to make an impossible choice between her heart’s desire and the chance to make history.

I am a HUGE fan of historical fiction, and I'm always looking for a new book to devour in this genre. I have to be honest, and admit I was super hesitant when I picked up Tarnish by Katherine Longshore. I read the first book in this young adult series, Gilt, ready to fall in love and was very disappointed. Many, many people loved and adored Gilt, unfortunately I was not one of them. For some reason, maybe I was just in the mood for historical fiction, I picked up Tarnish. I am so glad I gave this book a shot because it was rock my socks incredible!!!

I think my dislike for Gilt had absolutely nothing to do with the author or her writing, but simply amounted to the fact that I apparently dislike Kitty aka Catherine Howard. Thankfully for me, Tarnish is all about the young Anne Boleyn as she arrives at the royal court. Everything about her from her clothes, her speech, and her looks stands out like a sore thumb, ( and not in a good way!) when all she wants to do is have these people like her.

I adored how the author wrote this story, and the characters, it was absolutely phenomenal! I could not put this down and read it like a desperate fiend! The writing and plot was clever and witty. Everything I look for in a historical fiction tale. The characters were rich and full of their own individual character and charm. Anne is the girl you love to hate. You admire her strong will and determination, and her penchant for speaking her mind, but hate her for just that! Her inability to bite her tongue, which you fear will get her in trouble in a big way. Then there is the clever poet, Thomas Wyatt, who my heart ached for, and the King himself!

This was a brilliantly written piece of young adult historical fiction, with all the classic elements that will hook you to your very core! I fell in love with Tarnish and am looking forward to more incredible books by Katherine Longshore!

Review: Plague In The Mirror

Plague In The Mirror by Deborah Noyes

Release Date: June 11, 2013
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: ARC Tour
Format: ARC
Pages: 272
Amazon  |   Goodreads

In a sensual paranormal romance, a teen girl’s doppelgänger from 1348 Florence lures her into the past in hopes of exacting a deadly trade.



It was meant to be a diversion — a summer in Florence with her best friend, Liam, and his travel-writer mom, doing historical research between breaks for gelato. A chance to forget that back in Vermont, May’s parents, and all semblance of safety, were breaking up. But when May wakes one night sensing someone in her room, only to find her ghostly twin staring back at her, normalcy becomes a distant memory. And when later she follows the menacing Cristofana through a portale to fourteenth-century Florence, May never expects to find safety in the eyes of Marco, a soulful painter who awakens in her a burning desire and makes her feel truly seen. The wily Cristofana wants nothing less of May than to inhabit each other’s lives, but with the Black Death ravaging Old Florence, can May’s longing for Marco’s touch be anything but madness? Lush with atmosphere both passionate and eerie, this evocative tale follows a girl on the brink of womanhood as she dares to transcend the familiar — and discovers her sensual power.

The premise to this book sounded so promising and I was ecstatic to get a chance at reading it. I wanted so desperately to like this book. I tried soooo hard to like it! The premise sounded amazing, and there was so much that could be done with it! The setting is a dream come true, but for some reason it just wasn't quite there for me.

Although I'm a fan of action books, I don't necessarily NEED a lot of action in a book. But I DO need a book to get somewhere and progress. For me that was really slow in this book. I didn't get sucked into the story like I thought I would've been. It was just kind of so so for me.

The story line had a lot of promise, but was very under developed. It lacked..something, although I can't quite put my finger on it. I kept hoping at some point I would get invested in it and I never really did. The parts with Marco, the soulful Italian painter, were incredible!!! But all the other parts without him were just really flat and I found myself giving up. 

I feel like this book has a lot of potential, it just needs more work and isn't quite there yet. For that reason, it was a Didn't Like/Didn't Finish for me. Love the idea behind it, and the setting! It just wasn't quite for me. Definitely will try this author again though! 

Review: Sky On Fire (Monument 14 #2)

Sky On Fire (Monument 14 #2) by Emmy Laybourne

Release Date: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 212
Amazon  |  Goodreads

Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope.

Knowing that the chemical weapons saturating the air outside will turn him into a bloodthirsty rage monster, Dean decides to stay in the safety of the store with Astrid and some of the younger kids. But their sanctuary has already been breached once. . . .
Meanwhile, Alex, determined to find their parents, heads out into the darkness and devastation with Niko and some others in a recently repaired school bus. If they can get to Denver International Airport, they might be evacuated to safety. But the outside world is even worse than they expected. . . .

I fell in love with Monument 14, like HARD, so I was bouncing off the walls when Sky on Fire came out! I'm always nervous when I start a second book in a series. Will I remember everything? Will it be as good as the first? Do I need to go back and re-read the first book? Not a chance! I loved that the author, Emmy Laybourne, started off Sky On Fire with a little recap of the previous books events. It instantly brought me up to speed and all my thoughts and feelings from Monument 14 came back to me in a rush.

Sky On Fire is a continuation of the story that began in Monument 14, but yet it's somehow completely different. For one thing, the story is told from both Dean and Alex's point of view. I love reading the male point of view so this was like double the fun! In Sky on Fire the group is split up into 2 groups, those who stay in the superstore, and those who venture outside for help. I loved that we got a first hand point of view from each group, which made it totally fascinating to me!

Each chapter ends in a bit of cliffhanger, making you race through the next chapter and the other groups adventures, to find out what happens! There's a whole lot of action, suspense, shocking twists and so much more! While Monument 14 is still my favorite in this series, Sky On Fire was a really well written follow up that is hard to resist! I highly recommend this series to YA fans, especially those that can't get enough of the male point of view! Pick this one up, you will not be disappointed!

The 2013  Reading Road Trip is hosted by Britta at I Like These Books and Hafsah at Icey Books

Hi Y'all! Today's stop in the Reading Road Trip brings us to the wonderful state, and my home, Texas! Eeek!!! I love this big beautiful state so much, but of course, I might be a tad bit partial! hehe

Here are a few Cool Facts about the lone star state!

1. The King Ranch in Texas is bigger than the state of Rhode Island
2. Dr Pepper was invented in Waco texas in 1885 and is still produced here! Dublin Dr Pepper, still uses pure imperial cane sugar in its products.
3. Texas includes 267,339 square miles, or 7.4% of the nation's total area.
4.  Brazoria County (where I live!) has more species of birds than any other comparable area in North America.
5.  Jalapeno pepper jelly originated in Lake Jackson (where I was born!) and was first marketed in 1978.

Lingo

all swole up

proud and self-abosorbed.

chester drawers

           that piece of furniture you put your socks in.

come hell or high water

shows determination to proceed, regardless of the problems, obstacles, etc.

crusty

tough and/or bad tempered man, woman or horse.

fess up

admit.

fit to be tied

really upset.

fixins

food; the rest of the meal, excluding the main dish.

fixin' ta

getting ready to do something.

gully-washer

an extraordinary amount of rain.

howdy

How do you do?

nu-uh

no.

over yonder

a directional phrase meaning "over there."

whole nuther thing

soemthing else entirely

Pronunciation

Now, if you're gonna say things Texans say, you've got to be sure to get the pronunciation right. Here's the biggest tip I can give you. In Texas, the "g" in the suffix "ing" is silent. Thus, "fixing to" becomes "fixin' to." You get the idea!

Texas is home to some pretty fabulous YA Authors, here's a list of a few of my favorites:

• Mary Lindsey
• C.C. Hunter
• Sophie Jordan

Giveaway

I will be giving away an ARC of Reboot by Amy Tintera. This is a YA Dystopian that takes place in the Republic of Texas and I LOVE it!!! So I thought I'd share it with ya'll!!! Make sure to enter the rafflecopter and a winner will be chosen on Monday. Good luck and happy reading! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Shadow of the Mark (Carrier #2)

Shadow of the Mark (Carrier #2) by Leigh Fallon

Release Date: July 9, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: ARC from tour
Format: ARC
Pages: 352
Amazon | Goodreads

Leigh Fallon’s Shadow of the Mark, the sequel to Carrier of the Mark, is a captivating love story set against the lush backdrop of Ireland.

Megan knew she was destined to be with Adam from the first moment she saw him and now they are determined to be together. But Megan and Adam are Marked Ones, and a romance between two Marked Ones is strictly forbidden…and could cause worldwide devastation.

Leigh Fallon’s Shadow of the Mark is a great choice for readers who love Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush.

I was so blown away by Leigh Fallon's first book in this series, Carrier of the Mark. And I feel like I waited an eternity for book 2. But, I can say without a shadow of a doubt, that it was so totally worth it!!!

If I thought the first book was incredible, this one blew my mind, in the most amazing way EVER!!! I honestly can't say enough how phenomenal this book was.

Shadow Of The Mark picked up right where the last book ended. I was afraid since it had been so long since I read the first book, that I'd need a refresher but that wasn't the case at all. Immediately within the first few pages, all my feelings for the character's came flooding back to me.

I love how rich this story is in mythology which I think is part of my attraction to it. It sucks you in and before you know it, your addicted! I loved seeing Megan and Adam's love for each other grow and blossom, but my heart ached for them as they desperately tried to find ways to be together. There were so many twists and turns, and I read on in disbelief, wondering myself who the "marked ones" could trust and who they couldn't.

This story is so completely engrossing that you absolutely can't put it down, and it haunts you long after you finish the last page. I cried, like ugly cried, I felt a numb disbelief, I felt love and power. It was an icredible journey and now I am dying for the next book in the series. This is one of those few series where the books keep getting better and better!

Review: The Distance Between Us

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: ARC from publisher
Format: ARC
Pages: 320
Amazon | Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

The Distance Between Us is a must have summer read for 2013! I loved everything about it and couldn't find one thing I didn't love about it. The cover is adorable, the story was cute, fun and well written! The characters were unique and quirky. It's the kind of book that you want to be your BFF and cart around in your purse all summer long!

I adored the characters in this story. The main character Caymen was briliantly written! I loved her snarky and sarcastic sense of humor. If your a fan of Easy A ( like me! ) then you'll love Caymen and her wit! Her best friend was amazing! And then there are the boys. Sigh. Xander is tall, rich, and handsome, and then there is the Rocker Musician who sings songs and comes from the wrong side of the tracks. I'm team Xander all the way! But my, my, how is a girl to choose???

This was such a fast and fun read for me. The story was so fun, that I couldn't put it down. There are great aspects to the story. And parts that I didn't see coming. All in all it's a really well written, fun contempmorary that makes it a perfect summer read that you won't soon forget!

Bottom line: this is a must have summer read! It's fun, hillarious, quirky and sweet. It's Pretty In Pink meets Easy A!

 

Review: Sever ( The Chemical Garden #3)

Review: Sever (The Chemical Garden #3) by Lauren DeStefano
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Pages: 371
GoodReads | Amazon

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.

 

 Sever was an amazing end to the Chemical Garden trilogy and really outshone the previous book. Lauren DeStefano's work is beautifully disturbing and the world she creates is so vivid and haunting. I can't help but continue to be amazed by her.

I've had a bit of a love hate relationship with this series. Loved Wither, hated Fever ( or maybe it was just the creepy circus??) . Either way, I fell back in love all over again with Sever. I felt like we FINALLY got to know what drove Vaughn, Rhine, and so many of the other character's in the series.

While the ending isn't perfect for some readers, *cough* Juhina *cough*, I think it was done beautifully. Not every character gets a happy ending, but I think everyone grows up and comes into their own place in the world and gets to a place that most readers will be satisfied with. I know that's terribly criptic, but... I don't want to spoil this for anyone who hasn't read it.

I particularly enjoyed a new character who was introduced, Vaughn's brother. I wish we'd have been introduced to him much earlier on in the series, but cest la vie! There were so many plot twists that I hadn't figured out, many left me gasping, others left me in tears. I have to say, I have been invested in this series, and this is by far my favorite book of the trilogy! It ended perfectly. There are no rainbows and happily ever afters, but hope and the promise of much more. I thought the ending to the series was perfect and I look forward to Stefano's next endeavors!

Audio Review: Starters (Starters and Enders #1)

Starters(Starers and Enders #1) by Lissa Price
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Publisher: Listening Library
Format: Audio Cd
Source: Borrowed from the Library
Length:
Cds:
GoodReads | Amazon

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, are on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie’s only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie’s head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator’s son.

     It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations’ plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .

 At first I was really annoyed with this audio and nearly gave up halfway into the first disc. I found the narrator's voice to be a boring monotone through nearly the entire first disc, which was just... boring. After a while though things started picking up and by disc 2 I was totally hooked!

I had heard such good things about this book when it came out, but to be honest, the cover totally creeped me out and I never gave it the time of day. The story was truly incredible and now I'm dying for more!!! I can't even imagine living as an unclaimed minor, with little to no food. Desperate to care for herself and her brother, Callie answers an ad from Prime Destinations. There they rent out the bodies of young teens, to seniors who are desperate to be young again. There Callie becomes a "donor" in an effort to support herself and her brother Tyler. But things take a nasty turn for Callie when she accidently stumbles upon Prim Destinations true operation!

This book was part sci-fi, part dystopian, part spy/espionage and I LOVED it! Starters is a story that will really suck you into it's tangled web and not let you go. This was such an enjoyable read and I highly reccomend it!

The audio itself was ... pretty boring due to the reader. But by disc 2 I guess the narrator got into the hang of it, and it really got better. From there on in, I was hooked! I highly reccomend this book, and in spite of how the audio started off, I recommend it too!

Review: Reboot

Reboot (Reboot #1) by Amy Tintera
Release Date: May 7th, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen
Format: Adanced Reader Copy
Source: Publisher
Pages:352
GoodReads | Amazon
 

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

 

 I know there is a huge number of zombie loving fans out there, but I personally have never been one. Despite that, I didn't hesitate to pick up this book and I'm so glad that I dove right into it! Reboot is a phenominal zombie post apocoloptic debut!

The story takes place in the republic of Texas ( eek!!!) and it kept me biting my nails and furiously turning pages. The main character Wren, aka 178, is a soldier with the longest reboot time. For Reboots, the longer your out, the less human emotion you have. Or so the story goes. . . Wren is a tough, fiercly strong, super soldier. She can break every bone in your body in mere seconds and feel no emotion about it. She is the best of the best. But her life will forever change the day she meets Callum.

Ohhh Callum, my oh my, how I love thee! haha He was seriously amazing! I know his character is written as the "weak" one being a 22, but he was so strong in so many ways. I love how he held to his principles and didn't became some ruthless zombie droid. He asked too many questions and challenged Wren in only a way that he could get away with. He was so sweet and caring, and I absolutely adored his character! I love how he meshed with Wren and brought out different parts of her that even she didn't know she had.

This is definitely one of my all time favorite reads of the year! It's an action packed original story with a beating heart at the center of it all. It's the perfect combo of action, friendship and love. Tintera did a fantastic job writting such a vivid tale that really came to life. I highly recommend this one!

Audio Review: Fat Cat

Fat Cat by Robin BrandeRelease Date: October 13, 2009
Publisher: Listening Library
Source: Borrowed from the Library
Format: Audio CD
Length: 8 hours, 22 minutes
CDs:
Goodreads, Amazon

 

You are what you eat....

Cat smart, sassy, and funny—but thin, she’s not. Until her class science project. That’s when she winds up doing an experiment—on herself. Before she knows it, Cat is living—and eating—like the hominids, our earliest human ancestors. True, no chips or TV is a bummer and no car is a pain, but healthful eating and walking everywhere do have their benefits.

As the pounds drop off, the guys pile on. All this newfound male attention is enough to drive a girl crazy! If only she weren’t too busy hating Matt McKinney to notice....

This funny and thoughtful novel explores how girls feel about their bodies, and the ways they can best take care of their most precious resource: themselves.

Back in 2007, in a galaxy far, far, away. . . just kidding! But seriously, back in 2007 Robin Brande's novel Evolution, Me and Other Freaks of Nature found its way into my hands. It was an instant all time favorite for me and I waited impatiently for her next book to come out. When it did, I snatched up a copy, and then... life happened!

I picked up a copy of this on audio at my local library, thinking what a great way to tackle my TBR pile. I am so sad that I waited so very long to read this. Fat Cat had me fall in love with Robin Brande's work all over again!

The story was so cute and so incredible. I loved the main character Cat and her best friend Amanda was everything you'd want in your bff, smart, funny, supportive and fiercly loyal!

Cat's life changes when she's assigned a caveman as her science project. She decides to turn it into an experiment, by going back to the caveman way of life. No cell phones, no tv, no chocolate, soda or processed food. ACK! I'd die! Although she struggles in the beginning, Cat is determined to take 1st prize with her experiment and her whole life changes! She looses weight, her skin clears up, and suddenly boys start noticing her!

The story iteslf is a quick read with a great message about gaining confidence and learning to love yourself. It was fun, entertaining and such a blast to read! The audio was just as fantastic as the story itself and I found myself constantly rotating the cds between my car and my house, so I could find out what happened in Cat's life next!

The story is fantastic and the audio is just as amazing! A great story that remind you exactly why you fell in love with reading! A quick fun read with a great message for girls, teens and women alike!