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!