Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop

I decided to take part in the Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Mundie Moms.

One lucky winner will receive up to $15 from The Book Depository. Please check the LIST to make sure they ship to you.

Rules: Must be at least 13 to enter.

          Name and email must be provided.

          Winner will have 48 hours to send me their address.
          Enter by filling out the form below. 

 This is open INTERNATIONALLY and the giveaway ends July 5th.




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Lots of Cover Love from HarperTeen!

So many great covers have been released lately from HarperTeen and I've loved them all! 

Here is a little rundown of a few that I can't wait to read!

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date: January 8th, 2013

Series: Under the Never Sky, book #2

Add to Goodreads

Previous Book in the Series 

Under the Never Sky

Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Publisher: HarperTeen

Date: January 27th, 2013

Series: Unearthly, book #3

Add to Goodreads

Previous Books in the Series

Unearthly and Hallowed

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Publisher: HarperCollins 

Date: February 5th, 2013

Series: Shatter Me, book #2

Add to Goodreads

Previous Book in the Series

Shatter Me (Hardcover) will now be this new cover for paperback

Coming Soon! 

Destroy Me (Shatter Me #1.5)

Date: October 2nd, 2012

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Summary:  

Perfect for the fans of Shatter Me who are desperately awaiting the release of Unravel Me, this novella-length digital original will bridge the gap between these two novels from the perspective of the villain we all love to hate, Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of. . .

Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.

Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

Everbound by Brodi Ashton

Publisher: Balzer + Bray 

Date: January 22nd, 2013

Series: Everneath, book #2

Add to Goodreads

Summary: 

Two months ago, the Tunnels of the underworld came for Nikki Beckett. That night, Nikki's boyfriend, Jack, made the ultimate sacrifice. All Nikki wants is to save Jack before it's too late. All Cole wants is to find his queen - and he thinks Nikki is the one. Both determined, both desperate, Nikki and Cole form a tense alliance, leading them on a dangerous journey to The Heart of The Everneath.

Previous Book in the Series

 Everneath

What do you all think of the new covers? 

I love how they all go together with previous books in the series and I'm really digging the new Shatter Me look.

Cover Love: Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Publisher: Simon & Schuster's Children's Publishing

Date: February 12th, 2013

Hardcover: 384 pages

Series: The Chemical Gardens, book #3

ADD IT TO GOODREADS

Previous Books in the Series

Wither and Fever

Have you checked out this series yet? 

I read Wither a while back but don't have a copy of Fever yet. I really enjoyed Wither though! I've always been a fan of the book covers they picked for this series and Sever goes with them really well.

Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
Publisher: HarperTeen (May 1st, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 454 pages
Source: ARC from Publisher
Series: The Sweet Trilogy, #1
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

Review:

I really wasn't sure what to expect with Sweet Evil and I had worried it might be a typical angel and demon story. It is not a typical angel and demon story! In all honesty, it would be more of a 4.5 rating for me because there was very very little I didn't like. 

Anna is a young, sheltered teenager who is very different from her peers. Besides being pretty quiet and leery of the temptations many teenagers give in to, she has a few special abilities that add to the situation. 

Anna can sense emotions from other people. They show up as colors on a person and it automatically tells her what people are experiencing - hurt, sadness, lust. This makes it difficult for Anna to make a lot of friends but she does have her best friend Jay. Jay was a fantastic character who only wanted the best for Anna. I liked that their relationship was truly like a brother/sister bond and Jay helped to protect Anna - even though he didn't know her secrets. 

The book started out a bit slow for me and I was afraid I'd hate Anna. She was a bit clueless in the beginning and fell for a lot of things she shouldn't have. But it's easy to chalk that up to her just being so sheltered. Over time, she didn't bug me as much and I felt that she really grew as a character. 

Then we meet Kaidan. Ah, Kaidan. Yes he is a bad boy, obviously..but I still really enjoyed him. He seemed so sure of himself in most settings, but around Anna he was a conflicted ball of emotions. And anyone wanna guess what his "sin" is? I'll let you figure it out ;) 

Yes, the sons and daughters of the Dukes (AKA Demons) are assigned to do the work of their parents. They must get humans to fall into bad behaviors -- drinking, sex, cheating, envy, etc. This was such a fascinating concept for me! The entire plot of Sweet Evil drew me in. I also loved that there wasn't a true definitely of "good" and "evil" because even the sons and daughters of the Dukes had their own feelings and personalities. Even the Dukes were not just straightforward characters. Each one stood out for different reasons. 

As Anna and Kaidan get to know each other, he really teaches her a lot about her powers and herself. It was amazing to see the confidence she gained as the story progressed. And this book has a pretty hot romance too. Wow! Be warned, you'll do a lot of swooning. 

I know this book has some mixed reviews but I really think that if you are a paranormal fan looking for something that steps out of the box, give this book a try. I went into it not expecting to love it nearly as much as I did. Now I can't wait to see what happens next! Seriously, I may have to stalk Wendy Higgins a bit till I get my hands on the next book. 

Sweet Evil really brings an entirely fresh, engaging story idea that was so well written and developed. Everything from the characters to the settings really helps lure the reader right into the story -- just like the Dukes would want. And with a character like Kaidan along for the ride, who'd want to let go?  

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Review: Insanity by Lauren Hammond

Insanity by Lauren Hammond
Publisher: S.B. Addison Books (May 8th, 2012)
Reading Level: New Adult
Ebook: 190 pages
Source: Author
Series: Asylum #1
Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sometimes love...can drive you crazy.

Adelaide Carmichael and Damien Allen couldn't be more opposite.

Adelaide's mother abandoned her when she was ten years old, leaving her to be raised by her abusive and alcoholic father.

Damien on the other hand came from a wealthy family, was a local celebrity, and seemed to have a bright future ahead of him.

Despite their differences, Adelaide and Damien were young, wild, and fiercely in love.

And they had a plan.

They were going to run away.

Be together forever.

And their plan was set in motion, until tragedy struck and for some reason, Adelaide wound up in The Oakhill Institution for the insane.

Adelaide has no idea what she did to wind up at Oakhill, but she knows one thing for sure...

She wants out.

And after Damien follows her there to aid her in escaping, Adelaide slowly begins putting together the pieces of her memory that are missing.

And it doesn't take Adelaide long to figure out that sometimes...

That one true love never dies.

Review:

Sometimes I like going into a book really not knowing what to expect. When I first started this book I had no idea where it would take me but wow, it was a total adventure! 

Insanity is about Adelaide. She had a terrible home life with a father who was abusive. She seemed to live on pins and needles waiting for him to snap. She came off as being so frail and broken. It was so sad to see a young girl that broken. 

Then Adelaide meets Damien. He is far from the type of boy Adelaide thinks would even pay attention to her. He's beautiful, rich, popular...but for some reason he refuses to let Adelaide go. She isn't sure what to do but, over time, they build a connection she begins to depend on. Damien keeps her afloat and gives her something to look forward to. They sneak out together and even though she knows it's dangerous, Adelaide can't seem to stop. 

They make a plan to run away together but when the times comes something terrible happens and Adelaide wakes up in a mental hospital. I had at least 100 theories on what happened. Was Damien a bad guy? Did she kill her father? Did she just snap and run away? What the heck happened?! I ended up being soooo wrong. I would have never guessed what really happened in a million years and that's one of the reasons why I LOVED the book so much. It's rare to find a mystery that really keeps the reader guessing. 

Once Adelaide is in the asylum she realizes she truly has no idea what brought her there or if they ever plan to let her go. She can't remember the night with Damien or what could have happened to him afterwards. I won't go into more details than that because I don't want to spoil it but wow, this book really takes a lot of turns! 

I truly felt my heart break for Adelaide throughout this story. Normally I don't like when books switch from the present to the past but this was the perfect way to tell this story. We get to see what Adelaide was going through at the asylum, while getting a glimpse into her past with her father and Damien. I could feel the love and affection she had for Damien and how much hope she put on their relationship. Damien was like the light at the end of the tunnel for her and their romance felt so real and intense. 

I don't think it's possible to not be shocked by the ending in this book. Lauren Hammond created an exceptional story that leaves the reader with as many new questions as there are answers. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

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Review: Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
Publisher:  Bloomsbury USA (June 19th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 224 pages
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

Review:

I'm pretty sure I read this book in less than a day. I couldn't put it down. Something Like Normal is heart-wrenching, dramatic, and inspiring. 

Travis just got home from Afghanistan and not only has he changed, but everything around him seems to have changed too. His brother is now driving around in his car, with his girlfriend, and his flashbacks from war keep him on edge and exhausted. 

It's sometimes difficult to find a book from a male POV that I (1) believe, and (2) connect with. I was able to do that with this book from page 1. I think I even made a comment to Trish on twitter that she really nailed the male POV and I didn't know how she did that! Travis had such a tough exterior and he obviously wasn't dealing with his emotions very well. He had everything bottled inside and the PTSD was only getting worse. Travis turned to some unhealthy behaviors as a way of coping, but soon found out that there was no escaping the memories of war. 

Then there's Harper. Harper hates Travis..really, she does. They have a bit of a complicated past and she is not ready to forgive him any time soon. I loved that she stood her ground and didn't let anyone walk all over her. Even though many girls would have fallen for Travis automatically, she made it obvious that nothing with her would be easy. 

Harper and Travis have a slowly building relationship, which was exactly what they both needed. It wouldn't have been a good idea for either of them to jump into anything quickly. Harper struggles to accept the parts of Travis that are flawed, but she is there for him and they work together to sort things out. 

Travis gives us a lot of insight into the world of a Marine and it was so fun to read about him and his friends. I imagine that pretty much being exactly what it would be like. There is a lot of heartbreaking moments in this book too. Yes, I cried. Travis' struggle with his friend's death reminded me so much of the stories we see on tv and the men and women who suffer through the pains of loss and return from war not knowing where they belong anymore. 

Trish Doller did an outstanding job capturing the emotions, friendships, and heartbreaks of a soldier returning from war. It would be impossible to read this book and not feel emotionally invested in the characters and their journey.

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Cover Love: White Walls and Taken

White Walls by Lauren Hammond

Published: June 25th 

This is the 2nd book in the Insanity series!

Add it to Goodreads.

Taken by Erin Bowman

Published: HarperTeen (April 16th, 2013)

Hardcover: 352 pages

Series: Taken, #1

Add it to Goodreads

Summary: 

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends...and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

 I really love both of these covers! I love how White Walls goes so well with the cover of Insanity. I can't wait to read this one. 


Taken is beautiful too! The colors are amazing and I instantly wanted to know what the book was about! Waiting till next year? TORTURE!

Review: Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini
Published: HarperTeen (May 29th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 487 pages
Source: Publisher
Series: Starcrossed, book #2
Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Can true love be forgotten?

As the only Scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on.

Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out—a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies’ cry for blood is growing louder.

As the ancient Greek world collides with the mortal one, Helen’s sheltered life on Nantucket descends into chaos. But the hardest task of all will be forgetting Lucas Delos.

Review:

I was actually hesitant to pick up this book. I waited and waited for it since putting down Starcrossed but was so afraid I'd be disappointed. Do you guys ever do that? Usually I find myself not falling in love with the 2nd book in a series. It's sort of like seeing your first love again after being a part for a while and thinking "What was it that I saw in him?" haha! BUT, don't fear..that was NOT the case with Dreamless! 

Another thing I worried about was being completely lost! This series has a lot of the Greek myths explained throughout and I'm sort of new to that subject but Josephine makes it so interesting! She made me regret not paying more attention to myths in high school. 

In Dreamless, Helen is suffering through hell...literally..every single night. No one can do the task for her and she feels lost on how to succeed. Then a hand reaches out for her and does more than save her, he gives her a partner that she can rely on. I know what you are thinking "Love triangle...noooooo" ...but yesssss, and it's a good one! Don't get me wrong, I love Lucas, but Orion was a nice little addition to this story. 

For some reason I kept picturing Orion as this guy...

Yes, it's possible that he looks nothing like that, but to me, THIS is Orion! *sigh* Orion is an incredible character. He's strong, loyal, honest, caring, compassionate, etc., etc. He's the one who is willing and able to stand by Helen's side at any cost. It would be difficult to not have an attraction to that. But still, their slowly building relationship was nice and realistic. I never questioned their friendship and you could really feel the passion building. I really felt that, out of everyone, Orion was the one who really "got" Helen and helped her mature and become stronger. 


Lucas is still in the picture, don't worry. He is dealing with swirling emotions that have him a little unbalanced in this book. Even with him alternating between pushy and distant, I enjoyed seeing into his mind. 

One of the biggest perks of this entire series is the secondary characters. Lucas has such an interesting family and I enjoyed learning even more about them in Dreamless. Hector is amazing and I want one of him for myself! I think he's my favorite family member by far. 

Josephine created a complex plot that was so fun to follow! Some parts were so yucky and bloody and other parts were full of beauty and magic. It's amazing how well Josephine is able to portray each extreme with such clarity. 

Josephine Angelini is a brilliant author who managed to capture my heart with her story. Every detail is so well written and the characters continue to grow and change in a way that keeps the story flowing nicely. 

Recommended: People who love Greek myths, or any paranormal story. Terrific series!

 

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Photo of the lovely Chris Hemsworth found at - link.

Blogger Talk Review: In Honor by Jessi Kirby

In Honor by Jessi Kirby
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Books (May 8th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 288 pages
Source: Author/Publisher
Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn's celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.
Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn's last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn's best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn't seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn. . . and ruggedly good looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

Review:

In Honor blew me away. I had high expectations for this book, but wow, it was even better than I had expected. Honor has suffered a devastating loss. Her brother Finn died while serving in Iraq. After learning of his death she received the last letter he sent to her. He gave her concert tickets and said to tell the pop star that he had a crush on her. Honor doesn't really have much of a plan but she knows she wants to make Finn's last wish come true. As she's leaving she runs into Finn's best friend, Rusty. Rusty is a little rough around the edges and it's obvious that his strategy for coping is to turn to a bottle, but Honor agrees that he can go with her on the adventure. 

Now, I knew immediately who Rusty reminded me of. There was absolutely no doubt in my mind and I was head-over-heals in LOVE from the beginning. (Yes, he was messy and drunk, but you'll see!). Anyway, he was a football player, rugged cowboy, can be caring, and is mostly drunk ....a lot. So people, who is he?? Any guesses? TIM RIGGINS! Yes, it's true. (Just look up Friday Night Lights and find the super hotty with the longish hair). And once that image was in my mind, I was a goner! Jessi Kirby did confirm that she is a Riggins fan so for the purpose of my own imagination, that is who Rusty shall be. :) 

I am also a sucker for a good road trip and this one delivers, plus some! Honor and Rusty were hilarious. Honor is very strong-willed and she has a long history of knowing Rusty and his antics. She wasn't going to put up with his crap and he knew it. Each of their "not-planned" stops brought so much to the story. It gave a nice opportunity to really learn more about each character. 

Even though we don't meet Finn, I felt as if I knew him just as well as Honor or Rusty. Honor has so many great memories and I think that Finn is the big brother every girl would want. He was so protective of Honor, even if she didn't know it. She even found out a lot about him after he was gone. 

Jessi Kirby has so much talent. Seriously! If you expect this story to be dark or depressing, it is not at all. She presented this story in a way that allows the reader to understand the characters, the emotions, and the hope that a new adventure and outlook can bring. Plus, Rusty brought a lot of funny moments to the story as he soon realized that Honor was no longer the little girl he once knew. Their history and slight flirtations really brought a great spark to this book. 

In Honor is full of intense emotion. I did cry (a few times) during this story. I felt so invested in these characters from the first page. It was shocking really. They were able to break my heart and then have me cracking up a few pages later. 

If anything, this book shows that grief comes in all forms and no one way is right. Some people need privacy while others need to see the world. Honor showed a level of courage and strength that I think most people only dream of possessing. 


In Honor took me on an unexpected adventure. Jessi Kirby brought attention to a difficult, yet common, subject and showed how friends can come together in different ways to help each other heal. This was an uplifting, emotional journey that I won't soon forget. 

Recommended: If you enjoy contemporary at all, read this. It is about loss but it is so much more than that. I think everyone will enjoy it.

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Tour Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers (June 14th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 395 pages
Source: ARC Tour
Rating: 5 of 5 stars

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them… until one summer evening Jase Garrett climbs her trellis and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love and stumble through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first romance, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own - even as she keeps him a secret from her disapproving mother and critical best friend. Then the unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself? 

Review:

I highly enjoyed My Life Next Door. It is a sweet romantic contemporary with a group of fabulous characters. This book doesn't just revolve around two people, it truly incorporates 2 entire families. 

Samantha is a good girl and she is used to a "buttoned up" life since her mother is a politician. She spends a lot of time alone and, occasionally, she admires the Garretts. The Garretts are a huge family full of rambunctious kids. They way they act seems crazy to Samantha, but deep down, she wishes she was part of that family. 

Then one day Jase comes up (literally) to introduce himself and invite her over. This introduces Samantha to a household that could not be further from her own. Although the Garretts are a bit messy and uncontrollable, Samantha enjoys seeing how much love they have for each other. And it doesn't hurt that she and Jase have established a nice little romance. 

Although Samantha's mother is physically there sometimes, she has little to do with Sam and doesn't really acknowledge her or her feelings. She's just pushed into one political situation after another so Sam fights the loneliness by surrounding herself with the family next door. Then after a tragedy strikes, Sam is put in a terrible position and she doesn't know what to do. 

First, I found myself falling in love with the Garrett household! It reminded me of my childhood hanging out with my best friend at her house where she had 3 other siblings running around. I, being an only child, was amazed by the craziness, but at the same time I longed for my own siblings to have around. This really helped me to connect with Sam's character. Jase and his family helped her to break out of her normal routine and open up to people. 

Jase was wonderful! He was so kind-hearted, responsible, and passionate. He showed Sam how important it is to never judge others. The twist in the story is definitely dramatic and it was nice to see how Sam decided to handle it. Sam's mother was so frustrating and I just wanted to scream at her! Yes, this book brings out some intense emotions. :) Huntley Fitzpatrick did a great job portraying 2 completely different families and showing how, in the end, people just want love and attention.

Recommended: Contemporary fans looking for a sweet romance, lots of great characters, and a nice twist!

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