Review: Miss Mayhem

Miss Mayhem
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Published: April 7th, 2015
Hardcover, 273 pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Life is almost back to normal for Harper Price. The Ephors have been silent after their deadly attack at Cotillion months ago, and her best friend, Bee, has returned after a mysterious disappearance. Now Harper can focus on the important things in life: school, canoodling with David (her nemesis-turned-ward-slash-boyfie), and even competing in the Miss Pine Grove pageant.

Unfortunately, supernatural chores are never done. The Ephors have decided they'd rather train David than kill him. The catch: Harper has to come along for the ride, but she can't stay David's Paladin unless she undergoes an ancient trial that will either kill her or make her more powerful than ever.

I was so excited to jump back into Harper Price's crazy world. The first book in this series, Rebel Belle, blew me away with its mix of girly Cotillion and bad-ass demon hunting. It was a mix between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The O.C. with drama, fighting and some super cute romance mixed in. This one had all the same elements as the first book, but something about it fell flat for me. It was short read but not very much happened to make it seem like it only needed to be 273 pages. The book starts off with Harper and her friends trying to find Bee after she's been missing since Cotillion. It bings them to this magical house where they find out she is being trained to be a replacement Paladin if Harper does not pass her tests, tests she knew nothing about. Turns out she's not a real Paladin until she passes and the Ephors want David for reasons other than just killing him. Add to that the fact that Harper and Ryan have been actively forcing down David's oracle powers to protect him, and this whole book just calls for drama.

I went into this book thinking this was a duology but was incredibly surprised at the end with the cliffhanger-ish ending to find out that there will be a third book. Knowing this, made me enjoy what I had read a bit more because as an ending it would have been awful. So now that I know it's the middle book, I see total second-book syndrome all over it. There is very little plot progression and character development that left me disappointed. Harper and David are adorable at the beginning of the book, something I love once two characters get together. I know we need drama to make things interested, but I would rather that drama have been between Harper and the Ephors or Harper trying to save David's life. Instead, my OTP fought for most of the book and David was very upset when he found out what Harper's been doing to his powers. I did love Harper and Bee's relationship, something I find very important in books. Even though things are tough and Bee is potentially dating Harper's ex-boyfriend, that doesn't get between their friendship and Bee is always there to help Harper when she's in trouble.

The humor in this is equal to the first book, a lighthearted way of looking disaster in the eye. Harper is a fun character that holds her own throughout the book and keeps her spirits high in the hardest of times. Like the first book, Harper joins into a group event to save the day. This time she's part of the Miss Pine Grove pageant, surrounded by young girls who are way more into than her. The last 50 pages of this book, including the pageant, were the highlight of this book. As much as I hated the ending, the event leading up to her made for some action-packed fun. Of course, I must get my hands on the third and final book because what Hawkins did at the end of this book still haunts me a month after reading it and I just need everything to wrap up perfectly. Is that too much to ask?

"Honestly, not enough people know how to use good manners as a weapon."

Review: The Stars Never Rise

The Stars Never Rise
Author: Rachel Vincent
Published: June 9th, 2015
Hardcover, 368 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimate by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Melli's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.

I've been waiting for a new Rachel Vincent series ever since Soul Screamers finished. She is the master of paranormal YA and this new book is the best beginning to what is sure to be a great series. Rachel has once again created a whole that I never could have thought of. In a distant future, souls are in high demand. You are not born with one, one must be appointed to you at birth and there are demons everywhere just waiting to steal yours. The Church is in charge and those who sin risk their own souls. Nina does everything she can to keep her and her sister alive, and this involves too many sins to count. So when her sister admits to one of the biggest sins of all, she knows she has no choice but to run from school, run from the church and protect her sister's life. During her escape, she's thrown into a world she's never known with people who act like exorcists but certainly don't look the part and the Church doing weirder things than usual. She must trust Finn, a strange boy with green eyes, and his group of rebels if she wants her and her sister to survive.

Rachel knows how to build a world like no other. I was sucked into Nina's life and feared my own whenever she encountered someone from the Church. I didn't trust them from the beginning. Nine has abilities she knows nothing about and with Finn's help, she can start a sequence that will hopefully make the world a better place. Finn was the perfect book boy. He is different yet so familiar and I loved his story arc. I can't wait to see him and Nina grow closer throughout the series as I know for a fact that Rachel writes romance beautifully. The secondary characters were equally as fun and brutal. Devi gives Sabine from Soul Screamers a run for her money and Finn's fiercely loyal friends are the kind of people everyone wants to have in their lives. The Church on the other hand, made for great bad guys. People you have been told to trust since your birth that are suddenly trying to kill you.

The plot was fast paced, another turn at every corner, and I just couldn't put this one down. There's so much more I'd love to talk about but I don't want to spoil very much. Unique relationships, strange powers and truths to be told made for a great new YA paranormal read that I think everyone needs to read. I seriously cannot wait for the next book in this series, and if you're like me and loved this one and are waiting for the next one with baited breath as well, pick up Rachel's first series if you haven't already. The Soul Screamers series seriously got me into YA and it forever holds a place in my heart. Rachel writes for adults as well and her adult series are equally as thrilling.

"The Unclean were hiding in plain sight, among us. Breeding their own hosts. Existing right under the Church's nose."

Review: Unleashed

Unleashed
Author: Sophie Jordan
Published: February 24th, 2015
Hardcover, 368 pages
3 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Davy has spent the last few months trying to come to terms with the fact that she tested positive for the kill gene HTS (also known as Homicidal Tendency Syndrome). She swore she would not let it change, and that her DNA did not define her... but then she killed a man.

Now on the run, Davy must decide whether she'll be ruled by the kill gene or if she'll follow her heart and fight for her right to live free. But with her own potential for violence lying right beneath the surface, Davy doesn't even know if she can trust herself.

The first book in this series, Uninvited, blew me away. Sophie Jordan's books have always had a mix of romance and adventure, so I had high hopes going into this one, the second book in a two book series. We left Davy on the run with her gorgeous boyfriend Sean and two friends as they try to escape the white coats that want to use them as weapons. But Davy is haunted by the memory of the man she killed to protect Sean and that feeling just won't go away.

I must mention a huge spoiler here because it's such a big part of the book and I know those who have read this one will understand. Davy gets separated from her friends and ends up in the middle of a rebellion camp, where she meets Caden, a guy she quickly gets attached to. This pissed a lot of us off. It's a two part series and Sophie changes the love interest? I loved Sean and I wanted them to be together so badly, but I will be honest, I loved the new guy. He was a great hero and love interest and his feelings for Davy seemed genuine. The moments they had together were swoon-worthy (as Sophie is a fabulous romance writer) The way she wrote this romance made perfect sense to the story and I was happy with the outcome to everything. I mean it was strange and it took me off guard and I really wanted Sean to be happy, but in the end, I understood why Sophie played it out that way.

The new romance wasn't my pet-peeve with this book. Davy's days spent in the camp were written wonderfully and I loved all the new people she met. Her bravery and power were harnessed and even though she realized having the kill gene inside of her really does make her react differently, she`took that power and used it to gain respect. I wish there had been more focus on the rebellion or anything having to do with HTS. It seemed almost like the hoopla over all of it happened quietly in the background and was all nicely solved into a nice little package without Davy even having to lift a finger. I guess this could be seen as realistic, a young girl may not actually be able to help stop the government, but I wish there had been more to this story than Davy falling in love again and the world suddenly being an okay place for her to live in. It seemed forced and unfinished and I wish, oh man do I wish, that I had loved every last bit of this book. There is no explanation for why the HTS exists or how to actually fix it. Everyone just goes on knowing that they are carriers but trying to live normal lives.

I'm glad I got a happily ever after though. Davy and Caden's short but sweet story ended nicely and as did everyone else's. The writing was great and Sophie is a pro at love scenes. She'll always be one of my favourites in the kissing department. Here's hoping I like her next book better!

Review: The Retribution of Mara Dyer

The Retribution of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Published: November 4th, 2014
Hardcover, 470 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she's been told. There is.

She doesn't stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead. She should.

She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance. She will now.

Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer's story.

Retribution has arrived.

The Mara Dyer series is fucked up. It's messed up in the best kind of way. It makes you think, second guess, scared to read the next page, and it may just drive you as mad as Mara. From the beginning we knew there was a lot to know and a lot we would never know. The first sentence describes Mara having to use a nom-de-plume, and how she's going to tell us a story we may not believe and that she shouldn't be telling. It was the most fantastic way to hook me in and these books seriously never let me go. The first, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer left me confused and angry, yet so eager to need more information. None of us knew what Mara was or why she could do the things she does, but I was desperate for information. And Noah Shaw captured my heart immediately, and I knew I'd never forget him. The Evolution of Mara Dyer gave me some answers, but not much. And it weaved itself into me so much deeper, taking me down with Mara and Noah into a world I wish didn't exist. Then Michelle was cruel, oh so cruel, and I didn't think I'd make it to the last book without knowing the truth. But I did, and boy am I glad! This final instalment was a masterpiece. It weaved everything we knew, everything we wanted answers too and gave them over to us on a platter while still making us cringe after every page and waiting until the end to know for sure if we would get a happy ending.

This book left me breathless. I'm going to be vague because I don't want to give away anything to those who haven't read it yet. This is the kind of series that thrives without spoilers and I'm so glad I read it quickly before I accidentally read some. Mara's world is upside down and everything from the second book is creeping up on her as she desperately tries to find out exactly who she is and how to get away from those that are experimenting on her. Jamie is the perfect comic relief, which is so needed in a book like this where it would be all seriousness without him. There are so many pop culture quotes that made me laugh and reminded me that these are regular teenagers in irregular situations.

The pacing was perfect. Every chapter left me wanting more. There were some gruesome parts, some scary parts, and some parts that still blow my mind. There were some romantic parts (oh yes there were!) and I love how it all wrapped up, bringing us to the beginning of the first book, like a circle of craziness that will never be truly explained. It made it seem so realistic, that there could actually be someone out there like Mara or Noah or Jamie, someone with extraordinary powers living beside us, near us, passing us on the subway, and we'd never know unless we got on their bad side or in their way. This story will live with me for a long time, eventually I'd like to re-read the whole thing as one and see i I can make even more connections throughout the series, remember small details I forgot, and bask in the glory that is Michelle Hodkin's beautiful writing and story telling. She is a weaver of magic and she has created a wonderful, real character, whose real name we will never know. Someone who has been through hell and back and lived to tell about it. Mara is a heroine for this day, a strong girl who goes through things we wouldn't dare dream of but that some teenagers or anyone, may relate to. We all feel crazy every once and awhile and it's nice to know there are others who feel like that sometimes too.

If you haven't read this series, please go read it, and if you've only read the first two and are scared for it to end, trust me when I say you'll be happy with this finale, glad you read it, and eager for another series from Miss. Hodkin.

"I love you. Today. Tonight. Tomorrow. Forever. If I were to live a thousand years, I would belong to you in all of them. If I were to live a thousand lives. I would want to make you mine in each of them."

Review: Belzhar

Belzhar
Author: Meg Wolitzer
Published: September 30th, 2014
Hardcover, 264 pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

If life were fair, Jam Gallahue would still be at home in New Jersey with her sweet British boyfriend, Reeve Maxfield. She'd be watching old comedy sketches with him. She'd be kissing him in the library stacks.

She certainly wouldn't be at The Wooden Barn, a therapeutic boarding school in rural Vermont, living with a weird roommate, and signed up for an exclusive, mysterious class called Special Topics in English.

But life isn't fair, and Reeve Maxfield is dead.

Until a journal-writing assignment leads Jam to Belzhar, where the untainted past is restored, and Jam cal feel Reeve's arms around her once again. But there are hidden truths on Jam's path to reclaim her loss. 

This book immediately caught my attention. From afar it looks like a contemporary novel, but there is a paranormal element that is the unlaying basis of it and it intrigued me. Jam Gallahue is trying to get over the death of her boyfriend, Reeve, but it hasn't been going well so her parents send her to The Wooden Barn, a rehab centre for teenagers recovering. She is roomed with a strange girl and enrolled in Special Topics in English, a prestigious class with only five students in it. Her roommate is jealous, saying that everyone who has been in that class couldn't stop talking about it. Jam's not sure what the hype is all about, especially since the teacher is strange and they are just reading The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. But soon everything changes. They are given a journal writing assignment and the moment she starts writing in the journal, she feels Reeve's arms around her and suddenly she gets to be with him again, but only for a short while until she is brought back to reality. Jam loves this new world, but what happens when the journal is full?

Everything that happens in this book is just as mysterious and unexplained as the world Jam and her classmates go to, which they dub Belzhar after the Plath book they're reading. Nothing is really explained and we only know what Jam knows and what her friends tell her. It's kind of wonderful and kept me drawn into the novel as I watched her spend moments with Reeve that I knew couldn't last. When she's not with Reeve, she is spending time with Griffin, a guy she's not quite sure about but is drawn to nonetheless. Every character in this was very different and dealing with their own emotional drama. Throughout the novel, we discover why everyone is at the school and what they see when they go to Belzhar. The stories are sad, brutal and all around something you wish on no one. I was curious to see how this would end and did not expect what happened at all. It was a great twist and really pulled the story together. And I didn't really need Belzhar explained to me, I love that it was a mystery and a very strange way to get over the guilt and shame and move on with life.

Grief was a main element in this book, so I won't lie and say it will make you happy. It was dark, brutal and terrible things happened to good people. But it shows that it is not the end when something bad happens, life goes on. Friendships are made, romance is found, and people are forgiven and forgive themselves. It was a wonderful story that captured me from the first page to very end. I wish it had been longer. I wish we got to know more about Mrs. Quenell and her teachings. They kept mentioning how awesome her class was, but we never really got to witness her discussions and what was so awesome about her. I wish there was more background story so that I could have been more emotional invested in the characters. Everything happened very quickly, and I think I understand why the writer wrote it like this, to keep us in a dream-like state that Jam was in the entire time she was at the Barn. All in all, I enjoyed it and would like read the author's other works.

"We're talking about the novel, right? But maybe we're not. We're talking about ourselves. And I guess that's what can start to happen when you talk about a book."

Review: Hexed

Hexed
Author: Michelle Krys
Published: June 10, 2014
Hardcover, 384 pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won't stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn't want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it's when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie's world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn't get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that's seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she's a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie's about to uncover the many dark truths about her life - and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid. 

This was one of the best kind of paranormal books. The paranormal elements are small, and they seem so real that you think there could actually be a witch living in the Occult shop. There were a lot of contemporary elements that made this a quick, fun read, and every character was charming and came to life. Indie is popular, but nothing she did really made her scream 'mean girl', which was a nice change from the popular stereotype. She's content cheerleading and hanging out with her boyfriend, but the minute she sees a guy die right in front of her, everything changes. When that guy comes back to life and starts following her around, claiming she's a witch, Indie's life spirals out of control. With the help of her nerdy friend Paige, and Bishop, the hot dead guy, Indie finds herself in a race to get back a family heirloom in order to save witches everywhere.

Indie is a great narrator. She's funny, sarcastic and made me root for her every step of the way. She's the popular girl you actually wanted to be friends with in high school and I'm glad she didn't have a mean streak in her body. The other characters were just as alive. Paige is the shy, strange girl who ends up being a really great help and even better friend. I love how Indie turned to her for help and how the two of them became really good friends throughout the novel. Bishop is the love interest you love to hate. He's secretive, snarky and does things that would drive a girl crazy. We slowly discover more about him throughout the novel and why he's the way he is and his character growth is a wonderful arc and I couldn't wait for him and Indie to get together.

Magic was a great character as well as it never took over the story. We only knew what Indie knew about how it all worked and I think that was a great way to tell the story, putting us in Indie's situation and not being quite sure of how to get out of it. I liked this but at the same time, I wanted more information about the world Indie was being pulled into. I'm sure we'll learn more in the next book, but those were the parts I wish were stronger. As a character lover myself, I'm glad the characters were the central focus and I loved the romance in this one. I'm a sucker for a good kiss scene and boy did this one deliver. I'm definitely anticipating the next book in this series, Charmed.

"And I just know that this memory will be forever burned into my brain, because this kind of magic - the kind that can't be conjured with a spell, where everything is just right, and all your problems vanish for three perfect minutes - doesn't happen everyday."

Review: Opal

Opal
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published: December 11, 2012
Paperback, 382 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

After everything, I'm no longer the same Katy. I'm different... and I'm not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I'm capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won't turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever. 

Together we're stronger... and they know it. 

This series just keeps getting better. Katy and Daemon are officially a couple now(!) and they continue to make me smile. If I liked them when they were always fighting, I like them more now that they're always kissing. Though they don't get much time to do that since hell has broken loose and they need to stop the DOD from experimenting on people. This book was action packed and set it up nicely for the fourth book in the series, Origin.

Opal picks up right where Onyx ended. Dawson is back and determined to rescue Beth from the DOD without thought of what might happen when he gets there. Dawson is angry (for good reason) and Katy takes it upon herself to be the voice of reason and calm him down. He's been acting recklessly and won't listen to Daemon, but Katy convinces him that they should rescue her as a team. So they start planning a way to save her when Blake comes back into the picture. Blake treated Katy awfully in the last book, but he blackmails them into cooperating with him so that he can rescue his friend as well. He helps in the training process and gives them insider information and the story builds up to the group going in to rescue Beth, not knowing for sure what's waiting for them into the institution.

Katy grows so much in this book. She's stronger, more mature and acts selflessly to her friends and those around her. As her life spirals out of control, her relationship with Daemon gets stronger and more normal and she gets to spend some quality time with her friends as they prepare for prom. She will sacrifice everything, including herself, to protect those she loves and it's a scary thought, but I love that about her. She doesn't know Dawson well, but she knows he's Daemon's brother and she will do anything to help him become the man he used to be. Katy and Daemon's relationship just keeps getting better and the few times they get to spend alone together were even more swoon worthy than before. The tension between these two is just as palpable as it was when they were fighting and I can't wait for something more to happen between them.

The ending will kill anyone who reads this. It's the kind of cliffhanger we all hate, but it certainly set us up for the next book. I'm excited to see where this book will go and what's in store for our lovers next. This series stands out among the rest of the YA Paranormal stuff that's all around us and I wish I had read it sooner, but I'm glad I'm reading it now.

"You haven't been smiling much. I missed it, so I decided to reward you for doing it."

"Reward me?" I laughed. "God, only you would think kissing someone is a reward."

"You know it is. My lips change lives, baby."

Review: Onyx

Onyx
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published: August 14, 2012
Papaeback, 366 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks...

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon's determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I've sworn him off, even though he's running more hot than cold these days. But we've got bigger problems. 

Something worse than the Arum has come to town...

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I'm a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who's got a secret of his own. He knows what's happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes...

I've seen someone who shouldn't be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he's never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them - from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies...

There's no denying this series is swoon-worthy. After reading Obsidian, I knew why everyone was talking about it. I love the chemistry between Katy and Daemon, the sexual tension just begging to be released. I thought I'd have to wait until the last book for some sort of relief, but I'm glad to say I got what I was looking for in this one, along with a very cool plot and a lot of paranormal activity. Armentrout knows how to write a teen paranormal romance and this one has quickly become one of my favourites.

Daemon and Katy are cnnected in more ways than one now. Since he rescued her from the car accident, they've had a mental connection, one that sends shivers down Katy's back. As much as he annoys her, she can't stay away from him. When Blake comes to town, Katy is drawn to him too. He's much nicer than Daemon and she starts spending time with him, much to Daemon's dislike. That she discovers something about him - he knows who she is and what she can do and he wants to help. He begins teaching her how to control the power running through her. When Katy sees someone who shouldn't be alive, a plan unfolds to try and save Daemon's brother, a plan that could get all of them killed. Filled with action, drama, and a whole lot of kissing. Throw in some bad guys, people who aren't who they seem and moments where I swear to Go if Katy and Daemon don't kiss I'll kill someone, you've got yourself a stellar book.

Katy and Daemon have the kind of relationship you see a lot of in YA books. They hate each other, but they can't seen to stop kissing. Daemon becomes a little more bearable in this one, but his attitude still needs some adjusting. He treats Katy well and he does some really sweet things. And those kisses could kill me from hotness! Armentrout certainly knows how to write these characters and I was completely satisfied with how this one played out. There's no denying their feelings for each other in this one and I'm really glad it happened early in the series. I didn't want to struggle through that for another book, I just need them to be together!

This series has everything and if you're looking for a swoon-worthy book packed with hot aliens, this is for you. Trust me, they are good books.

"I always liked you. From the moment you first flipped me off."

"If there is anything, there is us. You and me. No one else."

Review: Through to You

Through to You
Author: Emily Hainsworth
Published: October 2, 2012
Paperback, 272 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. He'd give anything to have just one more glimpse of her. But when Cam visits the site of Viv's deadly car accident, he sees an apparition. Her name is Nina, and she's a girl from a parallel world. When Cam follows her there and makes an unbelievable discovery, it's as if all his wildest dreams have come true. But things are very different in this other world. nina is hiding a secret, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with the truth, he's forced to make a choice that will change his life forever. 

The synopsis of this book drew me in quickly. It sounded scary and sad and thrilling and it was all of these things, but not in the way I thought. It was much more about moving on and trying to get through life after a horrible disaster. Camden lost his girlfriend, Viv, in a car accident that he caused. Trying to get through life is hard and Cam is nothing like how he used to be. He spends his days where he and Viv used to hang out and at the spot where she died, looking at the shrine left behind. He has lost a lot too, no longer the star athlete after he hurt his leg in the accident. But when one night at the shrine, he sees a girl who at first he thinks is Viv, he follows her into another world, a parallel world to his own where things are drastically different. The car accident still happened, but instead of Viv dying, he did and Viv is still alive here. Cam's world soon turns upside down and he spends days with Viv, trying to become who they used to be. But this Viv is different from his and he is not the man he was in this world, and Nina, the girl he saw at the shrine, is more involved in his life than he ever would have thought.

This book was much too short for me and a lot happened in that short amount of time that I know there could have been room for more character development. I would have liked more background on Cam and Viv as I think that would have made me like their relationship more. From what I saw, they didn't seem as in love as I would have liked. I saw more love between Cam and Nina and much liked them together better instead. Although it was short, it packed a punch. The mystery behind the alternative world and what might happen to Cam if he kept going there was enough to make me want to turn the page. Cam lives a tough life since the accident. His parents are divorced, his knee is injured and he's lost his girlfriend. But when he finds out the Cam in the parallel world lived a much better one, he's still not sure if he'd rather that life instead and he's not sure if Viv likes that Cam more than him. It gets complicated and heartbreaking, wanting someone you thought you lost and suddenly can have again except they are a totally different person than the one you lost.

It was a very emotional book and Hainsworth's writing is beautiful and flowing. I wish it had been longer but it was also perfect in its shortness and simplicity. A nice departure from regular contemporary books and I'm excited to see what else Hainsworth has in store for us.

"If I had my phone with me, I could try to call her, but I'm not sure my calling plan covers inter-dimensional roaming."

Review: Obsidian

Obsidian (Lux#1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published: May 8, 2012
Paperback, 335 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something... unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

If I don't kill him first, that is

The first thing that caught my attention in this book is that Katy, our main character, is a book blogger. It's pretty awesome seeing that side of life in a novel, especially since she references blogger things like Waiting on Wednesday and reviewing books. She also talks about books throughout the novel which any book lover would love to read about. Katy and her mom just moved to a small town in West Virginia for a nursing job and Katy is starting a new school and a new life without her dad. She plans on spending her days reading and blogging until she meets her new neighbour, Daemon, a super hot guy with a horrible attitude. Suddenly Daemon is everywhere, at her school, in her backyard and pretty much anywhere that Katy is hanging out with his sister Dee. But when Katy stays at the library too late one night and is attacked by her car, Daemon does something impossible and suddenly everything Katy thought he knew about life is turned upside down. Daemon and Dee are aliens from a planet called Luxen and Katy's got alien mojo all over her from the rescue. Daemon claims he needs to stay close to her to make sure she's safe until the trace disappears, but Katy doesn't think she can survive him that long.

This is my favourite kind of story. The irritating guy that you can't help but love who turns out to be something completely different. I wasn't sure if I'd like an alien story, but I loved this! Armentrout has a way with words and she makes everything swoon worthy, especially Daemon. He may be irritating, but I can certainly get past that if it meant making out with him. Katy likes him, I mean how could she not, but she can't get past everything about him. She's not sure if he's just spending time with her because of the trace or if he actually likes her, but the moments they do spend together are laced with sexual tension and there's no denying that. These two just need to make out is all I'm saying and when they do finally kiss it's amazing and I swear there are fireworks flying off the pages. I love when I see the chemistry between characters and when I feel it too, hoping that they will end up together.

This book isn't just all kissing and swooning though. There is another race of aliens set out to destroy all the Luxens and they need to stay in hiding in order to survive. But with the trace on Katy, it causes her to light up to other aliens so they can potentially find her through the trace. The ending blow out was well written and made me want more. Katy kicked some major butt, which I love to see in books. I don't like a girl who just sits on the sidelines, get in there and save yourself girl! This is going to be a really fun series to read and I can't wait to see more Katy and Daemon. I know they won't actually get together for awhile, so I'm anticipating the sexual tension for a little while longer. I think I can handle it. Jennifer, you are amazing and I love you for creating Daemon. That is all.

“Beautiful face. Beautiful body. Horrible attitude. It was the holy trinity of hot boys.” 

“Will you show me what you really look like? You don't sparkle, do you?” 

Also, this book is so quotable!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Books I've Read So Far This Year

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where we discuss bookish topics in the form of lists.

This week's topic is: Top Ten Books You've Read So Far This Year

1. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson: A fun, cute, mystery about two friends.
2. Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout: This won't be my last book by this author!
3. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover: Amazing, go read this now!

4. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor: A great ending to a fantastic series.
5. Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt: The perfect little read.
6. Uninvited by Sophie Jordan: Such a cool concept and I love everything Jordan writes!

7. Cress by Marissa Meyer: This whole series is amazing!
8. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick: This book blew me away and redefined YA Contemporary for me.

9. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson: Heartbreaking and beautiful.
10. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith: The cutest thing I've read in a long time.


So what books have you loved so far this year?

Review: Rebel Belle

Rebel Belle
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Published: April 8, 2014
Hardcover, 345 pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.


Hawkins blew me away with Hex Hall and School Spirits, bringing forth her wit and skill into paranormal contemporaries that made me laugh, swoon and a bit scared. So when I found out she had a new book coming out, about a cotillion girl who ends up in a crazy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer like situation, I thought, hell ya, bring it on! Everything about this book is gorgeous. The cover is perfect an captures the essence of the novel, and Harper is the perfect leading lady. The night of homecoming, where she knows she'll walk away with the crown, Harper ends up in weird situation and a feeling in her gut she's afraid will never disappear. Everything from that night leads her to David, her arch nemesis who seems to have everything she's striving for. When she's told she needs to protect David to death, she's not sure this is how she wants her life to be, especially with cotillion right around the corner. 

Harper is just like Hawkins's other main characters. She has the wit and sarcasm of Sophie, but the hard core skills of Izzy. But Harper still stands on her own as a leading character and I love that she has weaknesses and goes through some rough experiences. She loves her lipstick, but when it comes down to it, she knows what needs to be done in order to keep David safe. Her and David are adorable, the banter between them is so real and it made their story so much more swoon-worthy. I love stories where the two lovers start by hating each other and soon realize that there was nothing to hate about the other. David is not your typical love interest with his unique sense of style and uppity attitude. But he soon became the kind of guy everyone dreams of.

The story was unique and played out perfectly. I was hoping for a bit more when it came to the prophecies and how everything ended, but it was minor and I'm sure the sequel will answer any questions I still have. Hawkins creates fantastic characters that stick with you long after you're finished the book, and her plots flow nicely to go with them. I liked the characters more than the plot in this, but it was a lot of fun to read and I can't wait for more.

“Bruce Wayne's parents get killed and he goes to Tibet or whatever, and Superman is an alien, and Spiderman had that radioactive spider. Me? I kissed a janitor in the school bathroom.” 

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Author: Laini Taylor
Published: September 27, 2011
Hardcover, 418 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

This story swept me up and still hasn't let me go. Karou is not the kind of character you get to see very often, and her story begins as what could easily be a contemporary story about a girl trying to figure out who she is, but quickly unravels into something so much bigger, a world that will claim you and make you never want to leave. Taylor weaves a complex tale of loyalty, love, and family. Karou's life is full of mystery. She has blue hair, fills her sketchbook with pictures that seem way too crazy to be real, and can speak many languages, some of which aren't human. By day she is an art student, hoping to stop her feelings for her ex-boyfriend, and trying to spend time with her best friend, Zuzanna. But most of the time she's running errands for Brimstone, her would-be father who is anything but humanly. To her, its normal, but she has no idea where she came from or who she really is. But the more she finds out, the more she wants to just be a regular girl.

Prague is the perfect setting for this rich, beautiful story. The old buildings and dark alleys left lots of room for mystery and the angels. It's as much a character as Karou or Zuzanna or Akiva. Brimstone's apartment, the Poison Cafe and the bridge all play important parts in Karou's story. The hints at what will happen are so well written, I couldn't believe it sometimes. One sentence and suddenly I'd know something bad would happen three chapters later. Taylor has a wonderful way of subtlety slipping in dramatic irony and making each scene count. Her words describe both the real world and a world we've never seen, but after reading about, seems way too real. 

This was just the beginning to a fantastic journey through the worlds. I'm a sucker for Romeo and Juliet like stories, and this reminded me of the star crossed lovers in the best sort of way. I'm normally disappointed when it comes to direct re-tellings, so this was perfect in the way that it literally had nothing to do with the play, but made me think of all the things I loved about the Bard's tragic play. Two people from totally different worlds who know they can't be together, who know there is no way their story will have a happy ending, but decide to be together anyway. They want to stop the war, they want everyone else to know that it's possible to not have to be enemies, and Karou and Akiva are the epitome of lovers who will do anything to be together. This is the just the beginning of their love saga, and I'm already invested.

“Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well.” 

Review: Split Second

Split Second
Author: Kasie West
Published: February 11, 2014
Hardcover, 360 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Life can change in a split second.

Addie hardly recognizes her life since her parents divorced. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. She can’t believe this is the future she chose. On top of that, her ability is acting up. She’s always been able to Search the future when presented with a choice. Now she can manipulate and slow down time, too . . . but not without a price.

When Addie’s dad invites her to spend her winter break with him, she jumps at the chance to escape into the Norm world of Dallas, Texas. There she meets the handsome and achingly familiar Trevor. He’s a virtual stranger to her, so why does her heart do a funny flip every time she sees him? But after witnessing secrets that were supposed to stay hidden, Trevor quickly seems more suspicious of Addie than interested in her. And she has an inexplicable desire to change that.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Laila, has a secret of her own: she can restore Addie’s memories . . . once she learns how. But there are powerful people who don’t want to see this happen. Desperate, Laila tries to manipulate Connor, a brooding bad boy from school—but he seems to be the only boy in the Compound immune to her charms. And the only one who can help her.

As Addie and Laila frantically attempt to retrieve the lost memories, Addie must piece together a world she thought she knew before she loses the love she nearly forgot . . . and a future that could change everything.

The Pivot Point world blows me away. I love how easily West created these normal people with extraordinary talents. There is so much more to this world that I have yet to discover (and hopefully will be able to with more books!) and I would love to dive right back into this book. Pivot Point introduced us to Addie, a girl with the remarkable ability to see into two separate futures and decide which one to take. The book follows her through both futures, one where she is living in the compound with others like her, and another where she is the normal world falling for a normal guy. But when the unthinkable happens in one future, Addie is forced to pick the other one and erase all memories of the one she wished she could keep. Split Second starts where that one left off, Addie living in the compound with no memory of Trevor, the man she fell for in the norm world. So when she goes to the norm world for winter break and meets Trevor again, she can't help but feel like she knows him and is drawn to him quickly again. Her best friend, Laila, is the one who erased Addie's memories from her trip and after reading a note that Addie wrote her in the non-future, she knows she has the power to restore Addie's memories, she just has to figure out how. She enlists the help of Conner, a guy who has ways of getting ability enhancements. As Addie gets to know Trevor more and Laila learns to control her ability, the two girls discover new things about their lives, love, and the power they have over both.

Told from both Addie and Laila's perspectives, we finally get to learn more about what makes these girls great. We met Laila in the first book, but we didn't get inside her head. She struggles just as much as Addie does while also trying to overcome the complications of living in the compound. Addie falls into a new life in the norm world, remembering nothing of being there the first time. It was interesting knowing what I know from Pivot Point, knowing everything that Addie discovered but now knows nothing about. The dramatic irony was riveting and I couldn't wait to find out if Addie would fall for Trevor again, if Laila would be able to restore her memories. I know there are no more books in this series, but I wish there were. I wish I could learn more about these girls, what else happens in the compound after the events of this book and how their relationships will change. This could easily be a longer series and I would read anything that West wants to write. Both Addie and Laila are easy to identify with in different ways. Laila's home life is messed up and she will do anything for her brother. Addie's parents just got divorced so she is learning to live a new way, one in the compound and one in the norm world. I mostly love that the girls needed to learn about the norm world because it's so different from the compound. This series is a breath of fresh air from the other super power books. Each ability is mental, but the abilities are not the most important thing in this book. It's about living with who you are, finding out what you're really capable of and I love reading stories like this.

West has shown such talent in her writing. I fell in love with Pivot Point off the bat and read The Distance Between Us and fell even harder. Split Second solidified her spot in my top favourite authors and I'm excited to see what else she has in store for us, excited to see what else she can do and what other novels I can fall in love with. Addie and Trevor are so perfect together and Laila and Connor made my heart beat faster. This was a fantastic series and I wish it never had to end.

“Once Addie let someone in, she was impossible to forget. There was something about her that crawled inside a person and built a nice comfy home there, her goodness expanding until it filled every limb.”