Neurotic Thoughts - Ember

Ember
Author: Madison Daniel
Release Date: March 16, 2012
Genre: YA Paranormal
Published by: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterflys Publishing
Source: Bewitching Book Tours
Summary from Goodreads:


Love never dies...but it can kill.

Ember is the story of Max Valentine, a teenager with secret abilities and many inner demons. His life revolves around music and his love for it. When his father dies he seeks answers with his last living relative, his fathers brother Frank. Frank lives on the island of Maui and eagerly takes Max in as his own. Max soon learns that healing his past will be more difficult than he could have ever believed. Two major complications will tempt and torment him as he tries to make sense of his abilities.

The first temptation comes in the form of a mysterious island girl. Asia Lyn Michaels is rich, spoiled, angry and beautiful. Her path crosses with Max on the beach one afternoon, forever changing both of their lives. Max saves her life and she discovers his secret. From that moment on they are connected, no matter how much they fight it.

The second temptation will test Max’s very soul. Samantha Ann Summers is sweet, artistic, smart and confident. She will help Max find his smile again and maybe even heal his past mistakes. She is possibly his soul mate and Max will fight that with every fiber of his being.

Max’s temper and indecision with the girls will send in motion events that will cost him dearly. He will test the limits of his powers and the new relationship with his protective uncle. He will gain a powerful love and lose another.

My Thoughts:
I liked it, I didn't like it. I loved Max, I hated Max. Ugh, this book had me going back and forth about on my feelings for the characters of this book. Everything I liked about this book I disliked too. The girls were strong and kick ass one minute and the next they were sniveling begging babies. Max made horrible choices and really just pissed me off over and over again to the point where I would groan and have to put the book down. 


What I liked:
I loved all of the music involved in Ember. Max and his band and all of the music that he listened too really helped give me something to connect with. 
Samantha was probably my favorite character even though she put up with so much crap from Max and all of his wishy washy ways. 
I enjoyed the mystery surrounding Max, Samantha, and Asia and what and who they were. 


What I didn't like:
It was really hard to connect with these characters. Max wanted Sam one minute and Asia the next and both girls were willing to almost share him. Come on dude pick a girl and stick with her and girls don't let your man treat you like this!
Asia, I really didn't like her very much at all! Her character was abrasive and stuck up and I really just... well... hated her. 


Even though this wasn't my favorite book, it wasn't all bad. The writing is actually pretty good and the story wasn't half bad either. 


Plot: A pretty original YA paranormal actually
Characters: Inconsistent, weak, my least favorite part of the novel
Writing: Entertaining, surprisingly mysterious (I'm not counting the editing mistakes here)
Ending: Frustrating in the extreme
Kid Friendly: There are some pretty sexy,  super hot scenes
Overall: This one just didn't do it for me, the characters annoyed me to the point that I had a hard time really getting into this one
Should I Read This Book: If you are a lover of YA paranormal with lots of mystery, sexual tension, and love triangles you will probably like Ember


I hate writing reviews that are anything but glowing, but I have to be honest and tell it the way I see it. Luckily everyone has different tastes and here are a few glowing reviews. 


Sassy Book Lovers 5 stars
Kristy Berridge 

Erratic Thinking on Thursday

It's been a crazy week around here! My oldest daughter had been battling some pain in her right side especially when she would eat fat. We suspected it was possibly some gall bladder sludge like her father had experienced a few years ago. Anyway last Friday the pain became unbearable and I took her to the emergency room where she was admitted. On Saturday a stone was removed from her bile duct and on Sunday her gall bladder was removed. It was crazy scary and exhausting. I stayed at the hospital with her until Monday when they released her. They really don't let you get much sleep in a hospital! She is doing very well now and I expect her to be fully recovered before the homeschool prom in May. I think I've finally caught up on my sleep too. Now I just have to catch up on my reading. Unfortunately, I couldn't concentrate enough to get any reading done while we were there. 

In other news. My younger daughter is currently performing in the local homeschooling group's production of Annie. I had to miss both shows last weekend while I was in the hospital but I am really looking forward to attending both shows this weekend. I'm so blessed that my little girl had so much family and so many friends attend the shows last weekend when I could not. 

Right now I'm reading Tomorrow Land originally released as Razor Girl. I'm about 60 pages in and am enjoying it so far. It's good to be reading again. 

Hope you are having a wonderful non eventful week:)

Waiting on Wednesday (4/25/2012) League of Strays

Author: L.B. Schulman
Expected Release Date: October 1, 2012
Summary from Goodreads:


When Charlotte Brody, a lonely 17-year-old student at a new school, receives an invitation to join The League of Strays, she's intrigued by the group's promise of "instant friendship." The League does provide companionship--and even a love interest--but Charlotte grows increasingly uncomfortable with its sinister mission to seek revenge against the bullies of Kennedy High. When escalating acts of vengeance threaten to hurl her down a path of remorse, Charlotte must choose between her new friends and the direction of a future she's never fully considered.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we (bloggers) are anxiously awaiting. So what book are you excited about right now?

Neurotic Thoughts - Notes to Self

Notes to Self
Author: Avery Sawyer
Release Date: November 2011
Genre: YA Contemporary
Published by: Avery Sawyer
Source: Received from the author for an honest review
Summary from Barnes & Noble:
Two climbed up. Two fell down.

One woke up.


Robin Saunders is a high school sophomore with an awesome best friend, a hard-working single mom, and a complicated relationship with a sweet guy named Reno. She's coasting along, trying to get through yet another tedious year of high school, when Em suggests something daring. They live in Florida-- tourist central--and Emily wants to sneak into a theme park after midnight and see what they're made of.

When things get out of control, Robin wakes up in a hospital bed and Emily doesn't wake up at all. Just getting dressed becomes an ordeal as Robin tries to heal and piece together the details of that terrible night. Racing to remember everything in the hopes of saving Emily, Robin writes a series of notes to herself to discover the truth.

A fabulous read! Robin wants so badly to remember what happened to her and Emily the night they fell from the amusement park ride that they so stupidly climbed. Sadly the fall has affected her memory and there is a lot more than what happened that night that she can't remember. Robin has to face all of the students back at school without Emily, and finds that many of her classmates blame her for Emily's accident. Between the traumatic head injury and what boarders on bullying at school Robin is having a decidedly hard time getting back to life without Emily. Luckily her friend Reno starts coming around again when he hears of Emily accident. I loved Reno he is such a gentle soul, and you can tell even when at first he is awkward around Robin that he really does care about her. Notes to Self definitely gets a recommendation from me. 


Plot: Like nothing else I've read, In a good way!

Characters: Fantastically flawed

Writing: Engaging, I didn't want to put it down

Ending: In one way wonderful but in another it left me hanging

Kid Friendly: Some smoking, drinking, drugs, are mentioned

Overall: A touching book about friendship and family. 

Should You Read It? YES!

Tour and Review: Going Under by Georgia Cates

Going Under

By Georgia Cates

Genre: YA

Jessie Boone is a self proclaimed bad boy and doesn’t march to the beat of anyone’s drum, but his own. Growing up in less than desirable circumstances has made him no stranger to the hard knock life and his determination to leave it behind is fierce. When he finds himself transferred to East Franklin High School, he sees his opportunity to use his athletic ability to snag a college football scholarship, but Forbes Henderson, the player Jessie means to replace isn’t giving up his spot willingly. In fact, Forbes is willing to go to extreme measures to retain his place as first string quarterback. When Forbes’ malicious plan to injure his replacement fails, Jessie is furious and determined to show him he messed with the wrong person; not only is he going to take the position of first string quarterback, he’s going to take his girl, too.

Claire Deveraux is perfection at it’s best. She is beautiful, intelligent and unaware she just became Jessie Boone’s conquest as revenge against her boyfriend, Forbes Henderson. Like her flawless performance as the perfect daughter and student, Claire’s production of being the perfect girlfriend has everyone fooled, except Jessie Boone, and she fears this tattooed bad boy will see her secret desire to explore his crude threats and promises to rock her perfect world. If she decides to give in to one uninhibited moment with Jessie, will she learn too late that it was all an act of vengeance or will Jessie learn the taste of first love is sweeter than that of revenge?

My Thoughts:

Going Under is a wonderfully romantic read. I really enjoyed the main characters Jessie and Claire. Jessie has that typical "bad" boy appeal complete with shoulder tattoo, but is really a responsible sweet guy under that tough exterior. While Jessie has had a rough childhood Claire seems to have had life handed to her on a silver spoon. I enjoyed Jessie and Claire's verbal sparring in the beginning of the story. and later their smokin hot chemistry was perfect. Their love story was a lot of fun to read. The romance between them was definitely my favorite part of Going Under.

Sadly Claire's best friend Payton was one of the worst characters I have ever encountered. Everything she said was a forced snarky comeback. it was like she didn't know how to talk like a normal person and it drove me crazy. I hated pretty much every scene she happened to be in.

Another problem I had was here is Jessie this incredibly smart guy and he allows himself to be put in a horrible situation and acts as if he doesn't have a choice. Even when a friend offers him an alternative to said situation he chooses to remain. I know I'm being really vague but Georgia Cates does a great job of revealing things at just the right time and I don't want to spoil anything.

I loved the ending. So many times an author will leave a book so that you have to decide if the characters have a happy ending or not. Cates finishes this book so that you know exactly what is in store for Jessie and Claire. 

So even though Going Under wasn't a perfect read for me it was still a sweet romance that had me feeling the love. 

Author Bio:

In addition to being an author Georgia is a wife, mother of two daughters and a labor and delivery nurse.

She recently added Paranormal Romance Writer to her list of things that keep her busy, but she is ecstatic to release her debut novel, Blood of Anteros, the first book in The Vampire Agápe Series. 

Like others that enjoy a great story of paranormal romance, she is easily bored by the tale of an obtainable, ordinary romance and was inspired to create The Vampire Agápe Series. When not tied up with family or delivering babies, she is working feverishly on the second book in The Vampire Agápe Series. 

You can visit Georgia Cates at the following sites:http://georgiacates.com/ 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Georgia-Cates/213130102082500

http://twitter.com/#!/GeorgiaCates

Blogs I've Been Checking Out This Week

Epic.Book.Nerd

Gives her top ten tips for new bloggers

TinasBookReviews hosts K.C. Neal for Indie April

Jessica Sorensen showcases the cover of a new series here

Jessica at a GREAT read has some great Waiting on Wednesday books picked out and she has some amazing giveaways going on too.

Amy over at The Ramblings of Amy is doing the blogging from A to Z challenge and I'm really enjoying what she is coming up with everyday.

Of course I've got to give a shout out to my girl Jessica over at Shut Up! I'm Reading for general blogging awesomeness!

SO what blogging greatness did you find this week?
What did you blog this week that I missed? Let me know I can't wait to check it out!

Waiting on Wednesday (4/18/2012) The Forsaken #1

Author: Lisa M. Stasse
Expected Release Date: July 10, 2012
Summary from Goodreads:


A thought-provoking and exciting start to a riveting new dystopian trilogy. 

As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up. 

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we (bloggers) are anxiously awaiting. So what book are you excited about right now?

Teaser Tuesday 4/17/2012 Going Under by Georgia Cates

She lightly skimmed her lips along my jawline until the softness of her lips and the warmth of her breath hovered over my mouth without touching it. I thought I would surely spontaneously combust if I didn't kiss her soon, but I wasn't ready to risk scaring her off because I had moved too fast so I left all of the control in her hands.

Page 48 of the e-arc

Going Under was released March 10, 2012

Summary from Goodreads:
Jessie Boone is a self proclaimed bad boy and doesn’t march to the beat of anyone’s drum, but his own. Growing up in less than desirable circumstances has made him no stranger to the hard knock life and his determination to leave it behind is fierce. When he finds himself transferred to East Franklin High School, he sees his opportunity to use his athletic ability to snag a college football scholarship, but Forbes Henderson, the player Jessie means to replace isn’t giving up his spot willingly. In fact, Forbes is willing to go to extreme measures to retain his place as first string quarterback. When Forbes’ malicious plan to injure his replacement fails, Jessie is furious and determined to show him he messed with the wrong person; not only is he going to take the position of first string quarterback, he’s going to take his girl, too.

Claire Deveraux is perfection at it’s best. She is beautiful, intelligent and unaware she just became Jessie Boone’s conquest as revenge against her boyfriend, Forbes Henderson. Like her flawless performance as the perfect daughter and student, Claire’s production of being the perfect girlfriend has everyone fooled, except Jessie Boone, and she fears this tattooed bad boy will see her secret desire to explore his crude threats and promises to rock her perfect world. If she decides to give in to one uninhibited moment with Jessie, will she learn too late that it was all an act of vengeance or will Jessie learn the taste of first love is sweeter than that of revenge?

Miz B hosts Teaser Tuesday every week, check her out for the official rules.  I never seem to be able to stick to the rule about only 2 sentences.

I love reading teasers so let me know where I can view yours in the comments. Have a great day!

Neurotic Thoughts - Masque Of The Red Death

Masque Of The Red Death
Author: Bethany Griffin
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Genre: YA Gothic Horror
Published by: Greenwillow Books an imprint of Harper Collins
Source: Around the World ARC Tours
Summary from Goodreads:
Everything is in ruins. 


A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them. 


So what does Araby Worth have to live for? 


Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all. 


But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does. 


And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

My Thoughts:
 The description I found on Goodreads didn't have me completely sold on Masque of The Red Death but, the cover is so gorgeous (yeah I know) that I had to give it a try when I saw that it was going to be touring. I am SO SO glad that I was feeling tour happy that day because this book was frickin' wonderful! While this novel has some of the elements common to YA novels the plot was completely unique to me.


I'm having a difficult time figuring out just what it was that had me so completely engrossed in MotRD. I think I've finally decided that it was everything. The characters, the emotions,  the writing, the plot, the love triangle, the evil prince, Araby's parents, the city, the clubs, truly it was everything! This book was written so perfectly that I felt like I was there in the book.  I loved Bethany Griffin's writing style. I usually like a lot of dialog and not so much description but in the case of MotRD you had to have all of the description to get a feel for the utter despair and ruin of the city. Sometimes with that much description I find my mind wandering, that definitely wasn't happening while reading this one.

I don't want to talk about the story line to much because I want you to be as thrown as I was and I'm afraid I might give to much away if I talk to much about Araby and "the boys" so I will just leave you to discover and fall in love with them on your own. 


This book was a super fast read for me that I never wanted to put down and when it ended I wasn't ready.  Especially not with that ending. The next book will be one that I will be eagerly awaiting. Really eagerly is much to tame of a word to describe how much I am looking forward to the next book! 
Full of mystery, conspiracy and intrigue this is a book in 2012 that you will not want to miss!

Tour and Review: Night Sky by Jolene Perry

You don't want to miss Night Sky by Jolene Perry!

After losing Sarah, the friend he’s loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction – his dad leaves for another woman, his mom’s walking around like a zombie, and Sarah’s new boyfriend can’t keep his hands off of her.

As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast.

But Sky’s need for honesty somehow doesn’t extend to her life story – and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year.

Jolene Perry's Bio:

Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.

After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.

She is also the author of The Next Door Boys and the upcoming Knee Deep.

My Thoughts:

Night Sky was one of those books that you start before bed thinking "I'll just read a few chapters" then you look at the clock, it's 2 a.m. and your just about finished, so you end up staying up, because you have to know what will happen to this boy that you've fallen in love with in the last few hours. 

Written from Jameson's point of view really made this book special for me. I haven't read many contemporary books that show what the guy is feeling and I must say I loved it. I loved getting to know Jameson by reading what he was thinking, feeling and doing. I also must admit that part of the reason that he was so appealing to me was because he was generally a really great guy. Yeah, he was a bit emo at times, but who isn't when they are feeling rejected or when in those beginning stages of falling in love. I don't think those emotions should belong strictly to girls. 

Perry does a fantastic job of writing those scenes where the falling in love is practically glittering in the air all around you. She was also able to make my heart constrict right along with Jameson when he felt as if his heart was breaking. With so many ups and downs I was emotionally drained by the time that I read the last word, but in an amazing I'll be thinking of this book for a while kind of way. 

Do yourself a favor and pick this book up, find a nice cozy spot with a drink and a snack because I'm pretty sure you won't want to stop reading till the very end. 

Kindle buy link
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007C5TMLE/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tributebooks-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B007C5TMLE

Nook buy link
http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=dcSBhG3Rj8w&subid=&offerid=239662.1&type=10&tmpid=8433&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Fnight-sky-jolene-perry%252F1109102038

Smashwords buy link
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/135310?ref=tributebooks
PDF buy link
https://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=1567843

Night Sky web site:http://www.night-sky-book.com

Night Sky GoodReads page:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12588673-night-sky

Jolene Perry's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002038196677

Jolene Perry's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/JoleneBPerry

Jolene Perry's Website:
http://www.jolenebperry.com/

Jolene Perry's Blog:
http://www.jolenesbeenwriting.blogspot.com/

Tribute Books website:
http://www.tribute-books.com

Tribute Books Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Archbald-PA/Tribute-Books/171628704176

Tribute Books Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/TributeBooks

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

Waiting on Wednesday (4/11/2012) Crewel (Crewel World #1)

Author: Gennifer Albin
Expected Release Date: October 16, 2012
Summary from Goodreads:


Incapable. Awkward. Artless. 

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail. 

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested. 

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight. 

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape. 

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we (bloggers) are anxiously awaiting. So what book are you excited about right now?

Despite this sounding a bit on the fantasy side I am still drawn to reading it. 

Teaser Tuesday (4/10/2012) Masque Of The Red Death by Bethany Griffin

There are countless red scythes on the doors of the houses we pass. And then one black scythe. Clever to make the symbol of the rebellion so close to the symbol for the disease. Unless you are looking for it, you might not register the difference. 


Teaser from page 121 of the Advanced Reading Copy


NOTE: LOVING this book! 


Masque Of The Red Death is expected to release April 24th 2012.


Summary from Goodreads: 
Everything is in ruins. 

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them. 

So what does Araby Worth have to live for? 

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all. 

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does. 

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

Miz B hosts Teaser Tuesday every week, check her out for the official rules.  I never seem to be able to stick to the rule about only 2 sentences.

I love reading teasers so let me know where I can view yours in the comments. Have a great day!