Review: Dante's Girl

Author: Courtney Cole
Publisher: Lakehouse Press
Release Date: June 22, 2012
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Pages: 356
Source: Publisher and Kismet Book Tours
Summary from publisher:

I have spent every summer since I was ten years old with my father in London.  Every summer, since I was ten years old, has been uneventful and boring.
Until this year.
And this year, after a freak volcanic eruption strands me far from home, I have learned these things:
1.  I can make do with one outfit for three days before I buy new clothes.
2.  If I hear the phrase, “You’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” even one more time, I might become a homicidal maniac.
3.  I am horribly and embarrassingly allergic to jellyfish.
4. I am in love with Dante Giliberti, who just happens to be the beautiful, sophisticated son of the Prime Minister of a Mediterranean paradise.
5.  See number four above.  Because it brings with it a whole slew  of problems and I’ve learned something from every one of them.
Let’s start with the fact that Dante’s world is five light-years away from mine.  He goes to black-tie functions and knows the Prime Minister of England on a first name basis.  I was born and raised on a farm in Kansas and wear cut-off jeans paired with cowboy boots.  See the difference?
But hearts don’t care about differences.  Hearts want what they want.  And mine just wants to be Dante’s girl.
My heart just might be crazy.


goodreads | amazon | B&N

My Thoughts:
I don't think I've ever read a more perfect summer romance than Dante's Girl. Courtney Cole did an amazing job of capturing teens at their best and worst in this novel. She hit on the perfect mixture of teen angst without over doing it and making the characters annoying or overly mature for kids about to be high school seniors.


The Characters:

The characters made this book for me. I loved how Courtney Cole wrote each and every one of them. Reece our main character had so many layers and like a real person I didn't love every layer. She had some great qualities and some that drove me crazy but that's why I loved her so much. Dante's major flaw was that he wanted to make everyone happy. If you've ever tried to do that then you know it's impossible. I was rooting for him to grow a pair and make himself happy for a change. Reece and Dante have such wonderful chemistry, they played off of each other so well throughout the entire book.

The Setting:

Cole did a great job painting a picture of Dante's beautiful homes and the island of Caberra where he lives. She really made me want to get up and travel except maybe not on a plane. That whole thing with the plane really freaked me out.

The Plot:

Parts of this book are your typical girl and boy meet, they fall in love, ect. However, there were definitely some twists that I never expected and never once did I think hey, this book reminds me of...

The Writing:

Cole's writing is easy to read and very engaging.

The Ending:

I knew how I wanted this book to end and I was pretty sure it was heading in that direction but then the direction changed. I think I was even happier with Cole's ending than I would have been with my own.

The Cover:

While the cover is cute and it really does capture the theme of the book it's just a little busy for me.

Mature Situations:

There is some teen drinking, though technically the legal age is lower in Caberra. Some mentions of sex and some making out, but nothing over the top.

Overall:

I think it's pretty obvious that I really enjoyed this book. I'm happy to recommend this book, especially to those who enjoy a good young adult romance.

&

Neurotic Thoughts - Incarnate Book Review

Incarnate
Author: Jodi Meadows
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Published by: Katherine Tegen
Source: Katherine Tegen Publishing and NetGalley
Summary from Goodreads:


New soul

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

No soul

Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

Heart

Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies--human and creature alike--let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

Incarnate's plot was so unique to me that even though I didn't love the book, I still had to finish it to find out where it was going. I've often wondered about past lives and if we have been here before as another person at another place in time, that's what originally drew me to this book. As well as the very striking cover. In my mind I never imagined that you would always remember you past and the people who you've known. That's where Incarnate went with this idea though and I found that to be so intriguing. 

The first half of the book was definitely my favorite part. This is where we meet Ana. Ana is uncommon because she is a new soul, meaning that this is her first life. In the world that Meadows has created, a new soul is a rare and terrifying event for the rest of the people. Typically a person dies only to be reincarnated into another body where they remember everything and everyone from their past life. Something went wrong for one soul though and that soul didn't return. Instead Ana was born. 

Ana sets out on her own, leaving her abusive "mother" behind to find more people and to try and figure out why she is here. Along the way she meets Sam. While I liked Sam there was something about the way that he was SO old (in a hot young bod) that was just a little creepy for me. Then during the second half of the book things took a weird turn and I began making those weird huh? faces. So while I didn't love Incarnate I did find it interesting and I've found myself thinking back on parts of the story again and again. If you like fantasy a lot or even a little you will probably enjoy this one more than I did. 

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!

Neurotic Thoughts - Sign Language

Sign Language
Author: Amy Ackley
Release Date: August 18, 2011
Genre: YA Contemporary 
Published by: Viking Juvenile
Source: received by the author for an honest review
Summary from Goodreads:


Twelve-year-old Abby North's first hint that something is really wrong with her dad is how long it's taking him to recover from what she thought was routine surgery. Soon, the thing she calls "It" has a real name: cancer. Before, her biggest concerns were her annoying brother, the crush unaware of her existence, and her changing feelings for her best friend, Spence, the boy across the street. Now, her mother cries in the shower, her father is exhausted, and nothing is normal anymore. Amy Ackley's impressive debut is wrenching, heartbreaking, and utterly true.

A beautifully heartbreaking story about loving, losing, and growing up during both. This story was so touching and made me realize once again how blessed I have been. I cried and cried while reading this book because even if this isn't a true story, it really is. This happens so often that it was really easy to relate to. 

Ackley did such a wonderful job of making the characters real that they felt like people you have known your whole life. Even though I occasionally wanted to yell at Amy to get her head out of the sand and pay attention to what was going on I also was able to understand why she wanted to refuse what was happening.

This story will have you crying and laughing and will make you want to go tell everyone you love how much they mean to you. 

Plot: Lovely and Heartbreaking

Characters: Excellent, you'll forget that your reading about people you don't know

Writing: Easy to read and very engaging

Ending: Perfect

Kid Friendly: As long as you can handle death you will be safe reading this book.

Overall: Beautiful and Sad

Should You Read It? Definitely

Neurotic Thoughts - Love and Leftovers

Love and Leftovers
Author: Sarah Tregay
Release Date: December 27, 2011
Published by: Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Borrowed from Jessica over at Shut Up! I'm Reading
Summary from Goodreads:

My wish is to fall cranium over Converse in dizzy daydream-worthy love.

(If only it were that easy.

Marcie has been dragged away from home for the summer--from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She's left behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father.

By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this "summer vacation" has become permanent. She has to start at a new school, and there she leaves behind her Leftover status when a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up. But understanding love, especially when you've watched your parents' affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? Can you even know it until you've lost it?

"Love & Leftovers" is a beautifully written story of one girl's journey navigating family, friends, and love, and a compelling and sexy read that teens will gobble up whole.

Love and Leftovers is a super quick read being that it is written in verse. I thought the writing was great and the story line terrific. I really connected to Marcie Foster even though I've never been through any of the things that she has been through. I'm thinking that means that she was written fantastically. 

When Marcie's dad comes out of the closet, Marcie's mom decides it is time to leave town. Now starting at a new school in a new town Marcie is all alone and feels extremely isolated. With no one to talk to she emails her friends back home but that makes her miss them even more. Sadly her blue notebook, that she writes all of her thoughts in, is a sad substitute for real friends. When handsome J.D. from her new school starts to charm Marcie will she be able to resist? After all she does have her handsome, emo, maybe boyfriend, Linus back home, and she won't be here forever, right? 

All along I was rooting for things to go well for Marcie, even when she wasn't quite deserving. With so much going on her life it was hard for me to not like her. 

Plot: New to me

Characters: Excellent, my favorite part of the book actually. Linus was amazing!

Writing: Not my favorite verse book but I'd say Tregay did a pretty decent job with the verse style.

Ending: Exactly what I'd hoped for

Kid Friendly: There is some making out and underage drinking

Overall: An enjoyable afternoon read

Neurotic Thoughts - Foolish Games

Foolish Games
Author: Leah Spiegel
Release Date: 2011
Genre: YA/Adult Crossover Contemporary 
Published by: Createspace
Source: I won this copy from Leah Spiegel and  Book Whore for book club
Summary from Goodreads:

Falling in love was the last thing Joie had on her mind when she was thrown into the marketing scandal intended to boost the Grimm Brothers Band's declining sales. Joie thought she knew the players of the game; she was the writer, J.T. Hawkins was the famous rock star, and Lizzie was her beautiful cover to the world. That was until a psychopathic stalker, who seemed to be three steps ahead of everyone else and calling all the shots, upped the stakes. In a situation where many different kinds of games were being played, Joie had to figure out if or who was bluffing because her life. . . and her heart, might very well depend on it.

Foolish Games was a great read for me. It had everything! Super hot rock stars, mystery, suspense, best friends (both great and evil), life changing events, and lots of opportunities for three just graduated teens to become adults. Mix all that with an original (although slightly predictable) plot line and a romance almost every girl has dreamed of and you've got yourself one sweet treat. 


Joie and her friends Riley and Lizzie are following the Grimm Brothers Band around on their summer tour. Riley has been hired to write blog reviews of the band's shows. Joie has the transportation and a little cash that her father recently left her and Lizzie just happens to be dating one of the opening band members. After a not so nice run in with lead singer Hawkins, Joie writes a derogatory fake blog review about what an ass Hawkins is basically. Things happen and the fake review accidentally gets sent and published. This all kicks starts the beginning of Foolish Games. 


I was really enjoying reading a light hearted romance in the beginning of Foolish Games and then the book took a turn. A good turn. Things got kicked up a notch by crazy dude stalking the band and in all of the craziness he ends up stalking Joie and friends as well. 


Leah Spiegel did a great job of intertwining a romance with a suspense novel and even though I was pretty confident that I knew what was going to happen in the end, I had no idea of the roller coaster ride that I would be on to get to that ending. 


Even with all of the great twists and turns my favorite part of this book were the characters. What an amazing mix of people and emotions. The vulnerable rock star with a huge chip on his shoulder. Joie our main character who is just as vulnerable and has set up all of these walls to keep herself from ever being hurt again. The bitchy friend that you want to slap repeatedly. Riley, oh I can't say enough about Riley. He is always there for Joie with concern, honesty and a shoulder to lean on ( I loved him so much if you can't tell). 


Trying something new for me at the end of this review let me know what you think.


Plot: Unique and fun 
Characters: Amazing
Writing: A definite page turner
Ending: Slightly predictable, but awesome all the same
Kid Friendly: For a book about a bunch of older teens following a band around not as bad as you would think. Mentions of sex, drugs, and drinking but no overly descriptive scenes
Overall: A highly addictive, sweet romance with a touch of heart pounding suspense

Neurotic Thoughts on Ditched

Ditched: A Love Story
Author: Robin Mellom
Release Date: January 10, 2012
Genre: YA Contemporary
Published by: Disney-Hyperion
Source: Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley
Summary from Goodreads:


High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her. 
Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat, handle first. 
Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice. 
Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom. 
And then ditched her. 
Now, as the sun rises over her small town, and with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven, Justina must piece together -- stain by stain on her thrift-store dress -- exactly how she ended up dateless. A three-legged Chihuahua was involved. Along with a demolition derby-ready Cadillac. And there was that incident at the tattoo parlor. Plus the flying leap from Brian Sontag's moving car... 
But to get the whole story, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. And discover if losing out at prom can ultimately lead to true love. 
Filled with humor, charm, and romance, "Ditched: A Love Story" by debut novelist Robin Mellom will have readers dreaming of love on their own prom nights.

Ditched is such a fun and endearing book. Justina finds herself on the side of the road the morning after prom and stumbles to the nearest 7-11 looking for a pay phone. Instead of using the phone she encounters Gilda the 7-11 clerk and Donna the bubbly customer. They all sit around the 7-11 munching on snacks and trying to figure out what went wrong with Justina's fail proof prom plan.


Gilda and Donna are such great additions to the cast of characters in this book. It's not too often that you find eclectic, understanding adults in young adult books. Usually the parents are missing for some reason, and the teens are just out there on their own. Even though Ian is missing for a lot of Ditched you still get to know him really well during Justina's flashbacks of their history together. In fact I was really impressed that for a book that involves a girl sitting in a 7-11 telling a story to two women that you get to know so many people so well. The Mikes that call everyone by their essence and their girlfriends Serenity and Bliss added so much to the adventure of Justina's prom experience. They really made the book have that certain something in my opinion. 


From the first page I was laughing and dying to know how Justina had ended up in a ditch on the side of the road. If you are looking for a light, fun, romantic comedy then look no further you have found it. 

Neurotic Thoughts on Obsidian (Lux #1)

Obsidian (Lux #1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release Date: December 6, 2011
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Published by: Entangled Publishing
Source: Bought for myself
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.

Loved this book! Loved IT!!! Some of my first thoughts about Obsidian: so far my favorite book of 2012, writing is fast paced, and will keep you turning the pages with lightning speed. To be honest I was so caught up in the story that I didn't pay that much attention to the technical aspects of the writing so we are just going to assume that it was excellent.

Katy our main character is fabulous in so many ways. First off she is a book blogger which as a book blogger, and the mom of two book bloggers was fun for me. She's vulnerable but not in the kind of way that allows her to put up with anyone's crap. Plus she is adorably snarky, witty and just plain hilarious.

  

Daemon's character is SO confusing, and I can't imagine having to put up with his array of crap on a daily basis. However, Daemon is hot, not just hot but HOT!!! Not that looks are everything and sometimes I find the "but he's so dreamy" thing to be a bit overdone but Jennifer pulled it off perfectly!  Plus, he has reasons for the way he acts. The chapter after the book is over is written strictly in Daemon's voice and trust me it will have you falling in love with him if you haven't by the time you finish the book, trust me on this.

  

The chemistry between Daemon and Katy is the best of any YA book that I have read so far. By this I mean that there are a few scenes that remain fairly innocent but will have you fanning your blushing face. Oh yeah, it's that good.

  

The only complaint I have is that the fight scene at the end was a little confusing. I had to read it a few times because it seemed a tad bit jumpy. I was unable to figure out exactly what had happened during this scene.

I am really excited for Onyx the next book in the series and I haven't been able to stop telling people about this book. The story line is original (at least to me it is) and the writing flows wonderfully. Jenifer Armentrout just became one of my favorite authors. I will be buying up everything I can find by her. 

Neurotic Review: Saving June

Author: Hannah Harrington
Release Date: November
Genre: YA Contemporary
Published By: Harlequin
Source: Received for review through NetGalley
Summary from Goodreads:


‘If she’d waited less than two weeks, she’d be June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that.’ 

Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why. 

When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going California. 

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs. 

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.

My Thoughts:


Saving June is funny, heartbreaking, intense, romantic, exasperating, and just plain awesome! There is so much to love about this book:

The Characters:
June is sarcastic in that hilarious snarky way. Her grief feels so real you just want to hug her and tell her everything will be okay, even if you aren't sure that it will be. 
Jake is complicated, adorable, and so freakin annoying at times that you just want to kiss him or shake him or both. 
Laney, Harper's best friend is one of those girls that are sometimes a little over the top, occasionally a little irritating, but always lovable and above all -- loyal.    
The Music: 
Jake plays guitar, works in a music store and just generally loves music so there are quite a few great conversations on the road about the music he likes and what certain songs mean to him. I had to download so many of the songs from the play lists in the back of the book. 
The Plot:
The plot of Saving June is without a doubt realistic. I loved all of the little stops that lead to adventures for the trio on the way to California, it really made for a great road trip book. With the death of Harper's sister June being the entire reason for the road trip, there are definitely some intense and sad moments, but the way the author throws humor in with the grief makes for a real, honest feeling story. I laughed, I cried and I honestly loved this book!

Neurotic Thoughts: The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell

The Rise of Renegade X
Author: Chelsea Campbell
Release Date: May 11, 2010
Genre: YA Superhero
Published By: EgmontUSA
Source: The Lovely Jessica from ShutUp! I'm Reading
Summary from Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Damien Locke has a plan: major in messing with people at the local supervillain university and become a professional evil genius, just like his supervillain mom. But when he discovers the shameful secret she's been hiding all these years, that the one-night stand that spawned him was actually with a superhero, everything gets messed up. His father's too moral for his own good, so when he finds out Damien exists, he actually wants him to come live with him and his goody-goody superhero family. Damien gets shipped off to stay with them in their suburban hellhole, and he has only six weeks to prove he's not a hero in any way, or else he's stuck living with them for the rest of his life, or until he turns eighteen, whichever comes first.

To get out of this mess, Damien has to survive his dad's "flying lessons" that involve throwing him off the tallest building in the city--despite his nearly debilitating fear of heights--thwarting the eccentric teen scientist who insists she's his sidekick, and keeping his supervillain girlfriend from finding out the truth. But when Damien uncovers a dastardly plot to turn all the superheroes into mindless zombie slaves, a plan hatched by his own mom, he discovers he cares about his new family more than he thought. Now he has to choose: go back to his life of villainy and let his family become zombies, or stand up to his mom and become a real hero.


My Thoughts:


Damien Locke, future super villain has grand plans to attend Vilmore, the elite boarding school for up and coming super villains. Unfortunately the X that appears on his thumb the night of his sixteenth birthday turns his life upside down. Now he will have to prove himself a villain or a hero.


My absolute favorite part of The Rise of Renegade X has to be main character Damien. His hysterical sarcasm had me laughing out loud more times than I can count. Truly the characters of this book were amazing. From Damien's mad scientist mother to his shape shifting ex girlfriend they just don't get better than this. 


I also really enjoyed Chelsea's ability to make me feel like I was a part of each of the scenes as if I were standing in Golden City watching the events take place instead of just reading about them. Never have I had so much fun rooting for the "villain" of a story. I am super stoked that Chelsea is working on book 2. 


If you haven't picked up a copy of The Rise of Renegade X I highly recommend that you do, and then get ready for a wild ride and a lot of laughs! 


Get your copy at B&N or Amazon
Visit Chelsea at her site here
Read some more glowing reviews here and here and here

Neurotic Thoughts: Dead To You by Lisa McMann

Expected Release Date: February 7, 2012
Genre: YA Contemporary
Published By: Simon Pulse
Source: Borrowed from my sweet sweet daughter
Summary from Goodreads:


Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It's a miracle... at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn't going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he'd be able to put the pieces back together. But there's something that's keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable..


My Thoughts:


Lisa McMann became one of my favorite authors with her Dream Catcher series and I couldn't wait for her to write another novel. So obviously I was very excited to get my hands on Dead To You. 


Dead To You starts off with a bang. Ethan is being reunited with his family after years of everyone thinking that he had been killed by his abductors. Things at his new house are awkward and everyone is struggling with Ethan's arrival. The book goes on to talk about day to day activities of the family trying to get to know each other again, going to counseling, Ethan starting school, and meeting up with an old friend. 


While I was enjoying reading Dead To You I realized that I wasn't really connecting with it on a personal level. I mean usually with these kinds of books I'm bawling hysterically with not just snot but hiccups too. The writing was great and the plot solid, I definitely recommend this book.  Dead To You is a fast read that really kept me interested and looking back I wonder if I didn't get emotionally invested  because either a) the book was written from Ethan's point of view and not his mothers or b) if McMann wrote the book like this on purpose. The problem with option b is I can't really explain what I mean by that without revealing some major spoilers. So if you've read Dead To You and want to talk about it let me know I'd love to see what you think. 


If you've just read this and are wondering "so did she like it?" My answer is yes I really did I just didn't react to it the way I expected. If you are a fan of Lisa McMann I think you'll be glad you picked up Dead To You. 

Neurotic Thoughts on Between by Mary Ting

Between (Crossroads Saga Book 2)
Author: Mary Ting
Expected Release Date: January 12, 2012
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Published by: World Castle Publishing
Source: Review copy sent to me for an honest review by Mary Ting

Summary from Goodreads:
As the alkins head back to Crossroads, Claudia leads her normal life; but not for long. Having a special soul, Claudia attracts danger, and she soon finds out who Gamma asked to watch over her. The Twelve, known as Divine Elders on Earth, are very much involved when they find out that Aliah, one of the God’s first angels, escaped from the Abyss when the gates were opened by Aden. Needing Claudia’s soul to escape the only place Aliah can reside–a place between Heaven and Earth–he sends his demons in search of all Claudia Emersons on Earth. Taking her soul will enable him to be released from Between and cross over to Crossroads, which would give him immense power. As more secrets are revealed Claudia learns about the venators—nephilim, demon hunters. Now two opposing forces must work together in order to save Claudia and humanity from the most dangerous angel ever created. But along the way, trust becomes a big issue. Will love be enough to keep Claudia and Michael together? Who will make the ultimate sacrifice? Who will betray them all?


WARNING THIS REVIEW MAY SOUND A BIT GUSHY!

Mary Ting has done it again! She has written a beautifully romantic and suspenseful tale of forbidden love. Micheal and Claudia's passion in Between will leave you breathless and wanting more.

Seriously-- Between blew me away! If you thought Crossroads was a roller coaster of emotions just wait until you read Between. The romance, lust, betrayal, action and heartache that I loved in Crossroads just got bigger and better in Between.   


Mary Ting has really stepped up her writing as well, I felt like everything flowed better and the dialogue felt more real. I loved that there were more details in Between as they really helped me as a reader experience the world and lives of the angels. As dreamy as Micheal is I found myself liking Austin more and more. I love how into Claudia Micheal is, but sometimes it feels a little over the top and Austin just seems a bit more real to me. The supporting characters  really shine and I can't wait to find out where Ting will take us in the next book. If you loved or even just liked Crossroads you are going to go crazy over Between!

Neurotic Thoughts on Lola and the Boy Next Door

Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Released: September 29, 2011
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Published by: Dutton
Source: My wonderful local library
Pages: 338
ISBN: 0525423281

Summary from Goodreads:
Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. 

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Stephanie Perkins has done it again!  I don't know how Perkins writes in such a way that I swear I feel whatever her character is feeling (as silly as it sounds). Lola feels breathless and I can't seem to breathe. Her heart is racing and I feel like mine is too (even though it wasn't really). More than Anna, Lola and the Boy Next Door have captured my heart. 

The characters in this book are simply amazing. From Lola with her costumes, wigs, and eyelashes everyday to Max and his bad-boy tattooed self, all the way to her wonderfully amazing  dads. To top off a great cast of characters we have Cricket, possibly my favorite book boy ever! Oh wow! He is just want I would want in a boy (if I were 16 again and not married!) Sweet, thoughtful, respectful, and of course super easy on the eyes,. 

The pace of this book was perfect. I couldn't put the book down, and I don't think there was one moment that my thoughts strayed from the story. OK, yes, I realize that I am gushing but really.... I LOVED THIS BOOK! 

There is one scene where Anna mentions (yes! Anna and St. Claire are in this book) how it is so much easier to write a movie review for a movie that she doesn't like than it is to write one for a movie you love. I find this to be very true. When I love a book I have a hard time articulating what it was that made me love it, I just love it! However, when I don't like a book I have no trouble picking every apart every little thing that I didn't like. All this just to say "I LOVE THIS BOOK!" End gush. 

Obviously I highly recommend this book!

Neurotic Thoughts on Geek Girl

Geek Girl
Author: Cindy C Bennett
Release Date: December 6, 2011 (First published June, 2010)
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Source: NetGalley
Pages: 281
ISBN: 1599559250
Summary from Goodreads:
Jen's life of partying and sneaking out has grown stale. So on a whim, Jen makes a bet to turn Trevor, a goody-two-shoes geek, into a "bad boy." As she hangs out with Trevor, however, she finds it's actually kinda fun being a geek. But when Trevor finds out about the bet, Jen must fight for the things she's discovered matter most: friendship, family, and, above all, love.

My Thoughts:
Cindy Bennett took a story that has been told before and totally made it her own. Even though I've seen the movies with similar plots, and knew the ending before it happened this was still a really great read. The whole time I was reading I kept thinking "I know how this is going to end" but I didn't want it to end because the getting to the ending was so much fun. 


At first I thought I was going to hate Jen. I mean what kind of person makes a bet that ultimately will end up hurting someone? Soon you realize that maybe Jen just needed someone good in her life to make her realize that she wasn't as "bad" as she thought she was. She has not had the easiest life and she is basically living her life in survival mode. When she manages to spend some time with Trevor she starts to lose the shell and you realize that Jen is a good person at heart. Trevor is my favorite character in this book. I loved reading about a guy that didn't start out as this gorgeous, perfect boy that all the girls wanted, but turns out as this confident, amazing guy that any girl would be lucky to have. Reading about both Jen and Trevor was a great reminder that people aren't always what they seem. 


For such a fun book it really touches on some dark issues and handles them in such a way that you understand how grave the situation is but, you see that Jen is able to survive them. Sometimes just learning how to survive can keep you alive long enough to live again. 


I don't usually compare books to other books but, if you have been a fan of Stephanie Perkins' books: Anna and the French Kiss or Lola and the Boy Next Door then I think you will love this book as well. Something about Geek Girl has a very similar feel. It's the kind of book that won't change your life but it will make you happy and give you the warm fuzzies while you read it. I laughed, I cried, and I can definitely see reading this book again. I highly recommend Geek Girl! 

Here is another cover for Geek Girl. Which one do you like better? 


You can visit Cindy's blog at: http://www.cindycbennett.com/

I love this quote by Jen: "But what I learned was that I could be devastated and survive. That just because one good thing goes away, it doesn't necessarily mean all the good things have to go away, even if the one good thing that did is the best thing. Does this make sense?"