Acknowledgment Pages, I Love Them!

I just wanted to talk a little bit today about something I love and I also just had to include gifs from one of my favorite shows Parks and Recreation!

So, I know that I am not the only one who reads these pages  but, they are my favorite parts of books sometimes. I will admit that I get teary sometimes when I get to read these pages, I can't help it I can be a bit sensitive but,  I love getting to see how happy an author is and I can only imagine how much a book means to an author when I think of what they do for me.

I also saw something pretty new in my ARC of Panic By: Lauren Oliver, she put a letter at the beginning of the book thanking her fans and just talking a little bit about the book and the characters and how she relates to them and it made me even more excited to read the book. As a reader at times I can feel distant from an author, reading a book doesn't give a view of who they are as a person and I feel like reading these few pages I get to see a little bit of who they are and it can make me just love them even more.

I also just love getting to read all of the people who helped an author put a book together, because as we know it takes an army and so many people big and small help and support authors to get their book to where we get to have it in our hands and I just really enjoy getting to see all of it!

Rerview: Broken By: C.J. Lyons

Title: Broken

Author: C.J. Lyons

Published: November 5th, 2013

Source: E-Galley from Netgalley

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Goodreads Summary:

New York Times bestselling author CJ Lyons makes her YA debut with a fast-paced thriller sure to keep readers guessing to the very last page

The only thing fifteen-year-old Scarlet Killian has ever wanted is a chance at a normal life. Diagnosed with a rare and untreatable heart condition, she has never taken the school bus. Or giggled with friends during lunch. Or spied on a crush out of the corner of her eye. So when her parents offer her three days to prove she can survive high school, Scarlet knows her time is now... or never. Scarlet can feel her heart beating out of control with every slammed locker and every sideways glance in the hallway. But this high school is far from normal. And finding out the truth might just kill Scarlet before her heart does.

My Thoughts:

I was really looking forward to reading this one, I was in the mood for a thriller and I was hoping that this one would fit the bill but, unfortunately it didn’t. Honestly, this book was not a thriller until the end, I didn’t reread the summary before I started reading so I didn’t have much of an idea of what it was going to be about but, I expected more excitement. It felt like the book was stagnant until the end. I may just be slow when it comes to figuring out what was going to happen and thats why I felt it was slow but, it was just a bit disappointing me.

Scarlet is finally getting the chance to live a normal life, go to high school something she has only dreamed about  from her hospital bed. Scarlet has a heart condition called Long QT, and she has one week to prove to her parents that going to high school won’t affect her heart. Anytime her heart beats fast or anything changes the rhythm she can have a miss that will cause her heart to stop beating. Being in high school is everything Scarlet ever wanted, she has friends and school projects, which lead her to truths she never thought  would matter.

Scarlet was just so happy to be living a normal life, her mom is the school nurse  and she hovers over Scarlet throughout the entire book and it seemed overkill but, I understood it at the same time. I definitely kept getting some weird vibes from her mom but, I didn’t think much of it because we all know that loving your child and wanting them safe is something that everyone wants. Throughout the book Scarlet did get a little boring. Hearing about how new and amazing having a normal life gets old after a while.

Overall, Broken wasn’t what I was hoping it would be but, it felt like a sleeper until the end where the book took a turn that really surprised me and reenergized me into reading the book, I just wish it would have done it sooner and I might have enjoyed it more!

Waiting On Wednesday!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that highlights upcoming book releases that everyone is waiting on.

This weeks selection is:

Title: Killer Instinct (The Naturals #2)
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Published : November 2014
Goodreads Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Cassie Hobbes has a gift for profiling people. Her talent has landed her a spot in an elite FBI program for teens with innate crime-solving abilities, and into some harrowing situations. After barely escaping a confrontation with an unbalanced killer obsessed with her mother’s murder, Cassie hopes she and the rest of the team can stick to solving cold cases from a distance.

But when victims of a brutal new serial killer start turning up, the Naturals are pulled into an active case that strikes too close to home: the killer is a perfect copycat of Dean’s incarcerated father—a man he’d do anything to forget. Forced deeper into a murderer’s psyche than ever before, will the Naturals be able to outsmart the enigmatic killer’s brutal mind games before this copycat twists them into his web for good?

With her trademark wit, brilliant plotting, and twists that no one will see coming, Jennifer Lynn Barnes will keep readers on the edge of their seats (and looking over their shoulders) as they race through the pages of this thrilling novel.

My Thoughts:

I loved the first book so much, I am obsessed with criminal minds and this is definitely a YA version of it, I can't wait to read it!

Release Day Launch: White Hot Kiss By: Jennifer L. Armentrout

We are beyond excited to participate in the Release Day Launch for Jennifer L. Armentrout's WHITE HOT KISS! WHITE HOT KISS is a young adult paranormal romance being published by Harlequin Teen TODAY! This is the first full-length novel in The Dark Elements Series and one you'll want to grab as soon as you finish reading this post.   ABOUT WHITE HOT KISS: One kiss could be the last. Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses. Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever. Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul. But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.   EXCERPT: “I don’t think of Zayne that way!” She laughed. “What man-parts-loving female in this world doesn’t think of Zayne that way? I can barely keep myself breathing when I see him. All the guys in school have squishy waists. I can tell Zayne doesn’t. He’s the awesome sauce with extra sauce.” That he was and he so didn’t have a squishy waist, but I tuned Stacey out at that point. I really did need to cram for this test and I also didn’t want my fantasies involving Zayne to occupy my mind right now. Especially after I’d woken up this morning, carefully tucked under the covers. The bed had smelled like him: sandalwood and crisp linen. “Oh, sweet baby Jesus in a manger,” Stacey murmured. I clenched my jaw, cupping my hands over my ears. She jabbed me in the side with her elbow. At this rate I’d be covered in bruises before lunchtime. “Our bio class just got a billion times more interesting. And hotter, lots and lots hotter. Holy mother, I want to have his babies. Not now of course, but definitely later. But I’d like to start practicing soon.” The cell wall is a thick and rigid layer covering the plasma something, something plant cells… Stacey stiffened all of a sudden. “Oh my God, he’s coming—” Composed of fat and sugar— Something slender and shiny fell from who knew where, landing in the middle of Sam’s notes. Blinking tightly, it took me a couple of seconds to recognize the faded and half peeled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sticker covering the back of the silver cell phone. My heart slammed against my ribs. Gripping the edges of the notebook, I slowly lifted my gaze. Unnaturally beautiful golden eyes met mine. “You forgot this last night.” Amazon Barnes and Noble Kobo iTunes Now that you have a taste for this fabulous new series, here are the details for the AMAZING international giveaway!!! Harlequin Teen is giving away a large Harlequin Teen Tote. Tote Includes: · Harlequin TEEN branded tote · The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa (trade) · Pawn by Aimee Carter (hard cover) · Crash Into You by Katie McGarry (hard cover) · Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter (hard cover) · 2 copies of White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout · 1 pair of black harlequin branded socks (they are so comfy!)   a Rafflecopter giveaway

  About Jennifer L. Armentrout: # 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.   She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.   Links:   Series Website: http://www.thedarkelementsseries.com Website: http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlarmentrout Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4476934.Jennifer_L_Armentrout WHITE HOT KISS Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17455585-white-hot-kiss?bf=500&from_search=true

Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite covers of 2014 (so far)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, this week's topic is bloggers choice so I decided to highlight some of my favorite covers of this year, Enjoy!

1. The One (The Selection  #3) By: Kiera Cass

I have loved all of the covers of this series so far and I can't wait to find out how it all ends!

2. Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) By: Tahereh Mafi

I really love the new covers of these books although now my copy of Shatter Me doesn't match the other two but, I think they are beautiful and I will hopefully be starting this one soon!

3. The Winners Curse (Winners Trilogy #1) By : Maria Rutkoski

The cover of this one is so beautiful, I have heard great things about this book and I cannot wait to read it!

4. (Don't You) Forget About Me By : Kate Karyus Quinn

I think this cover looks really creative and I think it looks different than most YA books.

5. Dissonance (Dissonance #1) By: Erica O'Rourke 

This cover is so interesting and I have an ARC of this one that I can't wait to read. 

6. The Ring and The Crown (The Ring and The Crown #1) By: Melissa De La Cruz

I love this cover, the colors are so bright and I like the patterning in the background. 

7. Landry Park (Landry Park #1) By: Bethany Hagen

I think this cover is really cool I like the background in the letters only like it is just giving you hint at the story inside. 

8. The Retribution Of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #3) By: Michelle Hodkin

I have loved each of these covers and I think they work well for the story, I am dying and I mean dying to read this one. I need to know what happens

9. The Lonesome Young  By: Lucy Connor

I have been in love with this cover since the first time that I saw it, I love the dirty dancing vibe and I am curious about reading it as well. 

Love Triangles: My Thoughts and Favorites!

Now we all know that love triangles are huge in YA, they create the romantic drama that many people crave to read and although they are overdone we are all subjected into reading these books. I honestly don't hate love triangles. I enjoy choosing my favorite boy and contemplating which guy or girl would be best suited for the main character or myself. That being said they do get a little bit old but, I don't think that they will be going away anytime soon. The one thing that I hate about love triangles is when the take over the entire story and everything else gets pushed to the background. So today I am going to talk a little about some of my favorite triangles and the boys that I love the most.

There has always been a lot of criticism for love triangles in YA and I understand  most of it but, I don't think that they are as horrible as many people can make them out to be. I don't know about you guys but, when I was a teenager I had crushes on  more than one boy and I don't think that it is farfetched for that to happen YA but, their are so many stereotypes that get added in that make love triangles cheesy and not work. 

There is many stereotypes in love triangles that we tend to see  over and over again:

Bad Boy Vs. Good Boy
The Friend Vs. The New Boy

and many others, that make love triangles weary for readers. 

The Hunger Games: Peeta Vs. Gale

Many of us know how this story ends but, I remember reading the books and being a bit torn at times and wondering why Katniss had a hard time choosing between the two, Gale was her friend someone who knew her better than anyone else. I also felt like I could really feel Gale's emotions and what he felt for Katniss. I understood the triangle a bit more once Peeta and Katniss had went through their first games, they shared something that she could never explain to Gale and he could never really understand what she went through. That being said, I was always a Team Peeta girl their is just something about him that I just want to love, he seemed so kind and genuine whereas Gale seemed more tough and volatile. 

Unearthly Trilogy: Christian Vs. Tucker

No spoilers because I haven't finished the second  book (I have almost finished the audio) or third book, so I don't know who she chooses but, I am definitely Team Christian, I don't know why but I just don't have the feelings for Tucker. I like Christian, he seems charming to me and I really think he can relate to Clara better. I just need to finish the series so that I can find out which one she chooses.

 Infernal Devices: Will vs. Jem

Another series that I haven't finished, I just need to read Clockwork Princess. I am Team Will all the way. What can I say I am a sucker for the brooding boys. I think that Will is haunted and their is just something about him that I want to help him and fix him. Jem just doesn't interest me at all, I think he is just too nice for me.

Vampire Academy: Dimitri Vs. Adrian

My all time favorite series, I have always been in love with Dimitri and he is my ultimate book boyfriend. I love his and Rose's entire relationship. In the VA series I didn't like Adrian  he just seemed like a partying and sarcastic playboy. But, I have to say that he has definitely redeemed himself in Bloodlines, it just shows how amazing Richelle Mead's writing is that a boy I didn't love changed my mind about him!

The Selection: Maxon Vs. Aspen

I am Team Maxon all the way, I feel like Aspen had his chance with America and he messed it up. I adore Maxon, not because he is a prince but, just how open and honest he is with America and I cannot wait until The One comes out so I can find out how it all ends, plus the covers are so gorgeous!

Shatter Me Trilogy: Adam Vs. Warner

This love triangle in this series has me torn honestly. When I read the first book, I was Team Adam all the way. When I read Unravel Me I became a bit Team Warner but, not completely over Warner. I have Ignite Me but, I haven't gotten to it yet so I don't know how it goes and I will hopefully be reading it soon!

Soul Screamers Series: Nash Vs. Tod

I have really enjoyed this series and I have yet to read the last book but, eventually I will get around to it. I am sad that it is really ending. I don't want to spoil anything but, I will say that when their was a turning point in this triangle I was  devastated but, after taking some time I came to terms with things and I was actually surprised at how much my mind was changed and how happy I was with the outcome, which I don't know for sure is the final one!

The Iron Fey: Puck Vs. Ash

I loved both boys so much. They were so different and it was so hard to choose because they both possessed characteristics that the other one didn't and I wanted to make the two of them into one person and make the perfect guy!

The Chemical Garden Trilogy: Linden Vs. Gabriel

 I really enjoyed this series, I honestly really liked Linden and I felt for him because he wasn't this evil man who wanted wives held against their will to be married to him. He really began to have feelings for Rhine and I understood why she couldn't feel the same way about him. I never loved Gabriel but, I could see why Rhine had feelings for him. 

Throne Of Glass: Dorian Vs. Chaol

I am Team Chaol all the way, like I said above I am a sucker for the more brooding and mysterious type. But, when I think about how I love Chaol I also think about how sometimes a guy who lays it all on the table would make for a better relationship guy. But, Chaol and Celaena just have so much more chemistry together in my opinion which is  why I love reading scenes with the two of them in it. Since this series isn't completed we don't know what is going to happen in the end. 

Review: A Breathe Of Frost (The Lovegrove Legacy #1) By : Alyxandra Harvey

Title: A Breathe Of Frost (The Lovegrove Legacy #1)
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Published: January 7th, 2014
Source: E-galley from Netgalley
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Summary:

In 1814, three cousins—Gretchen, Emma, and Penelope—discover their family lineage of witchcraft when a binding spell is broken, allowing their individual magical powers to manifest. Now, beyond the manicured gardens and ballrooms of Regency London, an alluring underworld available only to those with power is revealed to the cousins. By claiming their power, the three cousins have accidentally opened the gates to the underworld. 

Now ghouls, hellhounds—and most terrifying of all, the spirits of dark witches known as the Greymalkin Sisters—are hunting and killing young debutante witches for their powers. And, somehow, Emma is connected to the murders…because she keeps finding the bodies. 

Can the cousins seal the gates before another witch is killed…or even worse, before their new gifts are stripped away?

My Thoughts:

I was so curious to read this start to a new series by Harvey, I had heard great things about her book and I was intrigued about the summary, I don't read a lot of books about witches and I have been trying to broaden my horizons since I definitely don't usually enjoy historical fiction but, the history wasn't not as prevalent in this story as the magic and witches was. 

Gretchen, Emily, and Penelope are going through their first seasons stuck in fancy dresses and dancing with each man that asks. None of them enjoy having to go to these balls but, it is their duty to be there. Everything changes in their lives when an old perfume bottle of Gretchen's mothers gets dropped and the magical powers that were hidden and kept away from the girls was released.

Gretchen was our main character and definitely the most curious out of the three cousins. She had no idea all of the secrets and everything that would change for her. I enjoyed how fearless she was, when you think back to history and the things that were allowed during these times she really was different from any of the other girls. Honestly, I feel like that is what a lot of authors try to do with their books that are historical fiction, they make their main character want to be different from the times and it kind of gets a bit old, I am not saying that in history women didn't like the way that they had to live but, it seems like such a stereotype in YA books for this genre. 

I enjoyed the magical aspect of the story because I am a paranormal lover at heart. They weren't you average witches and their was a whole new side of London that the girls never knew excited. Their was a lot of secondary characters, some chapters being told entirely by them. The big problem was I didn't really get the point of these chapters, they weren't essential to the story and as the book went on they went away completely. It was just a bit confusing. 

Overall, Breathe Of Frost had parts that I enjoyed and if it wasn't for the weird sort of chapters which I didn't feel moved the story along enough, I would have enjoyed this story even more. It has mystery, intrigue, and magic. The entire mythology of Gretchen's family was definitely what kept me reading until the end.