"The Lost Girl" by Sangu Mandanna

Release Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Pages: 432

From Goodreads: "Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her “other”, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.
But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

What Eva finds is a grief-stricken family; parents unsure how to handle this echo they thought they wanted; and Ray, who knew every detail, every contour of Amarra. And when Eva is unexpectedly dealt a fatal blow that will change her existence forever, she is forced to choose: Stay and live out her years as a copy or leave and risk it all for the freedom to be an original. To be Eva.

From debut novelist Sangu Mandanna comes the dazzling story of a girl who was always told what she had to be—until she found the strength to decide for herself."

When I first received this book to read and review I honestly didn't know much about it (primarily because I don't feel like it has had quite as much hype as some books have this summer) and after reading it? All I can do is shake my head. This is one of the best books I have read this summer, if not this year, and it is unfortunate that it hasn't seemed to gotten the recognition it deserves (While I may be composed on the outside, my inner fangirl is squealing, "IT TOTALLY DESERVES TO BE HYPED ABOUT! And not just hyped about this summer, but FOREVER!!!).

Without a doubt this book's biggest strength is the emotional aspect of it- I personally haven't encountered such emotions since reading "Where She Went"  by Gayle Forman and "Pushing the Limits" by Katie McGarry- this book  is so real, raw, and vulnerable, that I believe it impossible to not find yourself teary eyed at least once while reading this book.

Furthermore, not only is the book itself real and raw, but so are the characters- from the primary, such as Eva, a girl trying to find a place for herself in a world that hates her, Sean, a boy conflicted between upholding his late father's position and protecting the girl that he loves, to the secondary, such as Matthew, Eva's weaver who I found to be not unlike Snape from "Harry Potter"- a man with obvious secrets who despite his actions and outward appearance will do anything and everything to protect those that he cares for, to Nikhil, Amarra's younger brother, a old soul residing within an unassuming child's body.

All in all, I believe it impossible to do this book justice in a review. I believe that this is the sort of book that each person needs to experience on their own. I know that, for myself, this is a book that I will come back to time and time again (and one that I hope and pray will get a sequel because if any book deserves a sequel it is this!).

Rating: 10/10

I received this book from the publisher to read and review. I was not compensated in any way for said review.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating...
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Title: "The Rules"
Author: Stacey Kade
Release Date: April 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

From Goodreads: "1. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don’t get involved.

4. Keep your head down.

5. Don’t fall in love.

Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans, to hide in plain sight from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules…"

"Spark" by Brigid Kemmerer

Release Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: K-Teen
Pages: 432

From Goodreads: "Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.
Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking." 

The fuse is lit…"

While I feel head over heels for Gabriel in "Storm" (I mean, swoon-worthy or what with all of his bad-boy attitude or what?!?) I must admit that it did take me a while to get into Gabriel's head in this book (I was just so acclimatized to Chris's from "Storm" due to reading these books back-to-back), however once I did I LOVED it- I found Gabriel to be a much, more more complex character than his younger brother.

That being said, I found Layne to be somewhat of a weaker character than Becca. In some cases I had differences differentiating them as they share many personality traits- constantly licking their lips (since I read "Twilight" with Bella constantly doing this, I can't help but notice it in other books)- and having deep, dark secrets which aren't revealed until the latter half of the novel. I would love for one of the love interests to just lay everything out on the table from the get-go. However, I did like her much more than I liked Quinn (hopefully future books in this series can convince me to like Quinn)- I loved the relationship that Layne had with her brother (she was selfless beyond belief when it came to him) and I really liked the fact that she actually grew as the story progressed, becoming more than the somewhat mousy/ shy girl we were introduced to- no longer afraid to stand up for what she believed in and doing everything in her power to protect those around her.

Another complaint that I had had was that unfortunately at times I found myself rolling my eyes at the high school situation- it felt quite over dramatic. I understand that bullying goes on in school, hell, I was on the receiving end of it for the large majority of my middle school career, but I just didn't find it realistic- I mean, what are the chances that out of an entire school there are only a handful of 'nice'/ non-bullying people (since it is made out to seem that almost everyone is a bitchy cheerleader, a serial killer, a thug, or a rapist)? I know that my high school (and many others according to my friends) was nothing like the high school portrayed in this book- there weren't really any cliques, everyone knew everyone else whether to see them in the hallway or by name, and generally everyone got along really well.

Complaints aside, as mentioned I found Gabriel to be much more complex than his brother- as I did Michael, the older brother. I loved learning more about him and I wish that we will continue to do so in upcoming books (especially with the revelation at the end of the novel). I also really enjoyed the relationship between Hunter and Gabriel- one of the best bromances I have seen since that time that Jace and Simon went grocery shopping in "City of Fallen Angels". And I LOVED the little bromance that formed between Simon, Layne's younger brother, and Gabriel- it was just so innocent, genuine, and cute. As I did with the brothers in general, Nick, Gabriel, Michael and Chris- they aren't the perfect/ stereotypical family which sits around the dining room table, enjoying a home-cooked meal every night in their house surrounded by a white picket- they are a real and raw family which makes them all the more relateable.

All in all, despite my complaints I did really enjoy this book- it was just as good, if not better, than "Storm" and one of the best disappointing sequels I have read this year (in a year where I have been disappointed by all sequels save for 2). I am very much looking forward to what the third book in this series, "Spirit", has in store for us!

Rating: 9.5/10

I received this book from the publisher to read and review. I was not compensated in any way for said review.

Authors Are Rockstars Tour: Kimberly Derting w/ GIVEAWAY!

 

As I am sure that many of your have come to realize from my SQUEE-filled (and happy tear filled) reviews, such as my review of "The Body Finder" and "The Pledge", Kimberly Derting is one of my most favourite YA authors of all time. While there is many things that I believe that Kimberly excels at (as rockstars do) I think that she does most at creating characters that we truly care about and romances that we can't help but root for. Therefore when I was asked, as part of this tour, what I would like Kimberly to stop by the blog to discuss who her most favourite literary couples are jumped to the front of my mind- after all, I thought it was only fitting as her Jay/Violet and Charlie/ Max are, without a doubt, two of my most favourite! 

MY FAVORITE LITERARY COUPLES!

I’m a sucker for love. In fact, you might even say I LOVE love.

I love everything about it: the yearning, the romance, the drama, and the kissing...oh yeah, the kissing! And YA novels certainly have no shortage of great kissing in them. Some of my favorite YA couples are steaming up the pages with some of the best kissing scenes ever written.

But sometimes even better than the kissing, is the non-kissing. The tension leading up to that first kiss can be even better than the kissing itself. That moment when your favorite couple’s eyes meet across the room, or when they accidentally brush hands...and there’s that sudden spark between them! You know what I mean!

So who are my favorite couples in YA, you might ask? Well, that’s tough, because there are so many to choose from. I mean, there’s Cassel and Lila from WHITE CAT (love them!), Patch and Nora from HUSH, HUSH (who doesn’t love them?), Katniss and...well Peeta or Gale (I’m not really sure who to love...). See what I mean about all the choices?

But I do have a few all-time faves that give me butterflies and glue me to the pages.

First, and maybe foremost, I love Ethan and Lena from BEAUTIFUL CREATURES. They have this kind of undeniable attraction that keeps drawing them together even when everything tells them they should be apart. I mean, c’mon, they can read each others’ thoughts! The kissing factor: Sweet, with a side of Southern Charm.

Second on my Who Do I Love List: Jace and Clary from CITY OF BONES. Okay, maybe not the Jace and Clary from CITY OF BONES (because if you’ve read the book...ewwww), but definitely the Jace and Clary from later in the series. They have chemistry, chemistry, chemistry...with a capital C-H-E-M-I-S-T-R-Y! The kissing factor: Hot, with a side of I’m-So-Glad-We-Can-Finally-Hook-Up.

And rounding out my top three favorite YA couples (and, man, this is SO DANG HARD to choose!), I have to say Aislinn and Seth. He’s the bad-boy who’s not-so-bad and she’s the fairy queen who needs him to stay grounded. I’m not sure if I love them as a couple so much as I love him, but I’m standing by my decision because he’s so super sweet and so super hot. Kissing factor: Sensual, with a side of Oh My!

Seriously, I could go on and on, and name about a zillion other YA couples, but I have to stop somewhere! So what about you...who do you love???

From Goodreads: "Kimberly is the author of the BODY FINDER series (HarperCollins) and THE PLEDGE trilogy (Simon & Schuster). She lives in the Pacific Northwest, the ideal place to write anything dark or creepy...a gloomy day can set the perfect mood. She lives with her husband and their three beautiful (and often mouthy) children who provide an endless source of inspiration."

Special thanks goes out to Kimberly for stopping by the blog and donating an amazing prise and Rachel (over at Fiktshun) and Jamie (over at Two Chicks on Books) for organizing this wonderful tour- now those girls? They're some rockstars! ;)

And now onto the AMAZING giveaway! I wish that I could enter this, but alas... ;) 

Prize: A signed copy of THE LAST ECHO with THE LAST ECHO nail polish and signed bookmarks, stickers, and a bracelet.

• Giveaway begins today and ends one week from today (Saturday August 31st 11:59  PM)
• There will be ONE winner
• One entry per person, cheaters will not be tolerated 
• US/ Canadian entries only

To enter fill out the Rafflecopter below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review: "Defiance" by C.J. Redwine

Release Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Balzer and Bray
Pages: 416

From Goodreads: "Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making."

When I first read the synopsis of "Defiance" and saw the cover I KNEW that I had to get my hands on a copy and read it (in fact, it quickly shot to the top of my "Most Highly Anticipated Summer '12 Books") as, as of late, epic fantasies have become my "thing". However, I must admit that I was quite disappointed by the ending of the book and that as such it altered my entire viewpoint of the novel.

That being said, I did quite enjoy the first three quarters of the book- I loved learning about the characters, Rachel and Logan especially, and I liked learning about their world (though admittedly I was confused by it at points- is it truly considered an epic fantasy? I almost got the sense that it was a futuristic novel of sorts, not unlike Julie Kagawa's "The Immortal Rules", that an apocalyptic event of sort had taken place, the rise of The Cursed Ones, destroying life as we know it, which lead to people having to resort back to a more simplistic/ medieval lifestyle, save for a few handy electronics and whatnot).

I loved that Rachel wasn't satisfied with sitting on the sidelines, waiting for the men in her life to do everything, she jumped right into the fold without missing a beat. While I was at times frustrated by Logan being over-protective of Rachel, trying to boss her around and whatnot, I can see where he is coming from- not wanting to loose her like he had another important woman in his life. Both characters were both so strong-willed and strong-headed and ones that I know I will continue to root for over and over again.

As for the aforementioned disappointing ending? I don't know if I can exactly pinpoint what about it felt off to me, but I will make all attempts to do so. As mentioned, this is an epic fantasy of sorts- therefore I was a bit confuzzled as to why technology played SUCH a large role in the end of the novel. Playing such a large role I almost felt like the ending felt like a video game (it felt a bit reminiscent of the first book in Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Chronicles of Nick" series) which didn't fit with the previous 3/4. Furthermore, I found the ending to be quite rushed- there is all of his build-up of THINGS TO COME, things that you wait almost an entire novel for, and when the end comes, it just kinda falls flat.

All in all, despite my complaints I do think that this is a wonderful novel from debut author C.J. Redwine and despite my complaints I don't have any reservations about continuing on with this series- I look forward to seeing what C.J. has in store for the gang next!

Rating: 7.5/10

I received this book from the publisher to read and honestly review- I was not compensated in any way for said review.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating...
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Title: "Confessions of A Murder Suspect"
Author: James Patterson
Release Date: September 24, 2012
Publisher: Little Brown and Company

From Goodreads: "James Patterson returns to the genre that made him famous with a thrilling teen detective series about the mysterious and magnificently wealthy Angel family . . . and the dark secrets they're keeping from one another. 

On the night Malcolm and Maud Angel are murdered, Tandy Angel knows just three things: 1) She was the last person to see her parents alive. 2) The police have no suspects besides Tandy and her three siblings. 3) She can't trust anyone--maybe not even herself. Having grown up under Malcolm and Maud's intense perfectionist demands, no child comes away undamaged. Tandy decides that she will have to clear the family name, but digging deeper into her powerful parents' affairs is a dangerous-and revealing-game. Who knows what the Angels are truly capable of?"