Wednesday, October 31, 2012

October Top 5

Happy Halloween! So, this month was another crazy one. I also deviated a bit from my blog, if you haven't noticed - it's been quieter than usual this month. This is because I've discovered the joys of New Adult and had myself a bit of a marathon. There will be a post later this week breaking down this marathon, but I'm still all about YA. I did manage to read some amazing books this month between my busy schedule and the NA madness. Here are my top five YA reads in October. 

1. Black City by Elizabeth Richards
This book totally blew me out of the water. It twisted every idea I've ever had about soul mates, vampires, dystopia, life in general...This book is spectacular.

2. Dark Star by Bethany Frenette
SUPERHEROES IN MINNEAPOLIS. Plus, it mentions my home town. OH, yeah, and it's just straight up awesome. 

3. Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally
Miranda Kenneally writes contemporary fiction like a champ. Stealing Parker completely lived up to the awesomeness of Catching Jordan. I will now officially read anything Miranda writes. Check out my review here.

4. Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson
Norse mythology, Norway, and a new book crush. This book has everything I want out of a mythological adventure. Read my review here

5. The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Ok, I'm actually only almost done with this one. But of course, it's epic. This book lives up to book one. And duh, more Noah - always need more Noah. 

What were  your top reads this month? 

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday - Books for the Freezer

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This week's topic is: Top Ten to Get in the Halloween Spirit

I have been SEARCHING for a long time for a good new horror novel. They are hard to come by in the YA genre - someone change that, please (or, maybe it's already changing...). Anyways, I have found a few over time, and these are ones that I pull out around Halloween. These are the ones that make me want to keep the freezer empty (FRIENDS anyone? When Joey is reading The Shining? ).

1. Possess by Gretchen McNeil
I read this book on Halloween last year, because I wanted something to scare my pants off. And yeah, it succeeded - the scene with the dolls!?! Hiding now. 

2. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
This book makes my spine chilly. Ghosts that tear people in half right in front of your eyes. Super terrifying. 

3. Velveteen by Daniel Marks
Ok, not really horror - but it's dark and gothic. And there's a serial murder, so I think it's Halloween worthy. 

4. The Diviners by Libba Bray
This book gave me legit nightmares. And it was so worth it. But dudes, the ghost/deity/psycho in this book is insane. Guh.

5. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Some Jack the Ripper for Halloween celebration. Yeah. 

6. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
Nothing says Happy Halloween in literary terms like a book that tips its hat to Edgar Allan Poe. 

7. Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton
So. Much. Blood.

8. Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
Zombies and Halloween go together like Santa and Christmas. 

9. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Serial Killer. Great for Halloween - but this one throws in some kissing. 

10. Ten by Gretchen McNeil
Ok. Haven't read it yet. But this is the book I'm keeping on standby when I need a good dose of Halloween this year. I feel like I can count on Gretchen for some good horror. 

Monday, October 22, 2012

Dear Teen Me Blog Tour

I'm so excited to be a part of the Dear Teen Me Blog tour. If you are unfamiliar  - it's a compilation of letters written by young adult authors to their teen selves, edited by E. Kristin Anderson and Miranda Kenneally. It has letters from Lauren Oliver, Gretchen McNeil, Jessica Spotswood, Ellen Hopkins, Katherine Longshore, and so many more. It's pretty amazing - there are great stories, awesome lessons, and some smart advice that can apply both to teenagers, as well as adults (it's never too late to learn from other's teen experiences). I wish this book had been around when I was awkward and trying to figure it out.
Now, even though I'm not terribly far from my teenage years, I have written a letter to my teen self. I also wrote this letter about a month ago during a powerful transition in my life - things have changed, but I kept it the way I wrote it.

---------------------------------------------------------

Dear Teen Me,
You want out of that town. Somehow you wound up growing up in the smallest town in the smallest school you can possibly imagine. When you grow up in wide open places, the sky feels like it's pressing down on you no matter how beautiful country sumer nights are.

Most people can't see beyond that one-way main street, the lazy summer nights around bonfires, or the World's Largest Tiger Muskie (and all these things seem way lame right now, but one day they'll become bragging rights). But you've always known there is so much more to see out in the world.

You're surrounded by amazing people, though. Your parents are patient and they teach you that when it comes to dreaming, there are no limits. And I know your little brother drives you nuts, but he's kind of awesome. And your friends are pretty spectacular, cherish them while you're all still in one place. You also have some great teachers. Your English teachers will put up with your incessant writings about wanting to get out of town and how you longed for those stars to be blotted out by sky scrapers. They don't say anything when one day you write about road trips to California (yeah...what was that? You never actually had any desire to go to California) and the next day you're detailing your romantic ideas about living in New York.

You write about leaving. You plan trips you know you won't be able to take for a long time. But you know you can't just make lists and write down fantasies. If you want out, you have to do something about it.So you work hard. You're involved in every school activity you can think of. Achievement is your way out.

Then you'll work with a boy you've known most of your life and he'll become your best friend. And he loves this town. He loves the closeness that comes with having all your friends and family nearby and the safety of being somewhere comfortable and completely familiar.

You still want out, but this boy will show you the beauty and the romance in the town that has been your cage. He's the only thing that could have made you stay. But it won't work that way.

You won't go far at first. You'll move 5 hours from home and live in a college town. This will end up being your perfect jumping off point. Because then you'll live in Spain, then Saint Louis. You'll be in Denver a short while And then one day, you'll find yourself sitting in an airport waiting to board a plane to New York while writing a letter to the person you used to be.

I don't know what's going to happen in New York. I don't know where I'll live or if this job I'm interviewing for will work out. I don't know if I'm going to fly or land on my face. But I'm going.
So, dear teen me, you're going to get there (and in some ways you're always on your way somewhere else). It seems impossibly far, but be patient. Everything happens when it's supposed to.
So don't freak out.

Enjoy that small town, for it will become a place that heals you, even when you didn't know you needed it.

Because as much as you want out, you should know that town is full of people and places that will always be hard to leave. It's a place you can always go back to.

Love,
Me, or you. (We really aren't the same person, oddly enough.)

P.S. That crazy (awesome) girl who always tells you how great your hair is, even when it's badly permed - hang out with her more often. Because after graduation, she'll become your best friend and you'll be maid-of-honor at her wedding. She's going to be the one person who knows you better than anyone else - cool, huh?

---------------------------------------------------------

Check out the Dear Teen Me website for more letters! And don't forget to pick up a copy of the book (preferably at your local indie)!

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Home Run Blog Tour Interview & Giveaway

I'm SO unbelievably excited for all the awesome that's wrapped up in this post. Not only do I have Miranda Kenneally here answering a few of my questions, but thanks to Sourcebooks Fire, I also have a copy of her amazing sophomore novel, Stealing Parker, up for grabs. I love Stealing Parker so much - you can read my review HERE.  If you haven't read either Catching Jordan or Stealing Parker yet, I highly recommend you jump to it as soon as you can. So there's my spiel. Now for my interview with Miranda:
--------------------------

Since you write for teens, what were you like as a teenager? 
Honestly, I was always getting into some kind of trouble (I lied to my parents that I was going to church and then stole their car and drove to an Aerosmith concert I'd been forbidden to attend) or obsessing over some guy who would never want me -- he poured chocolate milk on me in the cafeteria. :(
I've always been the kind of person who sets her sights on something and doesn't give up, and unfortunately that made me spend way too much time trying to woo the wrong guys. Ugh. I mostly liked school but I couldn't do math for sh!t. I enjoyed spending time with friends. My family didn't have much money, so I spent a lot of time worrying about my clothes and my appearance. I dreamed a lot about making something of my life. I didn't know precisely what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to do big things. 


What are some of the challenges you faced writing your second novel that you didn't expect? 
It surprised me that a book's "Hook" came into play so heavily in the sales of my 2-3 books. My publisher wanted the book to have a bit "wow" factor, and they loved the idea of a teen girl getting wrapped up in an inappropriate relationship with the coach of the high school baseball team. 
So I had to write a story based around this "hook" and that isn't so much different than me writing CATCHING JORDAN around the hook of "girl football player wants to win the state championship, but then a hot new guy comes to town and he wants her position."
But I guess the difference is that with STEALING PARKER, I had a deadline, whereas with CATCHING JORDAN I could've written forever. 

The dedication to Stealing Parker is "For all the girls struggling to find their place." What do you hope readers will take away from Parker's story?
I want girls (and guys) to learn that doing something you don't want to do in hopes that it will make other people think differently about you is never going to make you happy. The only way people can be truly happy and find the right path in life is to stay true to themselves. 
This quote from a book has stuck with me for a long time:

"To be perfectly frank, you don't quite look like yourself. And if you walk around looking like someone other than who you are, you could end up in the wrong job, the wrong friends, who knows what all. You could end up with somebody else's whole life." 
-A Home at the End of the World


Your books have such great secondary characters. Who was your favorite to write and why?
Two characters have given me all sorts of trouble! Sam Henry and Corndog (Will Whitfield). When I started writing, I had planned for Jordan to end up with Ty Green. But then Henry just started taking over the book! He would just appear in scenes and do something silly, and by the time I was halfway done with the book, I realized that Henry loved Jordan, and I didn't even know it! The same thing happened with Corndog. I wasn't even expecting his character. He just drove up an a lawnmower one day and he was in the book to stay. 


Congrats on the release of Stealing Parker! Now we're all anxiously awaiting book three! Can you dish on Things I Can't Forget?
Here are a few juicy tidbits:
1) The main character of Things I Can't Forget was mentioned in Stealing Parker. Her name is Kate Kelly.
2) The love interest, Matt, is by far the HOTTEST of any of the guys I've created so far. (In my opinion anyway.)
3) Parker and Will Whitfield are major characters. 
4) Jordan Woods throws a crazy 4th of July party at her house by Lake Jordan.
5) Jake Reynolds, the pervy guy who was always hitting on Jordan in Catching Jordan, is back, and he tries to pick up Kate Kelly using a ridiculous pick-up line.

-------------------------------------------------
Find Miranda online: Twitter :: Facebook :: Website :: Blog
-------------------------------------------------

And now, I have a copy of Stealing Parker, courtesy of Sourcebooks Fire. This is US/CAN only. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter. 

Friday, October 19, 2012

The Unfailing Light Blog Tour

Synopsis: Having had no choice but to use her power has a necromancer to save Russia from dark forces, Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, now wants to forget that she ever used her special powers. She's about to set off to pursue her lifelong dream of attending medical school when she discovers that Russia's arch nemesis--who she thought she'd destroyed--is still alive. So on imperial orders, Katerina remains at her old finishing school. She'll be safe there, because the empress has cast a potent spell to protect it against the vampires and revenants who are bent on toppling the tsar and using Katerina for their own gains. But to Katerina's horror, the spell unleashes a vengeful ghost within the school, a ghost more dangerous than any creature trying to get in. (From Goodreads) 

This book, this series, is crazy. It defies all logic and it totally works. It is a toss-up of all things paranormal and all things historical (or at least all things historical Russia) and just somehow it works. It's like magic. I love Katiya. I love George (dreamy grand dukes? YES please). I had moments where I was blushing, I had moments where my skin was crawling (because, yes, Danilo is back...guhhh), and there were things that filled me with dread. This is definitely one of those books that gets you all worked up.

So the first half of the book, Katerina is stuck in Smolny and doesn't really have access to the outside world. All the information she gets is from Danilo, who can now speak in Katerina's head (which was the source of most of my shuddering - dude is slimy). So she's all hung up on who the ghost is that is throwing frying pans and knocking over book cases. Oh, and there's the huge secret that Princess Alix is hiding - that takes up a good portion of Katerina's time. And lots of pining and wondering what Georgi is up to with the dark wizards in Paris. So while there's not really a lot going on, there's still A LOT going on. THEN all of a sudden everything is happening and there are people everywhere and you don't know who's Light and Dark or good or evil. It's intense and awesome. I feel like every page turn there was some sort of severe reaction. My mind was blowing up all over the place.

Ok, minor freak out over. So Katiya doesn't really change a whole lot from book one. She actually talks a lot less about becoming a doctor - although that aspect is definitely still there. But even though she's not dramatically evolving, the people around her definitely are. Elena was almost pleasant in this book. And Princess Alix was definitely interesting to get to know better. Of course, it was pretty great getting to see more of George in a more romantic capacity (these moments turn me into the Jane Austen - fan yourself and giggle - romantic mushball). What is really awesome is that any of these characters could star in their own books. I want to read about Princess Alix's story. Or even Elena's - I'd love to know what's going on in her head. You could reach in, pluck out any of these characters, and imagine the world according to them.

I loved The Gathering Storm and this world just keeps getting better. You should probably start reading these books if you haven't yet. The way this book ended left me unsatisfied (I was definitely expecting something to happen and it totally didn't), so - next book please!

Check out the other blogs on this tour!
September 24thSmitten Over Books
September 25th: Casey’s Crew
September 26th: Much Ado About Books
September 26thThe Streetlight Reader
September 27th: Infinite Reads
September 28th: The Hiding Spot
September 29th: Girls *Heart* Books
October 1stMom Reads My Books
October 2nd: The Book Review Club
October 3rd: The Book Review Club
October 4th: Kimba Caffeinated
October 4th: My Life is a Notebook
October 5th: My Life is a Notebook
October 6th: Candace’s Book Blog
October 7thReader Girls
October 8th: Bookish
October 8th: Peace, Love, Books
October 9th: YA Bibliophile
October 9thReader Girls
October 10th: Wastepaper Prose
October 10th: Imaginary Reads
October 11thImaginary Reads
October 12th: Well Read Wife
October 15thLibby Blog
October 16th: Cracking the Cover
October 17th: A Bookish Libraria
October 18th: A Novel Review
October 19thIn the Best Worlds
October 20thTripping Over Books

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Stealing Parker - Miranda Kenneally

Synopsis: Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.
After her family's scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won't turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys--a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far...especially when he starts flirting back. (From Goodreads)

Miranda Kenneally completely won me over with Catching Jordan. So I already knew how much I was going to love Stealing Parker. I had absolutely no doubts that it would be anything less than spectacular. So I'll just declare it now - Dear Miranda Kenneally, I am a super fan of yours for life. I will read anything you write. Love, Hannah.

Parker is a character who rings as one of the truest YA characters I've read in a long time. She's making up things as she goes, she's trying to fit in, and she's following her heart (or her hormones, either one...) even when it leads down some pretty sketchy paths. She also has some issues with being dragged to church and having some questions about religion and God. I cannot even express how well this was handled. Religion can be touchy in books, but it is so naturally a part of Parker's life that it's not preaching, it's not a focus, it's just part of who she is.

Back to those paths that Parker is on though - I absolutely adore that Parker is able to go down these paths and then she recognizes her mistakes and she FIXES them. She doesn't keep going because she has no choice. She stops, evaluates, and executes. She gets off the path, or she turns around and tries it some other way. And she does it HERSELF. There's no boy here saving her - she makes decisions and then keeps going. But of course, she's a teenager, so all of these moments where she's making a choice are intensely charged with emotions or hormones. She's such a teenager - and although there are very few similarities between my life and Parker's - she really reminds me of how I was at that age. Which is the same magic that Miranda brought to Jordan's character.

And ok. The whole falling for the coach thing - a little skeevie. I mean, he's dreamy, for about five minutes. It's the premise for the novel, but what makes this book worth reading is watching Parker heal and connect with the people around her. I love the secondary characters in this book. It is a book about baseball/softball so there are a few jocks popping in and out of the pages. I love the way they're portrayed. They have a bit of an edge, but they're all pretty soft inside. The scenes with Parker and the baseball team were just hilarious.

There are some really great things going on with Parker's family as well. And by great, I mean great for the story. The dynamics there are complex and they are shifting through the entire book. There's also an underlying commentary on religion and sexuality going on (which again is anything but preachy or in your face). There are some things in here that just need to be said and need to be read.

If it's not obvious, I love this book. And I'm beyond excited for Things I Can't Forget. I have an interview with Miranda that will be up in a couple days and she may or may not dish on her next book. So watch out for that!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Girl of Nightmares - Kendare Blake

Synopsis: It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on. 
His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.
Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.
Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor. (From Goodreads)

Anna Dressed in Blood definitely gave me chills and left me hanging out with some pretty spooky images. And Girl of Nightmares was somehow even more disturbing and vivid. The ghost of Anna's ghost is far more terrifying than the one that had the ability to pretty much crush your bones. Not to mention there are glimpses into hell and the Obeahman - by far one of the most horrifying villains ever - is gaining more power still. And this is enough to give nightmares, but it's the images - sometimes just small ones that are a sentence in passing - that really does it - skulls like broken eggshells, Anna crawling into a furnace, corpses hanging from trees - to name a few. Kendare Blake has a way with words that's partially beautiful and partially gruesome.

And can I just say how Buffy this book is? I freaking love it. Secret orders that are based in England, an English mentor, a ghost-killer who has inherited his role, two side-kicks - one who is powerful, one who isn't, but both are equally loveable, oh and not to mention the guy who's supposed to be killing ghosts falling in love with one of the ghosts. The whole Buffy package is here, just shaken up a bit. So awesome.

Of course, this is a second book, so some new characters can be expected. Most are pretty inconsequential, but the addition of Jestine was awesome. She's another kick-butt girl who is able to put Cas in his place. I also really enjoyed reading more of Gideon's character. In book one he was a far away contact on another continent. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about his character, but it was good to be given a chance to actually meet him.

Just to mention quickly - the ghosts in this book are nutso! I can't go too much into it, because I don't want to give things away. But the dead people that Cas fights in this book are intense and completely shocking.

I've definitely reached the line that separates explanation and spoilers, so I'll stop here. I'm just very impressed with both Anna books and I will be waiting anxiously to see what Kendare Blake does next. I can only imagine it will be awesome, frightening, and beautiful.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

All You Never Wanted - Adele Griffin

Synopsis: Alex has it all—brains, beauty, popularity, and a dangerously hot boyfriend. Her little sister Thea wants it all, and she's stepped up her game to get it. Even if it means spinning the truth to win the attention she deserves. Even if it means uncovering a shocking secret her older sister never wanted to share. Even if it means crying wolf.
Told in the alternating voices of Alex and Thea, Adele Griffin's mesmerizing new novel is the story of a sibling rivalry on speed. (From Goodreads)

I feel pretty lukewarm about this book. It definitely captivated my attention, but it didn't really shine for me. The story is interesting. These two sisters are self-destructing in two totally different ways. Their mom marries a wealthy man, and suddenly these girls are upper-class princesses and everything falls apart. But they're both incredibly selfish to begin with - they're also mean, petty, misguided, and frankly a little obnoxious.

But those are just character flaws. While they're pretty much just all around bad people, that never bothered me while I was reading. I found it in myself to see life through their eyes for a little bit and while I was aware that they were doing things that were kind of crazy, I didn't really think to completely judge them - until I put the book down and thought about it. Because the writing is really great, there's an understanding that is built in to reading about the lives of Alex and Thea.

The story doesn't take place over much time and for sisters, Thea and Alex actually see very little of each other. They're living completely separate lives - although they do show up on occasion to help one another out. If they didn't live in the same house, I feel like they would have had very little to do with one another. Although, even with how separate they are - they do have a rivalry going strong - which at times feels slightly one sided. Thea tries desperately to break into the life Alex has and it's almost like she's competing against a brick wall. Alex is mostly oblivious and wrapped up in her own issues.

I'm going to start talking myself in circles, if I haven't started to already. This book is very character driven and the characters are definitely vivid, even if they have some major issues. This book is also a little bit heavier - it deals with some issues, but I never felt bogged down by these girls' problems. I'd recommend reading this book if you are already a fan of Adele Griffin or if you like contemporary novels that are a little darker.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Valkyrie Rising - Ingrid Paulson

Synopsis: Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there. 
What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age. (From Goodreads)


This book has everything I love: foreign land, beautiful boy, mythology, some evil - but totally awesome - women, a kick-butt grandma, and a girl coming into her own strength and power. Guys, I freaking loved everything about this book. I stepped away from a Dawson's Creek marathon with my roommates to read this book - yeah, that's how real my love is.

So I've actually been trying to sort out Norse mythology for quite awhile. There are a lot of complicated things that go down and a lot of characters that are hard to keep straight. So I was very grateful to see someone take an aspect of Norse mythology and break it down. I loved the Valkyries. Everything mythology related in this book was pretty amazing. And, hello, Loki is one of the best tricksters out there. So I was definitely excited when Loki appeared in Ellie's life. He was written very well, because I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out what he was going to do next or what his motives were. I also like that he always adds different dimensions of right and wrong.

I will admit to having a little difficulty connecting with Ellie's character at first. I couldn't really pull out anything that made her unique. But as the story progresses, I almost felt a little like her lack of defining characteristics makes it somehow easier to project myself into her shoes. Which is pretty much my favorite thing ever. Any time I can feel like a superhero and hang out with someone like Tuck, it's a pretty good thing in my book. I don't meant that Ellie could be just anyone and she's definitely a strong character, I guess I just really related to her.

Tuck is pretty great as well. I just thoroughly enjoyed the banter between him and Ellie. There was some awesome tension between them building through the whole book that definitely added some spark to the pages. I love that he's her super-protective brother's best friend and thus, seemingly forbidden. So it's not like they'll end the world if they get together - their obstacle is minor and entertaining. And Ellie's relationship with her brother - awesome. It's complex and it evolves through the story. It's also pretty sweet how far Ellie goes to protect him, when it seems like he's the over-protective one.

So this book rocked my world. It definitely got a lot of reaction out of me. Great emotion, great concept, awesome characters, and it takes place in Norway. Definitely a new favorite of mine.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Through to You - Emily Hainsworth

Synopsis: Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he’d give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn’t Viv.
The apparition’s name is Nina, and she’s not a ghost. She’s a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can’t believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn’t the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he’s forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all. (From Goodreads)

This book took me completely by surprise. I mean, I expected to like it, but I never expected to get so worked up about it. I was so sucked into Cam's life that I reacted very strongly to everything that happened to him and all of the decisions he made. The story itself is rather simple, but the emotions and the life questions that are behind the characters and their decisions are so huge and real.

There were a lot of twists to this book that I wasn't expecting. I kept feeling like I should have seen these things coming, but every single time it took me by surprise. I really appreciated that it kept me on my toes and constantly kept me engaged. I devoured the book because I really wanted to know how it all worked itself out. This is one of those really great books where you know all the information is there, but the narrator reveals it gradually, purposefully holding things back, and it is brilliant how all the complexities of Cam's story find their way to the surface.

So parallel universes play a part in this story, and I'm always interested to see how this is handled. I think that Emily Hainsworth does a great job - because the existence and mechanics of parallel universes are given minimal consideration. I know this sounds backwards, but because no one really dwelled too long on why this was happening, there was much more focus on character and plot development. And really it wasn't about the existence of other universes - it was about the way that our decisions shape our outcomes.

I absolutely loved the way that Cam was able to get a second chance, and then see how it would have played out if everything had been just slightly different. I loved that there were different priorities in his life, different people that came into play, just because of a simple difference. It really makes you step back and look at the choices you make and how they've led you to this point.

I found myself so frustrated, I was in pain, I was anxious, and I was cheering Cam on through the whole book. The emotions are so raw and exposed that it's hard not to get wrapped up in them and mistake them for your own. This book is understated and because of that it somehow more exceptional. I absolutely adored Through to You and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more books from Emily Hainsworth.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

The Gathering Storm - Robin Bridges

Synopsis: St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.
An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart? (From Goodreads)

Okay, this book is kind of awesome. Take some Russian society and Russian politics, then throw in a few vampires, some necromancers, and dark versus light and shake it up in a ballroom and you have The Gathering Storm. Honestly, I found myself thinking that I should be finding this book ridiculous with all the fantastical elements that are brought in (we have vamps, mothy-vamps, undead armies, faeries, magicians, auras, seances, witches, werewolves-I think..., and of course Katerina is a necromancer), but it really wasn't. I don't know if it was the time and setting or just excellent writing, but all of these things seemed to naturally exist in Katerina's world. No ridiculousness here.

Katerina is a pretty great heroine. She's aligned with darkness, but fights to resist dark temptations. She's afraid of her powers and by the end of this book, she still hasn't quite come into being comfortable with using them. But it's kind of cool that with all the supernatural happenings that she's wrapped up in, she still wants to be a doctor - a decidedly practical and factual profession. It's a bit of a fantasy of hers, to become a female doctor in an old fashioned society, but there's just a sliver of possibility, which creates a really interesting parallel to the undead side of the track.

And because I can't help it - the boys. Prince Danilo is the creepiest character. I actually shuddered and said "ew" out loud at one point - which freaked my roommate out a bit, I'm sure. But even without the alternate being such a creepy-crawley, George (the grand duke), is so swoon-worthy. He's all heroic, a little surly and just enough out of reach that you have to love him. I'm so anxious to see what happens between Katerina and George in the next book because the tension between them is amazing.

There was a lot going on this book and it was a little hard to keep track of, especially with a few Russian words being thrown in here and there. There are a few things that went down that felt like they weren't given enough time or that weren't fully explained. However, these are all things I'm just hoping will be explained further in The Unfailing Light, so I'm not too worried.

I'm very excited to keep going in this series, because it's a bunch of creatures that I'm familiar with transposed into historical Russia, making it all new and exciting. Plus, I find I've become very attached to Katerina, Dariya, and George and I'm anxious to know what becomes of them.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Entice - Jessica Shirvington

Synopsis: Violet Eden is Grigori - part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengence of exiled angels. 
Knowing who to trust is key but, when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even Lincoln. The only thing Violet does know: Phoenix's hold over her is more dangerous than ever. 
The race to find the one thing that could tilt the balance of power brings them all to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed.  (From Goodreads)



I completely devoured the second book in the Embrace series. Violet really is one of my favorite heroines and her life is just so deliciously dramatic, I get so caught up in caring about what becomes of her. I've noticed a lot that some paranormal books get tripped up in the same plot lines, or they border on unrealistic (I know that's dumb to say when talking about paranormal, but it has to be believable), or else either the characters or the plot feels just slightly disconnected. Well, this book avoids all of these things, seemingly effortlessly. These books flow so well, and even the parts of the story that seem like they occur in every paranormal book turn out to have some kind of twist that makes it something different. I really feel like I opened this book to find myself plunked down in Violet's world and watching her live her life.

I love the mythology that Jessica Shirvington uses to define the parameters of the angel world. It's very Biblical, but the last thing this book does is preach. While this book is a bit of a bridge between book one and three (find the book that will unlock all the secrets), it actually didn't feel like a filler until I just sat and thought about it. Really, here the relationships deepen, the understanding of the world deepens, and we just get more of a sense of who Violet is after the events of book one.

And can I just talk about those relationships for a minute? Stephanie is one of my favorite book BFFs ever. She takes everything in stride, has a great sense of humor, is always there to support Violet no matter what, and never runs the other way even when Violet makes it pretty clear she could. She's not a supernatural being, but she's immensely strong and definitely one of the best characters in the book. Then there's the Lincoln-Violet situation. These two make me all rage-y and all melt-y at the same time. They're incredibly frustrating and they don't seem to understand that they are so much stronger when they are working together. They spend the book trying to stay apart, which creates a whole lot of angst. But the pages where they actually make it into close proximity - whew. Those pages make all the angst worth it.

I'm so excited about the fact that the CW has picked up this series. If these books become a real TV show, I'm going to be a very happy person. I just love Violet and her world so much. I'm now anxiously awaiting book three!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Stormdancer - Jay Kristoff

Synopsis: A DYING LAND 
The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever. 
AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.
A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her. 
But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire. (From Goodreads)


Um. This book has a griffin in it. Like a half eagle, half tiger, freaking griffin. Which equals awesome. This world is stunningly vivid and quite intense. You can't breathe in the air, you have to hide who you really are, and it seems that there are a myriad of people out to get you at all times. Then you have a strong heroine who is on a quest (yes! a quest - like honest to goodness - you must go forth and complete this task to save your people kind of quest). This book as all it needs to qualify as an epic fantasy novel.

This said, I had a really hard time reading it. I don't know if it is because I know nothing about Japan and I had a hard time grasping on to the use of a different language while being introduced to a new world. Or if the writing was a little dense, or if there was just something that took a while to wrap my head around. It could be all of these things. I spent quite a while just trying to get into the book and it wasn't until about halfway through that the reading started to flow more easily. I think one day I will go back and re-read this book now that I'm more familiar with it and see what I missed or at least try to immerse myself in the story a bit more.

Because I really did love this book, despite my difficulties with it. I mean - griffin! I absolutely adored Buruu and his relationship with Yukiko. She can speak to animals and so she has this direct line to Buruu that allows them to bond. He's an angry creature - understandably after being captured and having his wings clipped - but as he journeys with Yukiko he softens - at least towards her. I just absolutely adore the way they are fiercely loyal to one another and they work together so well. I'm just so jealous - I want a griffin friend. It's like Jasmine and Raja - only this is a GRIFFIN.

There's some really great political intrigue, which I feel like I kind of missed out on. I understood the jist of what was going on, in terms of who was in command and where the seeds of revolution were coming from. This is definitely something that will prompt me to re-read the book. I also feel like this is one of those situations where I could read it 100 times and read something new each time.

And then just the world that Jay Kristoff has created - it's a scary place. But it feels like it's real, no matter how fantastical it is meant to be. This was a truly amazing novel and it was definitely worth wading through. I hope to return to it one day and experience it more vividly.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Fangs, Fur & Fey Giveaway Hop


 Welcome to my stop on the Fangs, Fur & Fey Giveaway Hop. The hop is hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Reading Lark. Tons of other blogs are participating. To see the full list and hop along for the chance to win some great books go HERE.

If you didn't already know, I'm a werewolf kind of girl. So I'm going to offer up a choice of werewolf book. One winner will get to pick one of the books pictured below. 


The details: 
  • One (1) winner will receive one (1) book from the list above. 
  • You must be 13 or older to enter. 
  • This giveaway is international as long as the Book Depository ships to you.
  • Fill out the Rafflecopter form below - you can only enter once.
  • This contest will run until October 9, 12:01 AM.
  • Winner will be announced by email - if you win you have 48 hours to respond before I pick a new winner. 
  • Good luck and thanks for entering!

September Top Five

This September was a really scary and uncertain month for me. I just moved to New York and I have no job or apartment. I've been kind of floating and hoping that I'd find somewhere soft to land. But I made it through the month and I have found an apartment with two amazing girls (who also love YA!) and I have some job prospects. So things are looking up. Anyways, I've managed to read some amazing books - and here are the top five that I read in September. 

1. The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann
SO awesome. A well imagined and unique world that is dark, beautiful, and intriguing. Awesome story with unlikely heroes. Love it. Read my review here
2. Through to You by Emily Hainsworth
I devoured this book. I was so invested in these characters and I just wanted to know as much about them as possible. Plus, I love the concept of parallel universes. I have so much love for this book. Review coming soon.

3. Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
I love Maggie Stiefvater. She is the queen of creating legends. Read my review here

4. Entice by Jessica Shirvington
An awesome sequel to Embrace. I love Violet and Lincoln so much. I so hope the CW actually makes this series happen on TV. That would make my life. Review for this one will be up soon. 

5. If I Lie by Corrine Jackson
Heartbreaking, but so gorgeous. You and everyone you've ever met just need to read this one. Read my review here

What were your top reads in September?

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

October Top 5

Happy Halloween! So, this month was another crazy one. I also deviated a bit from my blog, if you haven't noticed - it's been quieter than usual this month. This is because I've discovered the joys of New Adult and had myself a bit of a marathon. There will be a post later this week breaking down this marathon, but I'm still all about YA. I did manage to read some amazing books this month between my busy schedule and the NA madness. Here are my top five YA reads in October. 

1. Black City by Elizabeth Richards
This book totally blew me out of the water. It twisted every idea I've ever had about soul mates, vampires, dystopia, life in general...This book is spectacular.

2. Dark Star by Bethany Frenette
SUPERHEROES IN MINNEAPOLIS. Plus, it mentions my home town. OH, yeah, and it's just straight up awesome. 

3. Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally
Miranda Kenneally writes contemporary fiction like a champ. Stealing Parker completely lived up to the awesomeness of Catching Jordan. I will now officially read anything Miranda writes. Check out my review here.

4. Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson
Norse mythology, Norway, and a new book crush. This book has everything I want out of a mythological adventure. Read my review here

5. The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Ok, I'm actually only almost done with this one. But of course, it's epic. This book lives up to book one. And duh, more Noah - always need more Noah. 

What were  your top reads this month? 

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday - Books for the Freezer

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This week's topic is: Top Ten to Get in the Halloween Spirit

I have been SEARCHING for a long time for a good new horror novel. They are hard to come by in the YA genre - someone change that, please (or, maybe it's already changing...). Anyways, I have found a few over time, and these are ones that I pull out around Halloween. These are the ones that make me want to keep the freezer empty (FRIENDS anyone? When Joey is reading The Shining? ).

1. Possess by Gretchen McNeil
I read this book on Halloween last year, because I wanted something to scare my pants off. And yeah, it succeeded - the scene with the dolls!?! Hiding now. 

2. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
This book makes my spine chilly. Ghosts that tear people in half right in front of your eyes. Super terrifying. 

3. Velveteen by Daniel Marks
Ok, not really horror - but it's dark and gothic. And there's a serial murder, so I think it's Halloween worthy. 

4. The Diviners by Libba Bray
This book gave me legit nightmares. And it was so worth it. But dudes, the ghost/deity/psycho in this book is insane. Guh.

5. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Some Jack the Ripper for Halloween celebration. Yeah. 

6. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
Nothing says Happy Halloween in literary terms like a book that tips its hat to Edgar Allan Poe. 

7. Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton
So. Much. Blood.

8. Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
Zombies and Halloween go together like Santa and Christmas. 

9. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Serial Killer. Great for Halloween - but this one throws in some kissing. 

10. Ten by Gretchen McNeil
Ok. Haven't read it yet. But this is the book I'm keeping on standby when I need a good dose of Halloween this year. I feel like I can count on Gretchen for some good horror. 

Monday, October 22, 2012

Dear Teen Me Blog Tour

I'm so excited to be a part of the Dear Teen Me Blog tour. If you are unfamiliar  - it's a compilation of letters written by young adult authors to their teen selves, edited by E. Kristin Anderson and Miranda Kenneally. It has letters from Lauren Oliver, Gretchen McNeil, Jessica Spotswood, Ellen Hopkins, Katherine Longshore, and so many more. It's pretty amazing - there are great stories, awesome lessons, and some smart advice that can apply both to teenagers, as well as adults (it's never too late to learn from other's teen experiences). I wish this book had been around when I was awkward and trying to figure it out.
Now, even though I'm not terribly far from my teenage years, I have written a letter to my teen self. I also wrote this letter about a month ago during a powerful transition in my life - things have changed, but I kept it the way I wrote it.

---------------------------------------------------------

Dear Teen Me,
You want out of that town. Somehow you wound up growing up in the smallest town in the smallest school you can possibly imagine. When you grow up in wide open places, the sky feels like it's pressing down on you no matter how beautiful country sumer nights are.

Most people can't see beyond that one-way main street, the lazy summer nights around bonfires, or the World's Largest Tiger Muskie (and all these things seem way lame right now, but one day they'll become bragging rights). But you've always known there is so much more to see out in the world.

You're surrounded by amazing people, though. Your parents are patient and they teach you that when it comes to dreaming, there are no limits. And I know your little brother drives you nuts, but he's kind of awesome. And your friends are pretty spectacular, cherish them while you're all still in one place. You also have some great teachers. Your English teachers will put up with your incessant writings about wanting to get out of town and how you longed for those stars to be blotted out by sky scrapers. They don't say anything when one day you write about road trips to California (yeah...what was that? You never actually had any desire to go to California) and the next day you're detailing your romantic ideas about living in New York.

You write about leaving. You plan trips you know you won't be able to take for a long time. But you know you can't just make lists and write down fantasies. If you want out, you have to do something about it.So you work hard. You're involved in every school activity you can think of. Achievement is your way out.

Then you'll work with a boy you've known most of your life and he'll become your best friend. And he loves this town. He loves the closeness that comes with having all your friends and family nearby and the safety of being somewhere comfortable and completely familiar.

You still want out, but this boy will show you the beauty and the romance in the town that has been your cage. He's the only thing that could have made you stay. But it won't work that way.

You won't go far at first. You'll move 5 hours from home and live in a college town. This will end up being your perfect jumping off point. Because then you'll live in Spain, then Saint Louis. You'll be in Denver a short while And then one day, you'll find yourself sitting in an airport waiting to board a plane to New York while writing a letter to the person you used to be.

I don't know what's going to happen in New York. I don't know where I'll live or if this job I'm interviewing for will work out. I don't know if I'm going to fly or land on my face. But I'm going.
So, dear teen me, you're going to get there (and in some ways you're always on your way somewhere else). It seems impossibly far, but be patient. Everything happens when it's supposed to.
So don't freak out.

Enjoy that small town, for it will become a place that heals you, even when you didn't know you needed it.

Because as much as you want out, you should know that town is full of people and places that will always be hard to leave. It's a place you can always go back to.

Love,
Me, or you. (We really aren't the same person, oddly enough.)

P.S. That crazy (awesome) girl who always tells you how great your hair is, even when it's badly permed - hang out with her more often. Because after graduation, she'll become your best friend and you'll be maid-of-honor at her wedding. She's going to be the one person who knows you better than anyone else - cool, huh?

---------------------------------------------------------

Check out the Dear Teen Me website for more letters! And don't forget to pick up a copy of the book (preferably at your local indie)!

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Home Run Blog Tour Interview & Giveaway

I'm SO unbelievably excited for all the awesome that's wrapped up in this post. Not only do I have Miranda Kenneally here answering a few of my questions, but thanks to Sourcebooks Fire, I also have a copy of her amazing sophomore novel, Stealing Parker, up for grabs. I love Stealing Parker so much - you can read my review HERE.  If you haven't read either Catching Jordan or Stealing Parker yet, I highly recommend you jump to it as soon as you can. So there's my spiel. Now for my interview with Miranda:
--------------------------

Since you write for teens, what were you like as a teenager? 
Honestly, I was always getting into some kind of trouble (I lied to my parents that I was going to church and then stole their car and drove to an Aerosmith concert I'd been forbidden to attend) or obsessing over some guy who would never want me -- he poured chocolate milk on me in the cafeteria. :(
I've always been the kind of person who sets her sights on something and doesn't give up, and unfortunately that made me spend way too much time trying to woo the wrong guys. Ugh. I mostly liked school but I couldn't do math for sh!t. I enjoyed spending time with friends. My family didn't have much money, so I spent a lot of time worrying about my clothes and my appearance. I dreamed a lot about making something of my life. I didn't know precisely what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to do big things. 


What are some of the challenges you faced writing your second novel that you didn't expect? 
It surprised me that a book's "Hook" came into play so heavily in the sales of my 2-3 books. My publisher wanted the book to have a bit "wow" factor, and they loved the idea of a teen girl getting wrapped up in an inappropriate relationship with the coach of the high school baseball team. 
So I had to write a story based around this "hook" and that isn't so much different than me writing CATCHING JORDAN around the hook of "girl football player wants to win the state championship, but then a hot new guy comes to town and he wants her position."
But I guess the difference is that with STEALING PARKER, I had a deadline, whereas with CATCHING JORDAN I could've written forever. 

The dedication to Stealing Parker is "For all the girls struggling to find their place." What do you hope readers will take away from Parker's story?
I want girls (and guys) to learn that doing something you don't want to do in hopes that it will make other people think differently about you is never going to make you happy. The only way people can be truly happy and find the right path in life is to stay true to themselves. 
This quote from a book has stuck with me for a long time:

"To be perfectly frank, you don't quite look like yourself. And if you walk around looking like someone other than who you are, you could end up in the wrong job, the wrong friends, who knows what all. You could end up with somebody else's whole life." 
-A Home at the End of the World


Your books have such great secondary characters. Who was your favorite to write and why?
Two characters have given me all sorts of trouble! Sam Henry and Corndog (Will Whitfield). When I started writing, I had planned for Jordan to end up with Ty Green. But then Henry just started taking over the book! He would just appear in scenes and do something silly, and by the time I was halfway done with the book, I realized that Henry loved Jordan, and I didn't even know it! The same thing happened with Corndog. I wasn't even expecting his character. He just drove up an a lawnmower one day and he was in the book to stay. 


Congrats on the release of Stealing Parker! Now we're all anxiously awaiting book three! Can you dish on Things I Can't Forget?
Here are a few juicy tidbits:
1) The main character of Things I Can't Forget was mentioned in Stealing Parker. Her name is Kate Kelly.
2) The love interest, Matt, is by far the HOTTEST of any of the guys I've created so far. (In my opinion anyway.)
3) Parker and Will Whitfield are major characters. 
4) Jordan Woods throws a crazy 4th of July party at her house by Lake Jordan.
5) Jake Reynolds, the pervy guy who was always hitting on Jordan in Catching Jordan, is back, and he tries to pick up Kate Kelly using a ridiculous pick-up line.

-------------------------------------------------
Find Miranda online: Twitter :: Facebook :: Website :: Blog
-------------------------------------------------

And now, I have a copy of Stealing Parker, courtesy of Sourcebooks Fire. This is US/CAN only. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter. 

Friday, October 19, 2012

The Unfailing Light Blog Tour

Synopsis: Having had no choice but to use her power has a necromancer to save Russia from dark forces, Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, now wants to forget that she ever used her special powers. She's about to set off to pursue her lifelong dream of attending medical school when she discovers that Russia's arch nemesis--who she thought she'd destroyed--is still alive. So on imperial orders, Katerina remains at her old finishing school. She'll be safe there, because the empress has cast a potent spell to protect it against the vampires and revenants who are bent on toppling the tsar and using Katerina for their own gains. But to Katerina's horror, the spell unleashes a vengeful ghost within the school, a ghost more dangerous than any creature trying to get in. (From Goodreads) 

This book, this series, is crazy. It defies all logic and it totally works. It is a toss-up of all things paranormal and all things historical (or at least all things historical Russia) and just somehow it works. It's like magic. I love Katiya. I love George (dreamy grand dukes? YES please). I had moments where I was blushing, I had moments where my skin was crawling (because, yes, Danilo is back...guhhh), and there were things that filled me with dread. This is definitely one of those books that gets you all worked up.

So the first half of the book, Katerina is stuck in Smolny and doesn't really have access to the outside world. All the information she gets is from Danilo, who can now speak in Katerina's head (which was the source of most of my shuddering - dude is slimy). So she's all hung up on who the ghost is that is throwing frying pans and knocking over book cases. Oh, and there's the huge secret that Princess Alix is hiding - that takes up a good portion of Katerina's time. And lots of pining and wondering what Georgi is up to with the dark wizards in Paris. So while there's not really a lot going on, there's still A LOT going on. THEN all of a sudden everything is happening and there are people everywhere and you don't know who's Light and Dark or good or evil. It's intense and awesome. I feel like every page turn there was some sort of severe reaction. My mind was blowing up all over the place.

Ok, minor freak out over. So Katiya doesn't really change a whole lot from book one. She actually talks a lot less about becoming a doctor - although that aspect is definitely still there. But even though she's not dramatically evolving, the people around her definitely are. Elena was almost pleasant in this book. And Princess Alix was definitely interesting to get to know better. Of course, it was pretty great getting to see more of George in a more romantic capacity (these moments turn me into the Jane Austen - fan yourself and giggle - romantic mushball). What is really awesome is that any of these characters could star in their own books. I want to read about Princess Alix's story. Or even Elena's - I'd love to know what's going on in her head. You could reach in, pluck out any of these characters, and imagine the world according to them.

I loved The Gathering Storm and this world just keeps getting better. You should probably start reading these books if you haven't yet. The way this book ended left me unsatisfied (I was definitely expecting something to happen and it totally didn't), so - next book please!

Check out the other blogs on this tour!
September 24thSmitten Over Books
September 25th: Casey’s Crew
September 26th: Much Ado About Books
September 26thThe Streetlight Reader
September 27th: Infinite Reads
September 28th: The Hiding Spot
September 29th: Girls *Heart* Books
October 1stMom Reads My Books
October 2nd: The Book Review Club
October 3rd: The Book Review Club
October 4th: Kimba Caffeinated
October 4th: My Life is a Notebook
October 5th: My Life is a Notebook
October 6th: Candace’s Book Blog
October 7thReader Girls
October 8th: Bookish
October 8th: Peace, Love, Books
October 9th: YA Bibliophile
October 9thReader Girls
October 10th: Wastepaper Prose
October 10th: Imaginary Reads
October 11thImaginary Reads
October 12th: Well Read Wife
October 15thLibby Blog
October 16th: Cracking the Cover
October 17th: A Bookish Libraria
October 18th: A Novel Review
October 19thIn the Best Worlds
October 20thTripping Over Books

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Stealing Parker - Miranda Kenneally

Synopsis: Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.
After her family's scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won't turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys--a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far...especially when he starts flirting back. (From Goodreads)

Miranda Kenneally completely won me over with Catching Jordan. So I already knew how much I was going to love Stealing Parker. I had absolutely no doubts that it would be anything less than spectacular. So I'll just declare it now - Dear Miranda Kenneally, I am a super fan of yours for life. I will read anything you write. Love, Hannah.

Parker is a character who rings as one of the truest YA characters I've read in a long time. She's making up things as she goes, she's trying to fit in, and she's following her heart (or her hormones, either one...) even when it leads down some pretty sketchy paths. She also has some issues with being dragged to church and having some questions about religion and God. I cannot even express how well this was handled. Religion can be touchy in books, but it is so naturally a part of Parker's life that it's not preaching, it's not a focus, it's just part of who she is.

Back to those paths that Parker is on though - I absolutely adore that Parker is able to go down these paths and then she recognizes her mistakes and she FIXES them. She doesn't keep going because she has no choice. She stops, evaluates, and executes. She gets off the path, or she turns around and tries it some other way. And she does it HERSELF. There's no boy here saving her - she makes decisions and then keeps going. But of course, she's a teenager, so all of these moments where she's making a choice are intensely charged with emotions or hormones. She's such a teenager - and although there are very few similarities between my life and Parker's - she really reminds me of how I was at that age. Which is the same magic that Miranda brought to Jordan's character.

And ok. The whole falling for the coach thing - a little skeevie. I mean, he's dreamy, for about five minutes. It's the premise for the novel, but what makes this book worth reading is watching Parker heal and connect with the people around her. I love the secondary characters in this book. It is a book about baseball/softball so there are a few jocks popping in and out of the pages. I love the way they're portrayed. They have a bit of an edge, but they're all pretty soft inside. The scenes with Parker and the baseball team were just hilarious.

There are some really great things going on with Parker's family as well. And by great, I mean great for the story. The dynamics there are complex and they are shifting through the entire book. There's also an underlying commentary on religion and sexuality going on (which again is anything but preachy or in your face). There are some things in here that just need to be said and need to be read.

If it's not obvious, I love this book. And I'm beyond excited for Things I Can't Forget. I have an interview with Miranda that will be up in a couple days and she may or may not dish on her next book. So watch out for that!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Girl of Nightmares - Kendare Blake

Synopsis: It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on. 
His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.
Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.
Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor. (From Goodreads)

Anna Dressed in Blood definitely gave me chills and left me hanging out with some pretty spooky images. And Girl of Nightmares was somehow even more disturbing and vivid. The ghost of Anna's ghost is far more terrifying than the one that had the ability to pretty much crush your bones. Not to mention there are glimpses into hell and the Obeahman - by far one of the most horrifying villains ever - is gaining more power still. And this is enough to give nightmares, but it's the images - sometimes just small ones that are a sentence in passing - that really does it - skulls like broken eggshells, Anna crawling into a furnace, corpses hanging from trees - to name a few. Kendare Blake has a way with words that's partially beautiful and partially gruesome.

And can I just say how Buffy this book is? I freaking love it. Secret orders that are based in England, an English mentor, a ghost-killer who has inherited his role, two side-kicks - one who is powerful, one who isn't, but both are equally loveable, oh and not to mention the guy who's supposed to be killing ghosts falling in love with one of the ghosts. The whole Buffy package is here, just shaken up a bit. So awesome.

Of course, this is a second book, so some new characters can be expected. Most are pretty inconsequential, but the addition of Jestine was awesome. She's another kick-butt girl who is able to put Cas in his place. I also really enjoyed reading more of Gideon's character. In book one he was a far away contact on another continent. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about his character, but it was good to be given a chance to actually meet him.

Just to mention quickly - the ghosts in this book are nutso! I can't go too much into it, because I don't want to give things away. But the dead people that Cas fights in this book are intense and completely shocking.

I've definitely reached the line that separates explanation and spoilers, so I'll stop here. I'm just very impressed with both Anna books and I will be waiting anxiously to see what Kendare Blake does next. I can only imagine it will be awesome, frightening, and beautiful.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

All You Never Wanted - Adele Griffin

Synopsis: Alex has it all—brains, beauty, popularity, and a dangerously hot boyfriend. Her little sister Thea wants it all, and she's stepped up her game to get it. Even if it means spinning the truth to win the attention she deserves. Even if it means uncovering a shocking secret her older sister never wanted to share. Even if it means crying wolf.
Told in the alternating voices of Alex and Thea, Adele Griffin's mesmerizing new novel is the story of a sibling rivalry on speed. (From Goodreads)

I feel pretty lukewarm about this book. It definitely captivated my attention, but it didn't really shine for me. The story is interesting. These two sisters are self-destructing in two totally different ways. Their mom marries a wealthy man, and suddenly these girls are upper-class princesses and everything falls apart. But they're both incredibly selfish to begin with - they're also mean, petty, misguided, and frankly a little obnoxious.

But those are just character flaws. While they're pretty much just all around bad people, that never bothered me while I was reading. I found it in myself to see life through their eyes for a little bit and while I was aware that they were doing things that were kind of crazy, I didn't really think to completely judge them - until I put the book down and thought about it. Because the writing is really great, there's an understanding that is built in to reading about the lives of Alex and Thea.

The story doesn't take place over much time and for sisters, Thea and Alex actually see very little of each other. They're living completely separate lives - although they do show up on occasion to help one another out. If they didn't live in the same house, I feel like they would have had very little to do with one another. Although, even with how separate they are - they do have a rivalry going strong - which at times feels slightly one sided. Thea tries desperately to break into the life Alex has and it's almost like she's competing against a brick wall. Alex is mostly oblivious and wrapped up in her own issues.

I'm going to start talking myself in circles, if I haven't started to already. This book is very character driven and the characters are definitely vivid, even if they have some major issues. This book is also a little bit heavier - it deals with some issues, but I never felt bogged down by these girls' problems. I'd recommend reading this book if you are already a fan of Adele Griffin or if you like contemporary novels that are a little darker.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Valkyrie Rising - Ingrid Paulson

Synopsis: Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there. 
What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age. (From Goodreads)


This book has everything I love: foreign land, beautiful boy, mythology, some evil - but totally awesome - women, a kick-butt grandma, and a girl coming into her own strength and power. Guys, I freaking loved everything about this book. I stepped away from a Dawson's Creek marathon with my roommates to read this book - yeah, that's how real my love is.

So I've actually been trying to sort out Norse mythology for quite awhile. There are a lot of complicated things that go down and a lot of characters that are hard to keep straight. So I was very grateful to see someone take an aspect of Norse mythology and break it down. I loved the Valkyries. Everything mythology related in this book was pretty amazing. And, hello, Loki is one of the best tricksters out there. So I was definitely excited when Loki appeared in Ellie's life. He was written very well, because I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out what he was going to do next or what his motives were. I also like that he always adds different dimensions of right and wrong.

I will admit to having a little difficulty connecting with Ellie's character at first. I couldn't really pull out anything that made her unique. But as the story progresses, I almost felt a little like her lack of defining characteristics makes it somehow easier to project myself into her shoes. Which is pretty much my favorite thing ever. Any time I can feel like a superhero and hang out with someone like Tuck, it's a pretty good thing in my book. I don't meant that Ellie could be just anyone and she's definitely a strong character, I guess I just really related to her.

Tuck is pretty great as well. I just thoroughly enjoyed the banter between him and Ellie. There was some awesome tension between them building through the whole book that definitely added some spark to the pages. I love that he's her super-protective brother's best friend and thus, seemingly forbidden. So it's not like they'll end the world if they get together - their obstacle is minor and entertaining. And Ellie's relationship with her brother - awesome. It's complex and it evolves through the story. It's also pretty sweet how far Ellie goes to protect him, when it seems like he's the over-protective one.

So this book rocked my world. It definitely got a lot of reaction out of me. Great emotion, great concept, awesome characters, and it takes place in Norway. Definitely a new favorite of mine.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Through to You - Emily Hainsworth

Synopsis: Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he’d give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn’t Viv.
The apparition’s name is Nina, and she’s not a ghost. She’s a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can’t believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn’t the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he’s forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all. (From Goodreads)

This book took me completely by surprise. I mean, I expected to like it, but I never expected to get so worked up about it. I was so sucked into Cam's life that I reacted very strongly to everything that happened to him and all of the decisions he made. The story itself is rather simple, but the emotions and the life questions that are behind the characters and their decisions are so huge and real.

There were a lot of twists to this book that I wasn't expecting. I kept feeling like I should have seen these things coming, but every single time it took me by surprise. I really appreciated that it kept me on my toes and constantly kept me engaged. I devoured the book because I really wanted to know how it all worked itself out. This is one of those really great books where you know all the information is there, but the narrator reveals it gradually, purposefully holding things back, and it is brilliant how all the complexities of Cam's story find their way to the surface.

So parallel universes play a part in this story, and I'm always interested to see how this is handled. I think that Emily Hainsworth does a great job - because the existence and mechanics of parallel universes are given minimal consideration. I know this sounds backwards, but because no one really dwelled too long on why this was happening, there was much more focus on character and plot development. And really it wasn't about the existence of other universes - it was about the way that our decisions shape our outcomes.

I absolutely loved the way that Cam was able to get a second chance, and then see how it would have played out if everything had been just slightly different. I loved that there were different priorities in his life, different people that came into play, just because of a simple difference. It really makes you step back and look at the choices you make and how they've led you to this point.

I found myself so frustrated, I was in pain, I was anxious, and I was cheering Cam on through the whole book. The emotions are so raw and exposed that it's hard not to get wrapped up in them and mistake them for your own. This book is understated and because of that it somehow more exceptional. I absolutely adored Through to You and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more books from Emily Hainsworth.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

The Gathering Storm - Robin Bridges

Synopsis: St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.
An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart? (From Goodreads)

Okay, this book is kind of awesome. Take some Russian society and Russian politics, then throw in a few vampires, some necromancers, and dark versus light and shake it up in a ballroom and you have The Gathering Storm. Honestly, I found myself thinking that I should be finding this book ridiculous with all the fantastical elements that are brought in (we have vamps, mothy-vamps, undead armies, faeries, magicians, auras, seances, witches, werewolves-I think..., and of course Katerina is a necromancer), but it really wasn't. I don't know if it was the time and setting or just excellent writing, but all of these things seemed to naturally exist in Katerina's world. No ridiculousness here.

Katerina is a pretty great heroine. She's aligned with darkness, but fights to resist dark temptations. She's afraid of her powers and by the end of this book, she still hasn't quite come into being comfortable with using them. But it's kind of cool that with all the supernatural happenings that she's wrapped up in, she still wants to be a doctor - a decidedly practical and factual profession. It's a bit of a fantasy of hers, to become a female doctor in an old fashioned society, but there's just a sliver of possibility, which creates a really interesting parallel to the undead side of the track.

And because I can't help it - the boys. Prince Danilo is the creepiest character. I actually shuddered and said "ew" out loud at one point - which freaked my roommate out a bit, I'm sure. But even without the alternate being such a creepy-crawley, George (the grand duke), is so swoon-worthy. He's all heroic, a little surly and just enough out of reach that you have to love him. I'm so anxious to see what happens between Katerina and George in the next book because the tension between them is amazing.

There was a lot going on this book and it was a little hard to keep track of, especially with a few Russian words being thrown in here and there. There are a few things that went down that felt like they weren't given enough time or that weren't fully explained. However, these are all things I'm just hoping will be explained further in The Unfailing Light, so I'm not too worried.

I'm very excited to keep going in this series, because it's a bunch of creatures that I'm familiar with transposed into historical Russia, making it all new and exciting. Plus, I find I've become very attached to Katerina, Dariya, and George and I'm anxious to know what becomes of them.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Entice - Jessica Shirvington

Synopsis: Violet Eden is Grigori - part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengence of exiled angels. 
Knowing who to trust is key but, when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even Lincoln. The only thing Violet does know: Phoenix's hold over her is more dangerous than ever. 
The race to find the one thing that could tilt the balance of power brings them all to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed.  (From Goodreads)



I completely devoured the second book in the Embrace series. Violet really is one of my favorite heroines and her life is just so deliciously dramatic, I get so caught up in caring about what becomes of her. I've noticed a lot that some paranormal books get tripped up in the same plot lines, or they border on unrealistic (I know that's dumb to say when talking about paranormal, but it has to be believable), or else either the characters or the plot feels just slightly disconnected. Well, this book avoids all of these things, seemingly effortlessly. These books flow so well, and even the parts of the story that seem like they occur in every paranormal book turn out to have some kind of twist that makes it something different. I really feel like I opened this book to find myself plunked down in Violet's world and watching her live her life.

I love the mythology that Jessica Shirvington uses to define the parameters of the angel world. It's very Biblical, but the last thing this book does is preach. While this book is a bit of a bridge between book one and three (find the book that will unlock all the secrets), it actually didn't feel like a filler until I just sat and thought about it. Really, here the relationships deepen, the understanding of the world deepens, and we just get more of a sense of who Violet is after the events of book one.

And can I just talk about those relationships for a minute? Stephanie is one of my favorite book BFFs ever. She takes everything in stride, has a great sense of humor, is always there to support Violet no matter what, and never runs the other way even when Violet makes it pretty clear she could. She's not a supernatural being, but she's immensely strong and definitely one of the best characters in the book. Then there's the Lincoln-Violet situation. These two make me all rage-y and all melt-y at the same time. They're incredibly frustrating and they don't seem to understand that they are so much stronger when they are working together. They spend the book trying to stay apart, which creates a whole lot of angst. But the pages where they actually make it into close proximity - whew. Those pages make all the angst worth it.

I'm so excited about the fact that the CW has picked up this series. If these books become a real TV show, I'm going to be a very happy person. I just love Violet and her world so much. I'm now anxiously awaiting book three!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Stormdancer - Jay Kristoff

Synopsis: A DYING LAND 
The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever. 
AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.
A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her. 
But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire. (From Goodreads)


Um. This book has a griffin in it. Like a half eagle, half tiger, freaking griffin. Which equals awesome. This world is stunningly vivid and quite intense. You can't breathe in the air, you have to hide who you really are, and it seems that there are a myriad of people out to get you at all times. Then you have a strong heroine who is on a quest (yes! a quest - like honest to goodness - you must go forth and complete this task to save your people kind of quest). This book as all it needs to qualify as an epic fantasy novel.

This said, I had a really hard time reading it. I don't know if it is because I know nothing about Japan and I had a hard time grasping on to the use of a different language while being introduced to a new world. Or if the writing was a little dense, or if there was just something that took a while to wrap my head around. It could be all of these things. I spent quite a while just trying to get into the book and it wasn't until about halfway through that the reading started to flow more easily. I think one day I will go back and re-read this book now that I'm more familiar with it and see what I missed or at least try to immerse myself in the story a bit more.

Because I really did love this book, despite my difficulties with it. I mean - griffin! I absolutely adored Buruu and his relationship with Yukiko. She can speak to animals and so she has this direct line to Buruu that allows them to bond. He's an angry creature - understandably after being captured and having his wings clipped - but as he journeys with Yukiko he softens - at least towards her. I just absolutely adore the way they are fiercely loyal to one another and they work together so well. I'm just so jealous - I want a griffin friend. It's like Jasmine and Raja - only this is a GRIFFIN.

There's some really great political intrigue, which I feel like I kind of missed out on. I understood the jist of what was going on, in terms of who was in command and where the seeds of revolution were coming from. This is definitely something that will prompt me to re-read the book. I also feel like this is one of those situations where I could read it 100 times and read something new each time.

And then just the world that Jay Kristoff has created - it's a scary place. But it feels like it's real, no matter how fantastical it is meant to be. This was a truly amazing novel and it was definitely worth wading through. I hope to return to it one day and experience it more vividly.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Fangs, Fur & Fey Giveaway Hop


 Welcome to my stop on the Fangs, Fur & Fey Giveaway Hop. The hop is hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Reading Lark. Tons of other blogs are participating. To see the full list and hop along for the chance to win some great books go HERE.

If you didn't already know, I'm a werewolf kind of girl. So I'm going to offer up a choice of werewolf book. One winner will get to pick one of the books pictured below. 


The details: 
  • One (1) winner will receive one (1) book from the list above. 
  • You must be 13 or older to enter. 
  • This giveaway is international as long as the Book Depository ships to you.
  • Fill out the Rafflecopter form below - you can only enter once.
  • This contest will run until October 9, 12:01 AM.
  • Winner will be announced by email - if you win you have 48 hours to respond before I pick a new winner. 
  • Good luck and thanks for entering!

September Top Five

This September was a really scary and uncertain month for me. I just moved to New York and I have no job or apartment. I've been kind of floating and hoping that I'd find somewhere soft to land. But I made it through the month and I have found an apartment with two amazing girls (who also love YA!) and I have some job prospects. So things are looking up. Anyways, I've managed to read some amazing books - and here are the top five that I read in September. 

1. The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann
SO awesome. A well imagined and unique world that is dark, beautiful, and intriguing. Awesome story with unlikely heroes. Love it. Read my review here
2. Through to You by Emily Hainsworth
I devoured this book. I was so invested in these characters and I just wanted to know as much about them as possible. Plus, I love the concept of parallel universes. I have so much love for this book. Review coming soon.

3. Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
I love Maggie Stiefvater. She is the queen of creating legends. Read my review here

4. Entice by Jessica Shirvington
An awesome sequel to Embrace. I love Violet and Lincoln so much. I so hope the CW actually makes this series happen on TV. That would make my life. Review for this one will be up soon. 

5. If I Lie by Corrine Jackson
Heartbreaking, but so gorgeous. You and everyone you've ever met just need to read this one. Read my review here

What were your top reads in September?