Waiting On Wednesday - Truly, Madly, Deadly (63)

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Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

My choice for this week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

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Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: July 1st 2013 by Sourcebooks Fire

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Sawyer Dodd has it all. She's a star track athlete, choir soloist, and A-student. And her boyfriend is the handsome all-star Kevin Anderson. But behind the medals, prom pictures, and perfect smiles, Sawyer finds herself trapped in a controlling, abusive relationship with Kevin. When he dies in a drunk-driving accident, Sawyer is secretly relieved. She's free. Until she opens her locker and finds a mysterious letter signed by "an admirer" and printed with two simple words: "You're welcome."

I don't know why I have been drawn to such dark books lately. This one sounds disturbing, and has mystery and suspense that sounds perfect to me. I can't wait to read it.

What are you waiting on this week?
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Sunday Updates (21)


Inspired by features from The Sunday Post from Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Sunday Summary from Book Twirps.

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For Review:
Blaze (or Love in the Time of Supervillains) by Laurie Boyle Crompton
320 pages
Expected publication: February 1st 2013 by Sourcebooks Fire
Thanks to Sourcebooks

I am so happy that I have finally been approved for Blaze. I had given up hope of being approved on NetGalley, so it came as quite a surprise. I can't wait to read it!

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For Review:
The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston
Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: May 14th 2013 by Disney-Hyperion
Thanks to Disney Book Group

This one sounds so good! I am so happy I was approved on NetGalley, and I can't wait to read it.


On My Blog This Week (In Case You Missed It):

Review: If I Lie by Corrine Jackson
Review: Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook
Review: Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

Check out the goals I set for myself: 2013 Reading Challenges
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Review: Uses For Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

Uses for BoysUses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

Publication Date: January 15, 2013
Page Count: 240
Format: ebook
Published by: St. Martin's Press
Source: review copy provided by publisher

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Anna remembers a time before boys, when she was little and everything made sense. When she and her mom were a family, just the two of them against the world. But now her mom is gone most of the time, chasing the next marriage, bringing home the next stepfather. Anna is left on her own—until she discovers that she can make boys her family. From Desmond to Joey, Todd to Sam, Anna learns that if you give boys what they want, you can get what you need. But the price is high—the other kids make fun of her; the girls call her a slut. Anna's new friend, Toy, seems to have found a way around the loneliness, but Toy has her own secrets that even Anna can't know.

Then comes Sam. When Anna actually meets a boy who is more than just useful, whose family eats dinner together, laughs, and tells stories, the truth about love becomes clear. And she finally learns how it feels to have something to lose—and something to offer. Real, shocking, uplifting, and stunningly lyrical, Uses for Boys is a story of breaking down and growing up.

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I was really looking forward to reading Uses For Boys. Unfortunately, it turned out to be such a disappointment to me. I really hate to say that, but that's how I feel. I knew from the synopsis that things weren't going to be sparkly and pretty, but I didn't expect it to be so dark and downright depressing.

The protagonist, Anna, is being raised by a self-centered and heartless mother who's only thoughts are on whichever man is in her life at the time. She gives no time or attention to Anna, and often leaves her alone for days or weeks while she is off looking for happiness with these men. Anna grows up wanting, needing, and craving love and attention from her mother. From the beginning I realized that Anna had a skewed (and screwed up) view of love, sex, and relationships because of her mother. Anna never learned her own self-worth, and instead went looking for it in the worst possible way.

Anna was lonely and lacked self-esteem, so when boys started noticing her, she didn't handle their attention appropriately for her age (which was 12!) She let herself be used by them because she convinced herself that it was normal. As things progress from one boy to the next, Anna's actions became more shocking and disturbing. At times it was really uncomfortable reading about Anna's sexual encounters. Even though Anna thought continuously about wanting to be loved, she was emotionally detached with these boys and let herself be used over and over again. Not that things were all one sided, because there were many times that the boys were used by Anna. I honestly and truly believe that Anna had something wrong with her. Even if it was never directly addressed by the author, Anna did not seem like a 'normal' person. Her way of acting and her thought processes were very strange (at least to me).

I did not enjoy the writing style in this book. The sparse style may work for some, but I felt that there wasn't enough direct dialogue for my liking. Instead, the author used short sentences to describe Anna's actions and train of thoughts. Because of that I had a hard time connecting with the story or with Anna. I also had a difficult time feeling anything but pity for Anna.

Please don't be fooled by the pretty cover. This is a dark (and dirty) story about a sad and lonely girl who turns to sex to get the love and attention that she craves. I really did not enjoy reading Uses For Boys. I would not recommend this to teens due to the explicit sexual content.

eARC provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
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2013 YA Contemporary Challenge
2013 Debut Author Challenge
2013 Standalone Reading Challenge
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Review: Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook

Nobody But UsNobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook

Publication Date: January 29, 2012
Page Count: 272
Format: ebook
Published by: Harper Teen
Source: review copy provided by publisher

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Bonnie and Clyde meets IF I STAY in this addictively heart-wrenching story of two desperate teenagers on the run from their pasts.

They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.

Zoe wants to save Will as much as Will wants to save Zoe. When Will turns eighteen, they decide to run away together. But they never expected their escape to be so fraught with danger....

When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can’t run fast enough.

Nobody But Us, told in alternating perspectives from Will and Zoe, is an unflinching novel, in turns heartbreaking and hopeful, about survival, choices, and love...and how having love doesn’t always mean that you get a happy ending. Described as “beautiful, heartbreaking, and exhilarating” by Kody Keplinger, author of The DUFF, Nobody But Us will prove irresistible to fans of Nina Lacour, Jenny Han, and Sara Zarr.

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Nobody But Us is a heartbreaking and emotional story. I'm glad I had my tissues on stand-by, because I really needed them. I must admit that the cover is what first drew me to this book, but the synopsis solidified my interest. At first I wasn't sure about the Bonnie and Clyde comparison, but I think they lived up to their predecessors.

I really felt very sympathetic towards Zoe and Will. From the beginning, it was obvious that they both had very rough loves. Will's upbringing was truly terrible, and it was one of the worst childhoods I have ever read in YA. Zoe's life is made horrible by her abusive father. When Zoe meets Will, a whole new world of possibilities is opened up to them. Will wanted to protect Zoe from being hurt, and Zoe wanted someone to love her and make her feel safe. I was quite concerned for their safety and well-being when they decided to go on the run. They had an 'us against the world' attitude and it really worked against them in the long run.

Unfortunately, Will and Zoe were not able to handle the situations they found themselves in while on the run. Neither one possessed any coping skills or the ability to make good decisions. The choices they made along the way are what ultimately doomed them. They were both too naive and immature to try and take on any type of responsible behavior.

I really enjoy reading stories that are told in dual POVs. Nobody But Us alternated between Will and Zoe, and it was very easy to differentiate between the two. I learned that Will had a very big heart, and it was easy to see what drove him to want to be so many good things for Zoe. I also got to experience Zoe learning so much about herself and what she wants out of life. The writing was very realistic and I found myself really getting caught up in the storyline. I couldn't help but care about Will and Zoe and want better for them.

Will and Zoe were ultimately held accountable for their actions. I had hoped that both would have a well-deserved better life, and a future where they could fulfil their dreams. I am actually okay with the ending because it seemed realistic and it fit with the tone of the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Nobody But Us. It's a fast paced contemporary that had me on a bit of an emotional roller-coaster ride, but I loved every second of it. I am looking forward to reading more books from Kristin Halbrook.

eARC provided by HarperTeen via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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2013 YA Contemporary Challenge
2013 Debut Author Challenge
2013 Standalone Reading Challenge
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Waiting On Wednesday (62) Dirty Little Secret

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Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

My choice for this week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

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Hardcover, 288 pages
Expected publication: July 16th 2013 by MTV Books

Synopsis From Goodreads:

From the author of the “real page-turner” (Seventeen) Such a Rush comes an unforgettable new drama that follows friends-turned-lovers as they navigate the passions, heartbreaks, and intrigue of country music fame.

Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…

This finally has a cover! I am so excited. I can't wait to read this. Actually, I can't wait to read ALL of Jennifer Echols new books this year - 4 in total. That's crazy!

What are you waiting on this week?
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Teaser Tuesday (11)


Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

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Hardcover, 256 pages
Published January 8th 2013 by Simon Pulse

My Teaser:

Outside of forced projects, we steer clear of one another, because obviously I'm not going to follow him around. Much. It's not like I don't have other shit to do besides moon around after a boy. I mean, I watch him, though. Like, all the time, but I'm not a creep or anything. And I eavesdrop.
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2013 Reading Challenges

At the beginning of last year I was a sort of new blogger and I didn't participate in any reading challenges. Now that I think I have things more under control, I am participating in 2 challenges. I may even join another one that I am interested in.

I don't think I have set up any unrealistic goals for myself. I am basing my goals on my reading habits from last year, so I think I can be successful.


2013 YA Contemporary Challenge hosted by Katie's Book Blog.

I prefer reading contemporaries, so this challenge is a no-brainer for me this year. I'll go out on a limb here and pick 40 books as my goal. Here are a few books that I am looking forward to reading. (Some of these will also qualify for my Debut Author Challenge!)

1. Golden by Jessi Kirby
2. Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry
3. Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook
4. Just One Day (Just One Day #1) by Gayle Forman
5. Just One Year (Just One Day #2) by Gayle Forman
6. All I Need by Susane Colasanti
7. Anthem for Jackson Dawes by Celia Bryce
8. Blaze (or Love in the Time of Supervillains) by Laurie Boyle Crompton
9. The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston
10. Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols
11. Shadowlands (Shadowlands #1) by Kate Brian
12. Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt
13. Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith
14. When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney
15. Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland
16. Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller
17. If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin
18. Famous Last Words by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
19. Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg
20. The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr
21. Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance
22. This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
23. OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu
24. Falling For You by Lisa Schroeder
25. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
26. Leap of Faith by Jamie Blair




2013 Debut Author Challenge hosted by Hobbitsies.

I'm not sure how many books on my 2013 tbr are from debut authors. I am going to pick 10 books as my goal. I think that is a reasonable number.


2013 Standalone Reading Challenge hosted by I Like These Books.


2013 Goodreads Reading Challenge.

Last year my goal was 75 books, and somehow I managed to read 86 books. So I am choosing 75 as my goal again this year. I think it's an attainable number. I have so many books that I am wanting to read. I really wish I had more free time!
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Review: If I Lie by Corrine Jackson

If I LieIf I Lie by Corrine Jackson

Publication Date: August 28, 2012
Page Count: 276
Format: Hardcover
Published by: Simon Pulse
Source: Borrowed from library

Synopsis From Goodreads:

A powerful debut novel about the gray space between truth and perception.

Quinn’s done the unthinkable: she kissed a guy who is not Carey, her boyfriend. And she got caught. Being branded a cheater would be bad enough, but Quinn is deemed a traitor, and shunned by all of her friends. Because Carey’s not just any guy—he’s serving in Afghanistan and revered by everyone in their small, military town.

Quinn could clear her name, but that would mean revealing secrets that she’s vowed to keep—secrets that aren’t hers to share. And when Carey goes MIA, Quinn must decide how far she’ll go to protect her boyfriend…and her promise.

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If I Lie was one of my most anticipated books last year. I really enjoyed it and I am so glad that I got the chance to read it. It was definitely worth the wait!

There was a military theme trend in YA contemporary last year, and I have to say that I really enjoy reading this type of book. If I Lie was a heartfelt and emotional story about friendships and family, and all the love and complications that comes with both. It was a very heavy story that was quite intense at times, and it dealt with a lot of serious issues.

The protagonist, Sophie Quinn, was a very strong and likable character. When we first meet her she is dealing with the fall out after being caught cheating on her Marine boyfriend, Carey. Sophie is silent and stoic while facing an entire town of critics. She has her reasons for 'cheating', but they aren't her secrets to tell. Instead of coming clean with the truth, Sophie was willing to sacrifice her own happiness to protect Carey. I really didn't feel that it was necessary for Sophie to become a martyr. It got to be really hard to root for her when she made things so difficult for herself. I thought she unnecessarily put herself out there for ridicule and didn't attempt to stand up for herself. She's not perfect, and she knows she made a mistake, and there were times when she wanted to break down and confess everything. But she managed to handle herself very well and keep her personal business her own, and I ended up really admiring her for that.

I spent most of the book really pissed off at Carey. He knew the hell that Sophie was going through back home and did nothing to stop it. He never made an attempt to step up and do the right thing. It wasn't cool of him to let her take the blame and all of the fallout. I think Carey took advantage of Sophie's feelings for him and her loyalty to him. I almost felt bad for disliking a character who was deployed and not present or able to defend his actions.

Carey's best friend, Blake, was another character who I was very disappointed in. He knew what Sophie was going through and he did absolutely nothing to defend her. He had the power to change things drastically, but he was too much of a coward to step up.

I found many of the other characters in Sophie's life to be very interesting. Her father and his gruff, military demeanor. Her mother who abandoned her when she was little. Her friends who turned their backs on her. But my favorite character was George. He is such a delight! He sincerely cared about Sophie, and he was very sympathetic to her problems. He was the only one who took the time to understand what Sophie was going through, and he was the only one who believed in her innocence.

Overall, I think that If I Lie is a terrific book that I really enjoyed reading, and I highly recommend it. It's such an emotional read, you will definitely need tissues to get through it. I look forward to reading more books from Corrine Jackson.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
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Waiting On Wednesday (61) Hero

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Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

My choice for this week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

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Expected publication: October 1st 2013 by Harcourt Books

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Rough and tumble Saturday Woodcutter thinks she's the only one of her sisters without any magic—until the day she accidentally conjures an ocean in the backyard. With her sword in tow, Saturday sets sail on a pirate ship, only to find herself kidnapped and whisked off to the top of the world. Is Saturday powerful enough to kill the mountain witch who holds her captive and save the world from sure destruction? And, as she wonders grumpily, "Did romance have to be part of the adventure?" As in Enchanted, readers will revel in the fragments of fairy tales that embellish this action-packed story of adventure and, yes, romance.

With so many sisters, I just knew that Enchanted couldn't be a stand alone. I don't like this cover as much as I like Enchanted. And I have to wait until October? Really?!?!?

What are you waiting on this week?
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Winner! Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop


Thank you all so much for entering my Clear Your Shelf Giveaway.
I wish I could give everyone free books! I am glad that Rafflecopter gets to pick the winner, because I could never do it.

Winner is Entry #330 Lisa V.

Winner has been contacted and has 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Top Ten Tuesday (18) 2013 Debut Authors


Top Ten Tuesday brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish.
Top Ten 2013 Debuts I’m Dying To Read!

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Taken (Taken #1) by Erin Bowman
There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday.

The Collector (Dante Walker #1) by Victoria Scott
Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence has made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector.

Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook
They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.

Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn
A reckless wish taken from the darkest desires of the heart…
A bloody razor engraved with the names of the girls who turned to dust…
An endless cycle that feeds of loneliness and craves destruction…

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Blaze (or Love in the Time of Supervillains) by Laurie Boyle Crompton
Blaze is tired of spending her life on the sidelines, drawing comics and feeling invisible. She's desperate for soccer star Mark to notice her.

Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith
Seventeen-year-old Kiri Byrd discovers love, loss, chaos, and murder woven into a summer of music, madness, piercing heartbreak, and intoxicating joy.

The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston
Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color.

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland
A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue.

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If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin
If He Had Been With Me tells the romantic history of a teen girl and her childhood best friend leading up to his tragic car accident in which the passenger seat was occupied by another girl.

OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu
When Bea meets Beck, she knows instantly that he's her kind of crazy.

Are any of these on your list? What other books should I add to my list?
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Sunday Updates (20)


Inspired by features from The Sunday Post from Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Sunday Summary from Book Twirps.

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For Review:
Thank You Harlequin (UK) Limited

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Borrowed From The Library:

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Borrowed From The Library:

My 'Sunday' update is on a Monday this week. I got all caught up in watching Novak Djokovic playing tennis last night and forgot to post. Believe me, it's very easy for me to forget all else when Nole is playing. Ditto for watching Rafa... who I am seriously missing right now.
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Review: Meant To Be by Lauren Morrill

Meant to BeMeant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Publication Date: November 13, 2012
Page Count: 304
Format: Hardcover
Published by: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Source: Borrowed from library

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.
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Meant To Be was one of my most anticipated reads this year. I thought I would like it a lot more than I did. I love contemporary stories, and this sounded like it would be a cute and fun teen romance. I have now discovered that those 5 star reviews I kept seeing all over the blogosphere were very misleading. I really didn't enjoy this book very much.

The biggest problem I had was that I didn't connect with any of the characters. I couldn't relate to them at all, so it was very difficult to care about what happened to them. I found Julia to be shallow and annoying, especially when she was trying to impress me with her bookish knowledge. Jason was very childish, and his lame attempts for attention really grated on me. I couldn't make sense of his hot and cold attitude towards Julia. I never bought into any of the relationship stuff. None of the potential pairings interested me or made any sense.

I had a difficult time getting into the story because the book didn't have a good flow to it. There were a lot of unnecessary descriptions that didn't add anything to the storyline. And the overall silliness of running all over London looking for MTB was ridiculous. Not to mention that the storyline seemed forced and contrived. I never felt anything while reading this book - no feelings equals a blah reading experience for me.

Meant To Be wasn't completely terrible. There were times that I almost enjoyed reading it. The writing was just okay for me, and I felt that it was a bit clunky at times. I really hate that I didn't enjoy this book more, and I hate that it took me two weeks to get through it. I kept waiting for it to get better, but it never did. This is definitely not a book that I would recommend to anyone. After looking forward to reading this book for many months, I was very disappointed with it.

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
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Waiting On Wednesday (60) The Program (Program #1) by Suzanne Young

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Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

My choice for this week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:


The Program (Program #1) by Suzanne Young

Hardcover, 416 pages
Expected publication: April 30th 2013 by Simon Pulse

Synopsis From Goodreads:

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

I'm really not a fan of dystopian books, but I really love the cover and the premise, so I'm willing to give it a chance.

What are you waiting on this week?
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Winner! Top Cuddles of 2012 Giveaway Hop


THANK YOU to everyone who entered my Top Cuddles of 2012 Giveaway Hop


And the winner is: entry # 113 Karen


Winner has been contacted and has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Review: Make It Last by Bethany Lopez

Make it Last (Friends & Lovers, #1)
Make it Last by Bethany Lopez

Publication Date: November 12, 2012
Format: ebook
Source: Won


Synopsis From Goodreads:

This is a New Adult title - Meant for readers 18 and older.

In a small town, it's hard to recover from being dumped by your high school sweetheart. That's just what Briana has to do after Colin leaves her to follow his dreams. She focuses her energy into her friendships and the pursuit of her own goal of becoming a chef. Just when she finally feels like she's on the right path, he comes back to town.

Colin knew breaking up with Briana before leaving for college was the right thing to do. He was determined to leave small-town life behind forever, and that included his high school girlfriend. But when a sports injury puts him on the sidelines, he's forced to return home. Seeing Briana again brings back a lot of memories, and Colin wonders if he made the right decision. It doesn't take long for him to realize he wants her back, and this time, he wants to make it last.

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I am starting to find more and more contemporary New Adult books that I would like to read. I saw Make It Last on a blog tour and thought it sounded interesting, so I entered the giveaway and won an ebook. Make It Last was a short book that was quick and easy to read. However, I found the storyline to be a little too simple, and there just wasn't much going on.

I liked the 2 main characters, Briana and Colin. They were both trying to make the best of bad situations in their professional lives. I liked that they hadn't given up their dreams of a successful future. However, both of them had pulled back and were much more casual in their personal lives because of their shared past. I felt that Briana and Colin showed a lot of maturity in the way they handled meeting again and spending time together.

I enjoyed the secondary characters and found most of them interesting, especially Rich. I think this series has potential, and I want to read Kent and Nicole's story next.

My one big complaint about Make It Last was that I felt the situations were resolved too easily. I would have expected both Briana and Colin to have reservations about jumping back into a serious relationship so fast. To me, the conflict was resolved without much drama, and the story progressed too quickly. I would have preferred more character development, and more of a conflict, but in the end I was satisfied with the way things turned out.

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
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Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop


Announcing the January 'Clear Your Shelf' Giveaway Hop
January 4th to 10th


Winner will receive:
Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr
Valkyrie Rising (Valkyrie #1) by Ingrid Paulson
The Blessed (The Blessed #1) by Tonya Hurley
Starling (Starling #1) by Lesley Livingston
Reaper (Lightbringer #2) by K.D. McEntire

Giveaway Rules:
  • The giveaway begins on January 4th and ends on January 10th
  • Giveaway is for U.S. residents only.
  • Must be 13 years of age or older to participate.
  • Fill out the Rafflecopter entry below.
  • Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.

See Linky below to visit the other blogs participating in this Hop.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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