June Recap and July TBR

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Books Read in June:

Kindness for Weakness by Shawn Goodman
This was really good, very gritty, and so heartbreaking. Compared to Kindness for Weakness, A&E's 'Scared Straight' seems really lame.
Jet (Marked Men #2) by Jay Crownover

Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn
Charm & Strange was sooo good! And definitely strange... in a good way.
All I Need by Susane Colasanti

Burning by Elana K. Arnold

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Total Pages Read: 1797

Reviews Posted in June: (Click on title to go to review.)

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Jet by Jay Crownover

All I Need by Susane Colasanti

Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn

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July TBR:

Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Catching Liam (Good Girls Don't #1) by Sophia Bleu (For Blog Tour)

Lick (Stage Dive #1) by Kylie Scott

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Love Disguised by Lisa Klein

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Waiting On Wednesday (84) Not a Drop to Drink

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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, 352 pages
Expected publication: September 24th 2013 by Katherine Tegen Books

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water.

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.

I am so happy that this is a stand alone. I prefer reading books with a beginning, middle, and end, rather than a series of books over several years time. I have started so many series that I have now lost interest in because of the time between books. And I find that if too much time passes between books, I can't remember what happened in the previous book, so I have to reread it just so I can read the next book. It's just frustrating for me, so I prefer stand alones much more than series. Oh, I have an arc of this that I will be reading soon, so YAY!

What are you waiting on this week?
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Review: Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn

Charm & StrangeCharm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn

Publication Date: June 11, 2013
Page Count: 213
Published by: St. Martin's Griffin
Source: eARC courtesy of publisher

Synopsis From Goodreads:

When you’ve been kept caged in the dark, it’s impossible to see the forest for the trees. It’s impossible to see anything, really. Not without bars . . .

Andrew Winston Winters is at war with himself.

He’s part Win, the lonely teenager exiled to a remote Vermont boarding school in the wake of a family tragedy. The guy who shuts all his classmates out, no matter the cost.

He’s part Drew, the angry young boy with violent impulses that control him. The boy who spent a fateful, long-ago summer with his brother and teenage cousins, only to endure a secret so monstrous it led three children to do the unthinkable.

Over the course of one night, while stuck at a party deep in the New England woods, Andrew battles both the pain of his past and the isolation of his present.

Before the sun rises, he’ll either surrender his sanity to the wild darkness inside his mind or make peace with the most elemental of truths—that choosing to live can mean so much more than not dying.

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This is an amazing book that was completely different than anything I have ever read before. The story was NOT was I was expecting, and it turned out to be so much better than I thought it would. I don't want to say too much and give anything away, so just know that you should really pick up this book. You will not be disappointed!

I really enjoyed how the chapters alternated between the past and the present because it kept the story fresh and interesting and added so much depth to the plot. Even though it was a bit confusing at times, I thought that it was confusing in the best way possible! I must admit that for most of the book I didn't know what was going on or what certain things meant, but the intrigue just made me want to read more. It is left up to the reader to piece together snippets from the past and present and ultimately figure out what happened to Win/Drew. Just be ready when you figure it out because it is mind blowing.

Kuehn's beautiful writing really conveys Win/Drew's painful and traumatic life. She somehow manages to make the entire novel feel unreal and dreamlike. I loved the slow build throughout the book, and the plot twist really turned everything and takes the book in an unexpected direction. By the end, everything falls into place and you get to see things for what they really are.

Of course, my favorite part of Charm & Strange is Win/Drew. I thought his personality was all over the place, but I still found myself really liking him and desperately trying to figure him out. His odd behavior and emotional instability made me empathize with him, but it also made me question his sanity. I thought he had amazing character development, but I found him unreliable as a narrator.

Charm & Strange is unpredictable, dark, emotional and truly heartbreaking. It's perfect for those who want to read a book that is completely unique. I thought it was a brilliant book and I highly recommend it.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
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Debut Author Challenge
Stand Alone Reading Challenge
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Sunday Updates (33)


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

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Received For Review:

Courtesy of Disney-Hyperion

Courtesy of Disney-Hyperion

Courtesy of Bloomsbury USA Childrens

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Received For Review:

Courtesy of Knopf Books for Young Readers

Courtesy of Momentum

Courtesy of Simon Pulse

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Courtesy of Xpresso Book Tours

Recently Read:

Currently Reading:

Reading Next:
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Review: All I Need by Susane Colasanti

All I NeedAll I Need by Susane Colasanti

Publication Date: May 21, 2013
Page Count: 240
Published by: Viking Juvenile
Source: Library

Synopsis From Goodreads:

The last night of summer is only the beginning.

Skye wants to meet the boy who will change her life forever. Seth feels their instant connection the second he sees her. When Seth starts talking to Skye at the last beach party of the summer, it’s obvious to both of them that this is something real. But when Seth leaves for college before they exchange contact info, Skye wonders if he felt the same way she did—and if she will ever see him again. Even if they find their way back to each other, can they make a long-distance relationship work despite trust issues, ex drama, and some serious background differences?

Teen favorite Susane Colasanti returns to the alternating-voice style of her beloved debut When It Happens in this Serendipity-inspired story about summer, soul mates, and the moments that change our lives forever.

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I love reading contemporary novels, and Susane Colasanti writes some of the best. All I Need was a very quick read that was told in alternating POVs, which I always love. It was super cute and would be wonderful to read when you are looking for a light and sweet romance. Perfect for a summer day at the pool or the beach.

Skye and Seth meet at an end of summer beach party while they both are on vacation. They have an instant attraction to each other and really feel a strong connection. Skye really believed in the idea of true love and soulmates. So the first guy that comes along who she feels a connection with, she jumps to the conclusion that they are soulmates, even though they have only known each other for 2 days. I would have preferred to see their relationship develop more before deciding they were perfect for each other and destined to be together forever.

Seth was getting over a bad breakup and didn't really believe in true love when he met Skye. I liked Seth and I enjoyed reading about his first year at college. I was happy to learn that Seth has an emotional outlet in his art, and I enjoyed knowing that he was passionate about it enough to want to change his future to pursue his dreams. He was a really sweet guy and I liked him a lot.

As mush as I enjoyed Skye and Seth, I wish their characters had been more fleshed out. The storyline jumps forward in time too often to get a good feel for the characters, and I didn't get to know them as well as I would have liked.

I did enjoy the writing, and I thought the plot was pretty straightforward, but there wasn't a lot of action. This is mainly a story about the struggles that come with growing up and trying to have a long distance relationship with that one special person. The protagonists were young and inexperienced, and at different places in their lives, but I still wanted their relationship to work.

If you can get over the insta-like, and if you believe that one moment in time can really change everything, then you may find All I Need to be a really sweet story. It had a lot of cute and funny moments that I really enjoyed. While not my favorite of Susane Colasanti’s books - it’s still one I would recommend to anyone looking for a light, contemporary YA romance.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
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Stand Alone Reading Challenge
Contemporary Reading Challenge
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Waiting On Wednesday (83) Find Me

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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: September 24th 2013 by Harper Teen

Synopsis From Goodreads:

"Find Me." These are the words written on Tessa Waye's diary. The diary that ends up with Wick Tate. But Tessa's just been found...dead.

Wick has the right computer-hacking skills for the job, but little interest in this perverse game of hide-and-seek. Until her sister Lily is the next target. Then Griff, trailer-park boy next door and fellow hacker, shows up, intent on helping Wick.

Is a happy ending possible with the threat of Wick's deadbeat dad returning, the detective hunting him sniffing around Wick instead, and a killer taunting her at every step?

Foster child. Daughter of a felon. Loner hacker girl. Wick has a bad attitude and sarcasm to spare.

But she's going to find this killer no matter what.

Because it just got personal.

This sounds really good! Extra bonus points for being a stand alone. If I didn't already have SO many September books to read and review, I would have liked to request this. That's okay with me - I'll just have to wait and read it when it is released.

What are you waiting on this week?
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Top Ten Tuesday (21) Books At The Top Of My Summer TBR List


Top Ten Tuesday brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish.
Top Ten Books At The Top Of My Summer TBR List

I have tons of arcs waiting to be read this summer. Most are books that I am truly dying to read NOW! And I have a few books that were released recently I haven't gotten around to reading yet. These are the 10 books that I plan on reading next, in no particular order:

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Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols
Expected publication: July 16th 2013 by MTV Books

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Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn
Published June 11th 2013 by HarperTeen

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All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
Expected publication: September 3rd 2013 by Disney Hyperion

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Weather Witch (Weather Witch #1) by Shannon Delany
Expected publication: June 25th 2013 by St. Martin's Griffin

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Wild Cards (Wild Cards #1) by Simone Elkeles
Expected publication: September 24th 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

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Star Cursed (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #2) by Jessica Spotswood
Expected publication: June 18th 2013 by Putnam Juvenile

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Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne
Expected publication: July 2nd 2013 by Sourcebooks Fire

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When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney
Published June 4th 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

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The Collector (Dante Walker #1) by Victoria Scott
Published April 2nd 2013 by Entangled Teen

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The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Expected publication: July 2nd 2013 by Harper Teen


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Cover Reveal: Indelible by Bethany Lopez

Cover Reveal!


Title: Indelible
Author: Bethany Lopez
Expected release date: July 9, 2013
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group: New Adult
Cover Designed by : B Design – Photo by Kelsey Kukal-Keeton
Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

Book Synopsis:

After a year of partying, Sam decides to buckle down and focus on college. Things are going great until a one-night stand leaves her pregnant and alone. Raising a child while going to school isn’t easy, but Sam is determined to be strong for her daughter. She doesn’t have time for guys or relationships, and takes great care to protect her child and her heart.

Judd doesn’t fit the mold of a college ballplayer. His long hair and tattoos may fit the life he’s created for himself, but baseball is the one thing he takes seriously. When he meets Sam, he’s immediately drawn to her curves and refusal to put up with his crap. When Judd learns the truth, can he handle the responsibility that comes with loving a single mother?

Sam yearns for the fire that Judd fuels in her, but her child’s needs have to come first. Can two people at different stages in their life find a way to make a life together?


Author Bio:


Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. Since then she has published various YA and NA books. She is a lover of romance, family, and friends, and enjoys incorporating those things in what she writes. When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible.


Author social media links:

IAN / Webpage / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

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Waiting On Wednesday (82) To Be Perfectly Honest

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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, 496 pages
Expected publication: August 27th 2013 by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Her friends
have a joke about her:
How can you tell if Colette is lying?

Her mouth is open.

Fifteen-year-old Colette is addicted to lying. Her shrink says this is because she’s got a very bad case of Daughter-of-a-famous-movie-star Disorder—so she lies to escape out from under her mother’s massive shadow. But Colette doesn’t see it that way. She says she lies because it’s the most fun she can have with her clothes on. Not that she’s had that much fun with her clothes off. At least not yet, anyway…

When her mother drags her away from Hollywood to spend the entire summer on location in a boring little town in the middle of nowhere, Colette is less than thrilled. But then she meets a sexy biker named Connor. He’s older, gorgeous, funny, and totally into her. So what if she lies to him about her age, and about who her mother is? I mean, she has to keep her mother’s identity a secret from him. If he finds out who she really is, he’ll forget all about Colette, and start panting and drooling and asking her for her mother’s autograph. Just like everyone always does.

But what Colette doesn’t know is that Connor is keeping a secret of his own…

Sounds like another cute contemporary from Sonya Sones! And it's a novel in verse, which I love!

What are you waiting on this week?
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Top Ten Tuesday (20) Beach Reads


Top Ten Tuesday brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish.
Top Ten Beach Reads

I live nowhere near an ocean beach. I am smack dab in the middle of the country, so the 'beach' for us is at lakes, rivers, or streams. No beaches on the flooded Mississippi. No beaches on the flooded Missouri. So currently we are left with creeks and/or streams.... we just found a new park that opened up near us that has a 'beach' on a creek, so that's the closest I can get to the real thing for now. Sad, isn't it? Oh, my kids have never seen the ocean. So far, they refuse to fly, and I refuse to drive 20+ hours to get there.

So here are my beach reads, in no particular order:

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This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Golden by Jessi Kirby

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland

All 3 of these are new releases and just perfect for a day at the beach!

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The Trouble with Flirting by Claire LaZebnik
Summer vacation at a Shakespeare Theatre group. Tons of fun!

How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
Summertime and a road trip!

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Past Perfect by Leila Sales
This book is adorable! I just love it. I wish everyone would read it.

On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
This is a seriously good book. If you haven't read this yet, you really should!

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Definitely not 'light' reading, but it's really good!

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
My favorite Jennifer Echols book. I adore Johnafter. Best book boyfriend ever! (That sounds weird coming from me, since I'm old enough to be his mother. In fact, my son is 18, so a 'book boyfriend' who is 19 is just weird. How about best book son instead? Would that be acceptable?)

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Persuasion by Jane Austen
Last, but not least. Everyone should read Persuasion.


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