Waiting On Wednesday (141) Compulsion (The Heirs of Watson Island #1) by Martina Boone

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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.

Wednesday is my absolute favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

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Expected publication: October 28th 2014 by Simon Pulse

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Beautiful Creatures meets The Body Finder in this spellbinding new trilogy.

Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.

All her life, Barrie Watson had been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lived with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt’s South Carolina plantation instead--a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.

Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn’t what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead.

I don't even know what to think about this one. Southern gothic paranormal romance? Anyway, it's getting rave reviews by some really popular authors, so I hope this is as awesome as it sounds!

What are you waiting on this week?
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Blog Tour: Before You (Before & After #1) by Amber Hart


Today I am spotlighting Before You by Amber Hart, which is the first book in her Before & After Series. I've already read this one, and I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Expected publication: July 29th 2014 by K-Teen


Synopsis:

Some say love is deadly. Some say love is beautiful. I say it is both.

Faith Watters spent her junior year traveling the world, studying in exquisite places, before returning to Oviedo High School. From the outside her life is picture-perfect. Captain of the dance team. Popular. Happy. Too bad it’s all a lie.

It will haunt me. It will claim me. It will shatter me. And I don't care.

Eighteen-year-old Diego Alvarez hates his new life in the States, but staying in Cuba is not an option. Covered in tattoos and scars, Diego doesn't stand a chance of fitting in. Nor does he want to. His only concern is staying hidden from his past—a past, which if it were to surface, would cost him everything. Including his life.

At Oviedo High School, it seems that Faith Watters and Diego Alvarez do not belong together. But fate is as tricky as it is lovely. Freedom with no restraint is what they long for. What they get is something different entirely.

Love—it will ruin you and save you, both.
PURCHASE BEFORE YOU:


ABOUT AMBER HART

Amber Hart grew up in Orlando, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. She now resides on the Florida coastline with family. When unable to find a book, she can be found writing, daydreaming, or with her toes in the sand. She's the author of BEFORE YOU, AFTER US, UNTIL YOU FIND ME, and sequel to UNTIL YOU FIND ME (untitled as of yet). Represented by Beth Miller of Writers House.

She lives outside Washington, DC with her family and English Bulldog.


CONNECT WITH AMBER HART
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Sunday Updates (46)


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

I haven't done one of these posts in quite a few weeks, so I thought it was time for one. I don't like to request a ton of arcs because I don't want to get overwhelmed with reading and reviewing in a timely manner. So I only request books that I really, really want to read. I have read some really good books lately, and it looks like I have even more good ones coming up. I can't wait!

eArcs Received For Review:

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Thanks to Simon Pulse, Disney-Hyperion, Kensington Books, Soho Teen, Scholastic, and St. Martin's Griffin.
I'm really excited about reading all of these, but especially Perfect Couple and Killer Instinct.

Borrowed from the Library:

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I totally forgot Endless was coming out this month!

Won:

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No, you're not imagining things. Sinner is on here 3 times. My request finally got approved on NetGalley last week. The next day I received notice that I had won a copy on Goodreads. And the next day my library copy came in. Hmmmm... No matter, I'm looking forward to reading it (even though I think the ending of the trilogy was a total cop out that left me with more questions than answers. Disappointmentville. Don't get me started.)
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Waiting On Wednesday (140) Loop (Loop #1) by Karen Akins

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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.

Wednesday is my absolute favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

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Expected publication: October 21st 2014 by St. Martin's Griffin

Synopsis from Goodreads:

At a school where Quantum Paradox 101 is a required course and history field trips are literal, sixteen year-old time traveler Bree Bennis excels…at screwing up.

After Bree botches a solo midterm to the 21st century by accidentally taking a boy hostage (a teensy snafu), she stands to lose her scholarship. But when Bree sneaks back to talk the kid into keeping his yap shut, she doesn’t go back far enough. The boy, Finn, now three years older and hot as a solar flare, is convinced he’s in love with Bree, or rather, a future version of her that doesn’t think he’s a complete pain in the arse. To make matters worse, she inadvertently transports him back to the 23rd century with her.

Once home, Bree discovers that a recent rash of accidents at her school are anything but accidental. Someone is attacking time travelers. As Bree and her temporal tagalong uncover seemingly unconnected clues—a broken bracelet, a missing data file, the art heist of the millennium—that lead to the person responsible, she alone has the knowledge to piece the puzzle together. Knowledge only one other person has. Her future self.

But when those closest to her become the next victims, Bree realizes the attacker is willing to do anything to stop her. In the past, present, or future.

I enjoy time travel books. At least I like them when I'm not confused about the time part. This one sounds really good!

What are you waiting on this week?
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Review: Through to You by Lauren Barnholdt

Through to YouThrough to You by Lauren Barnholdt

Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Page Count: 288
Published by: Simon Pulse
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Opposites attract—and then complicate—in this romantic, relatable novel from the author of Two-Way Street and Sometimes It Happens.

It starts with a scribbled note in class: I like your sparkle. Harper had casually threaded a piece of blue and silver tinsel through her ponytail in honor of school spirit day. And that carefree, corny gesture is what grabs Penn Mattingly’s eye. Penn—resident heartbreaker of the senior class. Reliably unreliable. Trouble with a capital “T.” And okay, smolderingly sexy.

Harper’s surprised by Penn’s attention—and so is Penn. The last thing he needs is a girlfriend. Or even a friend-with-benefits. The note is not supposed to lead to anything.

Oh, but it does. They hang out. They have fun. They talk. They make out. And after a while, it seems like they just click. But Penn and Harper have very different ideas about what relationships look like, in no small part because of their very different family backgrounds. Of course they could talk about these differences—if Penn knew how to talk about feelings.

Harper and Penn understand their attraction is illogical, yet something keeps pulling them together. It’s like a crazy roller coaster—exhilarating, terrifying, and amazing all at once. And neither knows how to stop the ride…

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I was really looking forward to reading this book, and let me tell you that I was not disappointed. I picked this up before bed one night and ended up reading the entire book! I just couldn't put it down.

Harper was an okay character, and I liked her well enough, but I don't think her or her back story were well developed or all that interesting. For the most part, she seemed okay with the way Penn mistreated her. I wasn't okay with it, and I really wanted her to call him out on his crap. Also, there wasn't enough emphasis on her dancing considering that she was attempting to get a scholarship for a dance school. She didn't seem very passionate about it, and the whole thing was sort of an afterthought.

I thought Penn was interesting and I really wanted to like him, but it bothered me that I couldn't get a good feel for him, even though half of the story was from his POV. He was kind of messed up and had a lot of issues, but it seemed as though all of those problems were mostly superficial because he never dealt with any of them. He really wasn't able to analyze or voice his feelings and it caused him a lot of frustration. He was very good at shutting down whenever Harper pushed him, and he really seemed intent on keeping things at a superficial level between them. I didn't like the way he ran hot and cold with Harper, and I really wasn't fond of the way he treated her at times.

I liked Harper and Penn together, even though I'm not completely convinced that they made sense. Their relationship was fraught with tons of drama and angst. They were so on again, off again it could make your head spin! Penn tended to use emotions as a weapon, especially when Harper got too close. He was the one in control of their relationship, and while I could sort of understand where some of his actions were coming from, I wish he had been able to open up and be honest.

In the end, I really did like Through to You. I thought it was interesting and it held my attention throughout, but it wasn't without it's ups and downs. There were things that I enjoyed, and things that I couldn't get behind. But the writing was really great, and I liked that it was dual POV. I know this book might not be for everyone, but I certainly enjoyed it and would recommend it if you enjoy contemporary YA with a bit of angsty teen drama. I must end this review on a totally shallow note: I think this cover is totally cute.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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Review: Sharing You (Sharing You, #1) by Molly McAdams

Sharing You (Sharing You, #1)Sharing You (Sharing You, #1) by Molly McAdams

Publication Date: July 1, 2014
Page Count: 336
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review
Published by: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: New Adult 18+ due to adult situations

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Twenty-three year old, Kamryn Cunningham has left all she’s ever known and moved to a small town where no one knows her name, who her parents are, or her social status in the horseracing world. Months after opening her own bakery and evading attempts of being set up by her new best friend, she meets Brody. Kamryn fights the instant pull between them because there’s a detail she can’t dismiss. Brody’s married.

To say that twenty-six year old, Brody Saco has had a rough marriage would be an understatement. After marrying his pregnant girlfriend, he spends the next six years in a relationship filled with hatred, manipulation and guilt involving a tragedy that happened five years earlier. When he keeps running into his sister-in-law’s best friend, Kamryn, he can’t ignore that she makes him feel more with just one look than his wife ever has; and soon he can’t continue fight his feelings for her.

When staying apart proves to be too difficult, Brody and Kamryn enter a relationship full of stolen moments and nights that end too soon while they wait for Brody to file for divorce. But the guilt that comes with their relationship may prove to be too much for Kamryn, and Brody might not be strong enough to face the tragedy from his past in order to leave his conniving wife.

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This book is a hard one for me to talk about because it never got above 'average' for me.

I never really connected with KC/Kamryn and I felt that she was a weak character. But I came into this one already liking Brody because he appeared in Capturing Peace (Sharing You 0.5). I just wish he had been smarter in the way he handled things. I thought he wavered a lot with his decisions and he was easily swayed, which caused a lot of stress and unhappiness not only for himself, but for those around him.

I usually don't mind love triangles if they are done right. The thing with Sharing You though, is that the 'love' was only between 2 of the 3 participants. So, not a triangle at all. Brody was married to a woman who was a real bitch, and the only reason he stayed with her is because she laid on the guilt and made him feel like he deserved to be miserable. She was determined to make Brody pay for a mistake in his past. She was SO manipulative, but her behavior got really old, really fast. I felt bad for Brody because she continuously made him feel worthless, but at the same time I wanted him to step up and take some action to get away from this woman.

So I don't understand why everyone is down on the cheating aspect. My gosh, his own mother was trying to set him up with other women! At least she recognized how unhappy her son was and wanted to do something not only to make him happy, but to get him away from the harpy shrew that he was unfortunately married to. That being said, I wasn't a fan of the insta-love, and I feel that Brody and KC/Kamryn fell into a physical relationship much too quickly. There was never an explanation as to what they saw in each other that made them fall so fast, so I couldn't support their choices.

Overall, this was just an okay read for me. I don't regret reading it because I wanted to see how this storyline would play out. I just wish I had enjoyed it more. I would only recommend this one if you don't mind insta-love, 'cheating', whining, and lots of good old fashioned angst and misery.

My rating: 2.5 stars
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Waiting On Wednesday (139) Sublime by Christina Lauren

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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.

Wednesday is my absolute favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

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Expected publication: October 14th 2014 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Synopsis from Goodreads:

True love may mean certain death in a ghostly affair of risk and passion from New York Times bestselling duo Christina Lauren, authors of Beautiful Bastard. Tahereh Mafi, New York Times bestselling author of Shatter Me calls Sublime “a beautiful, haunting read".

When Lucy walks out of a frozen forest, wearing only a silk dress and sandals, she isn’t sure how she got there. But when she sees Colin, she knows for sure that she’s here for him.

Colin has never been captivated by a girl the way he is by Lucy. With each passing day their lives intertwine, and even as Lucy begins to remember more of her life—and her death—neither of them is willing to give up what they have, no matter how impossible it is. And when Colin finds a way to physically be with Lucy, taking himself to the brink of death where his reality and Lucy’s overlap, the joy of being together for those brief stolen moments drowns out everything in the outside world. But some lines weren’t meant to be crossed…

The synopsis for this book has changed at least 3 times. Each one sounds a little bit different, so I hope this turns out to be epic, and not cheesy, because I love a good romance! I don't really know if this is the first foray into YA for these authors, but I haven't read anything by either one before, so I hope I like this one.

What are you waiting on this week?
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Review: On the Fence by Kasie West

On the FenceOn the Fence by Kasie West

Publication Date: July 1, 2014
Page Count: 304
Published by: HarperTeen
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door…

Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. As she grows to depend on their nightly Fence Chats, she realizes she's got a bigger problem than speeding tickets-she's falling for Braden. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

Fun, original, and endearing, On the Fence is a romantic comedy about finding yourself and finding love where you least expect.

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You guys already knew that I was going to say that On The Fence was cute and adorable, right? Because you know how much I love contemporary stories, and this one was awesome. But it was so much more than just cute and adorable - it also has depth and so much heart.

Charlie and Braden's late night fence chats were the best part of this book for me. I loved how they were able to open up and be honest with each other. The darkness created an intimate setting and they were able to open up without any reservations. I really enjoyed seeing their relationship evolve from friends to maybe something more. I thought they were really great together, and their awkwardness and confusion about their feelings for each other added a lot of drama to the story.

On The Fence was full of genuinely likable characters. Charlie was so lovable, I couldn't help but like her. She definitely had a unique relationship with her 3 older and overprotective brothers, and I loved seeing their closeness throughout the book. Of course I adored Braden, the next door neighbor, who was just as close to Charlie as her real brothers. And you have to love a single dad who is completely clueless about how to raise a teenage daughter, but still tries so hard to be what she needs.

This feel good story was clean, quick and easy to read, and so darn enjoyable. There were plenty of really sweet moments, along with fun times and lots of laughs. This was a cute contemporary with more depth than I thought it would have, and I liked that about it. I could go on and on about how lovely this book was. With a believable romance, endearing characters, and great family dynamics, On The Fence is a book that should be on everyone's reading list.

My rating:  5 stars
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Cover Reveal: All Broke Down (Rusk University #2) by Cora Carmack


I am really excited to share the cover for Cora Carmack's ALL BROKE DOWN today! This is a New Adult Contemporary Romance published by William Morrow - an imprint of HarperCollins. This is the second book in her Rusk University Series, and it is set to be released on October 28, 2014! But you can pre-order it NOW! Check out what it's about and then fall in love with this gorgeous cover!

ABOUT ALL BROKE DOWN:

In this second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack’s New Adult, Texas-set Rusk University series, which began with All Lined Up, a young woman discovers that you can’t only fight for what you believe in . . . sometimes you have to fight for what you love

Dylan fights for lost causes. Probably because she used to be one.

Environmental issues, civil rights, corrupt corporations, and politicians—you name it, she’s probably been involved in a protest. When her latest cause lands her in jail overnight, she meets Silas Moore. He’s in for a different kind of fighting. And though he’s arrogant and infuriating, she can’t help being fascinated with him. Yet another lost cause.

Football and trouble are the only things that have ever come naturally to Silas. And it’s trouble that lands him in a cell next to do-gooder Dylan. He’s met girls like her before—fixers, he calls them, desperate to heal the damage and make him into their ideal boyfriend. But he doesn’t think he’s broken, and he definitely doesn’t need a girlfriend trying to change him. Until, that is, his anger issues and rash decisions threaten the only thing he really cares about, his spot on the Rusk University football team. Dylan might just be the perfect girl to help.

Because Silas Moore needs some fixing after all.


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Pre-Order Your Copy Today!

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iTunes

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And don’t forget to grab your copy of ALL LINED UP Today!

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iTunes

HeadshotAbout Cora Carmack:

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook

Author Goodreads ** ALL BROKE DOWN Goodreads

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Waiting On Wednesday (138) Stone Cove Island by Suzanne Myers

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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.

Wednesday is my absolute favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

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Expected publication: November 11th 2014 by Soho Teen

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When a catastrophic hurricane devastates Stone Cove Island, a quaint New England resort community, everyone pulls together to rebuild. Seventeen-year-old Eliza Elliot volunteers to clean out the island’s iconic lighthouse and stumbles upon a secret in the wreckage: a handwritten letter. On first glance, it hardly makes sense. But the longer Eliza studies it, the more convinced she becomes that it’s an anonymous confession to a 30-year-old crime: the unsolved murder of a local teen named Bess Linsky.

Soon Eliza finds herself in the throes of an investigation she never wanted or asked for. As Stone Cove Island fights to recover from disaster, Eliza plunges the locals back into a nightmare they believed was long buried.

Everybody is a suspect. Everywhere she turns, there might be an enemy. And everything she ever believed about her home is false.

This sounds like an interesting YA murder mystery that I can't wait to read. What are you waiting on this week?
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Review: The Rules for Breaking (The Rules for Disappearing #2) by Ashley Elston

The Rules for BreakingThe Rules for Breaking (The Rules for Disappearing #2) by Ashley Elston

Publication Date: May 20, 2014
Page Count: 309
Published by: Disney-Hyperion
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Who do you trust when no one is what they seem? The gripping sequel to contemporary, romantic YA thriller, The Rules for Disappearing.

Anna Boyd almost lost her life to get what she wanted most in the world: freedom.

But just when it seems that her family has finally escaped Witness Protection, the illusion that Anna could resume a normal life comes crashing down.

The deadly man Anna knows as Thomas is still on the loose, and now he's using her as a pawn in a dangerous game with the drug cartel determined to silence her forever. When Thomas and a mysterious masked man capture not only Anna but also her fragile younger sister and her boyfriend, Anna decides it's time to break all the rules-even if it means teaming up with the lesser of two evils.

Anna will do whatever it takes to protect the people she loves and win her life back once and for all. But her true enemies are hidden in plain sight. Before long, Anna will learn that putting her trust in anyone may be the last mistake she ever makes.

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The Rules for Breaking had so many twists and turns and shocking developments that it kept me on the edge of my seat. I never knew what to expect next, I just knew it was going to be entertaining! It was incredibly well written and had a great pace. I liked it just as much as I did the first book, The Rules for Disappearing.

Just when Anna gets settled into her new life and thinks that all of the hiding and secrets were over, the threats to her safety start back up. But Anna doesn't have only herself to worry about this time, she also has Ethan and her sister's lives in her hands as well. Anna stepped up and tried to protect the people she loved, and I liked that about her. She was willing to fight more this time around, and she didn't sit back and let things happen to her. Anna's 'Rules for Disappearing' were brought back for this book, but they were updated with the more appropriate 'Rules for Breaking', and they added a bit of comedy and snark.

We didn't get to see as much of Ethan as I would have preferred, but he still managed to be all kinds of cute and swoony, even though there wasn't any time for romance in the story. I loved how sweet and protective he was of Anna and Teeny, and how he never wanted to give up and stop helping them.

The man we know as Thomas - his behavior was all over the place and he was more dangerous than ever. I couldn't figure him out and wondered if he was bi-polar or just crazy because of his extreme behavior. He also had a sidekick this time to help carry out his dastardly deeds, an unknown 'masked man' whose identity was quite shocking. Anna and Ethan found themselves in quite a bit of trouble, and they weren't able to make good decisions because they really didn't know who to trust. The parents were neutralized (quite handily I might add) very early in the story, so they were no help at all.

I thought The Rules for Breaking was quite thrilling at times and very entertaining. I often worried for Anna and Ethan's safety and wondered how in the heck they would get out of the situations they constantly found themselves in. This book was definitely darker in tone than the first book, and it also had more danger and intrigue. I loved the plot, even if it was pretty much unrealistic. If you can suspend your disbelief for a few hours of entertainment, then you should really read this series.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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June Recap and July TBR

I only read 4 books in June because I was trying to chill out and take it easy so I wouldn't get burned out on reading and reviewing. I only have 4 books scheduled to read in July, and although I am looking forward to reading them, I should still have another good month of my mental break, and time to read some books just for me. Yay!

Read in June:

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Reviews posted in June:



July TBR:

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Since I'm not reading as much, I am trying to catch up on my reviews. I have quite a few already written and scheduled, so again, YAY ME!

I'm still plugging away at my Etsy store. I make and list new items daily.
Here are a few new cutesy things from this week:

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Review: The Secrets of Lily Graves by Sarah Strohmeyer

The Secrets of Lily GravesThe Secrets of Lily Graves by Sarah Strohmeyer

Publication Date: May 13, 2014
Page Count: 298
Published by: Balzer + Bray
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Growing up in a house of female morticians, Lily Graves knows all about buried secrets. She knows that perfect senior-class president Erin Donohue isn’t what she seems. She knows why Erin’s ex-boyfriend, hot football player Matt Houser, broke up with her. And she also knows that, even though she says she and Matt are just friends, there is something brewing between them—something Erin definitely did not like.

But secrets, even ones that are long buried, have a way of returning to haunt their keeper.

So when Erin is found dead the day after attacking Lily in a jealous rage, Lily's and Matt’s safe little lives, and the lives of everyone in their town of Potsdam, begin to unravel. And their relationship—which grew from innocent after-school tutoring sessions to late-night clandestine rendezvous—makes them both suspects.

As her world crumbles around her, Lily must figure out the difference between truth and deception, genuine love and a web of lies. And she must do it quickly, before the killer claims another victim.

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This was such a great book. Who cares if it wasn't completely realistic? It was still so darn enjoyable and had more than a few interesting characters. I really loved the murder mystery aspect. The story has other things going for it too, like friendship and a borderline obsession with death and the beginnings of a love story that unfortunately (at least for me) never really got off the ground. Combine all of these elements with really great writing, and you have a wonderful contemporary that had a touch of darkness to it.

Lily was such a great character and I really liked her. She was quite different and really didn't care what anyone thought of her, and I liked that about her. She worked at her family's funeral home, which was also where they lived. I was kind of creeped out by the funeral home aspect and Lily's desire to become a mortician, but I could tell how comfortable Lily was with it, and how much she enjoyed it there. She was really smart, and I thought it was very brave of her to attempt to discover who killed Erin, even though she didn't even like her!

There wasn't much romance in this story, but I didn't miss it, and it made me appreciate Matt and Lily's friendship even more. Matt was a wonderful character. He was really sweet to Lily and very protective of her. I thought he was really cute at times and he could definitely make a girl swoon.

I must admit that Lily wouldn't have wanted to try and solve the murder if it weren't for Barney Fife and the Mayberry Police Department's total incompetence. Yes, totally unrealistic that the police were so busy picking suspects and placing blame that they overlooked the big picture and couldn't see what was right in front of them. But this just made Lily more determined to uncover the clues herself.

I liked this book more than I ever thought I would. It had a wonderful murder mystery, a touch of romance, and many unexpected twists and turns. The killer's identity remained unknown to me until the reveal, so that really increased my reading pleasure. This was a very entertaining story that was a bit dark and disturbing at times. The book was fast paced, fun and easy to read, and as long as you don't take it too seriously, you'll probably enjoy it as much as I did.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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