Waiting On Wednesday (44) Star Crossed (Stargazer #1) by Jennifer Echols

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:

Star Crossed (Stargazer #1) by Jennifer Echols

384 pages

Expected publication: February 26th 2013 by Pocket Books

Synopsis From Goodreads:

The first novel in a sizzling new series about a public relations firm, the stars they represent, and everything they’d rather keep private.Wendy Mann loves her job rescuing celebrities from public relations scrapes. She grew up with nothing, and now she’s drawn to glitz, glamour, and a lighthearted lifestyle. She speaks her mind, so she’s just the tough cookie to tell stars the truth about how other people see them, even when they don’t want to hear it. But after six years at the top of her game, Wendy crosses the line. A star she was sent to save rebels against her and nearly gets her fired. To salvage her job, she must rehabilitate the career of a singing starlet with a penchant for posting inappropriate photos of herself and arguing online with her famous ex. Problem is, the ex is represented by Wendy’s arch nemesis from college, the hot and haughty Daniel Ito. And both stars are scheduled for a collision course on national television, broadcast live from Las Vegas.

Daniel’s uneasy when he hears Wendy Mann from his firm’s most hated competitor has been brought in to revive the career of his client’s ex-girlfriend. Daniel must win at any cost. And if he has to seduce Wendy to smooth the way to their partnership, he’s willing to sacrifice himself for the cause. But Daniel doesn’t count on the scorching heat between them—and when they get to Vegas, all bets are off.

It has a cover! I'm SO excited. I really, really can't wait to read this! Eeeeeekkkk... It's the first book in a new series by Jennifer Echols and it's actually not YA. This series features young professional adults. I must repeat - I am so excited!

What are you waiting on this week?

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Teaser Tuesday (6)

Teaser Tuesdays 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!

Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3) by Rachel Hawkins

Hardcover, 327 pages
Published March 13th 2012 by Hyperion Book CH

"You can call yourself whatever you want." ~ Mom
"Okay. Sophie Awesome Sparkle-Princess it is." ~ Sophie
page 70

Sophie is back and full of wit and snark! I love all of the humor tossed in with the life or death situations. I put off reading Spell Bound until recently, and now I'm really sad to see this series end.

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Review: Through To You by Emily Hainsworth

Through To You by Emily Hainsworth

Publication Date: October 2nd, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Page Count: 272 pages
Format: eBook
Source: eARC provided for review by Balzer + Bray

Synopsis From Goodreads:

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.

My Thoughts:

I really didn't know what to expect when I first started reading Through To You. I usually read more contemporary stories, but I can handle a bit of paranormal now and then. I thought the plot was original and intriguing, and the writing was good enough to hold my attention throughout.

The protagonist, Camden, really faces a lot of challenges in his life. He is moody and depressed after a string of hardships, the last being the death of his girlfriend, Viv. He is mopey and angst filled for almost the first half of the book. I kept reading because I was certain his disposition would improve as the story went along and he discovers the parallel world and 'his' Viv. I did have a lot of sympathy for Camden, and I could understand his grief up to a point. I also realize that his extreme feelings of loss are of his own doing - after making Viv the center of his universe, he was completely lost without her.

It's not until about halfway through the book that the storyline really picks up. I was very intrigued by the appearance of the portal to the parallel world. I was wondering how it would come about and how it would work. Camden's forays into the portal are very interesting. I won't go into too much detail because I don't want to give away the entire plot. Suffice it to say that Camden realizes that things are not as they seem on the other side. I could definitely understand Cam's interest in the parallel world - in his mind it was his opportunity for a second chance.

The writing is really good, and I love the idea of a parallel world. I really felt the story wasn't as great as it could have been. The Goodreads synopsis spoils the parallel universe, so by the time we get to that part in the book there is no shock or surprise. We already know what is going on, so now what? With the element of surprise taken out of the reader's hands, Through To You failed to deliver the suspense and drama that would have made it really stand out.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of paranormal books. Even though it's not completely gripping and edge-of-your-seat compelling, it's still very entertaining. It was a fast and easy read, and interesting enough to keep me reading to the end.

eARC provided for review by Balzer + Bray.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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September New Release Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop on the September New Release Giveaway Hop, which is hosted by Book Twirps & Refracted Light Reviews.

I am giving away 1 copy of

The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle #1) by by Maggie Stiefvater.

(I read it and loved it and I want to read it again! It was so good. I want everyone to read and enjoy it and ooh and aah and gush to the extreme with me.)

Contest Rules:

• The hop runs September 15th through July 30th.
• Giveaway is International as long as The Book Depository ships to your country.
• 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.
• Be sure to check out the linky below and visit all of the participating blogs.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Review: Of Poseidon (The Syrena Legacy #1) by Anna Banks

Of Poseidon (The Syrena Legacy #1) by Anna Banks

Publication Date: May 22nd, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Page Count: 336 pages
Source: Library

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen — literally, ouch! — both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom . . .

Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

I had been eagerly anticipating reading Of Poseidon for months. The premise is very unique and interesting. Sadly, it was less than I expected and I was terribly disappointed. I usually enjoy stories that are told from both the female and male POVs, but this time it just didn't work for me. The change in POVs was very noticeable and distracted me while reading. It also made the writing feel a bit clunky at times. But there was quite a bit of humor and snark that I did enjoy, so that was good.

I really liked the mermaid aspects of this book, and learning more about the underwater world (which there was not enough of) and Syrena mythology (which there may have been too much of). I had a hard time keeping some of the facts straight about Poseidon and Triton because I am not familiar with them.

I had a problem connecting with or relating to any of the characters. That just made it harder to find something - anything really - to enjoy about this book. I liked Emma well enough - she is strong willed and stubborn. Galen didn't do anything for me. I guess he was supposed to be strong and manly and good looking like a God or something. But that is not enough to make a great character, and when he opened his mouth I found him less attractive. His overbearing attitude bothered the crap out of me, so I don't think I have anything nice to say about him.

I did not care about any of the relationships in Of Poseidon. You would think with so many characters, and the mating and what not, brotherly love, friendships and so on, there would be a relationship to grab on to and enjoy. There wasn't. I was extremely bothered by the overall theme throughout the book that women had no say in their own lives. That they are objects and the men decide everything for them. Oh hell no, not in MY world!

Overall, this was a very disappointing read for me. I'm not sure if this is a series that I will continue reading. I know not everyone will have issues with it like I did. This book is sure to appeal to some, so read it and form your own opinion.

And if I never read "Ohmysweetgoodness" again it will be too soon.

My Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

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Waiting On Wednesday (43)

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:

Blind Spot by Laura Ellen

Hardcover, 336 pages
Expected publication: October 23rd 2012 by Harcourt Children's Books

Synopsis From Goodreads:
There’s none so blind as they that won’t see.

Seventeen-year-old Tricia Farni’s body floated to the surface of Alaska’s Birch River six months after the night she disappeared. The night Roz Hart had a fight with her. The night Roz can’t remember. Roz, who struggles with macular degeneration, is used to assembling fragments to make sense of the world around her. But this time it’s her memory that needs piecing together—to clear her name . . . to find a murderer.

This unflinchingly emotional novel is written in the powerful first-person voice of a legally blind teen who just wants to be like everyone else.

Why I Want To Read It:
Laura Ellen uses her personal experience with macular degeneration as the basis for Blind Spot. That, and the fact that she actually used to live in Fairbanks, Alaska, should make this an interesting read. And a murder mystery? I'm in!

What are you waiting on this week?

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Book News: Second Chance (First Comes Love, #2) by Katie Kacvinsky

Katie Kacvinsky, author of First Comes Love, has wrote and self published the follow up story, Second Chance (First Comes Love #2). I read First Comes Love earlier this year and really enjoyed it. You can read my review HERE. I can't wait to read Second Chance and find out what happens next with Gray and Dylan.

You can purchase your copy of First Comes Love HERE on Amazon.
You can purchase your copy of Second Chance HERE on Amazon.com. It's only $2.99!

First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Like his name, Gray is dark and stormy. Dylan, a girl always searching for what's next, seemingly unable to settle down, is the exact opposite: full of light and life. On the outside, they seem like an unlikely couple. But looks can be deceiving and besides, opposites attract.

What starts as friendship, turns into admiration, respect and caring, until finally these two lone souls find they are truly in love with each other.

But staying in love is not as easy as falling in love. If Dylan and Gray want their love to last, they're going to have to work at it. And learn that sometimes love means having to say you're sorry.

Second Chance by Katie Kacvinsky

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Can two drastically different, imperfect people be perfect for each other?

It’s been four months since Gray and Dylan have seen each other. Dylan’s been traveling in Europe, while Gray has college, baseball, and a life rooted in one place. Gray’s determined to forget Dylan, the girl he fell in love with in FIRST COMES LOVE. Besides, how do you make a relationship work with an independent loner?

Just when he decides he’s over her, Dylan makes an unexpected entrance back into his life, hoping their steamy romance can start right where it left off. Gray realizes you can tell your mind to do one thing, but you can’t always convince your heart to follow. Dylan realizes she finally has to make a choice between freedom and her relationship with Gray.

Hilarious, intense, inspiring, and emotional, SECOND CHANCE shows that love is a journey, and there are never clear road signs or maps to guide you along. You can only navigate with your heart.

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Review: The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee

The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee

Publication Date: July 17th, 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Page Count: 388 pages
Format: ebook
Source: eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Rinn Jacobs has secrets: One, she’s bipolar. Two, she killed her grandmother.

After a suicide attempt, and now her parents' separation, Rinn and her mom move from California to the rural Ohio town where her mother grew up. Back on her medications and hoping to stay well, Rinn settles into her new home, undaunted by the fact that the previous owner hanged herself in Rinn's bedroom. At school, her classmates believe the school pool is haunted by Annaliese, a girl who drowned there. But when a reckless séance goes awry, and terrible things start happening to her new friends—yet not to her—Rinn is determined to find out why she can’t be "touched" by Annaliese...or if Annaliese even exists.

With the help of Nate Brenner, the hunky “farmer boy” she’s rapidly falling for, Rinn devises a dangerous plan to uncover the truth. Soon reality and fantasy meld into one, till Rinn finds it nearly impossible to tell the difference. When a malevolent force threatens the lives of everyone she cares about--not to mention her own--she can't help wondering: who should she really be afraid of?

Annaliese? Or herself?

My Thoughts:

I was really looking forward to reading The Unquiet, and I really wanted to love it, but in the end I thought it was just okay. The premise is enticing and there is plenty of drama and angst - enough to make things interesting and to keep me reading to find out what happens next. The writing is very descriptive and keeps the story entertaining.

The author does manage to keep up the creepy factor throughout the book. I just felt that the story kept going and going without any sort of resolution in sight. I want to compare it to any of the scary movie series where the characters are killed off one by one, and the rest of them never get a clue and figure out who's doing it and how to survive. The viewer can't look away, even though they know what's coming. That's how I felt while reading The Unquiet.

I liked Rinn as a character, although I never personally connected with her. As the story progressed, I really started wondering how reliable Rinn was as the narrator. Was she delusional? Where these things really happening, or was it all in her imagination? Rinn was on so many drugs to help her bipolar disorder, and the way she described things going on around her it was as if she was watching from outside her body. The reader has no way of knowing if the goings on were real or just really weird!

Overall, I did enjoy reading The Unquiet, and I am interested in what Garsee will write next. I definitely recommend The Unquiet if you love scary and creepy! You will get your fill with this book.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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