Waiting On Wednesday (91) The Naturals

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

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

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Hardcover, 304 pages

Expected publication: November 5th 2013 by Disney-Hyperion

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.

Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

This one sounds super amazing! I was so excited when I received this on NetGalley, and I can't wait to read it.

I've never read anything by this author before, so hopefully I will enjoy it. And also, this cover? I love it. The other cover with the blonde girl on it didn't interest me at all. But this one? It got me to read the synopsis and add the book to my tbr.

What are you waiting on this week?

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Review: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Publication Date: May 21, 2013
Page Count: 352
Published by: Simon Pulse
Source: Library

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

The Book of Broken Hearts was awesome! Such a great contemporary, and it was so much better than I thought it would be. It is a completely wonderful story about love and family.

Jude was an awesome protagonist, and I totally loved everything about her. She is pretty, smart, and funny. I loved her ability to think for herself and make her own decisions. I especially loved her relationship with her father.

Emilio is a bit tough, but he also has a vulnerable side to him that definitely makes him more swoon worthy. He has a ton of charm, and I loved how sweet he was with Jude and her family - you could really see how much he cared about them.

I absolutely loved Jude and Emilio together. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I loved how their relationship was built on mutual admiration and respect. They both had their struggles and a lot to overcome, but deep down they were both good people. I loved how easily Emilio slipped into the Hernandez's lives and just seemed to fit.

I loved the idea of THE BOOK. It seriously made sense for her sisters, and I could completely understand why they made it. But times have changed, people have changed, and the book just didn't have the same meaning for Jude. What Jude needed was to learn how to deal with her feelings for this Vargas brother without any interference from her sisters.

I thought this was a wonderful, family oriented story with amazing characters. Although there is an adorable romance, this book deals with some pretty serious issues too. It is both heart warming and heart breaking. I have such tremendous love for this book, and I highly recommend it.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Series Saturday (4)

Series: Woodcutter Sisters

Enchanted (Woodcutter Sisters #1) by Alethea Kontis

I loved Enchanted so much! I thought it was a fantastic story. It was sweet and charming, cute and complicated, quirky, beautiful, and romantic. Kontis was so clever with the way she effortlessly weaved familiar fairytales with original aspects to make a truly interesting story. I loved all of the wonderful characters because each had a unique personality and played an important part in the story.

I really loved the unconventional romance between Rumbold and Sunday. Rumbold begins this tale as a frog, but he somehow manages to make Sunday fall in love with him despite this. Later, as a man, Rumbold attempts to make Sunday fall in love with him all over again.

I can't wait to continue reading this magical and romantic series with the next book, Hero, which will be released on October 1, and will feature Sunday's sister, Saturday, and a pirate ship! The third book in this series Beloved, features Friday and will be released in 2014.

Have you started reading this series yet? Does this sound like something you would enjoy reading as much as I did?

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Waiting On Wednesday (90) Rebel Belle

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

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

Rebel Belle (Untitled Series #1) by Rachel Hawkins

Hardcover, 384 pages

Expected publication: April 8th 2014 by Putnam Juvenile

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.

Ugh! Such a long wait for this book to be released! BUT... I don't care because it's Rachel Hawkins, author of the amazing Hex Hall series (and School Spirits!) Rebel Belle sounds like all kinds of awesome.

What are you waiting on this week?

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Review: Catching Liam (Good Girls Don't #1) by Sophia Bleu

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

Publication Date: June 25, 2013
Page Count: 380, Kindle Edition
Published by: Sophia Bleu Books
Source: eArc provided in exchange for an honest review

New Adult Contemporary Romance **Mature Content**
Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language.

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Twenty-one year-old Jillian Nichols only has one rule when it comes to boys: catch and release. Boy-catching isn't just a game for Jillian and her friends, it's a lifestyle. After all, boys might be good for a dance or a drink and certainly a little under-cover action of the scandalous variety, but expect much else and you're bound for heart ache.

So when her best friends and fellow boy catchers start dropping like flies junior year, Jillian is determined to keep boys in her bedroom and out of her heart. Until she meets Liam McAvoy, the kind of guy that sticks around to make waffles and who can't—or perhaps won't—take a hint.

Study abroad student Liam doesn't want to be another notch on Jillian's bedpost. Actually he has much more interesting ideas for Jillian and her bedposts, but his student visa's set expiration date means he can't promise her forever. That doesn't mean he's going to walk away from the challenge of discovering why Jillian is hell-bent at keeping people at a distance.

Before long, neither is sure who is catching who—or if they're playing for keeps. Jillian knows one thing though: falling in love will not only break the only rule of boy-catching, it could also break her heart.

This is a standalone novel in the Good Girls Don't series.

I really didn't know what to expect when I started reading Catching Liam. It really surprised me and I ended up loving it! It was the perfect mix of heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Jillian and Liam were terrific characters that were easy to connect with, and I really enjoyed reading about them. Their relationship started off a bit differently than most, and I enjoyed watching them get to know each other. On the surface Jillian and Liam are so different, yet they seemed so perfect for each other. I love their personalities and the way they interact with each other. Even though the attraction between them was instant, I liked that the romance was slow in developing.

Jillian had some serious issues, and I love how the author dealt with things realistically. Jillian was the perfect blend of tough and vulnerable. Liam had a big heart and was very supportive, and he showed he definitely had staying power. He also had a ton of patience when Jillian repeatedly tried to push him away.

The plot went a lot deeper than I thought it would, and it made this an interesting read. Along with the sweet and steamy romance, we also had a lot of funny, dramatic, and angst filled moments that really made this a well rounded book.

Overall, this was a terrific book that I really enjoyed reading. I thought the characters were well developed and the writing was perfect. Catching Liam is a heartwarming contemporary story that I found to be highly entertaining, and I would definitely recommend it. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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July Recap and August TBR

I'm feeling pretty good because I managed to read 10 books last month! That's a lot for me. I am reading a ton of arcs this month for September reviews. Hopefully they are really good books! I'll be sure to let you know what I think of them.







Books Read in July:

Weather Witch (Weather Witch #1) by Shannon Delany
Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols
Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne
Lick (Stage Dive #1) by Kylie Scott
When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney
Catching Liam (Good Girls Don't #1) by Sophia Bleu
The Last Boyfriend (Forever Love #1) by J.S. Cooper
Wild Cards (Wild Cards #1) by Simone Elkeles
Leap of Faith by Jamie Blair
Take Me Now (Take Me Now #1) by Faith Sullivan

Total Pages Read in July: 2726

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

Burning by Elana K. Arnold
Weather Witch (Weather Witch #1) by Shannon Delany
Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols
The Last Boyfriend (Forever Love #1) by J.S. Cooper
Kindness for Weakness by Shawn Goodman
The Rules for Disappearing (The Rules for Disappearing #1) by Ashley Elston





August TBR:

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill Read
Starry Nights by Daisy Whitney Read
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
Dead Ends by Erin Jade Lange
Out of Play by Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn Read
Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts
Thin Space by Jody Casella Read
Real (Real, Raw & Ripped #1) by Katy Evans Read

I don't know if I will read all of these books before the end of the month, but I am certainly going to try! I have SO many arcs of September books that I will have to read the others in September. I don't even know what to read first because I want to read them all NOW! Any suggestions on what to read first?

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Series Saturday (3)

So, this week I want to talk about the Fallen series by Lauren Kate. I will admit up front that I have not read all 4 books. I just....no way. I couldn't force myself to go beyond the first 2 books.

Oh, I was all up on that bandwagon when Fallen came out. So I read Fallen, like a lot of other people, and I really couldn't say whether or not I liked it. I had no idea if I didn't 'get it' because it was awesome, or if I didn't 'get it' because it was so bad. And I had absolutely no idea what just went down. What was with the past lives and the fires and the disappearing after kissing? I'm getting old, and my mind is failing me, so I can't recall many details of this series. At the time I thought that I would just wait for Torment to come out, read it, and figure it out then. Like I would actually get a freaking clue and more info from Torment and understand what the frick happened in Fallen.

If you have read this series, then you know that didn't happen. Not even close. After I read Torment I was more confused than ever. I just didn't get it. It didn't make sense then. I doesn't make sense now. And I've thought about it. Lots.

So wait. Check this out. I came up with a brilliant idea. I would read Fallen again! Because THAT made sense to me. Seriously. I thought that if I just read Fallen again, all those secrets and hints and creepy killer kisses and mysterious past lives other weird things I didn't understand would all come together and I would have an "Aha" moment. Yeah right. I was more confused than ever!

This series has ended, and no one talks about it anymore, so I don't know if I am the only one still scratching my head over the first 2 books. Is it really just me? I certainly hope not. I like to think that I am fairly intelligent, but this shit has me thinking I'm cray-cray.

It's frustrating!

I can't possibly continue with this series when I'm constantly thinking WTF just happened? And getting NO answers. And wait - why do Luce and Daniel love each other? And WHY did this 'trilogy' become 4 books?

Is Torment an appropriate name for this book? Let me know what you think of this series!

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Review: The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston

The Rules for Disappearing (The Rules for Disappearing #1) by Ashley Elston

Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Page Count: 320
Published by: Disney-Hyperion
Source: eARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis From Goodreads:

She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.

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. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.

But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.

I picked up The Rules for Disappearing completely expecting to be entertained, and I was not disappointed! This book totally worked for me. Especially the ending. I didn't see that coming, so I was pleasantly surprised.

I enjoyed reading about Meg, the protagonist, and I could definitely sympathize with her situation. I liked that she was protective of her family and would do anything for them. I loved her relationship with her younger sister, Teeny. Meg was definitely strong willed and had a lot of determination.

I thought Ethan was a lovable character. I really liked him, and I enjoyed the romantic element that he brought to the story. Meg really needed someone outside the family that she could feel safe with, and he turned out to be a great guy and very supportive. I loved his scenes with Teeny - he was so sweet with her! And he was so caring and understanding with Meg, even when she tried to shut him out.

It's hard to imagine how difficult it would be to live in the Witness Protection Program. Elston was able to show how it affected the entire family in a negative way. While I was reading, I was dying to know why Meg and her family were in the Witness Protection Program. I didn't guess the correct reason, even though I tried to piece the clues together. I definitely had theories, but I was still surprised when the truth came out.

One thing that I really enjoyed, was at the beginning of each chapter were Meg's Rules for Disappearing. In order to survive the constant moving and changing, Meg has developed a set of 'rules' that she follows regarding the program. She is getting tired of new identities and being secreted from location to location, and she is always hoping that this will be her family's final move. I found the chapter titles to be interesting - they were like getting a glimpse at what Meg would be dealing with in each chapter.

Overall, I thought this was a very entertaining story. The plot was laid out very well, and I loved the way pieces of the truth were revealed little by little. There was enough suspense and action to keep me reading right up to the end. There was wonderful dialogue, terrific character development, and the writing was stellar. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


2013 Debut Author Challenge
2013 YA Contemporary Challenge

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