Waiting For Wentworth

2013 Challenge Wrap Ups

Even though I only signed up for 3 challenges in 2013, I still had a hard time keeping track of everything. Evidently I suck at keeping track of books I've read! I definitely need to stay on top this year and make things easier on myself.

2013 YA Contemporary Challenge hosted by Katie's Book Blog

My goal for this year was 40 books, and I only reached 32. Kinda sucks for me, but I read quite a few New Adult and Adult contemps that didn't qualify. So I'll have to take that into account when I set my goals for 2014.

2013 Standalone Reading Challenge hosted by Icey Books.

The challenge was to read 15 Standalone Young Adult books released this year. I did great on this challenge by reading 26 books.

2013 Debut Author Challenge hosted by Hobbitsies.

I picked 10 books as my goal and I easily reached it. Some of these books were my favorite reads this year!

2013 Goodreads Reading Challenge

This was an easy challenge. I was in really bad shape at one time earlier in the year because I was in a semi reading slump. But I managed to catch up without any extra effort and finish the year right on my goal of 75 books. So YAY me!

2014 isn't too far away and I am researching which challenges I want to participate in. I don't know if I should keep the same challenges or shake things up this year.

A Little Too Much (A Little Too Far, #2)

A Little Too Much by Lisa Desrochers

Publication Date: November 12, 2013
Page Count: 416
Published by: William Morrow Impulse
Source: Review copy received from publisher in exchange for an honest review
New Adult Contemporary Romance **Contains Mature Content**
Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language.

Synopsis From Goodreads:

In the follow-up to Lisa Desrochers’ explosive New Adult novel A Little too Far, Alessandro Moretti must face the life he escaped and the girl he loved and left behind.

Twenty-two year old Hilary McIntyre would like nothing more than to forget her past. As a teenager abandoned to the system, she faced some pretty dark times. But now that’s all behind her. Hilary has her life on track, and there’s no way she’ll head back down that road again.

Until Alessandro Moretti—the one person who can make her remember—shows up on her doorstep. He’s even more devastatingly gorgeous than before, and he’s much too close for comfort. Worse, he sees right through the walls she’s built over these last eight years, right into her heart and the secrets she’s guarding.

As Hilary finds herself falling back into love with the man who, as a boy both saved and destroyed her, she must decide. Past or future? Truth or lies?

Oh my. I am so disappointed with this book. I had such high hopes for Alessandro's story, and I'm seriously feeling like A Little Too Much was a huge letdown.

It's very unfortunate that the author chose to write A Little Too Much from Hilary's POV. Experiencing this story through her eyes made it less appealing to me. I thought Hilary was really lacking any personality traits that I found pleasing, and giving her so many problems didn't make me have any feelings for her other than dislike. I never really connected with her at all, and I spent most of the book wishing I wasn't reading about her.

I was introduced to Alessandro in A Little Too Far, and I thought he was a fascinating character and I absolutely loved him. I couldn't wait to read A Little Too Much and spend more time with him. He completely captivated me and left me wanting to dive deeper into his story. I wanted to get inside his head and see what he was thinking and feeling. Alessandro was such a tortured soul in A Little Too Far, and I felt that he was just a shell in this book and only there to give Hilary a love interest. The previous version of Alessandro that I adored was nowhere to be found. I needed for him to have a stronger presence in this book, and for him to be able to clear up his past so he could move forward, and that didn't happen.

Despite their past together, I couldn't see or feel any kind of emotional attachment between Hilary and Alessandro. They had zero chemistry in my opinion, and their interactions were completely bland. I also couldn't understand what Alessandro saw in Hilary. I wanted Alessandro to be happy and loved like he deserved, and I didn't feel that Hilary was the right person for him. Even though this book had a HEA, I couldn't get behind it because it seemed really forced and I wasn't feeling it.

The writing itself was fine, but the plot was so slow at times that I really wanted to skim and get to the good stuff. That's never a good thing. So overall, this was a huge let down. I had such high hopes and I was really looking forward to getting to know Alessandro more. Obviously, there are things that could have made this story more enjoyable for me. But I am sure that some will like this story just as it is.

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

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.

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater

Hardcover, 416 pages

Expected publication: July 1st 2014 by Scholastic Press

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret -- his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?

I wonder how many bloggers have Sinner as their WoW this week? I chose this despite my bitter hatred of the ending of The Shiver Trilogy. Yes, you read that correctly. The ending sucked big time. I wrote a scathing review that I never posted because it was extremely harsh and truly heartfelt. Am I the only one who thought the ending was the definition of ambiguous? I could have stopped reading after the 2nd book if I knew how much the third book would blow. Gah. See? It still upsets me! I could go on and on with things I didn't like with the last book of the trilogy, but I must somehow move on.

I'm willing to give Sinner a chance, only because I'm hoping it can bring me back around to have some good memories of The Shiver Trilogy. Somehow my hatred of book 3 and the ending is overshadowing my love of the first 2 books. It's redemption time, so don't disappoint me.

What are you waiting on this week?

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas spent with family and friends!
Be safe, and don't overdo it on the egg nog and cookies!

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publication Date: November 5, 2013
Page Count: 304
Published by: Disney-Hyperion
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

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.

I was really excited to read The Naturals, and I have to say that I was not disappointed! I thought it was a well written and engaging story with enjoyable characters and an exciting mystery. The plot had great pacing, and there were enough twists and turns to keep the story interesting and to keep me reading. There was a bit of suspense and intrigue, and I enjoyed trying to figure out where the story was headed next. I felt immediately drawn into the lives of these 5 teens who have been recruited to work cold cases for the FBI due to their 'natural' abilities. I thought the teens' differing abilities were fascinating, and I liked how they all worked together while analyzing cold cases.

I thought the protagonist, Cassie, was an okay character, but for some reason I wasn't overly impressed by her. Sloane, Lia, Michael, and Dean were the other naturals working alongside Cassie. I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters, but I didn't think they were all fully developed. Perhaps more fleshing out will come as the series progresses. I wasn't a huge fan of the wanna-be love triangle between Cassie, Michael, and Dean because it seemed forced and out of place considering the serious nature of their business. With that being said - I did have a preference. Dean. I was really feeling the whole dark brooding loner thing he had going on. Shallow of me, I know. But I think that a relationship between him and Cassie has the potential to be quite complex.

Overall, I thought The Naturals was pretty darn good. Despite a somewhat lack of character development and an attempted love triangle that I could have done without, I still thought this was a very entertaining read. It's a great first book in (what I hope is ) a new series, and I can't wait to find out what happens next with these characters.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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.

Alienated (Alienated #1) by Melissa Landers

Expected publication: February 4th 2014 by Disney Hyperion

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

This sounds awesome! And on a shallow note, I love that cover. I'm so excited because I have an eArc of this that I will be reading soon!

What are you waiting on this week?

Another Little Piece of My Heart by Tracey Martin

Publication Date: December 1, 2013
Page Count: 304
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis From Goodreads:

What if your devastating break-up became this summer’s hit single? In this rock-and-roll retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, music can either bring you together or tear you apart.

At her dying mother’s request, Claire dumps Jared, the only boy she’s ever loved. Left with a broken family and a broken heart, Claire is furious when she discovers that her biggest regret became Jared’s big break. While Jared is catapulted into rock-star status, another piece of Claire’s heart crumbles every time his song plays on the radio.

The summer after her senior year, it’s been months since the big break-up, and Claire is just trying to keep her head down and make it through a tense trip to the beach with her family. But when Jared shows up, and old feelings reignite, can Claire and Jared let go of the past? Or will they be stuck singing the same old refrain?

I loved this book so much! It was such a pleasantly delightful story. Another Little Piece of My Heart is a modern day retelling of Persuasion, my favorite Jane Austen novel. I'm not capable of comparing this to the original, and I wouldn't want to. This was a terrific read on it's own, made all that more enjoyable to me because it had elements from Persuasion.

I think the author managed to perfectly capture the ups and downs of Claire and Jared's relationship. Music played a big part in Claire and Jared's lives, and I loved how all of the musical elements were woven into the storyline.

I really loved all of the characters. I thought Claire was pretty strong for taking the high road, both with her family and with Jared. She was dealing with a lot of changes in her life, and I thought she handled herself very well. Her father was more concerned with appearances, but Claire was all about being happy. It took a lot of growing up, but Claire finally realized that being with Jared made her happy.

I had all sorts of feelings about Jared. It was so easy to like him and hate him at the same time. He was perfect as a modern Wentworth, and I thought he did a great job masking his true feelings and showing such indifference towards Claire. But in the end, I really loved him. How could I not? He's modeled after my favorite literary character ever!

It was so easy to find myself rooting for Claire and Jared and want them to get back together. They had obvious chemistry, and you could tell that they still had strong feelings for each other. I enjoyed their interactions and I thought they were so sweet and adorable together.

I really loved reading Another Little Piece of My Heart. It was light and funny with a sweet and clean romance, and it was the perfect contemporary book for me. It was a terrific modern retelling that completely satisfied my romantic side. Highly recommended for everyone - but especially for fans of Persuasion.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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.

#scandal by Sarah Ockler

Hardcover, 368 pages

Expected publication: June 17th 2014 by Simon Pulse

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Lucy’s learned some important lessons from tabloid darling Jayla Heart’s all-too-public blunders: Avoid the spotlight, don’t feed the Internet trolls, and keep your secrets secret. The policy has served Lucy well all through high school, so when her best friend Ellie gets sick before prom and begs her to step in as Cole’s date, she accepts with a smile, silencing about ten different reservations. Like the one where she’d rather stay home shredding online zombies. And the one where she hates playing dress-up. And especially the one where she’s been secretly in love with Cole since the dawn of time.

When Cole surprises her at the after party with a kiss under the stars, it’s everything Lucy has ever dreamed of… and the biggest BFF deal-breaker ever. Despite Cole’s lingering sweetness, Lucy knows they’ll have to ’fess up to Ellie. But before they get the chance, Lucy’s own Facebook profile mysteriously explodes with compromising pics of her and Cole, along with tons of other students’ party indiscretions. Tagged. Liked. And furiously viral.

By Monday morning, Lucy’s been branded a slut, a backstabber, and a narc, mired in a tabloid-worthy scandal just weeks before graduation.

Lucy’s been battling undead masses online long enough to know there’s only one way to survive a disaster of this magnitude: Stand up and fight. Game plan? Uncover and expose the Facebook hacker, win back her best friend’s trust, and graduate with a clean slate.

There’s just one snag—Cole. Turns out Lucy’s not the only one who’s been harboring unrequited love...

This contemporary sounds like something I will enjoy reading. My request got approved the other day, so now I can't wait to read it!

What are you waiting on this week?

Pages

2013 Challenge Wrap Ups

Review: A Little Too Much (A Little Too Far, #2) by Lisa Desrochers

Waiting On Wednesday (110) Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater @mstiefvater

Happy Holidays!

Review: The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Waiting On Wednesday (109) Alienated (Alienated #1) by @Melissa_Landers @DisneyHyperion

Review: Another Little Piece of My Heart by Tracey Martin

Waiting On Wednesday (108) #scandal by Sarah Ockler @sarahockler