March Recap and April TBR

I really surprised myself with how much I was able to read in March. I haven't read that many books in quite a while! And, as usual, I suck at keeping track of books for my challenges. I really need to get better at that. Of course, if I had more time in my day I could get more things done. Too bad I require sleep.

In my recap last month I discussed the crappy snow we were expecting. It's officially Spring, so right now as I am typing this, we are dealing with thunderstorms and Tornado Warnings. AND they interrupted all but the final minute of American Idol. Grrr.... I may be heading to the basement soon. Fun times. Rain, rain, go away....

Read in March:

Mafia Girl by Deborah Blumenthal

The Summer I Found You by Jolene Perry

Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington

The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle

The Last Forever by Deb Caletti

Love Me Back by Michelle Lynn

Unfamiliar by Erica Cope and Komal Kant

Capturing Peace (Sharing You 0.5) by Molly McAdams

Total pages read: 2244

April TBR:

Far From You by Tess Sharpe

There Will Come a Time by Carrie Arcos

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik

The Hunt (Project Paper Doll #2) by Stacey Kade

The Treatment (The Program #2) by Suzanne Young

Looks like I have another month full of awesome books to read! I'm really excited for some of these. AND I have 3 April releases on reserve from the library. I don't know if they'll be in by the end of the month, but I can't wait to read those too.

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Review: Vengeance (Fracture #2) by Megan Miranda

Vengeance (Fracture #2) by Megan Miranda

Publication Date: February 4, 2014
Page Count: 352
Published by: Walker Childrens
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Nobody really believes in a curse. Until you know the people who disappear. Too much coincidence, you look for reason. Too much death, you grasp for something to blame. Carson pulled Delaney out and he died on the side of the road with her mouth pressed to his. Her air in his body. Troy. She told the cops it was suicide. Didn't matter. The lake released her and grabbed another. But when Decker's father dies in a pool of spilled water on their kitchen floor, all Decker can feel is a slow burning rage. Because he knows that Delaney knew that his dad was going to die. She knew and backed out of his house and never said a word. Falcon Lake still has a hold on them both, and Decker can't forgive Delaney until he knows why

I was totally hooked on Vengeance right from the beginning. The story was very dark and gloomy and full of suspense. The characters were still struggling to come to terms with what took place in Fracture. Strange and scary things were happening to Decker and his friends, but it was never clear exactly who, or what, the threat was. I kept turning the pages because I couldn't wait to find out what the hell was going on!

Vengeance is told from Decker's POV, and he has SO much anger and sadness this time around. He was dark and moody, and he carried a chip on his shoulder and really just seemed mad at the world. It was as though his despondency propelled him and made him continuously hurt those around him. As a result of his actions, his relationship with Delaney suffers. When he purposely distances himself from her, their relationship is not only tested, but pushed to the limits. Delaney somehow manages to stay strong, even while dealing with Decker's asshole attitude towards her. They have a lot of misunderstandings between them, but you can still see and feel the love they have for each other.

Decker and Delaney's friends played much larger roles in this book. Decker managed to put every one of them under scrutiny while trying to unravel the mystery of the 'curse'. Some of them displayed really strange behavior, so you couldn't help but wonder if any of them had something to do with the sinister events that were going on.

To me, Decker was an unreliable narrator because most of the creepy and weird incidents seemed to be connected to him. I was never sure if the information he provided was the actual truth. It definitely made for an interesting read! I started wondering if the lake really was cursed, or if the people who cheated death in Fracture were cursed. The absolute uncertainty is what really carried this book and made it so suspenseful.

I will admit that the book dragged in parts, and Decker's attitude really got on my nerves at times. But overall, this was a thrilling and chilling return to Falcon Lake. It's a great follow-up that has equal parts romance and mystery with a touch of paranormal. If you haven't read this series yet, I highly recommend it.

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

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Waiting On Wednesday (124) Dream Boy by Madelyn Rosenberg and Mary Crockett @madrosenberg @MaryLovesBooks

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.

Dream Boy by Madelyn Rosenberg and Mary Crockett

Expected publication: July 1st 2014 by Sourcebooks Fire

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Annabelle Manning feels like she’s doing time at her high school in Chilton, Virginia. She has her friends at her lunchtime table of nobodies. What she doesn’t have are possibilities. Or a date for Homecoming. Things get more interesting at night, when she spends time with the boy of her dreams. But the blue-eyed boy with the fairytale smile is just that—a dream. Until the Friday afternoon he walks into her chemistry class.

One of her friends suspects he’s an alien. Another is pretty sure it’s all one big case of deja vu. While Annabelle doesn’t know what to think, she’s willing to believe that the charming Martin Zirkle may just be her dream come true. But as Annabelle discovers the truth behind dreams—where they come from and what they mean—she is forced to face a dark reality she had not expected. More than just Martin has arrived in Chilton. As Annabelle learns, if dreams can come true, so can nightmares.

Synopsis from Edelweiss:

If dreams can come true...then so can nightmares

One night Annabelle dreams of the perfect boy: tall, dark, and handsome with impossible blue eyes. Then, just as suddenly as he appeared, he's gone...until he walks into her science class the next day. Perfect and REAL. The boy of her dreams. And when he brushes past her, he whispers "Annabelle." Suddenly, Annabelle's got the perfect boyfriend and a date to prom. Her life is like a dream come true...until her dreams stop and the nightmares begin.

Aren't you all proud of me for not featuring another contemporary today? Yay Me!!!!! Instead I chose a YA romantic fantasy that sounds totally awesome. If only I could get my arc request approved on NetGalley...

What are you waiting on this week?

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Waiting On Wednesday (123) Through to You by Lauren Barnholdt

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! Even if it's not a Winds-day (thanks Pooh!) it's still a great day to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

Through to You by Lauren Barnholdt

Expected publication: July 8th 2014 by Simon Pulse

Synopsis from Goodreads:

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…

Yes, I chose another contemporary this week. I like the sound of this one, and hopefully it will be a nice, cute read because I've read a few death related books recently that really brought me down. I need to read light and fluffy to balance things out. And on a shallow note, I like the cover.

What are you waiting on this week?

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Review: Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt

Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt

Publication Date: February 18, 2014
Page Count: 288
Published by: Walker Childrens
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Jonah and Brighton are about to have the most awkwardly awful night of their lives. For Jonah, every aspect of his new life reminds him of what he has had to give up. All he wants is to be left alone. Brighton is popular, pretty, and always there to help anyone . . . but has no idea of what she wants for herself. Her seemingly perfect life is marred only by Jonah, the one person who won't give her the time of day, but also makes her feel, well, something. So when they are repeatedly thrown together over the course of one night, anything can—and does—happen. Told in alternating chapters, this poignant, beautiful novel's energy and tension, amidst the humor and romance, builds to a new beginning of self-acceptance and hope.

I have to admit that my original interest in Bright Before Sunrise came because of the cover. But once I read the synopsis, I knew I just had to read it. I loved the premise of events taking place over the course of just one night. With wonderful writing and terrific characters, this was a fun and very entertaining book that I really enjoyed reading.

When we first meet Jonah and Brighton, they are each dealing with their own set of difficult problems. They really don't like each other very much, so when circumstances force them to spend time together, they decide to put aside their personal differences and make the most of the night. I thought Jonah and Brighton were realistic and very well developed. It took me a while to warm up to Jonah, as his honesty was a little off-putting. He was a self-centered jerk at the beginning, but he came around by the end, and I'm glad I didn't end up hating him. Brighton was pretty likable and originally portrayed as 'perfect', but end up being pretty complicated. She's intent on winning Jonah over, and he is intent on avoiding Brighton's well meaning attempts at interacting with him. There's no telling where these two will end up before the night is over.

Because it takes place over the course of one night, time is a real factor - knowing that whatever is going to happen it will be soon lends a bit of urgency to reading. I thought the slow building attraction between Jonah and Brighton was really believable. The story isn't all about romance though. The author manages to write a believable story about two characters who manage to learn so much about themselves and each other in such a small amount of time.

Bright Before Sunrise was an enjoyable contemporary that kept me entertained from beginning to end. I always enjoy dual POV stories, and the alternating chapters gave us insight into each character. I also liked that each chapter picked up where the previous one left off, so there were never any blocks of time missing. There were a ton of really great moments and a little bit of teenage drama that combined to make this a very good story. With a hopeful and open ending, the opportunity is there for the characters to explore their feelings and their relationship in the future. This was a satisfying contemporary that was quick and easy to read.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Review: Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington

Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington

Publication Date: March 11, 2014
Page Count: 280
Published by: Soho Teen
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When Liv Bloom lands an art scholarship at Wickham Hall, it’s her ticket out of the foster system. Liv isn’t sure what to make of the school’s weird traditions and rituals, but she couldn’t be happier. For the first time ever, she has her own studio, her own supply of paints. Everything she could want.

Then she meets Malcolm Astor, a legacy student, a fellow artist, and the one person who’s ever been able to melt her defenses. Liv’s only friend at Wickham, fellow scholarship kid Gabe Nichols, warns her not to get involved, but life is finally going Liv’s way, and all she wants to do is enjoy the ride.

But Liv’s bliss is doomed. Weeks after arriving, she is viciously murdered and, in death, she discovers that she’s the latest victim of a dark conspiracy that has claimed many lives. Cursed with the ability to see the many ghosts on Wickham’s campus, Gabe is now Liv’s only link to the world of the living. To Malcolm.

Together, Liv, Gabe, and Malcolm fight to expose the terrible truth that haunts the halls of Wickham. But Liv must fight alone to come to grips with the ultimate star-crossed love.

Immediately after reading Liv, Forever I wanted to say that it was such a cute book. But cute isn't correct. Liv is dead! That alone deserves a big "Awww" because death is just so sad and final. So it's off to the Thesaurus for me. Let's see.... Lovely? Wonderful? I think I'll go with Pleasantly Delightful, with a bit of Touching and Heartbreaking. That seems much more accurate. Any way you say it, Liv, Forever was really, really good!

Wickham Hall is an old style boarding school with traditions that go back 100+ years. Liv is an art student who earns a scholarship to the prestigious school. Being an outsider isn't easy for Liv, but she's just so happy to be there and have her own art studio to pursue her passion. She immediately befriends another scholarship student, Gabe, and he warns her about staying away from the school's "Legacy" students because she is likely to get hurt. But when one of the school's elite students, Malcolm, shows an interest in her and her art, she finds him too difficult (and cute) to resist. This is where insta-love comes into play, but I didn't really mind it because it was a young and innocent love, and I thought it was really sweet. When Liv is suddenly murdered, readers are thrust into the middle of a murder mystery.

Gabe, who just happens to be able to see and speak to ghosts, along with Malcolm, attempt to solve the mystery of who killed Liv. I enjoyed the strong friendship that developed between Liv, Gabe, and Malcolm. Gabe is Liv's connection to the real world, and the only way for her and Malcolm to continue their relationship. I loved how the 3 of them were forced to communicate because of the circumstances. Their conversations were so hilarious at times.

All 3 characters were very likable. Liv has a strong personality, and I enjoyed her immediately. Gabe was a little shy, and a bit of an outcast, but totally the type of guy any girl would want for a BFF. I wasn't sure about Malcolm at first because it was difficult to figure out his intentions toward Liv. He proved himself to be a (swoon)worthy boyfriend and I ended up really liking him.

Overall, Liv, Forever was a fantastic book that was quick and easy to read, with great pacing and terrific writing. I really got caught up in the story and trying to figure out the mystery of who killed Liv and the other girls. I especially loved the characters and the Gothic setting. I found the art references used throughout the book to be interesting. This story was tragic and beautiful, and the ending made my heart hurt a bit. The highlight of this book for me? Malcolm reciting 'Bright Star' by John Keats. Swoon!

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Review: Something Real by Heather Demetrios

Something Real by Heather Demetrios

Publication Date: February 4, 2014
Page Count: 403
Published by: Henry Holt and Co
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

There’s nothing real about reality TV.

Seventeen-year-old Bonnie™ Baker has grown up on TV—she and her twelve siblings are the stars of one-time hit reality show Baker’s Dozen. Since the show's cancellation, Bonnie™ has tried to live a normal life, under the radar and out of the spotlight. But it's about to fall apart . . . because Baker’s Dozen is going back on the air. Bonnie™'s mom and the show's producers won't let her quit and soon the life that she has so carefully built for herself, with real friends (and maybe even a real boyfriend), is in danger of being destroyed by the show. Bonnie™ needs to do something drastic if her life is ever going to be her own—even if it means being more exposed than ever before.

"There’s nothing real about reality TV." No, there isn't. Which is why I don't watch reality TV. But I couldn't pass up the chance to read Something Real and get a glimpse of what it is like 'behind the scenes', so to speak. It ended up being a really great read with a terrific plot and a whole cast of wonderful characters.

I found Bonnie™/Chloe to be such a real and likable character, yet she was not without her faults. I immediately sympathized with her situation and I couldn't help but root for her from beginning to end. Her reluctance to be back in the spotlight was understandable. She just wanted to be a normal teenager and have a life where no one knows her and her family. The stress of the family's reality show took a toll on her when she was younger, and she doesn't want to relive it.

Bonnie™/Chloe's mother wins the worst mother of the year award, hands down. I wanted to reach into the book and slap her at times because she was so ridiculous. She continuously placed more importance on the show rather than the well being of Bonnie™/Chloe and the rest of her children. She blatantly disregarded Bonnie™/Chloe's wishes to not do the show. It was wrong of the mother to make ALL of the children appear on camera without their consent, but even more wrong to make Bonnie™/Chloe do it because of what happened to her in the past.

I loved, loved, loved the relationship between Bonnie™/Chloe and her brother, Benton. Benton was such an awesome character that I started wishing he'd get his own book! He didn't care what anyone thought about him, and he wasn't afraid to be himself and go after what he wanted. He was also a pretty happy person, and fun to be around. He wasn't pleased with doing the show again either, but unlike Bonnie™/Chloe, he was better equipped to deal with the intrusion the show made into his life. He was also Bonnie™/Chloe's biggest supporter and wanted what was best for her.

Bonnie™/Chloe and Patrick's story was very well done. Their relationship came about at just the right time and progressed at a nice pace. Patrick was so good to Bonnie™/Chloe, he was always there with a strong shoulder to lean on when she needed him. I loved their scenes together because they were so ridiculously cute! He went above and beyond to be someone that Bonnie™/Chloe could depend on.

The Baker family was SO dysfunctional. Being on TV really seemed to bring out the worst in this family and negatively affected everyone. With the cameras and crew around 24/7, there was absolutely NO privacy in their lives, and no subject off limits. Every aspect of their lives was manipulated (and edited!), and conversations were taken out of context to create more drama and conflict. I don't know why anyone would willingly subject themselves and their family to this. The money just isn't worth tearing your family apart over.

Something Real is a wonderful contemporary story that has quite a few amazing characters. This was really a well written, well developed, and compelling story. A little bit heartbreaking, and at times humorous, overall I found this to be an entertaining read from beginning to end.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Waiting On Wednesday (122) Red at Night by Katie McGarry @KatieMcGarry

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! It's not always Winds-day (thanks Pooh!) but it's still a great day to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

Red at Night (Harlequin More Than Words) by Katie McGarry

Expected publication: April 1st 2014 by Harlequin Special Releases

Red at Night will be released on April 1, 2014 and is currently free on Amazon and Harlequin's website. According to Katie's website, "Red at Night does take place in the Pushing the Limits universe and you'll see a familiar face." I already pre-ordered my copy, and I'm not even caught up on this series!

What are you waiting on this week?

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