Sunday Updates (38)

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 a long while, so I thought I would share the books that I have received in the past month or so. I've been cutting back on my requests from NetGalley and Edelweiss, so I don't have many to show this time around.



Hushed by Kelley York (Thanks to Entangled Publishing)
Ink is Thicker Than Water by Amy Spalding (Thanks to Entangled Teen)
Vengeance (Fracture #2) by Megan Miranda (Thanks to Bloomsbury USA Children's Books)
The Treatment (The Program #2) by Suzanne Young (Thanks to Simon Pulse)



Take a Chance: Series Bundle (Take a Chance #1-4) by Diane Alberts (Thanks to Entangled Publishing)



The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle (Huge thank you to Simon Pulse!!)

November has really flown by! I kind of slowed down on my reading the first 2 weeks of November, but I'm getting back in the groove. Now if I could just catch up on my reviews....
I really want to read Hushed by Kelley York because I read Made of Stars and I LOVED IT! The Program was awesome, and I can't wait to read The Treatment.

What books did you receive recently?

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Review: Snowed Over by Angie Stanton

Snowed Over by Angie Stanton

Publication Date: October 12, 2013
Page Count: 126
Published by: Vanguard Management, Inc.
Source: copy received from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review
Purchase on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:

To college student, Katie Brandt, ‘Home for the Holidays’ sounds like hell. When her parents separated, their holiday traditions shattered like a dropped ornament. What could be worse than celebrating Christmas with her suddenly single mom and mom’s new boyfriend?

Alex Walker, an engaged 20-year-old, dreads going home for his own reasons. He has a daunting task ahead of him and wishes he could skip the holidays altogether. So when a friend of a friend needs a ride north, Alex finds that having beautiful Katie seated by his side proves to be just the distraction he needs.

A simple ride home for Christmas turns into a nightmare when light snow rages into a full-scale blizzard. Katie and Alex find themselves stranded, and a vacant cabin becomes a haven from the storm.
Under different circumstances, time alone with Alex would be the ultimate Christmas gift, but Katie knows Alex is engaged and she must hide her growing attraction.

However, Alex harbors a secret that just might change this holiday from the worst Christmas ever, to the best.

I love reading books that put me in the mood for Christmas, and Snowed Over managed to do just that. This is the perfect book to give you warm and fuzzy feelings for the holidays. It was a quick and easy read with a really cute romance.

Since it's a novella, you don't get to know the characters very well, but I did really like both Katie and Alex. I enjoyed how comfortable they were around each other. I thought a real connection was made between them, and there was a hopeful outlook for their future together, and I am so glad there was no insta-love going on. Their friendship felt realistic and believable, and I loved the banter between them.

Alex seemed like a really sweet guy who got caught up in trying to do right by his high school girlfriend. I could really understand his dilemma, but I wanted him to stand up for himself and take control of the situation. I thought things should be easy for him since he realized what a lying, manipulative b*tch his fiancée was.

I liked Katie for the most part, and she seemed to have a good head on her shoulders. But she did come off as a little immature when discussing her parent's breakup. I thought she was old enough to understand the situation, and she should have tried talking to her mother like an adult rather than whining about everything being different this year. I liked that she wasn't instantly attracted to Alex, and she respected the boundaries because she knew he was engaged.

I loved the writing and I will be looking to read more books by Angie Stanton. Since this is labeled as New Adult, I was expecting it to be heavier, but it's really nice and clean. It had likable characters and a storyline that was believable. Snowed over is definitely a cute and fun story, and the perfect book to read at this time of the year.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Waiting On Wednesday (105) Killer Instinct by @Shan_E_Green @simonteen

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.

Killer Instinct by S.E. Green

Hardcover, 272 pages

Expected publication: May 6th 2014 by Simon Pulse

Synopsis From Goodreads:

She’s not evil, but she has certain... urges.

Lane is a typical teenager. Loving family. Good grades. Afterschool job at the local animal hospital. Martial arts enthusiast. But her secret obsession is studying serial killers. She understands them, knows what makes them tick.

Why?

Because she might be one herself.

Lane channels her dark impulses by hunting criminals—delivering justice when the law fails. The vigilantism stops shy of murder. But with each visceral rush the line of self-control blurs.
And then a young preschool teacher goes missing. Only to return... in parts.
When Lane excitedly gets involved in the hunt for “the Decapitator,” the vicious serial murderer that has come to her hometown, she gets dangerously caught up in a web of lies about her birth dad and her own dark past. And once the Decapitator contacts Lane directly, Lane knows she is no longer invisible or safe. Now she needs to use her unique talents to find the true killer’s identity before she—or someone she loves—becomes the next victim...

This sounds awesome!!!!!!! A teenager with certain 'urges' who is obsessed with serial killers. Yeppers, I can't wait to read this one.

What are you waiting on this week?

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Review: Wild Cards (Wild Cards #1) by Simone Elkeles

Wild Cards (Wild Cards #1) by Simone Elkeles

Publication Date: October 1, 2013
Page Count: 342
Published by: Walker Books for Young Readers
Source: Review copy received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis From Goodreads:

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

I was really looking forward to reading Wild Cards, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped I would. I went into it expecting great things, but it just didn't work for me. It was not at all what I thought it would be, and really not an excellent story like I was expecting from Simone Elkeles.

The 'romance' between Ashtyn and Derek was forced and more like insta-love/insta-hate, and there was no basis for their animosity. There was a bit of angst and some snarky dialogue interspersed with some really cute moments between them, but there weren't any of those really big moments that would have made me fall in love with this couple. The plot was pretty straightforward, but I felt it dragged at times.

I am a huge fan of dual POV, but in this book it just didn't work for me because I didn't like Ashtyn or Derek, so I didn't really care how they felt and what they thought about each other. I felt no connection to them whatsoever, and they kind of annoyed me. It also bothered me that there was little to no character development.

I thought the football aspect would play a much, much larger role than it did, so I was disappointed at the little amount of football that was actually present.

The writing is very good and the story flows well enough. I felt that the pacing was great until the very end when Elkeles tried to wrap everything up too quickly. I really wanted to love this book. But in the end it just fell short because it lacked depth and emotion, and that makes me sad. Since none of the characters were particularly memorable or outstanding, in the end I was left feeling nothing for the characters or the story. I will continue with the next book in this series in the hopes that it improves.

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

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Waiting On Wednesday (104) The Rules for Breaking by @ashley_elston

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

Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: May 20th 2014 by Disney-Hyperion

Synopsis From Goodreads:

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.

I really enjoyed reading the first book in this series, The Rules for Disappearing. I was wondering what happened to Thomas after he disappeared. He was SO shady! Now I'll get to find out just how big of a part he played in what happened in the first book. Plus, I liked Anna and Ethan and I can't wait to read more about them.

What are you waiting on this week?

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Review: (Never) Again by Theresa Paolo

(Never) Again by Theresa Paolo

Genre: New Adult
Publication Date: October 15, 2013
Page Count: 211
Published by: Berkley Penguin Group (USA)
Source: Review copy received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Just when she had finally moved on…
…He moved back.

When college freshman Liz Wagner hears her ex's voice for the first time since he moved clear across the freaking country, she does what any respectable girl would do: Dive into the girls' bathroom.

Zach Roberts—the Zach Roberts—is back. And he’s everywhere Liz looks—infiltrating her friend group, buddy-buddy with her brother. It’s enough to ruin college altogether. But what choice does she have but to put on a happy face and pretend he didn't leave her vulnerable and alone in a pile of emotional wreckage?

Pretending works, until tragedy strikes and the only person available for comfort is the one person she wants to stay away from. When Zach turns out not to be the jerk she convinced herself he was, but the boy she used to love, Liz needs to decide whether to open her heart again to the boy who tore it out.

(Never) Again was a decent read, but not a favorite of mine. In the end I thought it was just okay because I didn't really connect with any of the characters.

The protagonist, Liz, had a really bad break up with her high school boyfriend, Zach. Now in college, Liz has put her life back together and has a new boyfriend, Joe. When Zach shows up again and wants to be friends, Liz must learn to deal with her lingering feelings for him. The more time they spend together, the more Liz starts to fall for Zach (again), but she is standoffish because she is afraid he will hurt her (again). Also, Liz likes to point out that she already has a boyfriend - even if he isn't all that great. Zach is desperate for a second chance with Liz, and he apologizes numerous times and tries to explain about the break up from his side. But Liz isn't so easily won over, and Zach has a lot of making up to do if he wants to get Liz back.

I was frustrated with Liz's behavior for most of the book, and I found her to be annoying. I felt that her voice was too immature for a college freshman. It was obvious to everyone except her that Joe was a tool, yet she insisted in believing him to be worthy of losing her virginity to. I though Zach was an alright character. He seemed like a really stand up kind of guy, thoughtful, funny, and cute (which is always a bonus!) A bright spot for me was Liz's brother, Josh. I liked him and I think he was the most interesting character by far.

I thought the story was predictable, but it was interesting enough to keep me reading and keep me mildly entertained. Since it's a story about first love and second chances, I was expecting more angst and emotions in the story, but they just weren't there. The writing was pretty good, and I probably would have enjoyed the book more if I hadn't felt so indifferent about the characters. I am disappointed that the characters weren't very well developed. Overall, (Never) Again wasn't terrible, but there wasn't much that I liked about it. This is noted as being NA, but it's pretty clean and reads more like YA.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Waiting On Wednesday (103) Only Everything by @KieranScott

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.

Only Everything (True Love #1) by Kieran Scott

Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: May 6th 2014 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Synopsis from Edelweiss:

High school romance is tough—even for a bona fide love goddess. Can Cupid succeed as a mortal matchmaker?

When Eros (aka Cupid) is expelled from Olympus for defying Zeus after falling in love with Orion, she is banished to what she believes to be hell. We call it New Jersey. If she ever wants to go back to the comforts of her old life, she will have to find love for three couples—without using her powers.

Eros, now calling herself True, immediately identifies her first project in Charlie and believes finding him love will be a piece of cake. Charlie is new at school and eager to break out of his old image of band geek, so it’s lucky for him when he falls in with the right crowd on his first day. But music is still his passion. That is, until he meets Katrina...

Katrina is floundering after the death of her father and takes refuge with a boy who, while not entirely supportive, will be there when she needs him, unlike her mother. Too bad True thinks any girl Charlie talks to is perfect for him. Can she get out of her own way and help Charlie and Katrina connect, or will she be stuck in New Jersey forever?

Why do I want to read Only Everything? Have you read that synopsis?!?!? Doesn't that just sound awesome? And different? Oooh, I hope it's really, really good! And I am so lucky because I have an eARC that I will be reading (hopefully) soon.

What are you waiting on this week?

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Review: While You're Away by Jessa Holbrook

While You're Away (While You're Away #1) by Jessa Holbrook

Publication Date: October 15, 2013
Page Count: 48
Published by: Razorbill
Source: Review copy received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Once a cheater, always a cheater?

From the moment Will and Sarah first set eyes upon each other, they know that what they have is special.

There's just one little problem . . . each of them already has a significant other.

After flirting with danger, it becomes clear their passion is too strong to be denied. But even if they make their relationship official, there are plenty of challenges in store. Will leaves for college at the end of the summer, while Sarah faces her senior year of high school in their small suburban town. Long-distance relationships always come with their fair share of troubles—mismatched schedules, jealousy, and temptation are only the beginning.

Can cheaters ever change?

WHILE YOU'RE AWAY is a steamy story about a love triangle, a long-distance relationship, and learning the true meaning of commitment.

While You're Away is Part 1 of a 6 part serialized novel, with a new part being released each week. I thought this was an interesting and entertaining start. The writing was really good, and the characters are beginning to be developed. It's not long enough to get the chance to know the characters very well, but you do get some basic background information to help understand them. I read this first part in one sitting because I got so caught up in the developing story.

Sarah and Dave have been together for a while, and they have a certain level of comfort with each other. They have formed a singing and guitar playing duo. The bad thing is that Dave has a habit of flirting and all but ignoring Sarah after their shows. Sarah is fed up with Dave's behavior and seeks out Will at a party. They immediately feel the chemistry between them and end up making out. Will has a reputation of getting around with lots of girls at school. But to me it definitely seemed like there was a lot more going on with Will below the surface. Something wasn't ringing true about his behavior, and I couldn't reconcile his reputation with the way he was acting around Sarah. I can't wait to find out if I am right about him.

I'm not a fan of cheaters, and I find it difficult to root for them. I always get the feeling that they could have made different choices, like end the relationship they don't want to be in, rather than lie and sneak around. I know I'm in the minority, but I like a good triangle when it's done right, but so far I am not enjoying this one. As of now I'm not sure if I can get behind Sarah and Will as a couple when I don't know how I feel about Sarah and Dave. Hopefully, as the story progresses I will get a better feel for which couple I prefer.

It's difficult to rate such a small part of a book, but I really did enjoy what I have read so far. I think this series has a ton of potential and I am interested in reading the next 5 parts.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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