Goddess by Josephine Angelini

Goddess by Josephine Angelini
Series: Starcrossed, #3
Source: Bought
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: May 28, 2013

After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count.

To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas’s life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.

In Josephine Angelini’s compelling conclusion to the masterfully woven Starcrossed trilogy, a goddess must rise above it all to change a destiny that’s been written in the stars. With worlds built just as fast as they crumble, love and war collide in an all-out battle that will leave no question unanswered and no heart untouched.

When I started Goddess, I was really unsure. The books in this series have gotten progressively better with each installment, but I was afraid that this one wouldn't live up to my standards. It didn't help that I started it out blind-- I had to relearn several of the character names, because I didn't re-read the previous books before starting. This made the first few chapters a bit muddy, because I had to sort out all of the secondary characters in my mind.

I liked that we got a few glimpses into Daphne's mind with Goddess-- in earlier books, she's been a huge mystery, but I loved that she opened up a little in this one. (And she's not all bad.) But before I start in on the virtues of Daphne (few and rare), I want to talk about Helen. The main character, the balm that's supposed to hold this whole series together. Honestly, Helen isn't a great character to me. I do like her, but it's the secondary characters that really make it pop.

For instance, when I think about why I love this series...what comes to mind? Orion. Lucas. Hector. All of the interwoven stories from ancient mythology. Memories and Scions...did you notice that none of my reasons were Helen? I did. And honestly, it really doesn't bother me that I don't "love" Helen.

I did, however, like the introduction of Andy! A new character in a group you've come to love is always exciting, because you're not sure how they'll play with the other characters; but I loved Andy. She was so interesting-- a siren? Come on. That is awesome. I also liked the introduction of her as Hector's love interest. They were so adorable together!

And I just have to talk about Orion for a little bit, y'all. I love him! He's like my sad puppy dog, honestly. I'm always rooting for the guy who probably won't win. But I just can't help it! Orion was a really deep character, and I felt like I could feel his sadness. And it was sad-- I did love his ending, though. He deserves to be someone's first choice.

As I've mentioned before, I loved the Greek myths that were interwoven into the story-- the idea that each character was a representation of each of the myth characters was awesome! I completely fell in love with some of the characterizations, let me tell you. All the pieces and characters connect and snap perfectly together. Unfortunately, I did think that it was obvious from the beginning that Helen was the tyrant. It didn't ruin the plot or anything, because I was completely freaking out over it, but... (OMG OMG OMG)

There is so many other things that I want to tell you, but I just can't risk spoiling the book! Just know that my heart strings were tugged back and forth, and that the ending (while semi-happy) fell a bit flat. The rest of the book was so amazing, but the ending was slightly anti-climatic. There was a lot that I wanted to see resolved. Overall, this series is really worth a read. Don't let a "slightly" anti-climatic ending keep you away!

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry
Series: Pushing the Limits, #1
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: November 26, 2013

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane 

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

"I scare the hell out of most people, but you will never have anything to fear from me. Choose. Love me or don't. But tell me now."

I've been trying to write this review for going on a week now, but I'm still having a bit of trouble forming my thoughts into actual, coherent words and sentences. To tell you the truth, I think I'm still kind of shell-shocked. I've always known that Isaiah was my favorite secondary character, but he's never really been built upon like he was in this one. He never really had a chance to shine... but in this one, my God he shines.

My first impression of Isaiah was what stayed with me. I loved the fact that he had tattoos, and that they really meant something to him. I loved that he stood out & stood up for what he believed in. To tell you the truth, I'm pretty much in love with him. Give me a bad boy who has tattoos and earrings... I'm pretty much always gonna love them. What made Isaiah really stand out, though, was that he was a bad guy. He's had a rough time at it, that's for sure, but he still wants to do what's right.

And for him, he thought that was staying away from Rachel; and not "tainting" her with his bad-boyness. She's a good girl, he says. And yeah, she is. I really liked Rachel. She was so innocent and weirdly shy, but the entire dynamic that Isaiah and Rachel had going on between them was magic. Plus, she gets cars. *applause* I'm so proud to find another (although decidedly fictional) girl who likes cars! I'm personally a little bit obsessed with them, so it's always nice to "meet" someone else who is. Also, this quote from her kind of couldn't be truer for me.

"I get cars. I like the feel of them. The sound of them."

The character development for both Isaiah & Rachel was phenomenal. I felt like they really got to know each other before they jumped into a relationship, and that kind of made the book for me. They were so cute & sweet together, as well as being incredibly intense and crazy together. A weird combination, but I think it was the best ever.

I enjoyed the cameo appearances of Beth & Noah, but I kind of felt like [since the story was all about Isaiah] they kind of skipped out for most of it. Also, Noah can be a bit of a jerk. *threatens Noah for being mean to Isaiah* Their familiarity was great, though. I guess that's what gives him a licence to be a jerk. ;) On that note, though, I also enjoyed the introduction of a new secondary character, Abby. She played a very important part. :P

Last but not least, I really enjoyed the drama in this one. The races were a wonderful touch, and the added bits with Eric were pretty much amazing. I loved the action & the suspense. I also loved the possibility of future books that comes from the end of this one - so many characters that need love!

All in all, Crash Into You was amazing. Dare You to may have let me down a little, but this one redeemed the whole series in my eyes. Definitely a keeper.

The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram

The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram
Series: N/A
Source: Bought
Publisher: Bluefields
Publication Date: May 4, 2013

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest.

When I started The Avery Shaw Experiment, I really had no idea what to expect. A few of my favorite bloggers had read it and liked it, so I decided to give it a shot, because it looked seriously cute. Turns out that it was adorable in every way imaginable! Grayson and Avery ended up being so cute together-- you don't even know yet. Pretty soon into the book I was laughing and seriously cheering them on. They were very likable as a couple, so I just couldn't help but swoon over almost every one of their interactions.

Grayson was so, so, so...hott. I loved him, I truly did. I always found myself racing to the next chapter through his point of view, then thoroughly devouring it so that I could move onto the next and the next. The Avery Shaw Experiment would be crazy comfort reading, let me tell you! Anywho, back to my favorite boy, Grayson. Everything that he did just managed to dig me into a hole deeper and deeper with my crush...fictionally, of course... he was just sweet and kind and protective! Seriously. Let me share an oh-so-smexy quotes.

*SPOILERY* I always looked at her as sort of a pesky little sister, but all that changed the day my brother dumped her. Why, you ask? Let me put it this way: When a girl lets you be the one to hold her as her entire world falls apart, even though you're ass naked, it changes the way you see her.*SPOILERISH QUOTE END*

The scene that he kind of describes, well, it made me guffaw out loud. I found myself laughing a lot during this book, which was really nice. Some of the crude jokes were a little much, but they totally had me smiling throughout the book.

On to Avery, who is, of course, the main character. I really enjoyed her chapters too, but I think that Grayson shall remain my favorite. BUT. Avery was still a fun character to read about, and I liked her insights on everything. She seemed to be completely honest with herself, and just so down to earth and sweet. I'm so sad that she had to fall for Aiden (duh, we're curing a broken heart here, y'all) who really was a jerk. I think I kind of hate him, to tell you the truth.

But I love all of the secondary characters. Libby was so quirky and weird and hilarious, and all of the other science geeks were great too. I also enjoyed Grayson's friends. All in all, The Avery Shaw Experiment really is an awesome book. I totally recommend it!

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Series: Dustlands, #1
Source: Won
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication Date: January 3, 2012

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when four cloaked horsemen capture Lugh, Saba's world is shattered, and she embarks on a quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the outside world, Saba discovers she is a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba’s unrelenting search for Lugh stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

 Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetic writing style, and an epic love story—making Moira Young is one of the most exciting new voices in teen fiction.

Lugh got born first. On Midwinter day when the sun hangs low in the sky.

I’ve been putting off Blood Red Road forever. I put it off because I had heard about the numerous spelling errors and grammatical mistakes, and I was positive that it would drive me crazy. Turns out I was wrong. I thought that they were actual mistakes, but turns out that it was an atmosphere-type decision. It definitely worked out, in my mind.

At first it was a little bit distractin, as a lot of constants were dropped, and been was spelled bin, etc. But once I got used to it, it was really no deal at all. I thought that it added an authentic touch to the story, which it definitely needed, being set in a post-apocalyptic world. Dystopian at it’s best!

Saba was a great, strong, kick-ass main character. In the beginning, it felt like her loyalty was a tad lacking, but as we get farther into the book and she grows as a character, I feel like it’s not an issue anymore. She’s made peace with herself, and she finally grew to love Emmi like she should have in the beginning. She also made some great new friends, and I don’t think that I could have loved her more.

Speaking of the L-word, I feel like I should say a few things about our main guy character, Jack. Jack himself is fabulous. He’s cocky and a bit too arrogant for his own good, but deep inside he’s a great guy. He’s sweet and I’m positive that he’s brave.

They go well together, actually.

On another note, I’m a huge fan of the storyline. It never had a dull moment from the beginning, and it was the perfect distraction for me. From kidnappings to cage fights to strange creatures, this book just has it all. It even has good secondary characters! Everyone of them has a purpose, and most of the time they made good friends to Saba and Jack.

All in all, I really enjoyed Blood Red Road. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I liked it more than I ever would have if it had followed my ideas.

Don’t say that, he says. Don’t ever say that. You are somethin, Saba. Somethin good and strong and true. With him or without him. ~Pg. 267

The Vincent Brothers by Abbi Glines

The Vincent Brothers by Abbi Glines
Series: The Vincent Boys, #2
Source: Bought
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: December 18, 2012

Hot romance is the cure for heartbreak in this sequel to The Vincent Boys.

Getting a boy to fall head-over-heels in love with you isn’t easy. Especially when he’s been in love with your cousin for as long as you can remember.

Lana has lived her life in her cousin’s shadow. Ashton always made perfect grades, had tons of friends, and looks model-perfect. And she’s always had Sawyer Vincent—the only boy Lana’s ever wanted—wrapped around her finger. But now things are different. Lana has a chance to make Sawyer see her, and she’s taking it. If only he’d get over Ashton—because Lana is sick of second-best.

Sawyer’s heart is broken. He’s lost his best girl to his best friend. And then Lana comes to town. Ashton’s cousin has always been sweet and soft-spoken, but now she’s drop-dead gorgeous as well. Sawyer doesn’t know if Lana can heal his broken heart, but spending time with her might at least make Ashton jealous.

What starts as a carefree fling becomes a lusty game of seduction. Sawyer and Lana may have different motives, but their scintillating hookups are the same kind of steamy. . .

To tell the truth, I was a tad nervous about starting The Vincent Brothers. It's been on my radar ever since I finished The Vincent Boys in 2012, but sometimes books just don't turn out the way we might hope. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this one! It doesn't deliver the same feel as the first book, but I'm fairly sure that I enjoyed this one more.

Although Lana was nothing like Ash, she had some of the same things going for her. She was just so sweet, with a little bit of a wild side. But can I just say that I found her adorable? I'm so proud that she got her own book, because it blew me out of the water! In The Vincent Boys, Lana is portrayed as a girl who's always been jealous of Ash, but can be sweet at times. In The Vincent Brothers, we get to see a whole new side of her! And she's not nearly as jealous or vindictive as you might think. She's just a regular girl who's not very sure of herself. I adored her development throughout the book.

I also adored Sawyer. In the beginning I was very unsure about him-- he was still after Ash a bit, and it seemed like he might use Lana. But towards the end, I really started to warm up to him. He's very caring, and I loved that he was willing to drop everything for his friends. I think that my only real issue with him was that he doesn't know how to show his feelings. But it's okay, he's a guy. I do think that he could be a bit overly possessive at times, though.

Moving on to the tension-- and the romance! The tension between Sawyer and Lana was really good from the very beginning-- and let me tell you, there are some seriously hot scenes between them! I also loved the little emotional bits between him and Lana. When you have both characters' point of view laid out in front of you, it's fantastic the things you can learn! I'm a big fan of dual points of view.

All in all, I really enjoyed The Vincent Brothers, which ended the series on a fabulous note! Well, an almost fabulous note. I'd have liked a longer epilogue. ;)

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Title: Sweet Evil
Author: Wendy Higgins
Series: The Sweet Trilogy, #1
Source: Traded for
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Goodreads||The Book Depository

Embrace the Forbidden.

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

When I first started Sweet Evil, I was really nervous. Try finding a review that's less than four stars on Goodreads, you know? I'm not afraid to dislike a popular book (*cough*The Fault in Our Stars*cough*), but it makes me kind of nervous about expectations, you know? Anywho, my worries were completely stupid! I really enjoyed this one, in the end.

But before we get into my love for this book, I gotta list what I didn't like. Because there were a few things! First off, I'm absolutely tired of girls getting giggly and thoughtless around the main "love interest" as soon as they see him. "He's so HOTT!!" That's unnecessary, in my opinion. It's not like it adds to the story. You'll do better showing me that he's hot. Also, Anna was uncomfortable in the clothes she was wearing. If you're uncomfortable in what you're wearing, you should wear something else. It's common sense. And if you're uncomfortable, you can't own it. One last thing (it's not related to the book, but needs to be said): If you're uncomfortable talking to someone, don't talk to them.

The boys are all brawny. Everytime that Anna describes a guy, he's brawny. Excuse me, but how many of us know all "brawny" guys? I mean, I know a few, but they're mostly all beanpoles or chubs. Honestly, we're all around sixteen, so none of us have really filled into our bodies yet, LOL! Only the lucky few. ;) I'm also a little upset about the drugging-- shouldn't she be more upset?

Random funny note: I really want to say Kaidan like Kaedon, even though it's pronounced Kyden. The only time I made the "i" sound in his name was when they called him Kai.

Anywho, now we can move onto what I liked! The list is long, so prepare!

I liked the story. It kept me interested, and I followed it really well. I've also always liked books about fallen angels and regular angels, and the nephilim, so this was a hit for me in that sense. Also, ROADTRIP! I love books that incorporate some kind of roadtrip, because I really want to go on one. Like, a lot. Books about roadtrips make me smile, so here we are.

You know what else makes me smile? Funny one-liners, and there were a few of those for me. I snort rather unattractively, I must say. The romance, though? Did not make me snort. AT ALL. It was AWESOME. Kai and Anna just worked for me, after I got over the initial "son of Lust" thing. They work well for each other, and the kissing-- *fans self* I was totally swooning. But I sense a love triangle coming, which is disappointing.

I will admit to having my doubts about them, at first. Anna was just so...I don't know. She let everyone boss her around, and was easily pressured into things. She was nice. But once I read about her a little more, she kind of shed that persona, and became more plucky, which was great.

Kaidan was really annoying to me at first, because he was kind of a heartless player, and that bothered me. But as we get to know him, I realized that he's actually kind of nice. He can be (but isn't always) a gentleman, and he really knows how to make us girls swoon.

While I liked our two main characters, I feel like some of the secondary characters like Jay and Patti and some of nephilim could have gotten more development. While it's disappointing that they didn't, it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the story, nor did the chaos towards the end. All these things started happening at once, so much that they kind of blurred together, but it still didn't bother me.

All in all, I really enjoyed Sweet Evil. As you can see, though, I had a lot of thoughts on it, not all good. Hopefully, I persuaded some of you to read it. (:

There's no floating through life; you have to stay alert. Whether you're called on to fulfill that purpose today or when you're a hundred, you've got to be a productive part of society between now and then! ~ Pg. 351

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Title: Out of the Easy
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Series: N/A
Source: Won
Publisher: Philomel
Publication Date: February 13, 2013
GoodReads||The Book Depository

It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.

Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

Out of the Easy was absolutely fantastic in every way. It had enough romance to keep a girl entertained, and a dash of danger, with a smidgen of humor. Morbid humor. But everyone knows that it's the best kind! There's no doubt about it, this book had me hooked from the very beginning. I'm struggling to put my thoughts into words.

Josie was absolutely amazing! Being named after a famous madam can't be all that horrifying (especially because it's Josie, which is like, the cutest name ever), but when you really think about it, it kind of is-- because she knows it. Maybe nobody else does, but she knows, and it weighs on her. One of the things that I liked the most about Josie was that she was gritty. Not that she was mean or dirty, but that she saw things as they were; and she wasn't afraid to call anyone out on it. She was AWESOME. I also love the idea that she lives (and works!) in a bookstore, because seriously. Is that not your dream?

The character interactions were superb. The way that Patrick, Willie, Jesse, Josie and Cokie all interacted was awesome. I didn't ever find myself doubting their exchanges, or doubting that they all really care for each other. It was as it is-- perfect. The pacing was good too-- I never found myself wishing that the story would move along, neither did I find myself wondering how I'd gotten from one point to another. It was the perfect blend of fast-paced and slower going. Fast enough to keep you interested, but slow enough as not to confuse you.

Because I'm a sucker for characters, I loved every bit of this book. You know what else I'm a sucker for? Good storylines. And this book has a totally amazing one: Josie's mother really is a prostitute. And a crook, but we won't go there. The coolest part is that Josie gets to interact with all the prostitutes-- she cleans house for Willie, so she talks to the girls. And they have their own little train of pretty awesome going on.

All in all, Out of the Easy was FANTASTIC. I loved the characters and the storyline, and I never wanted it to end. It was the epitome of amazing. I'm only stopping here because I'm absolutely sure that I could go on FOREVER about this epic book.

Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

Title: Tiger's Quest
Author: Colleen Houck
Series: The Tiger Saga, #2
Source: Gifted
Publisher: Splinter
Publication Date: June 7, 2011

Back in Oregon, Kelsey tries to pick up the pieces of her life and push aside her feelings for Ren. But danger lurks around the corner, forcing her to return to India where she embarks on a second quest--this time with Ren's dark, bad-boy brother Kishan, who has also fallen prey to the Tiger's Curse. Fraught with danger, spellbinding dreams, and choices of the heart, TIGER'S QUEST brings the trio one step closer to breaking the spell that binds them.

I got admit that I love Kishan the most. I think that there would be no contest with me-- Ren just isn't my type. Sorry, I'm just not a fan of Shakespeare (or much classic literature really), and he's just honestly not my kind of guy. Kishan is awesome, is he not? Oh, and another thing that I need to admit: this is my third time reading this, so excuse me if my thoughts are a little weird.

I'm not sure that I really like Kelsey. There, I said it. She seems a tad bit...I don't know-- flat. Her only interests appear to be classic literature and movies, and she's simply too needy for my taste. I can't stand needy characters usually, but I make an exception for her because the series that she belongs to is absolutely fantastic.

As I've mentioned before, I'm head over heels for Kishan. He is my favorite character, and the series simply would not be as awesome without him. I mean, Ren is okay, but Kishan? SA-WOON. Ren will never be that awesome, even though we met him first. Kishan blows him out of the water every time.

As for the storyline, I think that it's fabulous. I love all the bits and pieces of Hindu culture that make their way into every book (such as bilauta, which it the CUTEST nickname), and I simply love the descriptions. I do have one issue, though. There's a LOT of description in Tiger's Quest. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I'm not one to read 10 pages about the same thing. Sorry.

All in all, I love Tiger's Quest. As we speak, I'm trying to find a way to push the next book in the series up on my TBR, but I have so many other books to read first. :(

"Instead of wondering why this has happened, perhaps you should consider why this has happened to you. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck." ~ Pg. 248

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Series: N/A
Source: Payment for hosting Blog Tour
Publisher: Speak
Publication Date: December 2, 2010

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

This book will absolutely break your heart. And guess what? You'll love every moment of it. I sure did. Not that I can speak for all of us, but I'm sure you get what I mean. I just...sigh...loved it.

Anna was totally awesome-- she gets points for being her own unique character, and for just being identifiable. I loved all of her little quirks-- those strange little things that make you stop and think, hey. She sounds a tad bit like me. She talks like me too, y'all. But she'd never admit it. I really can imagine hanging out with her, and I really think that development is the key to writing a good book.

To prove my point, I really didn't think much of the atmosphere. It could have been better-- I will freely admit that, but that's not what made me love this book. France is a VERY SMALL IOTA of my enjoyment of this one. As I've said before, I will always love a book with good characters. And Stephanie delivers on that level.

Etienne and Anna were absolutely fantastic. Their chemistry was awesome, and their interactions didn't seem forced at all. To be honest, it kind of makes your heart hurt a bit. And my heart was hurting near the end. *le sigh* I wanted them to end up together, and I wanted it to all go right.. and, well. You'll have to figure that one out by yourself. Spoilers are BAD.

And what can one say about the city of Love? Not much. It makes for a romantic setting, but I've said it before and I'll say it again. This is all about the characters.

All in all, Anna and the French Kiss was a super romantic contemporary, with a SA-WOON worthy couple, and I would totally recommend reading it, if you haven't already.

Because I was right. For the two of us, home isn't a place. It's a person. And we're finally home. ~ Pg. 372

Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits #1) by Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing the Limits
Author: Katie McGarry
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: July 31, 2012

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Win. Can it seriously get any better than reading a super smexi, awesomesauce romance on the day after Christmas, AND ON A SNOW DAY? I don't think it can, LOL. This has nothing to do with my review...moving on, so that I can run back and read the sneak peek of Dare You to. 

First off, I gotta say that I wasn't very sure about this when I started--it's been getting so many good reviews that it had me nervous, because (usually) nothing with hype is actually good for me. I roll differently, I guess. But this book totally exceeded my expectations. My only problem? THAT IT ENDED. I mean, seriously. I could've read FOREVER.

I mean, NOAH. SA-WOON. I can't exactly emphasize that enough, because, hello? He's too sweet-slash-badass. (I'm sorry! I think that he totally deserves those terms to describe him, so whatever. Deal. Sorry.) But he's just got so many problems, and so does Echo, and they're totally perfect for each other...SWOON. I completely love their chemistry together, and I definitely could've read a few hundred pages more...

I also liked the little side thing going on with Beth and Isaiah...I wonder how that will all work out. I just kind of liked everything about this, but the ending...I don't know. It just kind left me a bit confused, and totally dying to get my hands on the next one.

This book is told through two different points of view--which I usually find annoying, because it seems like a lot of authors have trouble switching between points of view, then the characters all sound the same. But I'm happy to tell you that Katie doesn't have that problem (yes, we're on first name terms. So shoot me for fangirling). Unfortunately, though, I can't pick a favorite character. All the characters are my favorites--how's that?

All in all, I just loved it. Simple as that.
   

Beth had been both wrong and right. Echo couldn't hurt anyone, especially when she seemed so breakable herself. But the need I felt to be the one to keep the world from shattering her only confirmed Beth's theory. I was falling for her and I was fucked. ~ Pg. 102

The Diviners (The Diviners #1) by Libba Bray

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-tute-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.


My Thoughts/Review:

I just now finished this book. What I'm thinking? Wow. That was amazing and weird.

Black cats cross my path frequently. I've walked under ladders and broke mirrors. I'm just not a superstitious person, and I'd like to think that I'll never change--but this book. Ooh, this book makes me feel plenty superstitious.

"Naughty John, Naughty John, does his work with his apron on..."

Gah. That little verse right there will definitely be haunting my dreams for a long time. The atmosphere is really the best part of this book--it's a smooth blend of 1920's history complete with speak-easies and a real live flapper girl, all jumbled together with ghost stories and paranormal elements. I don't know how the author pulled it off, but she did it.

She also managed to write one of the best villains ever. Oh, I don't even know if I can do him justice! He was so scary, and...ooh you'll just have to read it! He definitely made me rethink going outside in the dark--ever again. Yes, this villain was perfect. He had me alternately dreading and hoping for his next appearance. However gruesome and gory, I just...three dimensional does not even begin to describe him.

It does begin to describe many of the other characters, though. I loved how the villain was done, and I also loved how the other characters were done. Weirdly, the villain is my favorite, which is why he's four-dimensional. Evie, Jericho, Memphis and Mabel--they were my other favorites.

Personally, because Evie is the main character, I think I like her the most. She seems very flapper like, very free-spirited, and I just really loved her spunk. Jericho is my second favorite, because of his seriousness and his bookishness. And the one scene we got to see from his point of view--you sir, are HAWT.

The word building was very good, and the descriptions made me see the scenes perfectly. But I did have a problem or two with this book. Because as much as I loved the word building and descriptions, this book is really long. I still loved it, but if you like short books, this probably won't be for you. I didn't particularly care for the ten different points of view either, but I forgive that. It's just not a style that's for everybody.

All in all, The Diviners is a book that deals heavily with the occult, ghosts, and history--and I loved every bit of it. Recently, I've been a really happy camper with books! Yay!

 
Favorite Quote: They'd sold their children a pack of lies: God and country. Love your parents. All is fair. And then they'd sent those boys, her brother, off to fight a great monster of a war that maimed and killed and destroyed whatever was inside of them.
This book was provided by Andrea@The Bookish Babe, for a guest review! She's amazing, and I hope you all hop over and follow her!

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

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

My Thoughts/Review:

When I started this book, I was already basing my opinions on the cover and the blurb: I thought that it would be amazing, based on those two elements. Just those two things. Shallow? Yes. Yes it was--but it was true. I can honestly say that this book can mess with your mind something fierce, and that it was completely different than what I expected.

I expected a dark paranormal romance, probably set around the sixteen hundreds, and maybe including a witch hunt or some other thing like that. I was wrong, and I honestly don't know where I got that picture--the blurb says nothing like that. I can only imagine weird things, I guess. I will admit that I'm a little dissapointed, though.

In my weird imaginings, I also imagined the "Raven Boys" being literal. Like them being part raven, which would've been crazy cool, but alas, was not true. I don't know where I got this weird storyline though! It's crazy. It's probably something that I've made up in my head and totally forgotten about.

In the beginning, I can honestly say that I had no idea where this story was going. Things that became key plot elements in the book later were just being thrown out there for no apparent reason, and I wasn't that sure about my confusion level--it was high, and it didn't go down until I'd gotten about halfway through, and suddenly all the plot elements just kind of clicked. It all made perfect sense. Click.

Gansey and Blue--I'm really not sure that I can explain them enough to make them the way I saw them--real. Each of the characters had their own quirks, their own little thing that they did, that made them who they were. Gansey's was that crazy notebook, and the fact that he was so fully obsessed with a dead Celtic king. Blue's was her "energy". She could take anyone and make them stronger, faster, louder. Adam, Ronan, and Noah need less explaining, but only because they're secondary characters.

The secondary characters could've been better--I'll freely admit that. But I enjoyed reading about them. I never saw Noah coming, nor did I ever really understand Adam's whole "I'm poor, everyone hates me and I'm white trash" brigade. I do have one of the biggest crushes ever on Ronan, though, so there is that. Oh, and this book is the proud winner of the most epic last sentence ever award. ^.^

 
Favorite Quote: The way Gansey saw it was this: If you had a special knack for finding things, it meant you owed it to the world to look.