I really want to try and keep up the pace in April, as of right now I have fourteen books on my list. But I am sure that will grow as the month goes on. I am going to try to read about five books a week, but we'll see.

April TBR List: 


1. Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris (Currently reading) - Comes out April 24th

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.

2. I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga  - Comes out April 3rd

The dark thriller, described as Dexter meets The Silence of the Lambs for teens, tells of a boy who uses his killer instinct, inherited from his serial killer father, to help solve a series of murders.

3. Belles by Jen Calonita - Comes out April 10th

Fifteen-year-old Isabelle Scott loves her life by the boardwalk on the supposed wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. But when tragedy strikes, a social worker sends her to live with a long-lost uncle and his preppy privileged family. Isabelle is taken away from everything she's ever known, and, unfortunately, inserting her into the glamorous lifestyle of Emerald Cove doesn't go so well. Her cousin Mirabelle Monroe isn't thrilled to share her life with an outsider, and, in addition to dealing with all the rumors and backstabbing that lurk beneath their classmates' Southern charm, a secret is unfolding that will change both girls' lives forever.

4. The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him. When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

5. The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell - Comes out April 17th

Heartbroken over the tragic death of her fiancé, seventeen-year-old Zora Stewart leaves Baltimore for the frontier town of West Glory, Oklahoma, to help her young widowed aunt keep her homestead going. There she discovers that she possesses the astonishing ability to sense water under the parched earth.

When her aunt hires her out as a “springsweet” to advise other settlers where to dig their wells, Zora feels the burden of holding the key to something so essential to survival in this unforgiving land. Even more, she finds herself longing for love the way the prairie thirsts for water.

Maybe, in the wildness of the territories, Zora can finally move beyond simply surviving and start living.

6. Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins - Comes out May 1st

What if there were teens whose lives depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.

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 it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

A cross-country trip to meet her father forces Anna to face the reality that hope and love are not options for her kind. When she confronts her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

7. Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock - Comes out May 8th

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.
Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

8. A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix - Comes out May 15th

You’d think being a privileged Prince in a vast intergalactic Empire would be about as good as it gets. But it isn’t as great as it sounds. For one thing, Princes are always in danger. Their greatest threat? Other Princes. Khemri discovers that the moment he is proclaimed a Prince. He also discovers mysteries within the hidden workings of the Empire. Dispatched on a secret mission, Khemri comes across the ruins of a space battle. In the midst of it all he meets a young woman named Raine, who will challenge his view of the Empire, of Princes, and of himself.

9. Famous for Thirty Seconds by P.G Kain

Brittany Rush is the face of Gotta Have It candy bars, the hands of Write On pencils, the hair of Knot Me Not detangle spray and the voice of Mom, It’s Delicious! soups. Brittany has been appearing in commercials and print ads since her backside was the official derriere of Simply Dry Diapers. When Brittany showed up at a callback some girls would actually just get up and go home since they knew it was almost impossible to compete with her. However, a month after her twelfth birthday, Brittany’s mother tells her that the entire family is moving to Hong Kong for a year. Brittany is forced to take a brief but agonizing break from her commercial career. After a year of being just an anonymous kid in a foreign country, Brittany is more than ready to return stateside to her steady diet of go-see’s, auditions, callbacks and bookings in NYC. Within 48 hours of landing at JFK Brittany’s agent Judith Lister of the A Lister’s Agency has three go-see’s for Brittany. When she shows up to the first go-see, she expects the spotlight to start shining on her again but instead she finds that, in the year that she has been gone, she has changed from being the cute kid to watch out for to just one of the many pretty girls waiting her turn. Will Brittany be able to steal back her spotlight? Or will she discover there's more to life than being a commercial success?

10.  Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.
As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?
Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

11. Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.



If I don’t kill him first, that is.

12. While He Was Away by Karen Schreck  - Comes out May 1st

"This is just something I have to do, okay?" I hear David say. "The right thing."

He cradles my face in his hands. He kisses me hard. Then he lets go of me. His eyes dart from me to whatever's next.

All she wants is for him to stay. She's been doing pretty well, pretending he doesn't have to go. But one day, after one last night to remember, she wakes up and there's no denying it anymore. He's gone.

When Penna Weaver's boyfriend goes off to Iraq, she's left facing life without him. As summer sets in, Penna tries to distract herself with work and her art, but the not knowing is slowly driving her crazy. Especially when David stops writing.

She knows in her heart he will come home. But will he be the same boy she fell in love with?

13. When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle - Comes out May 1st

In this intensely romantic, modern recounting of the greatest love story ever told, Romeo’s original intended—Juliet’s cousin Rosaline—tells her side of the tale. What’s in a name, Shakespeare? I’ll tell you: Everything. Rosaline knows that she and Rob are destined to be together. Rose has been waiting for years for Rob to kiss her—and when he finally does, it’s perfect. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who used to be Rose’s best friend. Juliet, who now inexplicably hates her. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy...and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t even stand a chance. Rose is devastated over losing Rob to Juliet. This is not how the story was supposed to go. And when rumors start swirling about Juliet’s instability, her neediness, and her threats of suicide, Rose starts to fear not only for Rob’s heart, but also for his life. Because Shakespeare may have gotten the story wrong, but we all still know how it ends….

14. Enchanted by Alethea Kontis - Comes out May 8th

It isn't easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.

When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.

The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past - and hers?

As of right now this is the list of books I plan to read in April. There is always a chance more books will be added, if I get anymore April or early May ARC's. Or if I just want to read an older book on my shelf. This is just the foundation, out of the books I already have on my shelf as of this moment.

Please let me know in the comments what you think of my list for April. Which one are you most looking forward to seeing a review of? How many books are you planning to read this month?

EDIT: I am going through and following people that have followed. If you don't get a comment it's because it's not allowing me to comment. I have been running into this problem with Wordpress blogs. But I am subscribing by email to Wordpress blogs. 

Author: Melina Marchetta
Release Date: August 28th, 2008
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 419
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Bought

Rating: ★★★★★

"What do you want from me?" he asks. What I want from every person in my life, I want to tell him. More. Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham, now seventeen, is finally being confronted with her past. But as the reluctant leader of her boarding school dorm, there isn't a lot of time for introspection. And while Hannah, the closest adult Taylor has to family, has disappeared, Jonah Griggs is back in town, moody stares and all. In this absorbing story by Melina Marchetta, nothing is as it seems and every clue leads to more questions as Taylor tries to work out the connection between her mother dumping her, Hannah finding her then and her sudden departure now, a mysterious stranger who once whispered something in her ear, a boy in her dreams, five kids who lived on Jellicoe Road eighteen years ago, and the maddening and magnetic Jonah Griggs, who knows her better than she thinks he does. If Taylor can put together the pieces of her past, she might just be able to change her future.

Wow, where do I even begin with this? Going into this book, I had heard so many amazing things about it. It seemed like one of those books that everyone loved for some reason or another, now I can see why. There are so many amazing things about this book that it's hard to point them all out. I've only read Melina's fantasy series, but I absolutely loved her writing so I was really interested to see how much I would enjoy this one with it being something completely different than the first books I read of hers. Let me just say that after reading this book, Melina strongly secured her spot among my favorite authors. She is a genius.

It's a little difficult to go into a lot of detail when it comes to the actual story, because I feel like it could be easily spoiled and I really don't want to ruin the story from anyone. I was warned before starting that it would be a little difficult getting through the first 50 or so pages, and I found that to be true. But once you get past that point, you are really in for a treat. I loved how there was like a "Journal" type thing within the story which was like Hannah's notes and stories of things that happened. It was just really interesting to see how things turned out. I feel like it really shows how hope can always overcome hardship. It's just a really beautiful story, I would even say that it's one of those stories you might want to read twice just to let it fully sink in. I am extremely impressed by Melina's storytelling, and how she can really keep you interested.

The characters are amazing. This is one of those books, that I just can't pick one or even a couple that I like the most. That usually tends to happen when I come across a book that I really become attached to, and Jellicoe Road is easily one of those books. The different story arcs for each of the characters is amazing. One of the things I love most about Melina's writing is her attention to detail. And you really see that in this book, there is an insane amount of detail to the characters in this story. Sometimes I would argue that having so much side detail could cause clutter, but not with this book. Melina in my opinion is one of the best when it comes to making large amounts of detail work perfectly in a book.

I know this book has been out for quite awhile, and I am late to the party. But I am so glad that I finally read this one. If you haven't yet, please make sure to do so. I just can't get over how amazing of an author Melina is, and I am really looking forward to reading her other books that I haven't read yet. You just can't deny that she has an amazing talent when it comes to writing, and you will see that in Jellicoe Road. Such an amazing book, I am surprised it took me so long to get around to reading it. I will probably end up reading it again to, because like I had said above reading it a second time might help me get even more out of this already amazing story.

Author: Francisco X. Stork
Release Date: January 1st, 2012
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine (Scholastic)
Pages: 288
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Finished copy for review

Rating: ★★★

Two sisters discover what's truly worth living for in the new novel by the author of MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD.TWO SISTERS: Kate is bound for Stanford and an M.D. -- if her family will let her go. Mary wants only to stay home and paint. When their loving but repressive father dies, they must figure out how to support themselves and their mother, who is in a permanent vegetative state, and how to get along in all their uneasy sisterhood.THREE YOUNG MEN: Then three men sway their lives: Kate's boyfriend Simon offers to marry her, providing much-needed stability. Mary is drawn to Marcos, though she fears his violent past. And Andy tempts Kate with more than romance, recognizing her ambition because it matches his own. ONE AGONIZING CHOICE: Kate and Mary each find new possibilities and darknesses in their sudden freedom. But it's Mama's life that might divide them for good -- the question of *if* she lives, and what's worth living for.IRISES is Francisco X. Stork's most provocative and courageous novel yet.

I was really intrigued by this book when I had came across it awhile back. From the description, it really sounded like it would be a great story. In some ways it was, but it just wasn't what I had pictured it being. I didn't really have high hopes, because I am so use to that backfiring on me.. But I did hope it would live up to my thoughts of the description of the book, since it's essentially a basic overview of what you will be reading. This isn't going to be a very long review, just want to express my thoughts. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for a book like this, but I really felt like there was something missing.

I just wasn't very impressed with the story at all. I tried so hard to get into it, but after the first 100 or so pages I just didn't feel like it was going happen. I kept going though, and there were a few parts later on that were good but for the most part I just couldn't get into the story. I don't know if it was some of the subject matter, or if I just wasn't able to connect to it but it really didn't do it for me.

I felt that the characters were extremely bland, I would of loved to have had more of a connection with the characters. Maybe that would of made the book more enjoyable for me, but I just couldn't build that connection with any of them no matter how hard I tried to like them.

While this book wasn't one of my favorites, it's not bad by many means. It just didn't live up to what I thought it would be. I do strongly believe that it will appeal to some readers out there though, if it's one that you think you might enjoy then by all means check it out. My opinion on a book is just that, my opinion. I just really hoped I would of got more out of this book than I did.

Thank you to Scholastic for providing me a copy of this book for review.

This wasn't a planned giveaway, but there was a little confusion regarding these two titles so I ended up with two copies of each of them. So since I already have a set of them to read and review, I emailed my contact at Harper and she said it would be fine for me to do a giveaway for the extra set.

This giveaway will not require you to be a blog follower, it's not even going to be an option on the Rafflecopter. I always appreciate anyone that wants to follow my blog, but if you just want to enter the giveaway without following or anything then you are more than welcome to just do that.

Giveaway:




Book #1: For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana Peterfreund (Comes out June 12th, 2012)

Book #2: A Want So Wicked by Suzanne Young (Comes out June 26th, 2012) - Second book in the A Need So Beautiful series -


Rules:


1. You must be 13 or older to enter.

2. This giveaway is open to US and Canada entries.

3. The winner of the giveaway will get both books.

4. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In My Mailbox is a weekely meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.


For Review:


1. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo - Thanks to Macmillian (Henery Holt)

2. When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle - Thanks to Simon & Schuster

3. A Want So Wicked by Suzanne Young - Thanks to Harper

4. For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana Peterfreund - Thanks to Harper

5. The Lost Code by Kevin Emerson (Signed, image below) - Thanks to Kevin


Bought:


1. Fever by Lauren DeStefano (Already read/reviewed)



What did you get this week? :)

Author: Wendy Wunder
Release Date: December 8th, 2011
Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin)
Pages: 360
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Bought

Rating: ★★★★★

Dry, sarcastic, sixteen-year-old Cam Cooper has spent the last seven years in and out hospitals. The last thing she wants to do in the short life she has left is move 1,500 miles away to Promise, Maine - a place known for the miraculous events that occur there. But it's undeniable that strange things happen in Promise: everlasting sunsets; purple dandelions; flamingoes in the frigid Atlantic; an elusive boy named Asher; and finally, a mysterious envelope containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies. As Cam checks each item off the list, she finally learns to believe - in love, in herself, and even in miracles. A debut novel from an immensely talented new writer, The Probability of Miracles crackles with wit, romance and humor and will leave readers laughing and crying with each turn of the page.

This book really toyed with my emotions. I rarely find a book that can have this type of impact, I really feel that if you don't have any kinds of emotions throughout this book then something must be wrong with you. It's an extremely powerful book, and it's beautifully written which just multiples how awesome of a book it is by a lot.

The plot line for this story is fantastic. It really seems like Wendy wrote it planning to send you on an emotional roller-coaster. There are a lot of very positive and happy scenes in this book which are amazing. It's nice experiencing Cam's and her families trip to Promise and the people she meets along the way. Everything about this story draws you into it.

I can't even begin to express how much I enjoyed the friendship between Cam and Lily throughout this book. That was by far one of my favorite parts. Cam is such an amazing character, I can't get over how strong she is with all that she is going through, I couldn't begin to imagine what that must be like. Sure she has her moments where she gets down, but in the end it was so amazing to see just how strong of a character she is.

The relationship between Asher and Cam is another great thing about this book. I honestly felt that they were perfect together, I had absolutely no issues. He was always there for her, and I really liked that. This story really made me think of "A Walk To Remember" did anyone else feel this way? I loved that it put off that feeling for me, because I loved that book. And I love this one now to. They are completely different of-course there were just a few minor things in The Probability of Miracles that made me think of that book.

This book is amazing though, I really need to come up with some different words to describe books I like but it's hard to think of any other way to describe them. Just know that I highly recommend this book. If you're looking for a book that can really make you sit back and put your life into perspective this is a great book for you. If you're looking for an extremely heart warming book, then this one is for you. I just honestly can't sum up how beautiful and touching this book is. Please do yourself a favor and read this one if you haven't.

Author: Lauren DeStefano
Release Date: February 21st, 2012
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 341
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Bought

Rating: ★★★★★

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness. The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary. In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

This is a fantastic series. I have read both books in a matter of two days, and I am blown away by it. Fever was a little less disturbing than Wither was which was nice. But you still have a lot of the situations that come into play that you had in the first book.

As it says in the description, this story starts right after Rhine and Gabriel escape from the mansion. From there a lot of crazy things happen to them. I was surprised by how many plot twists were thrown in with Fever. You learn a lot more about some of the characters, and also meet several new ones such as Claire who is a first generation. I really want to learn more about the first generation, and figure out the entire story behind them and what exactly they might know. You do learn a little bit, but I really feel like there is a lot more to learn about them.

I really wasn't surprised by some of the things that happened throughout the book, a lot of it you pretty much know is going to happen. Especially seeing Vaughn show up throughout the story which is something we all would expect after the ending of book one. It just makes you wonder what will eventually happen to Rhine. It was interesting learning some of Rhine's back story, but again that is one of those things that I feel could be discussed more in the third book. Especially after the ending of Fever.

Speaking of the ending of Fever... Wow. I don't even know what to say, let's just say it has me really wanting to learn more about Rowan and what he might be up to. You learn about him in the first book, he is Rhine's brother. And he is mentioned some in this book, but this ending was huge cliffhanger in my opinion. I feel like we will be learning a lot more about Rowan in book three, which will be awesome since he has been somewhat of a minor character so far.

I can't wait to read the next book though, this series is wonderful. I love how it can completely draw you in and really make you think.  I highly recommend this series, it's one of the better ones that I have read recently, just really excited to see what happens next. If it ends with book three, I really hope Lauren will answer all our questions with the story and sum it all up nicely.

Author: Lauren DeStefano
Release Date: March 22nd, 2011
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 358
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Bought

Rating: ★★★★★

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children. When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape--before her time runs out?Together with one of Linden's servants, Gabriel, Rhine attempts to escape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom? 

Author: K.D. McEntire
Release Date: November 15th, 2011
Publisher: Pyr
Pages: 315
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Finished copy for review

Rating: ★★★★

"Lightbringer" is a YA Urban Fantasy/Romance in a world a breath away from our own. Similar in tone to "Tithe" and "Unleashed," "Lightbringer" tiptoes down the line between love and horror as an independent young woman discovers herself and the darkest parts of the afterlife. 

Lightbringer was an interesting book. I don't really know what I was expecting, I was just intrigued by the concept. I did feel that it was lacking a little, there were a lot of times where the book just didn't hold my interest but then there were other parts where I couldn't put it down. It was just a give and take scenario.

I felt that the story was fairly unique, at least based off of all the books I have read in the past. I would of loved to have seen a little more depth to the characters, especially Wendy considering she is the main character. I just felt that there were portions of the books where she came across extremely bland. I really did enjoy the concept of the story though, it was interesting learning about what exactly the Lightbringer is and all of the different "Monsters" or whatever you'd like to call them throughout the book. It was also interesting following the relationship between Wendy and Piotr considering there are some... Major differences between the two. I also though the plot line surrounding Wendy's mom was really great, and I was pleased with how that wrapped up.

I'm interested to see what happens in book two, because you are left with quite a cliffhanger surrounding one of the characters so it's going to be really interesting to find out what actually happened to that character and to be able to learn more about Wendy's family background. You learn quite a bit in the first book, but I am positive there is much more to learn.

As I said, this book is good. It might not be one of my favorites, but it was enjoyable to read. I would recommend it if you enjoy these types of books. I honestly feel like this book might have more of a limited audience but it's still worth giving a shot if you think it's something you might enjoy.

Thank you to Pyr for providing me with a copy of this book for review.

Author: Lauren Oliver
Release Date: October 4th, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 307
Age Group: Middle Grade
Source: Bought

Rating: ★★★★★

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone. That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable. Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey. From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a luminous and magnificent novel that glows with rare magic, ghostly wonders, and a true friendship that lights even the darkest of places.

It's been years since I have read a Middle Grade book, and I can honestly admit that I had almost forgot all the charm that can come with a well written Middle Grade novel. Liesl & Po made me remember that again, there is just something special about this book that brings back all of that charm and innocence that I remember from books I read when I was younger.

This story is beyond beautiful, and it's got a really sad side to it also. I was really impressed by how complex the story arc was, but the writing made it flow very nicely. I loved the main characters in this book. Liesl, Po, Will and even Bundles the Cat/Dog with the adorable "Mwark" (You will understand once you read the story.) :P It was a nice change of pace to see such innocent characters, and to see all of the difficult things they had to get through to accomplish their goals in the story. I thought it was cute how one of the token parts of the story (In my opinion) was Liesl's favorite word which was "Ineffable" which I was actually pretty impressed by since it's one of those words that makes you question if you actually know what it means or not, but it was a nice little touch to the story especially since there was a much larger meaning to the word for Liesl. I also really enjoyed how protective Po, Will and Bundles were with Liesl at times, it's cliche sure but the innocence of the characters made it quite adorable.

The Illustrations throughout the book are stunning. It was different being able to have an image to illustrate certain things going on in the story. And I honestly didn't feel as though it was done in a very "Childish" manner. I felt that they were drawn in a way that would easily appeal to any age group, and they were spread throughout the book nicely so it was just like a little treat to see the beautiful art interpretation of different scenes throughout the book.

As I mentioned at the start, It's been such a long time since I have read a Middle Grade book. But Liesl & Po truly did remind me just how magical some of these Middle Grade books can be. If written well, books can easily traverse age groups. And I strongly believe that Liesl & Po is one of those books that anyone regardless of their age could pick up and read. It's an extremely powerful story full of that young innocence of the main characters, magic, intrigue pretty much everything you would expect in a great Middle Grade novel of this type. I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for something different. If you're like me and mainly read Young Adult, I can almost guarantee that you will love this book.

Author: Marie Lu
Release Date: November 29th, 2011
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (Penguin)
Pages: 305
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Bought

Rating: ★★★★★

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias' death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

I've only read a handful of Dystopian novels, so I am by no means an expert when it comes to them. But one thing I have picked up on very easily, is there there tend to be a ton of recurring themes within almost every Dystopian novel I have read. And before you think I am ranting, let me just say that I don't really view this as a negative thing. There were a lot of themes in Legend that I have seen in the rest of the Dystopian books I have read, yes. But what always impresses me is how each author that writes a Dystopian novel can take these vague themes and craft them into something that is theirs. That is what makes a great book, I can go on all day comparing themes with any of the newer Dystopian novels you could throw at me, all it comes down to is that Marie was able to take these themes and craft an amazing story that is 100% her own.

Day and June are two of my favorite Dystopian characters since the characters in The Hunger Games. There is just something about each of them that I really became attached to. They both go through a lot throughout the story, but they are on completely different sides of the spectrum. June is the pride of the Republic, being the first person to score a perfect 1500 on her Trial. While Day is the complete opposite, he failed his Trial with the lowest score on record. It's really interesting to see how their two stories tie together, and to find out some of the truths behind some of the situations they have been through. With Day being the main suspect in June's brothers death, you can probably imagine things between Day and June will be pretty intense throughout the story. But is there more to this story than the Republic is letting on?

The whole idea behind the story kept me really interested. At first I didn't really find myself questioning much but as I continued to read and gain more information I could easily see that some things weren't adding up. And that kept me glued to the book. I found myself asking, how did the plague start? Why is all of this going on between the Republic and the Patriots (Colonies)? It's all very intriguing, and even after finding out a lot of the truths behind some of the things that take place during the story I still have a ton of questions that I can only hope will be answered in the next book.

Needless to say, Legend is a FANTASTIC book. It includes a lot of Dystopian themes that I am sure many of you know about, but Marie truly does make it her own. And I feel that shows just how talented of a writer she is, and has me extremely excited to see where she takes the rest of this series. If you haven't read this one, I would highly recommend reading it.

Author: Robin LaFevers
Release Date: April 3rd, 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 564
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: ARC for review


Rating: ★★★★★

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf? Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

I have had this book sitting on my shelf for quite awhile now, and it's been one I have really been looking forward to reading. I didn't really know what to think going in, because just based on the description it sounded like such an unique story. But once I got into it, I was extremely impressed by the writing, and the story itself.

The story was very different, in my opinion. The idea of Ismae being blessed by the god of death is a compelling way to draw in readers, and it makes Ismae seem even more BA than she already is. It's always good to have a BA female protag, male characters shouldn't get to have all the fun. :P  The relationship between Ismae and Duval was interesting, it caused some major plot changes throughout the story. I also loved the mystery aspect of the story when it came to the "Traitor" within the book, was really interesting to see how all of that worked out.

I found this book to feel much more mature than you would expect in YA. Not in the way you might think though, there was a lot of politics and different things throughout the story that I felt would easily make Grave Mercy one of those books that could be listed in the area that bridges the gap between YA and Adult.

I really enjoyed the ending of the story, it was interesting to see how things worked out for Ismae, Duval and Anne. It really left me with a sense of urgency to know what will happen next, especially when Ismae was asked about the Convent at the end. So I guess we will just have to wait and see where things go, but I am pretty sure things will get even crazier in His Fair Assassin: Dark Triumph (Book two title as of now).

Great book, well written with an extremely interested story line. I feel like this will be a book a lot of people will end up enjoying, it's got an interesting subject matter and a historical setting. I feel that it will appeal to fans of multiple genres, which is a really good thing.

Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with a copy of this book for review.

Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Release Date: April 1st, 2012
Publisher: Point (Scholastic)
Pages: 278
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: ARC for review

Rating: ★★★★★

From the fantastic author of The Lonely Hearts Club and Prom & Prejudice comes a story of all the drama and comedy of four friends who grow into themselves at a performing arts high school. Emme, Sophie, Ethan, and Carter are seniors at a performing arts school, getting ready for their Senior Showcase recital, where the pressure is on to appeal to colleges, dance academies, and professionals in show business. For Sophie, a singer, it's been great to be friends with Emme, who composes songs for her, and to date Carter, soap opera heartthrob who gets plenty of press coverage. Emme and Ethan have been in a band together through all four years of school, but wonder if they could be more than just friends and bandmates. Carter has been acting since he was a baby, and isn't sure how to admit that he'd rather paint than perform. The Senior Showcase is going to make or break each of the four, in a funny, touching, spectacular finale that only Elizabeth Eulberg could perform.

Take a Bow really makes me wish I didn't have a rating system. I would give this book more than five stars without ever having a second thought. Elizabeth has written a Contemporary novel that embodies everything I love to see in a Contemporary, and more. It's such a cute and thoughtful story. I honestly think it's a perfect story for any type of reader.

I love how Elizabeth wrote these characters, you follow the four characters which you see mentioned in the excerpt (Emme, Sophie, Ethan and Carter). The reason I enjoy the way Elizabeth wrote the characters is that each chapter focuses on one of the four characters. You will see them cross over into each others chapters obviously, but it's really nice to get to see the different situations through each of the characters eyes and see how they all react different. I really became attached to these characters, especially Carter and Emme these two characters were by far my favorite. I loved that they came from completely different backgrounds, but in the end they ended up having the same goals.

I don't think I will ever be able to bring my self to like Sophie and Ethan though. Just not a fan of either character... Ethan does redeem himself somewhat throughout the book, but there are just certain things I can't look past that doesn't allow me to like him as a character. When it comes down to it though, all of the characters are written extremely well regardless of how I felt about them. Having well written characters, and making them seem really helps to make a wonderful story and Elizabeth was able to accomplish that in a spectacular way in Take a Bow.

I just can't get over how wonderful of a story this was, of course it's one I would recommend to everyone. I really hope you all will take the time to read this book, it's a stunning Contemporary written by an extremely talented author. This book deserves much more praise than I could possibly give in this one review. But I hope I am at least able to persuade you to read this book once it's released, and continue to spread the word about it. I feel like a say this a lot in my positive reviews, but it really is well worth it.

Thank you to Scholastic for providing me with a copy of this book for review.

JBB: Who or what inspired you to become a writer?



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Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Release Date: April 1st, 2012
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 342
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Finished copy for review

Rating: ★★★★★

THE FALSE PRINCE is the thrilling first book in a brand-new trilogy filled with danger and deceit and hidden identities that will have readers rushing breathlessly to the end. In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well. As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together. An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats.

I'm sure by now you all know how much I love Fantasy books, and how picky I can be when it comes to reviewing them. The False Prince embodied everything I like to see in a Fantasy novel, Jennifer has created a story that will easily catch your interest from the very start.


The story itself is extremely complex, once you finish it you will look back and think how did I not see certain things throughout the book coming? I found Conner to be not the brightest character, it took him quite awhile to figure out what was right in front of him throughout the story. And between Sage, Roden and Tobias there are plenty of little hints that could of helped him see the truth. I will admit that seeing him be so shocked by the truth made the story much more enjoyable for me though.


The False Prince isn't an extremely intense Fantasy. You can easily tell that it is targeted toward an younger audience of Fantasy readers. But it is still an amazing book for any Fantasy lover. It doesn't have the vast amount of detail that you might see in some Fantasy/High Fantasy books but I honestly don't think this book needed that. It was a wonderful story for what it was, and it had some wonderful messages for readers.


I can't get over the ending of the book. Once you find out the truth behind it all, you don't really know what to think. Jennifer did an amazing job building the story up to that point, and feeding you little bits of information throughout the story that ultimately led to the overall explanation of what truly took place four years before the story took place. And it's interesting to see how Connor, Sage, Roden, and Tobias play into all of it.


I am extremely excited to read the next book, it left on a good yet crazy note. And I really want to know where things will go from there, even though you do get a pretty good hint of some things that might be in the second book. I personally want to learn more about Kerwyn, you hear about him a little in the story and quite a bit at the end but he really wasn't what I would consider a major character in this book, but I hope to see more of him in the second book it seems like he would be an interesting character to have more of a focus on, especially considering the way things turned out.


As I mentioned, I would highly recommend this book for anyone that enjoys Fantasy. It's a really great book, and well worth reading once it's released. Got a really good feeling about this new series, and can't wait for the rest of it.


Thank you to Scholastic for providing me with a copy of this book for review.

Author: Leah Bobet
Release Date: April 1st, 2012
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (Scholastic)
Pages: 368
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: ARC for Review

Rating: ★★★★★

A gorgeous urban fantasy about dangers outside and in.
Matthew has always lived in Safe, a community hidden far beneath the pipes and tunnels of the city Above. The residents fled to Safe years before to escape the Whitecoats and their cruel experiments, and now Matthew is responsible for both the keeping of Safe’s stories and for Ariel—a golden-haired shapeshifter, and the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen.
But one horrifying night, an old enemy murders Safe’s founder, Atticus, and the community is taken over by an army of shadows. Only Matthew, Ariel, and a handful of friends escape Above. Now they not only have to survive in a sunlit world they barely know, but they must unravel the mystery of the shadows’ fury and Atticus’s death. It’s up to Matthew to find a way to remake Safe—not just for himself and his family, but for Ariel, who’s again faced with the life she fled, and who needs him more than ever before.

Breathtaking. That is the best word I can think of to sum up Above. I find it extremely hard to believe that this is Leah's debut novel, it's just so well done that it seems like she has written countless novels before this one. It's honestly hard for me to figure out where I want to begin with in regard to the review, because there is so much about this book that just screams amazing.

Aimee Agresti was voted “Quietest” of her high school class–probably because she spent too much time with her nose buried in books. Clearly, becoming a writer was the only possible choice. She now happily toggles between the realms of fact and fiction. The author of the young adult novel ILLUMINATE, she’s also a former Us Weekly staff writer and entertainment journalist whose work has appeared in People, Premiere, DC Magazine, Capitol File, The Washington Post, Washingtonian, The Washington City Paper, Boston magazine, Women’s Health and the New York Observer to name a few. Aimee has made countless TV and radio appearances dishing about celebrities on the likes of Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, E!, The Insider, Extra, VH1, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, Headline News, A&E, and ABC News Now. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism and lives with her husband and son in Washington, DC, where she can often be found skulking around the Smithsonian museums on slow writing days waiting for inspiration to strike.

JBB: What inspired you to write Illuminate?

Aimee: I wanted to write the kind of book that the teen me would’ve loved: something with a strong heroine, a great mystery and plenty of romance. And when it came to the story itself, I thought it would be tons of fun to take one of my favorite classics, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and give it a shiny update complete with new twists and a few angels and devils!


JBB: Considering you have an extensive background in Journalism, did you use any of that experience when it came to writing Illuminate?

Aimee: Good question! After spending so many years working with facts, it’s so exciting to be in the world of fiction where I can let my imagination run wild for a change. But some of my experiences as an entertainment magazine writer did creep into ILLUMINATE a little bit: whenever Haven’s at a fabulous party and she’s feeling wowed by it all, that’s how I used to feel covering movie premieres!


JBB: What are you looking forward to most once Illuminate is released? Have you been surprised by the feedback from those that have already read it?

Aimee: I think it’s going to be pretty exciting to actually see the book in a store. On March 6, you’ll definitely find me in the young adult section of the Barnes and Noble in my neighborhood snapping loads of pictures of ILLUMINATE on the shelves! And I have to say, it’s been so thrilling for me to hear from readers like you who have gotten an early peek at the galley and have liked it. It just means so much whenever someone gets in touch to tell me they enjoyed the book!


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