The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart by Lauren DeStefano

Title: The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: September 13th 2016
Source: ARC from the publisher. Thank you Bloomsbury!

Summary from Goodreads:

Lionel is a wild boy, who doesn’t much like to be around other people. He’d rather be a purring cat or a wolf stalking the woods.

Marybeth is a nice girl. She doesn’t need to be told to comb her hair or brush her teeth, and she’s kind to everyone at the orphanage . . . Lionel most of all.

Different though they are, Lionel and Marybeth are best friends in a world that has forgotten about them. So when a mysterious blue spirit possesses Marybeth—and starts to take control—they know they must stop it before the real Marybeth fades away forever.

Review

The Peculiar Night was a well written, attention-grabbing middle grade story. DeStefano weaves a delicate story about two young children and their peculiar encounter. The young friendship between the two characters is heart warming. I love that each character has such a different personality. I think it is important to show that young kids and friendships come in all forms and the bond between two friends can so strong.

Lionel is so different; I just want to hug him for being him. His unrelenting fight for Marybeth and her safety really makes the story. Even though he would rather be an animal then a human boy because of a troubled past he never loses faith in his friend.

The Peculiar Night, while a shorter book, really draws the reader into this journey of friendship, mystery, tragedy, and family. Readers of all ages can enjoy this book!

The Minpins by Roald Dahl - Road Dahl's 100th Birthday Blog Tour

Title: The Minpins
Author: Roald Dahl
Illustrator: Patrick Benson
Publisher: Puffin Books

Summary from Goodreads:

Come deep into the forest if you dare...but beware the Terrible Bloodsuckling Toothpluckling Stonechuckling Spittler!

Amazon  | Barnes & Noble

Review

Oh, Roald Dahl, how I love your writing.  Starting from the first page I was grinning from ear to ear.  Dahl is an amazing storyteller.  The illustrations beautifully compliments the fun story.

Little Billy is to be a 'good boy' but after always being a good boy he really wants to explore.  He sneaks out and what started as a simple journey ended up being a life-changing adventure.  Little Billy encounters the fire-breathing creature while also meeting the Minpins.

The Minpins provide Little Billy adventure and friendship.  The ending feels a bit rushed, like there should be more story there but overall The Minpins was a great read and would serve as a great book to read aloud!

About the Author

Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was one of the world’s most imaginative, successful and beloved storytellers. He was born in Wales of Norwegian parents and spent much of his childhood in England. After establishing himself as a writer for adults with short story collections such as Kiss Kiss and Tales of the Unexpected, Roald Dahl began writing children's stories in 1960 while living with his family in both the U.S. and in England. His first stories were written as entertainment for his own children, to whom many of his books are dedicated.

Roald Dahl’s first children’s story, The Gremlins, was a story about little creatures that were responsible for the various mechanical failures on airplanes. The Gremlins came to the attention of both First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who loved to read the story to her grandchildren, and Walt Disney, with whom Roald Dahl had discussions about the production of a movie.

Roald Dahl was inspired by American culture and by many of the most quintessential American landmarks to write some of his most memorable passages, such as the thrilling final scenes in James and the Giant Peach - when the peach lands on the Empire State Building! Upon the publication of James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl began work on the story that would later be published as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and today, Roald Dahl’s stories are available in 58 languages and, by a conservative estimate, have sold more than 200 million copies.

Roald Dahl also enjoyed great success for the screenplays he wrote for both the James Bond film You Only Live Twice in 1967 and for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, released one year later, which went on to become a beloved family film. Roald Dahl’s popularity continues to increase as his fantastic novels, including James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, The BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, delight an ever-growing legion of fans.

Two charities have been founded in Roald Dahl’s memory: the first charity, Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, created in 1991, focuses on making life better for seriously ill children through the funding of specialist nurses, innovative medical training, hospitals, and individual families across the UK.

The second charity, The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre – a unique cultural, literary and education hub – opened in June 2005 in Great Missenden where Roald Dahl lived and wrote many of his best-loved works. 10% of income from Roald Dahl books and adaptations are donated to the two Roald Dahl charities.

On September 13, 2006, the first national Roald Dahl Day was celebrated, on what would have been the author’s 90th birthday. The event proved such a success that Roald Dahl Day is now marked annually all over the world. September 13, 2016 is Roald Dahl 100, marking 100 years since the birth of the world’s number one storyteller. There will be celebrations for Roald Dahl 100 throughout 2016, delivering a year packed with gloriumptious treats and surprises for everyone.

Giveaway:

1 winner can pick 5 books from the Roald Dahl collection! US Only.

Rafflecopter:
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Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry

Title: Nowhere But Here
Author: Katie McGarry
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: May 26th 2015
Source: BEA!

Summary from Goodreads:

An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible.

Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.

Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.

Review

It says a lot when I dislike an audio book's narrator yet continued with the book. Nowhere But Here was worth the read/listen.  While the narrator's voice didn't sit well with me, the story was great and I had to continue.

Nowhere But Here teleported me into what felt like a TV drama (in a good way).  At times the motorcycle club drama seemed a bit excessive but it worked.  I was drawn into this vastly different world.  It all seemed so foreign  to me but the main character was having the same feelings so it was easy to relate in that sense.  Oz is the picture perfect bad boy; he is rough around the edges, has a strong protective nature, and loves fiercely.

The dynamic between Emily and Oz is cute and slow building with no love triangle.  Emily's choices at times and her overall attitude was not always my favorite.  Oz, on the other hand, I really liked him as a character.  The family of both main characters play a huge role in the overarching plot.  There are a lot of pieces in this motorcycle club territory battle/love story.  Nowhere But Here reminded me a bit of Jay Crownover's book in their plot execution and characters, just with a younger MC.

Overall there were a lot of pieces to this story that had me engaged from start to finish. I look forward to the next companion novel!

Asa (Marked Men #6) by Jay Crownover

Title: Asa
Series: Marked Men #6
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: April 21st 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn’t it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn’t want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one luscious arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best.

Royal Hastings is quickly learning what the bottom looks like after a tragic situation at work threatens not only her career but her partner’s life. As a woman who has only ever had a few real friends she’s trying to muddle through her confusion and devastation all alone. Except she can’t stop thinking about the sexy southern bartender she locked up. Crushing on Asa is the last thing she needs but his allure is too strong to resist. His long criminal record can only hurt her already shaky career and chasing after a guy who has no respect for the law or himself can only end in heartbreak.

A longtime criminal and a cop together just seems so wrong . . . but for Asa and Royal, being wrong together is the only right choice to make.

Review

This is a sad review to write, as it signifies the end of a great series. I actually listened to the audio book versions of the entire series.  Let me tell you, that is the way to go; the variety in narrators and multiple narrators in each story really got me into the book.  Plus if you are a fan of a Southern accent, Asa has a wonderful one.

Asa grew on me, his troubled past and previous lack of care for others did not sit well with me.  It did give him plenty of room to grow though and that he did.  He eventually grew on me as a character and as a part of the crew's family.

The hurdle/issue Asa and Royal had to overcome was a difficult issue and kind of intense and hard to wrap my head around.  I could not really imagine being in that situation ; the whole thing made me rather uncomfortable.  Aside from that aspect of the plot, Asa was a great read and ended the series in a wonderful way.  I loved not only hearing Royal and Asa's story but also hearing all the other happy endings.

Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter

Title: Ghostly Echoes
Series: Jackaby #3
Author: William Ritter
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Release Date: August 23rd 2016
Source: E-arc from the publisher.  Thank you Algonquin Young Readers! 

Summary from Goodreads:

Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghostly lady of 926 Augur Lane, has enlisted the investigative services of her fellow residents to solve a decade-old murder—her own. Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, Detective R. F. Jackaby, dive into the cold case, starting with a search for Jenny’s fiancé, who went missing the night she died. But when a new, gruesome murder closely mirrors the events of ten years prior, Abigail and Jackaby realize that Jenny’s case isn’t so cold after all, and her killer may be far more dangerous than they suspected.

Fantasy and folklore mix with mad science as Abigail’s race to unravel the mystery leads her across the cold cobblestones of nineteenth-century New England, down to the mythical underworld, and deep into her colleagues’ grim histories to battle the most deadly foe she has ever faced.

Review

Ghostly Echoes is the third book in the Jackaby series and probably my favorite thus far. This main mystery in this book focused on characters we are introduced to in books one and two. Jenny is the ghost that currently resides in Jackaby’s house and her murder is the main focal point in Ghostly Echoes.

The previous two books introduced Jenny’s back story slightly but it was a nice change to have this book focus on a character the reader has already grown attached to as oppose to introducing new characters and plot lines. Compared to the first two books, Ghostly Echoes was more suspenseful and faster paced. Everything about the mystery had me flipping through the pages in one sitting, so much more was at stake. The reader also learns more about Jackaby’s past really developing him as a detective and overall more dynamic character. The underlying humor is still sprinkled through out, I enjoyed Jackaby’s eccentricities and Abigail’s spunk and dedication.

Ghostly Echoes is the perfect mix of mystery and the supernatural. As the story progresses it gets weirder and weirder, stranger characters appear and the stakes climb to life or death situations. This third installment of the Jackaby series will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more of the Sherlock-like world.

Rome (Marked Men #3) by Jay Crownover

Title: Rome
Series: Marked Men #3
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: January 7th 2014

Summary from Goodreads:

Sometimes the wrong choice can be just right . . .

Fun and fearless, Cora Lewis knows how to keep her tattooed "bad boy" friends at the Marked in line. But beneath all that flash and sass is a broken heart. Cora won't let herself get burned again. She's waiting to fall in love with the perfect man—a baggage-free, drama-free guy ready for commitment. Then she meets Rome Archer.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He's stubborn, rigid, and bossy. And he's returned from his final tour of duty more than a little broken. Rome's used to filling many roles: big brother, doting son, supersoldier—but none of those fit anymore. Now he's just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the dark demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer through it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes a blinding flash of color in a sea of gray.Perfect may not be in the cards, but perfectly imperfect could just last forever . . .

Review

I LOVED this book.  (Even after finishing the whole series, this is hands down my favorite book) I love Rome and I love Cora.  Of the first three books Rome felt like it had some of the heaviest themes, PTSD specifically but Crownover did an amazing job of incorporating his struggles into the story line without it feeling forced.

I have always been a fan of Cora, I can picture her perfectly and just feel her spunk and feisty-ness every time I read.  Her love for all the marked men and the girls is fantastic.  She really encompasses friendship and tough love.  The dynamic between Rome and Cora is wonderful- they fight, they love and they conquer.  While some aspects of the plot were a bit predictable other parts were such a pleasant surprise.

I for sure recommend this series but especially this book.  If you were on the fence after Jet, really give Rome a try!  Even though Rome was not my favorite in books one and two, he really really grew on me.

Everland by Wendy Spinale

Title: Everland
Author: Wendy Spinale
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: May 10th 2016

Source: Audiobook from Scholastic Audio. Thank you Scholastic!

Summary from Goodreads:

Forget the story of Peter Pan you know. Because in Everland, the only way to grow up is to survive.

London has been destroyed in a blitz of bombs and disease. The only ones who have survived are children, among them Gwen Darling and her siblings, Joanna and Mikey. They spend their nights scavenging and their days avoiding the ruthless Marauders -- the German Army led by Captain Hanz Otto Oswald Kretschmer.

Unsure if the virus has spread past England's borders but desperate to leave, Captain Hook hunts for a cure, which he thinks can be found in one of the survivors. He and his Marauders stalk the streets snatching children for experimentation. None ever return. Until the day they grab Joanna. As Gwen sets out to save her, she meets a mysterious boy named Pete. Pete offers the assistance of his gang of Lost Boys and the fierce sharpshooter Bella, who have all been living in a city hidden underground. But in a place where help has a steep price and every promise is bound by blood, it will cost Gwen. And are she, Pete, the Lost Boys, and Bella enough to outsmart Captain Hook?

Review

I listened to the audio book version of Everland, it was fantastic, I love multiple narrators, especially ones with British accents.  The chapters are either told from HOOK or Gwen's point of view, which is a nice change since you do not always get to hear the story from the villain's POV.

Everland is a unique and dark re-telling of Peter Pan just without the fantasy and fairy tale aspects. This story is a darker more post-apocalyptic version of the original fairy tale.  London has been plagued with a disease and there is only one cure that both Pete and Hook are after.  It was fun to pick out all the subtle and some  less subtle traces of the original story in this creative retelling.

Everland is a very plot-driven book with a focus on the search for a cure and hope in saving those that are sick.  Parts of the story line were easily predictable but that never took away from my overall enjoyment of the book.  I definitely recommend Everland if you are look for a fairly romance free but high adventure story!

The Sleeping Prince (The Sin Eater’s Daughter #2) by Melinda Salisbury

Title: The Sleeping Price
Series: The Sin Eater's Daughter #2
Author: Melinda Salisbury
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: May 31st 2016

Source:ARC from the Publisher. Thank you Scholastic!

Summary from Goodreads:

Return to the darkly beautiful world of The Sin Eater's Daughter with a sequel that will leave you awed, terrified . . . and desperate for more.

Ever since her brother Lief disappeared, Errin's life has gone from bad to worse. Not only must she care for her sick mother, she has to scrape together rent money by selling illegal herbal cures. But none of that compares to the threat of the vengeful Sleeping Prince whom the Queen just awoke from his enchanted sleep.

When her village is evacuated as part of the war against the Sleeping Prince, Errin is left desperate and homeless. The only person she can turn to is the mysterious Silas, a young man who buys deadly poisons from Errin, but won't reveal why he needs them. Silas promises to help her, but when he vanishes, Errin must journey across a kingdom on the brink of war to seek another way to save her mother and herself. But what she finds shatters everything she believed about her world, and with the Sleeping Prince drawing nearer, Errin must make a heartbreaking choice that could affect the whole kingdom.

Review

Goodness, The Sleeping Prince might be an even stronger book than The Sin Eater's Daughter.  The stakes are higher, the romance is more forbidden, and the war is now upon the kingdoms.  This story is told from Errin's point of view which gives the readers access into a different part of the  story's world and a different view of Lief. It further enriches the vivid setting and add a layer of depth the the overall story.

There is SO much going on in this book, there are appearances from various book one characters and many new characters as well.  Since the stakes are higher and the Sleeping Prince is awake, the tension throughout the book was much higher then the first book.  I felt like I had to get through to know what was going to happen because towns were being pillaged, people were dying, and there was an overall sense of havoc.

There is some hint of a love interest but overall the romance elements take a back seat in this book and let the suspenseful magical war drama ensue.  I was engaged up to the very last page and was kept on my toes with new surprises and unexpected turn of events.  I highly recommend this book and this series if you want to dive into a darker almost fairy-tale-like world full of living stories and old myths.
   

 

Blog Tour: Roses and Rot by Kat Howard

Title: Roses and Rot
Author: Kat Howard
Publisher: Saga Press
Release Date: May 17th 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

Imogen and her sister Marin have escaped their cruel mother to attend a prestigious artists’ retreat, but soon learn that living in a fairy tale requires sacrifices, be it art or love.

What would you sacrifice in the name of success? How much does an artist need to give up to create great art?

Imogen has grown up reading fairy tales about mothers who die and make way for cruel stepmothers. As a child, she used to lie in bed wishing that her life would become one of these tragic fairy tales because she couldn’t imagine how a stepmother could be worse than her mother now. As adults, Imogen and her sister Marin are accepted to an elite post-grad arts program—Imogen as a writer and Marin as a dancer. Soon enough, though, they realize that there’s more to the school than meets the eye. Imogen might be living in the fairy tale she’s dreamed about as a child, but it’s one that will pit her against Marin if she decides to escape her past to find her heart’s desire.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository

About Kat Howard

Kat Howard lives in New Hampshire. Her short fiction has been nominated for the World Fantasy Award, anthologized in year's best and best of collections, and performed on NPR. Roses and Rot is her debut novel. You can find her on twitter at @KatWithSword.

Also, Shane Leonard took her photo, and she's super grateful.

Website | Twitter 

Review

Roses and Rot was everything I was hoping for yet at the same time nothing I was expecting.  The cover gives the reader this mysterious almost haunting vibe and without fail the book provides that but it also brings the reader into this magical dark world of tithes and faeries.  A world that while at times haunting it was also intriguing and desirable. The characters are passionate, full of talent, and ready to immerse themselves in their art.  The setting perfectly matched the overall mood and writing style.

The writing style did take me a bit to get used to, each sentence and word choice felt intentional. I had to slow down my reading and really take in everything that was written, after a while I really appreciate the lovely prose.  The plot is interwoven with narratives from Imogen's writing - dark brutally honest and harsh fairy tales.  The fairy tales that don't always bring a smile to your face and do have true evil in them.

There was so much going on with the plot, between the secondary characters' development, the flashbacks, and the magical world of the faerie,s the plot never dulled.  I truly enjoyed being kept on my toes, nothing really transpired how I guessed it would. While there is romance in the book, the real love is the love between two sisters and what happens when that love challenged.   Roses and Rot is filled with magic, surprises, and dark fairy tales up to the very last page! 

Tour Schedule:

Week 1:

6/6: Such A Novel Idea - Playlist

6/7: Cosying Up With Books - Review

6/8: That Artsy Reader Girl - Art History Post

6/9: The Quiet Concert - Review

6/10: Fiction Fare - Q&A

Week 2:

6/13: No BS Book Reviews - Q&A

6/14: Curling Up With A Good Book - Guest Post

6/15: Lilybloombooks - Review

6/16: Reads All the Books - Review

6/17: Fangs & Fur Fantasy Books - Review

Giveaway:

1 Finished Copy of ROSES & ROT (US Only)

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The Crown by Kiera Cass

Title: The Crown
Series: The Selection #5
Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 3rd 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.

Review

The Crown was a great conclusion to an entertaining and fun read.  Eadlyn has come quite far from the first couple chapters of The Heir; she is more aware of other feelings, open to love, and slowly maturing.  (I felt like I wanted to strangle her less ;) ) Overall she became a more like-able and respectable leader and main character.

My main reservation with this final book is that it felt a tad rushed.  Part of the selection process drama and the introduction to a new character felt like it was forced and merely used as a plot point not really adding much to the overall enjoyment of the story.  One of the candidates dismissals felt hasty, while I understood the reasoning it just seemed to be done rather quickly disregarding their recent past interactions.

In the end, Eadlyn picked the guy I was rooting for so that did make for a cute ending.  (I don't typically pick the guy that ends up getting the girl). I did enjoy that this book did not try to be a dystopian to the extent that the first three books did.  There are elements that linger from the first three books, and politics that do come into play but they merely are additions to the romance heavy plot.  Ultimately, The Crown for me was a easy read in this Bachelorette like drama filled love story!

Defending Taylor (Hundred Oaks) by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Defending Taylor
Series: Hundred Oaks #7
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: July 5th 2016

Source:E-ARC from the Publisher. Thank you Sourcebooks Fire!

Summary from Goodreads:

Captain of the soccer team, president of the Debate Club, contender for valedictorian: Taylor’s always pushed herself to be perfect. After all, that’s what is expected of a senator’s daughter. But one impulsive decision—one lie to cover for her boyfriend—and Taylor’s kicked out of private school. Everything she’s worked so hard for is gone, and now she’s starting over at Hundred Oaks High.

Soccer has always been Taylor’s escape from the pressures of school and family, but it’s hard to fit in and play on a team that used to be her rival. The only person who seems to understand all that she’s going through is her older brother’s best friend, Ezra. Taylor’s had a crush on him for as long as she can remember. But it’s hard to trust after having been betrayed. Will Taylor repeat her past mistakes or can she score a fresh start?

Review

Thanks to my OTSP Secret Sister, it is official, I am a Miranda Kenneally fan for sure.  Defending Taylor was yet another great Hundred Oaks book!  Taylor made one mistake that drastically changed her senior year.  Having to transfer your senior year of high school cannot be an easy thing and Kenneally does not portray it as one.  The difficulties and challenges in trying to make friends with classmates that have known each other for years can be challenging and frustrating at times.  The drama surrounding her expulsion and then her integration into public school while a bit intense fit the characters and the story line. The side characters are always a welcome addition, the girl friends that Taylor makes help her embrace the change in her life.

The sports and romance were great!  While I only played soccer when I was super young, it is definitely a sport I get and really enjoyed reading about.  The dynamics between the players and the sometimes ball hogs was easy to relate to.  The love interest and romance were on point; I loved the older brother long term crush interest.  The romance and chemistry between the characters was well developed and progressed naturally throughout.

I love that Taylor embraces her desires both in her love interest and in her education. She works hard and studies her butt off to get where she wants to go.  Even though she makes a mistake she does not let it rule her and she overcomes it with the help of soccer, family, and friends.  Defending Taylor  has soccer drama, an older brother's hot best friend, and a super smart motivated main character; I definitely recommend it!

Jesse's Girl (Hundred Oaks) by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Jesse's Girl
Series: Hundred Oaks #6
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: July 7th 2015

Source:Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:

Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol.

But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo?

Review

I have a soft spot for books and movies that focus on a famous person falling for a non-famous person and Jesse's Girl does the popular trope justice!  Jesse is a swoony guitar playing, songwriting, country music star and Maya is a high school student wanting to be a musician.  I was immediately hooked; Maya and Jesse started off on rocky grounds because of his apprehension to new people who might be after just his fame.  It is easy to understand and feel the distrust Jesse feels.

Maya is faced with trusting a person who has trust issue all while dealing with a failing band, an ex boyfriend, and a strong desire to keep playing music.  I appreciate the choices and drive Maya exudes throughout the book. Maya wants to work for her goals even though she befriends Jesse.  She has dreams and is willing to fit for them while trying to juggle a new complicated friendship.  Jesse though, ahhh yes, he is gorgeous rock star that loves his family and wants to make Maya smile.  The friendship and courting are on point, I love the cute gestures and mix of rockstar-like dates and fun average dates.

Jesse's Girl has adorable dates, spontaneous concerts, and an unlikely pair that put together make a fun music-filled read!

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston

Title: Exit, Pursued by a Bear
Author: E.K. Johnston
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 15th 2016

Source:Library

Summary from Goodreads:

“I love you,” Polly says suddenly when I’m almost to the door.

“I know,” I say.

Hermione Winters has been a flyer. She’s been captain of her cheerleading team. The envied girlfriend and the undisputed queen of her school. Now it’s her last year and those days and those labels are fading fast. In a few months she’ll be a different person. She thinks she’s ready for whatever comes next.

But then someone puts something in her drink at a party, and in an instant she finds herself wearing new labels, ones she never imagined:

Victim. Survivor. That raped girl.

Even though this was never the future she imagined, one essential thing remains unchanged: Hermione can still call herself Polly Olivier’s best friend, and that may be the truest label of all.

Heartbreaking and empowering, Exit, Pursued by a Bear is the story of transcendent friendship in the face of trauma.

“I love you,” I say, because I really, really do.

“I know,” says Polly.

Review

If I were to describe this book in one word it would be friendship.  The friendship between the main character Hermione and her best friend Polly is the friendship most people strive for.  It is a friendship that never fails and is there through every good thing and every terrible thing.  The relationship between these two girls is one to be cherished and it makes for a truly heart-warming read.

Hermione needs her friends and family after her traumatic life event.  The author does an incredible job of not shying away from the hard words and tough situations that follow Hermione's rape.  The emotions felt honest and while at times, passages were hard to read they felt real.  I thought I had parts of the story predicated but was proved wrong.

This book will not be for everyone has it deals with some tough issues but it is well worth the read.  Exit, Pursued by a Bear is a book about a girl that is drugged and raped but survives with the help of family, friends, and cheer leading.  The story will pull you in and hold on to your heart strings until the very last page.

Love, Lies, and Spies by Cindy Anstey

Title: Love, Lies, and Spies
Author: Cindy Anstey
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Release Date: April 19th 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

Juliana Telford is not your average nineteenth-century young lady. She’s much more interested in researching ladybugs than marriage, fashionable dresses, or dances. So when her father sends her to London for a season, she’s determined not to form any attachments. Instead, she plans to secretly publish their research.

Spencer Northam is not the average young gentleman of leisure he appears. He is actually a spy for the War Office, and is more focused on acing his first mission than meeting eligible ladies. Fortunately, Juliana feels the same, and they agree to pretend to fall for each other. Spencer can finally focus, until he is tasked with observing Juliana’s traveling companions . . . and Juliana herself.

Review

Love, Lies, and Spies was a fun nineteenth-century based loved story full of spying, secret missions, and ladybugs!  The writing style and dialogue fits the time period of the book which in turn had me rereading sentence every now and then. My only other reservation was the amount of characters. There are lots of characters and the author switches between using first names and last names that can get confusing if you are not great with names.   The plot started off a tad slow with quite a lot of build up but once the romance and courting season started I was hooked.

Juliana Telford is full of sassy comments, witty dialogue, and a mind of her one that goes against most of the ladies of her time.  She is into science and wants to get her natural science work published.  This strong female lead was well paired with Mr. Northam, who is a strong minded, smart fellow.  The connection and dynamic between the two characters is truly what makes the story. The spying aspects are a nice addition and felt like a welcomed secondary plot but never overtook the romance.

Love, Lies, and Spies was an enjoyable standalone that I would recommend if you are in the mood for old-fashioned English banter and a cute love story!

Racing Savannah (Hundred Oaks #4) by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Things I Can't Forget
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: December 3rd 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

They’re from two different worlds.

He lives in the estate house, and she spends most of her time in the stables helping her father train horses. In fact, Savannah has always been much more comfortable around horses than boys. Especially boys like Jack Goodwin—cocky, popular and completely out of her league. She knows the rules: no mixing between the staff and the Goodwin family. But Jack has no such boundaries.

With her dream of becoming a horse jockey, Savannah isn’t exactly one to follow the rules either. She’s not going to let someone tell her a girl isn’t tough enough to race. Sure, it’s dangerous. Then again, so is dating Jack…

Review

Racing Savannah runs a close tie with Catching Jordan as my favorite book in the series thus far. Some of the aspects that were not my favorite in book two and three are not present in Racing Savannah. There is a solid (single) romantic interest and the overall mood is not quite as heavy.

Savannah is a determined, smart, confident female lead. She stood up for what she wanted and what she believed was right. I am impressed with the way she handled her romantic relationship and I appreciated the Kenneally gave her character the courage to stand up for herself. I am actually not a big horse person either (they kinda scare me) but I love the horse riding and competition aspects that were in the story.  It was easy to appreciate the fact that Savannah is willing to fight for what she wants and go after her dreams.

If book 2 and 3 were not your favorite, this one is for you!  The single love interest, strong female character and honest and believable family dynamic makes Racing Savannah a great book!

A Tyranny of Petticoats: 15 Stories of Belles, Bank Robbers & Other Badass Girls by Jessica Spotswood et al.

Title: A Tyranny of Petticoats: 15 Stories of Belles, Bank Robbers & Other Badass Girls
Author: Jessica Spotswood et al.

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Release Date: March 8, 2016
Source: ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review (thanks Candlewick Press!!)

Summary from Goodreads:
From an impressive sisterhood of YA writers comes an edge-of-your-seat anthology of historical fiction and fantasy featuring a diverse array of daring heroines.

Criss-cross America — on dogsleds and ships, stagecoaches and trains — from pirate ships off the coast of the Carolinas to the peace, love, and protests of 1960s Chicago. Join fifteen of today’s most talented writers of young adult literature on a thrill ride through history with American girls charting their own course. They are monsters and mediums, bodyguards and barkeeps, screenwriters and schoolteachers, heiresses and hobos. They're making their own way in often-hostile lands, using every weapon in their arsenals, facing down murderers and marriage proposals. And they all have a story to tell.

With stories by:

J. Anderson Coats | Andrea Cremer | Y. S. Lee | Katherine Longshore | Marie Lu | Kekla Magoon | Marissa Meyer | Saundra Mitchell | Beth Revis | Caroline Richmond | Lindsay Smith | Jessica Spotswood | Robin Talley | Leslye Walton | Elizabeth Wein

Review

Mother Carey's Table by J. Anderson Coats - 4.5 stars
This story was about a girl pirate who tried to prove herself to her crew but learned the hard way that you can't trust anyone. It was a great opening story and I really loved how everything came full circle despite the somber ending.

The Journey by Marie Lu - 4.5 stars
This story was inspired by the Inuit culture and the Alaskan wilderness and centered around a girl fleeing her broken village with her family's dog sled team. In just 20 some pages Lu made me feel love, loss, fear, strength, kindness, bravery, hope and so much more! Loved it!

Madaleine's Choice by Jessica Spotswood - 3.5 stars
This story was about a young woman torn between her heart and her duty who seeks the help of a Voodoo Queen to make the right choice. This one was fun to read because I just returned from a trip to New Orleans where I learned much about its history. I only wish that the ending had more closure.

El Destinos by Leslye Walton - 4 stars
This story was inspired by The Fates and was magical realism at it's finest. I loved peeling back the layers of this story and felt quite the rush of emotions upon finishing this one.

High Stakes by Andrea Cremer - 4.5 stars
This story was about Kilo, a long-thought-extinct creature among the paranormal circles who was also an assassin for hire. Someone tried to get the better of her but she was having none of that. And I absolutely LOVED this one. It was unique, interesting, action-packed, mysterious and so much more. Cremer nailed it.

The Red Raven Ball by Caroline Richmond - 2.5 stars
This story was focused on a young girl who was asked to uncover a Confederate Spy among the guests at her grandmother's ball. In all fairness, stories involving high society life are usually a hit or miss for me. This one was a little bland in comparison to those that came before it but the ending did surprise me.

Pearls by Beth Revis. - 3.5 stars
This story was about a girl who started a life of her own out West to escape marrying a monster. I wasn't sure where this one was going at first but I was easily sucked into the story regardless. And  here I am left craving more of both Helen and Annie's stories. This one ended too quickly.

Gold in the Roots of the Grass by Marissa Meyer - 4 stars
This story was about a girl who could communicate with ghosts and went out of her way to help one of them (and ended up helping so many others in the process). It was a ghost story, adventure, and romance (of sorts) all in one! I really liked it!

The Legendary Garrett Girls by Y. S Lee - 5 stars
This one was about two sisters that ran a Tavern who were being extorted and refused to go down without a fight! It has to be my favorite of the bunch. It was suspenseful, exciting and a little bit humorous.

The Color of the Sky by Elizabeth Wein - 3.5 stars
This story was about a young Black girl who worshiped Bessie Coleman but then was unfortunate enough to witness her death. It was about finding the courage to follow your dreams and not letting anyone else tell you what you can or cannot do. It was pretty consistent with the rest of Wein's work - important and impactful - and was a nice change of pace from the other stories.

Bonnie and Clyde by Saundra Mitchell - 4.5 stars
This story was about a girl Robin Hood trying to escape from her latest run in with the law. That would have been enough on its own but it was extra fun that the boy chasing her was her beau and he had no idea. This story was short and sweet and I enjoyed it immensely.

Hard Times by Katherine Longshore - 3.5 stars
This story was about two train-jumping nomadic kids who cross paths with a reporter in search of their story. It took place during the Great Depression and while it didn't blow me away, it was touching and had a great ending.

City of Angels by Lindsay Smith - 2 stars
This story was about a girl discovering her interest in girls, falling in love, and using that love to fuel her work as a writer. But the characters were pretty cookie cutter and there wasn't all that much to be moved/excited by. I was left feeling a little underwhelmed, especially after the less-than-happy ending.

Pulse of the Panthers by Kelka Magoon - 2 stars
This story was about a young girl farmer whose eyes are opened when her father hosts members of the Black Panther Party for a short period of time. I didn't get much out of this one though and the ending was inconclusive.

The Whole World is Watching by Robin Talley - 3 stars
This story was about a girl finding the courage to be open about liking girls in a world where that was mostly unaccepted. I wasn't impressed by the writing - it was a little hard to follow with it taking place in the middle of protest. But I thought the romance was sweet and the ending especially so.

Overall Impression

This was a pretty solid compilation of stories! While I didn't love all of them, I really enjoyed the majority of them (although the book definitely started stronger than it ended). If you are a fan of strong female characters and historical fiction then you simply have to read this anthology!

See How They Run by Ally Carter

Title: See How They Run
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: December 22nd 2015
Source: Review copy from publisher (Thank you Scholastic & Scholastic Audio)

Summary from Goodreads:

Inside every secret, there's a world of trouble. Get ready for the second book in this new series of global proportions--from master of intrigue, New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.

Grace's past has come back to hunt her . . . and if she doesn't stop it, Grace isn't the only one who will get hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the world stand like dominoes, and one wrong move can make them all fall down.

The twists get twistier and the turns get even more shocking in the second thrilling installment of Embassy Row.

Review

See How They Run starts off in the same scene that ended book one. (Side note: I reread book one right before picking up See How They Run, I definitely recommend it!) Grace continues to be an unreliable narrator. At times her instability grates on me. While it drives me crazy at times it’s done with purpose, the elements of her life have and continue to make her slightly unstable and the authors does not shy away from that.

I listened to the audio book version of both books are really enjoyed them.. The voices were well done and brought the characters to life.  I also think it highlighted the nervousness, fear and other emotions that Grace was feeling.  As mentioned in the blurb, the stakes get higher and the twists get crazier.

See How They Run does not suffer from second book syndrome, if anything I enjoyed book two even more than book one.  The events were crazier, riskier, and more surprising, granted all events should be taken with a grain of salt.  The events are not the most believable but they are definitely fun and entertaining.    Even though Grace is not my favorite character she suits the story and the mystery; I also liked that she was not a traditional character and does not follow all the same predictable tropes. I look forward to continuing this fun series!

Catching Jordan (Hundred Oaks) by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Catching Jordan
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date:  December 1st 2011
Source: Gifted from my OTSP Secret Sister

Summary from Goodreads:

ONE OF THE BOYS

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?

Review

Catching Jordan surprised me within the first chapter. (Easy to happen when you don’t read the book blurb :) ). Jordan is a girl that plays football which I immediately thought was awesome. The stress of recruitment and playing well for college scouts brought me right back into high school stresses. Not to mention all the other relatable drama; from catty girl drama to new crushes and first relationships, it was so easy to fall right into the Hundred Oaks world.

The relationship building is one of my favorite aspects of the book. Not all of them are perfect but they are relatable and realistic. Jordan and her father struggle but her brothers full support her football choices. Jordan primarily only hangs out with team players but throughout the course of the book builds friendships with girls she previously never gave a chance to. The slow change felt honest and believable. I enjoyed the bond Jordan has with her teammates; gender was not really an issue and their friendships highlight the fact that all kinds of friendships exist.

Aside from Jordan’s secondary relationships, the primary romantic relationships were very well done. The romance was honest and slow building. Some of the choices Jordan is faced with are easy and hard at the same time. As dynamics change and events unfolded my level of anxiety was so high. I wanted things to happen but then didn’t, my feelings were all over the place but in such a good way. Kenneally was evoking emotional responses that I was not expecting.

I thought Catching Jordan would be a light contemporary read but it was much more. It was a story of growth, friendships, love, and following your dream. I can’t wait to read more from Miranda Kenneally.

Riders by Veronica Rossi

Title: Riders
Author: Veronica Rossi
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: February 16th 2016
Source: Review copy from publisher (Thank you Tor Teen!)

Summary from Goodreads:

Nothing but death can keep eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.

While recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can’t remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen—Conquest, Famine, and Death—are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.

They fail.

Now—bound, bloodied, and drugged—Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he’s fallen for—not to mention all of humankind—he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.

But will anyone believe him?

Review

Veronica Rossi is one of my favorite authors so I was quite excited when I got my copy of Riders. Riders was not what I was expecting at all, it is a dark, action heavy book primarily narrator as a recollected story.   Riders drops the reader right into the story.  It took my a little bit to get used to the story telling and immerse myself into the story.

Since it is a different world where the characters are unsure of what is going on at first it took longer for me to get into the plot and understand the happenings at first.  It made the beginning part of the book a bit slow for me though it did pick up.  The action and fight scenes were dark and powerful.  I really enjoyed the introduction into the supernatural elements.

The powerful yet dangerous horsemen of the apocalypse are mysterious characters whose stories unfold throughout the course of the book. Although it was a tad slow at the beginning, I really enjoyed the good (ish) versus evil story line.  I look forward to learning more about each horsemen and continuing this high stakes series.

Rule (Marked Men #1) by Jay Crownover

Title: Rule
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: May 7th 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

Opposites in every way . . . except the one that matters

Shaw Landon loved Rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight--A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn’t want--and the only person she’s never tried to please. She isn’t afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess-and his dead twin brother’s girl. She lives by other people’s rules; he makes his own. He doesn’t have time for a good girl like Shaw-even if she’s the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails, and spilled secrets lead to a night neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love . . . or each other.

Review

Rule is my first Jay Crownover book, I am now a fan! Rule was the perfect new adult palette cleanser I was looking for. It was funny, steamy, and emotional yet still an easy read. I was easily transported right into Rule and Shaw’s world.

Rule is a bad boy; he sleeps around a lot, is full of tattoos and has some personal struggles. Shaw on the other hand, is his opposite. The good girl wanting the bad boy worked for me. Even though it was clear at times what was coming, the writing was just fantastic and had be overlooking any predictable plot points. Nothing felt forced, the drama fit wonderfully with each character and the overall story line. My only wish was that the ending was a bit longer, it felt a tad rushed.

Rule was a well done dual narrated audiobook. The steamy scenes perfectly complimented the emotional roller coaster Shaw and Rule were facing. Rule was my first but definitely not my last Crownover book; looking forward to the next one!