Waiting on Wednesday (12)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

My pick this week:

                                 Something Strange and Deadly

                                 Susan Dennard

                                 Release date: July 24th, 2012

There’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

                                              Add it to your Goodreads to-read shelf

Ok first of all: this cover!! Second of all: Braaaaaaaiiiiiiiiinnnnnsssss

That is all

What did you pick this week?

Review: Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning

Dreamfever
(Fever, #4)
Karen Marie Moning
Released August 18th, 2009
by Delacorte Press

Goodreads / Purchase

They may have stolen my past, but I’ll never let them take my future.

When the walls between Man and Fae come crashing down, freeing the insatiable, immortal Unseelie from their icy prison, MacKayla Lane is caught in a deadly trap. Captured by the Fae Lord Master, she is left with no memory of who or what she is: the only sidhe-seer alive who can track the Sinsar Dubh, a book of arcane black magic that holds the key to controlling both worlds.

Clawing her way back from oblivion is only the first step Mac must take down a perilous path, from the battle-filled streets of Dublin to the treacherous politics of an ancient, secret sect, through the tangled lies of men who claim to be her allies into the illusory world of the Fae themselves, where nothing is as it seems—and Mac is forced to face a soul-shattering truth.

Who do you trust when you can’t even trust yourself?

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT? If I didn't have book #5 I would be FURIOUS. She can't leave us hanging like THAT!! Mean, mean woman!

Oh my god. This book ends on a Huge cliffhanger so beware! In this 4th instalment, all hell has broken loose and Mac has been through worse than hell. Or maybe not? I'm not sure. It didn't seem so bad, right? o_O  The novel starts strong and keeps going with tons of energy. But, not surprisingly, the questions are still piling up. We got a teasing glance in Barrons' past, but other than that, book 5 has to be packed full of answers - or I may harm somebody.

The characters have changed in big ways, in this book especially, and I love how Moning has voiced them. It's not enough to tell us that Mac is different, she took her character and showed us. It was amazing to be in her head while she was being "cured" and see the raw animalism that makes a person pra-ya. It makes us understand the fae world that she has built. World building is definitely not overlooked in this series: One of the best I've ever read.

Dani was also much more present in this one and actually had a few chapters in her POV. Dani is 13 years old, and you could tell! Moning wrote her nonchalance and teenage behaviour wonderfully. It served well to differentiate the characters and mindsets. I've read lots of books where there are multiple POVs but they all sort of blend in together. So props to fantastic writing.

At this point in the game there is nothing much else to say. This series is definitely a drug. I LOVE the anticipation and mystery regardless of how much it pisses me off. :) 

*Note: This review was originally written in September, 2011*

5 Hot Espressos

Previous reviews in the Fever series:
1. Darkfever
2. Bloodfever
3. Faefever

Dusty Reads (10)

Dusty Reads is a weekly meme, hosted here, featuring a book that has been sitting unread on my home shelf for some time. To participate, add your link at the bottom. 

If you wish, you can grab the button and find more information here.

My pick this week:

Numbers
Rachel Ward
Released January 2009


Goodreads / Purchase

Since her mother's death, fifteen-year-old Jem has kept a secret. When her eyes meet someone else's, a number pops into her head - the date on which they will die. Knowing that nothing lasts forever, Jem avoids relationships, but when she meets a boy called Spider, and they plan a day out together, her life takes a new twist and turn. Waiting for the London Eye, she sees everyone in the queue has the same number - something terrible is going to happen.

This concept fascinates me to no end. But I can't help but notice the not so great feedback it's been getting on Goodreads. What do you think? Should I give it a go?

Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Catching Jordan
Miranda Kenneally
Release date: December 1st, 2011
by Sourcebooks Fire

Goodreads / Purchase

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 on 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 now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

*A copy was provided by Sourcebooks for review purposes*

What did I think of Catching Jordan? Umm.. well.. it was FREAKING AMAZING! There is just so much I could say about this book. It has romance, humor, love, loss, friendship, family - it has something for absolutely everyone. Even if you aren't into sports - like me - or know nothing about football - like me - don't even hesitate to pick it up. This is a masterpiece written by a brilliant mastermind that you Can. Not. Miss!!

*fangirling!*

Ok, phew. Now, let's start with Jordan. Our dear wonderful Jordan who is over six feet tall, plays football and is considered "one of the guys" is completely loveable and such a sweetheart. She may be a tomboy, but she has the same teenage angst and emotions as any other girl. She wants to talk about her recent crush, vent about not being supported by her dad, and someone to teach her how she's supposed to kiss. I connected with Jordan immediately - she made me laugh and cry. She made me feel her heart flutter and then break. This was a definite emotional ride that I won't soon forget!

The romance is absolutely swoon-worthy. The chemistry in Catching Jordan is phenomenal. Not just the love chemistry either. A connection is deeply felt between all of the characters: the team, the friends, the families. It's all so incredibly well-written with charisma floating off the pages that you'll see these people come alive. This is the first book I've read that has made me laugh to the point of tears (I'm so glad I wasn't in public) and now that it's over, my heart is so filled that I desperately want to hug this book, marry it, and have it's babies!

Catching Jordan is not simply a love story. It's so so so much more; It's about going for your dreams, overcoming obstacles and never giving up believing they will happen. You will undoubtedly finish this book with a smile on your face! 

5 Hot Espressos

In My Mailbox (11)

"In My Mailbox" is a meme, created by Kristi at The Story Siren, that features books I've 

received/ purchased/ borrowed during the current week. 

How's it going this week? I just got back from the Santa Claus parade which was great and my son loved it - it was his first time seeing it. We had wonderful weather for it too. What else is new!? I went to see Breaking Dawn! I found a few parts very cheesy but all in all I really enjoyed it. I think my favorite is still Eclipse though (which is funny because it was my least favorite of the books).

I hope you guys are all happy with your haul this week. I didn't buy any books since we're saving up for the holidays, but I'll be all set with the awesome review copies that I got.

Here's what I got for review (click on cover for Goodreads):

1. Belles by Jen Calonita

2. Unleashed by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié

I want to thank Marie Landry, my Goodreads friend Tina, Simon & Schuster, Lerner Publishing Group, KC Neal, Harlequin and Random House for the review copies.

Make sure to stop by for the upcoming Blue Sky Days and Airel blog tours!

Dates can be found in my sidebar.

What appeared in Your mailbox this week?

 Leave me a link! =)

Fresh Batch (Nov 27th-Dec 3rd)

Exclusively titled for Xpresso Reads, Fresh Batch features the hottest releases of this upcoming week.

Flavour of the week:

Legend

Marie Lu

Goodreads / Purchase 

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's 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.

Click here for my review!

Legend book trailer:

Marie's Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook  

I write young adult novels, and have a special love for dystopian books. Ironically, I was born in 1984. Before becoming a full-time writer, I was an Art Director at a video game company where I enjoyed discussing Facebook game apps with my co-workers, hearing amusing insider stories about World of Warcraft bugs, and delighting in cute 3D renditions of buildings--all via Skype. Now I shuffle around at home and talk to myself a lot. :)

     US            vs          UK/Aus

  

Review: The Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle

The Secret of Spruce Knoll

Heather McCorkle
Released August 3rd, 2011
by Abbott Press

Goodreads / Purchase

It's hard enough being a teenager under normal circumstances; imagine being orphaned, sent to live with an unfamiliar aunt-and learning that there really is magic in the world. Following the tragic death of her parents, Eren Donovan moves to Spruce Knoll to live with her aunt. Little does Eren know the entire town of Spruce Knoll is filled with so-called "channelers"-a magical group of people who immigrated to the small Colorado town when they were driven out of their own lands.

Channelers are tied to the fate of the world. As the world slowly dies, so do they-and they alone have the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Now, Eren learns she not only lives among them, but she is one. When she meets local boy Aiden, his charming tricks show her being a channeler isn't all bad; in fact, it's kind of cool. But is it Aiden's abilities or Aiden's looks that Eren finds so fascinating?

As Eren and Aiden's relationship blooms, so too does a mystery in Spruce Knoll. The town holds many secrets-and many enemies. It soon becomes apparent that the untimely death of Eren's parents was no accident and that her life might be in danger, too. Only time will tell if young, inexperienced Eren has the power to protect the people she has come to love.

*A copy was provided by Heather McCorkle for review purposes*

When I read this synopsis for this novel that talks of “channelers” and their fates being tied to the world, I wasn't really sure what to expect, and if I would really get it. I can now say that The Secret of Spruce Knoll is a wonderfully written paranormal novel that is completely original and full of wonder, love and loss.

Shortly after opening it's pages, I was introduced to the town of Spruce Knoll - Erin's new hometown - where people are acting peculiar and not very accepting. Some of them are even blatantly rude. Eren doesn't know the reason behind this behavior, but once she finds out about her being a channeller, she soon uncovers why she will never really fit in with these people. Eren is a wonderful example of what it takes to overcome tough obstacles in life. The death of her parents, living in a new town where no one accepts her, and top that off with finding out about these strange powers - that can't be easy! But Eren goes through it with her head held high and she really made me love her completely. I admired how she dealt with it all, and how strong she was through it.

We also have Aiden who is a charmer like no other. But with no negative intentions; he's all sweets and good looks. I really enjoyed the way the romance in this book was formulated. Some reviewers have mentioned insta-love, but honestly I didn't find it so, especially that months can go by within a few chapters. The pace it evolves in feels steady, natural and is full of passion. It's not all easy, however. They go through a lot of distress that keeps us on our toes. Along with Aiden and Eren there is an abundance of secondary characters that all have a significance in the story and are all likeable - even the villains are fun to hate.

Heather doesn't go easy on the plot either. She has written a story with a ton of excitement and plenty of twists. The pacing is perfect with action spread throughout, along with great characterization and world building. I do have a small wonder of why Eren's true intentions towards the bad guys weren't being felt by them - since they're supposed to be able to feel emotions. I also wish we would have seen more of their powers in play; although there were still a few good spurts of it here and there. All in all, The Secret of Spruce Knoll is a wonderful debut that is incredibly original and deeply entertaining. Don't hesitate to pick this one up!

4 Hot Espressos

Review: June of Rock by Elisa Ludwig

June of Rock
Elisa Ludwig
Released July 21st, 2011

Goodreads / Purchase

Fresh out of 10th grade and freshly dumped by her dreamboat music nerd boyfriend Micah, June Dixon is headed to Camp Decibelle for the summer. The girls-only rock camp sounds like the perfect destination for a budding drummer with a respectfully punk attitude — except for the “girls-only” part. Once at Decibelle, June is thrown in among her fellow campers, a hodgepodge of indie wannabes, aggro-folkheads and metal sleazoids. All of them are aiming for superstardom, starting with the camp’s Battle of the Axes competition. Learning to keep a beat and start a band is tough enough but June must also contend with the dueling egos (and rhythms) of her bossy bandmate Jess, Jess’s disgruntled best friend from home M3, and a bitchy drummer whose rumored uncle is June’s hero, legendary songwriter Lee Rooney. And then there’s the puzzling case of Brice Mills, the famous-in-his-own-right counselor who’s supposed to be coaching June’s band but seems to have taken an unusual interest in June herself. Sassy, fun and packed full of pop culture references, June of Rock is a love letter to both girl power and the power of music.

 *A copy was provided by Elisa Ludwig for review purposes*

This was such a fun book! I went into it knowing it was going to be a short, quick read, and I completely enjoyed it. June of Rock gives us the story of a teenage girl - June - who's on summer break from 10th grade and heading off to camp rock. June is a drummer with big dreams and a tad socially awkward. She doesn't make friends easily and her punk attitude has made her a bit of an outcast.

Right from the start I was completely immersed in June's narration. On top of her fabulous sense of humour, her dreams of being a rock star make her come up with incredible scenarios that are just so amusing. It's easy to fall in love with this girl! Even though she can be completely awkward, she's got a huge heart and a good head on her shoulders. She makes some bad decisions, but she learns from them! The supporting characters were equally well-written. Being at camp, there's a strong diversity in personalities and that really gives life to the story. We've got charisma, angst, enthusiasm - but most of all, a feeling of liveliness throughout the novel.

I'm not a complete music nut. I'm pretty average in my knowledge of it; I love music, but I don't play any instruments. So I was a bit worried about how I would get along with this plot. But that was not even an issue. I was absorbed in the music along with June and now I kind of wish I could play something! I want to go to Camp Rock!

June of Rock is a quick read that is definitely a good time. With an abundance of humour, I recommend this for anyone who need a mood lifter. I now look forward even moreso to Elisa's upcoming novel, Pretty Crooked.

4 Hot Espressos

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

My pick this week:

                                    Smashed

                                    Lisa Luedeke

                                    Release date: August 21st, 2012

Katie Martin is a field hockey star on the fast track to a college scholarship. Her relationship with alcohol has always been a little questionable, but things get bleak really quickly when she takes up with bad boy Alec Osborne. Then a horrific drunk-driving accident leaves Katie indebted to Alec in the worst way, and it doesn't take long for her to hit rock bottom. This is a fast-paced and moving read of addiction, trauma, and redemption.

           Add it to your Goodreads to-read shelf




I've been delving more and more into contemporary novels lately, just to get a change from the billions of paranormal books I've been reading all year. I was definitely interested as soon as I saw the blurb of Smashed that talks of an issue that is, sadly, too often encountered in our day and time. On top of having this fantastic cover on my shelf, I'm looking forward to this surely captivating read.

What are you waiting on this week?

Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Paranormalcy
Kiersten White
Released August 31st, 2010
by HarperTeen

Goodreads / Purchase

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

This is the book that you read when you need a break from dark, serious, hefty novels and just want something fun! Paranormalcy not simply about vampires, or werewolves, or faeries, it's includes ALL of them- and more. I really had a great time with it and enjoyed the medley.

Evie can see paranormals: No matter what glamour they wear, she can see through it. She's been living with the IPCA, an agency who controls the paranormals, all her life and feels pretty lonely being the only (human) teenager there. Evie is an incredibly fun character. She has wit, spunk and a definite sense of humor. I loved how she gets excited for the smallest things - like lockers - and we get to see her take in the real world. I also didn't get an annoyed teenager vibe from her. Evie is very mature for her age which I imagine comes from being raised by IPCA as well as seeing unimaginably icky things daily. However, it doesn't change the fact that she longs for a boyfriend like on her favourite show, and wishes she could just go to real high school prom.

Evie soon meets a very intriguing love interest, Lend. He's like nothing she's ever seen before - literally. I loved Lend. He's the type of noble guy that you can always count on. His relationship with Evie is not instant either, it progresses at a great pace where you can see and feel their attraction grow. I was also delighted with the lack of a love triangle. I enjoy love triangles as much as the next, but sometimes it's nice to get a change of pace.

As for the plot, it's just plain fun! Vampires, fairies, mermaids, werewolves, wookies, you name it. Don't expect anything too deep or elaborate, but do count on a lot of attitude, pink weapons and interesting twists! And all of this in a quick, satisfying read.

4 Hot Espressos

Dusty Reads (9)

Dusty Reads is a weekly meme, hosted here, featuring a book that has been sitting unread on my home shelf for some time. To participate, add your link at the bottom. 

If you wish, you can grab the button and find more information here.

My pick this week:

The Replacement
Brenna Yovanoff
Released September 21st, 2010
by Razorbill

Goodreads / Purchase

Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

The cover made me buy it! It yelled at me! :(

I was actually put off reading this because of the negative reviews it's gotten. I'm still curious about it and will get to it eventually. I think I'll read her most current book first however since it sounds even more amazing! (The Space Between). 

Have you read this?

Giveaway: Awakening by Karice Bolton

Awakening
Karice Bolton
Released September 27th, 2011

Goodreads / Purchase

Alone in snowy, remote Whistler village, Ana tries to build a new life since losing her parents. With a cozy condo, a sweet-faced bulldog and an evening job to leave the days free for the slopes, life slips into a great routine. If only she could shake the guilt for not remembering anything about her parents and banish the night terrors that haunt her every dream. 

On a whim, Ana goes out with Athen, a guy she’s just met in the Grizzly Pub... The only problem is that she feels like she already knows him. Within 48 hours of meeting Athen and his family, Ana’s world implodes. She falls for Athen quickly and before she knows it, a past life begins to resurface. As thrilling as the revelations appear at first, she fights against the chilling information that Athen is from the underworld. Soon she begins to struggle as her own supernatural gifts are slowly unveiled, and she realizes that the nightmares she’s been having might be premonitions and not dreams at all. It is up to Ana to decipher between fact and fiction before it is too late, and her new love, Athen, follows in her same fate - one that is lost between two worlds.

 Click here for my review

Review: Awakening by Karice Bolton

Awakening
Karice Bolton
Released September 27th, 2011

Goodreads / Purchase

Alone in snowy, remote Whistler village, Ana tries to build a new life since losing her parents. With a cozy condo, a sweet-faced bulldog and an evening job to leave the days free for the slopes, life slips into a great routine. If only she could shake the guilt for not remembering anything about her parents and banish the night terrors that haunt her every dream. 

On a whim, Ana goes out with Athen, a guy she’s just met in the Grizzly Pub... The only problem is that she feels like she already knows him. Within 48 hours of meeting Athen and his family, Ana’s world implodes. She falls for Athen quickly and before she knows it, a past life begins to resurface. As thrilling as the revelations appear at first, she fights against the chilling information that Athen is from the underworld. Soon she begins to struggle as her own supernatural gifts are slowly unveiled, and she realizes that the nightmares she’s been having might be premonitions and not dreams at all. It is up to Ana to decipher between fact and fiction before it is too late, and her new love, Athen, follows in her same fate - one that is lost between two worlds.

 *A copy was provided by Karice Bolton for review purposes*

Ana has felt lonely her whole life - or what she remembers of it. Living the simple life and working at a local pub, she meets this family who makes her feel very strange and, for some reason, seems very familiar. She soon realizes they are not what they seem, and neither is she.

When I first started Awakening I was really drawn to the story and the intrigue was very enticing. I felt the need to know everything about Ana. Why she has no memory of her past, why these strangers make he feel so overwhelmed - I wanted to know it all. I was a bit thrown back by the dialogue, however. The absence of contractions made the characters sound very stiff and formal. I had the hardest time picturing them realistically because of this. Nonetheless, I did my best to ignore this and found myself still enjoying the story.

The plot in Awakening is very intricate. There is an elaborate backstory and complex Nephilim lore. I found the take on angels really well thought out. It was interesting to find out Ana's past and see her re-enter this world she forgot existed. Although I did find there were a few of the character's actions that I couldn't comprehend: Why did Ana keep her dreams a secret? Why did Athen insist on making her wait for sex? Maybe there was a deeper meaning that I overlooked. As for the romance, it holds a big part of the book. It's sweet and intense - some may find it's fast moving, but since they knew each other from their past it's not really insta-love. The long-lost and reunited theme is definitely original and quite romantic.

As a whole, Awakening is a good start to the series. The problems I had with it were mostly character related and I was still able to enjoy the story-line. I'm interested in the angel lore that Karice has implemented. Due to this being mostly an introduction, the pace can be slow at times, but I have a good feeling the action is slowly building up to something great in the next installment.

3 Hot Espressos

In My Mailbox (10)

"In My Mailbox" is a meme, created by Kristi at The Story Siren, that features books I've 

received/ purchased/ borrowed during the current week. 

How are my lovelies this week? We're starting to see Christmas lights going up and it's getting me in the holiday mood! I Love Christmas it's my favorite holiday because I get to see a lot of family that I don't see the rest of the year. Plus my little one is 18 months old so it's the first Christmas where he's old enough to really enjoy it. Everything is so much more exciting when you go through it with your kid! It's all so magical to them. I Love it!

Enough with the rambling, let's see what books I got =)

(Click on images for Goodreads)
I got for review:

A big thank you to Cambria Hebert, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Kira Saito, Julia Templeton, Robin Waldrop, Sourcebooks, Coral Russell and Spencer Hill Press for the review copies! You're all awesome and I can't WAIT to read these! 

Your turn! Have you gotten anything good?

Leave me a link so I can go take a look!

Fresh Batch (Nov 20th-Nov 26th)

Exclusively titled for Xpresso Reads, Fresh Batch features the hottest releases of this upcoming week.

Flavour of the week:

Unleashed

Nancy Holder & Debbie Vigué

Goodreads / Purchase 

When Katelyn starts at her new school the only person she knows is the handsome and intriguing Trick Sokolov, an acquaintance of her grandfather. She's surprised when the popular Cordelia Fenner invites her home and when she meets Cordelia's hot brother, she begins to think her new life might be ok after all. But as she spends time with the family, she realises that the Fenners are harbouring a deep dark secret. Every bone in Katelyn's body tells her that the Fenners are mad, bad and dangerous to know - but how can she give up her only friend, and how can she ignore the way Justin sets her blood on fire with a single look? Katelyn finds herself caught between three major werewolf clans who have been at war with each other for centuries - a war, it seems, that Katelyn is destined to end.

Unleashed book trailer:

Nancy's Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook  

Nancy Holder is a multiple award-winning, New York Times bestselling author (the Wicked Series). Her two new dark young adult dark fantasy series are Crusade and Wolf Springs Chronicles. She has won four Bram Stoker Awards from the Horror Writers Association, as well as a Scribe Award for Best Novel (Saving Grace: Tough Love.) Nancy has sold over eighty novels one hundred short stories, many of them based on such shows as Highlander, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and others. She lives in San Diego with her daughter, Belle, two corgis, and three cats.

 Debbie's Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Debbie Viguié is the New York Times Bestselling author of over a dozen novels including the Wicked series and the new Crusade series co-authored with Nancy Holder.  Much of Debbie’s writing has a dark edge to it, including her retold fairy tales, her latest being Violet Eyes, a retelling of The Princess and the Pea.  In addition to her epic dark fantasy work Debbie also writes thrillers including The Psalm 23 Mysteries and the upcoming Kiss trilogy.  When Debbie isn’t busy writing she enjoys spending time with her husband, Scott, visiting theme parks.  They live in Florida with their cat, Shrödinger.

Review: Titan Magic by Jodi Lamm

Titan Magic
Jodi Lamm
Released September 30th, 2011

Goodreads / Purchase

Mute, heartless, and tormented by auditory hallucinations, Madeleine Lavoie never questions why her family has hidden her from the world. But the night her brother casts her out, she learns the mysterious voice she thought existed only in her mind is no delusion, and no matter how hard she tries, she can never disobey it.

Now Madeleine must find her own voice in a cacophony of powerful tyrants, monsters, and gods. If she fails, she will forfeit her life and the lives of everyone who loves her. But if she succeeds, she may finally gain the ability to love someone in return.

*A copy was provided by Jodi Lamm for review purposes*

Titans, monsters and gods aren't part of my usual reads, but when I read this synopsis about a mute girl with hallucinations and lots of secrets, my uncertainty turned to intrigued and in the end I found it to be an entertaining story.

The mysteries start immediately in Titan Magic. We meet Maddy (Madeleine), mute and hearing voices. Actually only one voice - a voice whose command she can't seem to refuse. Which is why her mother and brother tie her to the bed so she's not able to do as he wishes and go find him -however badly she wants to. I was curious right away about Maddy's strange predicament; why is she mute? Who's talking to her and why is he calling on her? Before long, her brother throws her out of the house and she runs into the forest where she starts to learn who she really is. So the mysteries are plentiful, but they aren't all drawn out. We get some answers right at the beginning, more towards the middle, and it ends with everything disclosed.

The world in Titan Magic holds quite a few characters. Maddy, the protagonist, goes on a big journey of self-discovery and what she finds changes her whole life - her whole self-image - and not for the better. She soon learns to deal with this and makes the best of what is given to her, which I really admired. I did enjoy her story, although I did have difficulty relating to her. A lot of her findings were strange to me as I had not stumbled upon the myths before. (It's based on a certain folklore that I had only heard about in passing.) I can't say it wasn't interesting, just very hard to grasp, therefore slightly hindering my enjoyment of the story. Along with Maddy, there are a lot of personalities that we stumble upon. All of them play an important role in the story and each one have their own unique charm that really brings them to life; Marcus with his inner demons, Will and his honest-to-goodness heart. The characters are easily the best part of the novel!

Jodi Lamm's Titan Magic gives us a fun filled fantasy that I'd recommend to those who like their books filled with magic, romance and discovery.

3 Hot Espressos

Review: Brightest Kind of Darkness by PT Michelle

Brightest Kind of Darkness
P.T. Michelle
Released June 27th, 2011

Goodreads / Purchase

Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate- until she dreams a future she can't ignore.

After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.

Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past.

 *A copy was provided by Patrice Michelle for review purposes*

Nara has a very unusual life. In fact, she lives every day twice. Once in her dreams, and again for real. Sounds awesome right? Wrong! It's boring in the purest sense of the word! Nara is completely over living her life in déja-vu. She only wants to be surprised for once. However, things change drastically when one day she interferes and stops a bomb from going off at school. Her dreams stop, then people start having strange injuries. What is the price of her meddling with Fate?

If there was any reason to use the word "fantabulous", defining Brightest Kind of Darkness would be it! It's rare that I get really hooked in a story until at least one quarter through, but this one had me hooked by page 10! It was Nara that did it. I immediately fell in love with Nara's character. Above being incredibly likeable, Her voice is so realistic that I found myself entranced by her story. I was so captivated by it that I was contemplating how awful it will be for her to now have to live without seeing her day beforehand… How will she possibly live like that!? Yes, I felt stupid for asking myself that, but it shows how it felt like I had been living her whole life in the hour it took to read to that point.

Nara's wonderful character is not the only reason I was so captivated by this novel. Patrice's writing flows so smoothly through the pages that you don't realize you've already read half of the book. It's the type of simple writing that you can read effortlessly but without any repercussions in the depth of the story. The story is quite elaborate with a lot of twists that I never saw coming and had me riveted. What I thought were a few plot holes at first were ultimately clarified and the reveal of the book's villain was completely original as well as terrifying; his powers are unstoppable! I'm vastly curious to learn more about him and how Nara is going to deal with him in the second book.

Patrice's Brightest Kind of Darkness also holds a wonderful and enchanting romance. Ethan is adorable, down to earth and charming. I loved him from the start. The romance builds up gradually making it feel genuine and sent my heart aflutter. Him and Nara have fantastic chemistry.

This novel is a must read to any Young Adult readers who like books with a darker paranormal storyline, a sweet romance and a lot of suspense. It is definitely nothing short of ingenuity.

5 Hot Espressos

Gratitude Giveaway Hop

Xpresso Reads is happy to be a part of the Gratitude Giveaway hop. The hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and All Consuming Books and with over 300 participants, there are a lot of goodies to be won!