Cover Reveal: ORIGIN♥ by Jennifer L. Armentrout!

 

I'm just going to get to it because, holy crap...

 

 

Release Date: August 27, 2013

Publisher: Entangled Teen

 

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together?

 

Add Origin on:

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

 

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

 

Find Jen on:

Twitter | Facebook | Website 

 

MY THOUGHTS:

I usually don't have this section on cover reveals, but this is ORIGIN, you guys. It's kind of necessary. I have a few things in particular that I love about this cover.

 

#1: Those jeans. 'Nuff said.

#2: The facial hair. Someone's been a little worried about a certain somebody, eh? (Oh sweet baby Jesus, I can't wait for him and Katy to be in the same place again)

#3: His expression. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

#4: That jacket and what's beneath it. Why yes, I HAVE been staring at it since this landed in my mailbox. *drools*

#5: THE BURNING FREAKING CITY. Heck to the mother effing yes.

 

I adore this cover. It just FEELS right. And now I cannot wait for the book to actually come out so I can read it and drool and swoon and fangirl over that, too. EEEEEEEEEEP!

 

What do you think of the cover?!?!?! I'd love to know!

 

♥Jessica(:

Review: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover♥

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Format: ebook, 406 pages
Publisher: Atria Books
Series: Losing Hope #1
Source: Borrowed

Description from Goodreads:
Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies.In this #1 New York Times bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover, author of Slammed and Point of Retreat, Sky meets Dean Holder, a guy with a reputation that rivals her own. Holder has the ability to invoke feelings in Sky she's never had before. In just one encounter he leaves her terrified yet captivated and something about him brings up a rush of memories from the past that she’s worked so hard to bury away.

Sky knows Holder is nothing but trouble and tries to keep him at a distance, but he is adamant about learning everything he can about her. Sky finally caves to his unwavering pursuit, but she soon finds out that Holder isn't the person he's been claiming to be. When the secrets he's been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky's life changes forever.

I wasn't going to review this book, because I didn't read it TO review, but I'm going to be reviewing Losing Hope sometime in the near future, so I wanted to have this one under my belt, too. I read Hopeless something like forever and a half ago. (That's actually a lie. It was like February/March. That's only a few months ago. So yeah.)

I've said this before, but I'm going to say it again because I can. (And in case you missed it, but mostly because I can.) I didn't read Hopeless with any expectation to actually like it. I only read this book because I couldn't find any spoilers that told me why the freak people were crying so much over this book. (I should also mention that this was my first Colleen Hoover book.) So I read it to find out what all the fuss was about.

Well...now this book is one of my all-time favorites and Holder is one of my favorite book boys EVER. He's definitely in the top ten.

Character Rundown:
Sky: I don't really know WHY, but I like Sky. Maybe it's because she picked the money up off the floor instead of running in circles crying about it. Maybe it's because she made friends with* Breckin, and I love him. Or maybe it's just because SKY is awesome. I don't know, but I like her.

Holder: I feel like it's silly* to even have this part of this review. I JUST told you that Holder's one of my top ten favorite book boys EVER. I'm sure you can figure out what that means. (In case you can't--DEAN HOLDER IS MINE. I heart his face. And everything else, too.) ;)

Plot.* I started this book with no expectations really, and it started off like any other book. Then Sky kicked the guy out of her room and I thought it was funny, so I kept going. Then we met Holder, and I was like, "Why, hello there," and kept reading. And kept reading reading reading. And then stuff was HAPPENING and the book was almost over and I was like NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! So, um, yeah. This book was marvelous.

Romance. I swoon even THINKING about the lovely Mr. Dean Holder. OF COURSE there is romance in this book. The fact that you even questioned it makes me want to slap you upside the head. Cut it out, silly reader. Romance is ALL UP IN this book.* It makes me want to happy dance all over the place telling everyone who will listen (heck, maybe even those who don't want to listen) about this awesome book that caught me totally off guard in its awesomeness.

The ending.* High five, Dean Holder! (Man, I WISH.)

Overall,* Hopeless is a magnificent book that everyone in the universe should read because it is completely epic. Also, I question my sanity for not wanting to actually read this book in the first place.* Really, I don't know WHAT I was thinking. I probably wasn't. Oops. Either way, I DID read this book and I DID love this book, even though I never even wanted to read it. So thank you to all the people who didn't spoil. If you were to have spoiled this book, I never would have picked it up.

I AM SO GLAD I PICKED THIS BOOK UP.

Also--well played, Colleen Hoover. Well played.

*Fun fact: At these spots that I marked in this review, I stopped in the middle to check my twitter, argue with my best friend about sloths via email, open a bag of Doritos, eat some Doritos, put the Doritos back, watch and restart Mulan, hit replay on this Youtube video, read some FML's, tweet about my best friend's weirdness, and give birth to a baby platypus.

Okay, maybe not the platypus thing. I'm only 17, I ain't got time for that. But everything else totally happened.

♥Jessica(:

Review: The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry

The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die April Henry
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Format: ARC, 224 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Source: Author in exchange for an honest review

Description from Goodreads:

“Take her out back and finish her off.”

She doesn’t know who she is. She doesn’t know where she is, or why. All she knows when she comes to in a ransacked cabin is that there are two men arguing over whether or not to kill her.

And that she must run.

In her riveting style, April Henry crafts a nail-biting thriller involving murder, identity theft, and biological warfare. Follow Cady and Ty (her accidental savior turned companion), as they race against the clock to stay alive.
Going into this book, I was both excited and cautious. Cautious because this is a book with an MC with memory loss. That tends to be very hit or miss for me--things just get confusing and the characters tend to be weaker which annoy me, and things just don't go as well as they should. But I was also excited because I'd read Girl, Stolen by April Henry and really liked it. Plus, this book sounded so spectacular.

So then I got my ARC, sat down, and actually READ this book, and it was so enthralling! I really needn't have worried about this book being a miss for me, even with the memory loss thing. April Henry did a fabulous job of making this book into something that we would not be able to put down.

Character Rundown:
Cady: Even with no memory of her life or who she is at all, this girl still kept her wits about her. I love that so freaking much! She didn't do stupid things and make excuses, she thought things through and did SMART things. It wasn't a book full of "oh, poor me, I can remember not a single thing, wah wah wah." And THAT made me so happy.

Ty: Awww, he was such a sweetheart. There aren't many people in the world who would help a total stranger the way Ty helped Cady. That is bona fide KINDNESS right there. Also, Ty is not an idiot, either. Yay! <3

Plot. This story was paced amazingly well. I was kept on my toes the whole entire time wondering what was going to happen next and when we would find out MORE. More about Cady, more about what was going on, and anything that would give any clue whatsoever as to what was going to happen. There were a bunch of twists and turns in this book that pretty much popped out of nowhere and, again, kept me on my toes. It was so much fun to read this book, I swear.

Romance. This book was actually more of a suspenseful mystery, but there was a little cuteness in there. Especially with Ty being such a sweetheart. So there is more of a POSSIBILITY of a relationship in this book than a bunch of lovey-dovey-ness. However, this does make perfect sense, considering there were so many more important things going on like, um, FINDING OUT WHO CADY IS. ;)

The ending. Can I, like, hug Ty now? Because I like him a super lot.

Overall, The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die is a highly suspenseful mystery that will hold you captive from the first page to the last. Trust me, you will want to KNOW what is going on with this chick. Plus, you'll like Ty. I cannot get over how sweet he is!

♥Jessica(:

Review: Click to Subscribe by L.M. Augustine

Click to Subscribe by L.M. Augustine
Release Date: May 9, 2013
Format: eARC, 188 pages
Source: Author in exchange for an honest review

Description from Goodreads:
135,789. That’s how many subscribers sixteen-year-old West Ryder has on his web vlog series. But he only has eyes for one of them.

As one of the internet’s most prestigious video bloggers, West talks about high school relationships under the name “Sam Green.” As far as he knows, no one from school, not even his best friend, Cat, has seen his videos. But the highlight of the whole thing is Harper Knight, who comments every day at exactly 2:02 in the afternoon. He doesn’t know anything about her aside from the occasional deep philosophical messaging on why pizza tastes so delicious, but as stupid as it sounds, he might be falling for her. So when they finally agree to meet in real life, West’s hope for romance seems more and more in reach. But that all changes as soon as he arrives at their meeting spot and sees Cat walking toward him, wearing the same “I <3 Sam Green” T-shirt Harper promised she'd have on.

To his alarm, West realizes he is falling in love with the best friend who has always been a sister to him.

I had this book for a while before I actually sat down and read it. I mean, I'd started it and read the first 50 pages right away, but then life happened and I had to wait. So when I went back to it, I was honestly nervited to see how the book was going to go. (Nervited. Wanna guess which two words that mixes? You have five seconds, GO! 12345--nervous and excited. BOOM.) But then, I actually went back to the book and I finished it in just a few hours. FINISHED IT ALL IN ONE SITTING, PEOPLE. And I swear, I looked something like this at the end:



I loooooooooooved this book. *flails*

Character Rundown:
Cat: I've really gotten into listing the ladies first here, so even though this story is 100% narrated by West, we're starting with Cat. She was one cool chick. Nice but not a pushover, funny but not obnoxious. I most definitely liked her. (*gasp!* I actually liked a female character!)

West: Ahhhhhhh, West. He and I are so friends. He is so funny and awkward, it's so endearing. This guy and his shenanigans. He was such a great MC! So much laughter while reading this book. And highlighting. Oh, the highlighting. WEST IS JUST PLAIN AWESOME. Boom. That is all we need to know.

Plot. This story didn't exactly shock me or anything, but it was written exceedingly well and kept a smile on my face the whole way through. I had fun going through everything West was going through. I got happy when...progress was made...and I slapped a pillow when things didn't go...perfectly...you know what? The book was fantastic, okay? I'm trying to be cryptic and not spoil, but it is not wooooooorking.

Romance. ;) West and Cat are so unbelievably cute, I can't think of a couple unbelievably cuter than them. They just WORK. Whenever I think of them, I think of Juno (which I just watched the other day...) and how Paulie is the cheese to her macaroni and all that. I may have said that before (because I'm feeling like I have), but I've never meant it as much as I do now. West and Cat are quirky and hilarious and I heart them.

The ending. Thanks, L.M. Augustine. You did well, my wonderful author friend.

Overall, Click to Subscribe was fantastic. It was funny and awkward, and the most amazing thing to kick my summer off with. Goodness, I really love this book! Now I must go nag L.M. to get his next book written, um, NOW, so I can reeeeeeeead iiiiiiiiiiiit. More awesomeness will come from him. I just know it. WOOT!

♥Jessica(:

Review: Split Decisions by Carmen DeSousa

Split Decisions by Carmen DeSousa
Release Date: June 27, 2013
Format: eARC, 267 pages
Publisher: 5 Prince Publishing
Series: She Belongs to Me #2
Source: Author in exchange for an honest review
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes

Description from Amazon:
Sometimes you want something so badly you are willing to abandon everything you've ever known--including yourself.

Eighteen years ago, Jaynee Monroe married the man of her dreams, became the mother of four, and fulfilled her career goals. About to turn forty, she senses something is missing from her idyllic life. While Googling her name in an attempt to find herself, she unearths something so impossible, she contemplates her own sanity. Seeking answers, she embarks on a journey to discover the truth, only to end up abducted by a deranged stranger who insists on calling her Caycee. 

Caycee took the road less traveled. Rejecting a marriage proposal from the only decent man she ever knew, she ventures to California to become famous. Eighteen years later, success has left her alone and miserable. Attempting to locate her lost love on Facebook, she discovers his infatuation with her. Not only does his presumed-dead wife have Caycee's uncommon middle name, it appears he has photo-shopped her face over hers.

Never could Caycee and Jaynee have imagined decisions they made years earlier would threaten not only their lives but also their loved ones. Caycee must now reunite with the southern gent she dismissed eighteen years ago and convince him to accompany her to New York to locate his wife, the most important person in both their lives.

She Belongs to Me was the first book I read by Carmen DeSousa (it was also her debut, but still), so I was super excited to hear that there was going to be a sequel featuring the characters of hers that are nearest to my heart. There's just something about that first couple, you know? So when I got this book...well, I flailed a little. Then I made time to read it and got to it right away.

I did not read this book in one sitting, but I DID read it in less than 24 hours. Because...goodness, things were HAPPENING and I needed to know what was going to happen next and AHHHHHHHH. Needless to say, I was exceedingly happy with this sequel. (I've been on a roll with nice sequels lately. This makes me so happy!)

Character Rundown:
Jaynee: I've come to realize that I like adult female characters so much more than YA female characters. (NA's kind of split down the middle.) So, of course, I liked Jaynee. She was intelligent and strong, but still had enough vulnerability to not make me angry about being OVER confident. She's still the same character I met in She Belongs to Me and I still 100% enjoyed reading about her and how her mind works.

Caycee: Oh, yeah. She's a whole other character, y'all. I have to say, she had a little attitude that I really liked. It was fun to see how she differentiated from Jaynee, but also to see how she and Jaynee were the same.

Jordan: Still the gentleman he always was. This guy just makes me SMILE. He says the greatest things, and he's so protective and caring. I'm so, so glad Carmen wrote this sequel and we got to see him again. Never will I ever not be happy to see this guy. <3

Plot. Well I must say, I was a bit confused at first. Admittedly, this this is mostly because I had all these predictions as to what the what was going on for there to be both a Jaynee AND a Caycee. But then I started the book and all those guesses were clearly wrong, and I didn't know what was going to happen. Once I got over that and into the book, it flowed well and was paced well and was wonderful. Highly mysterious, that's for sure.

Romance. Come on, guys. JORDAN is in this book. Of course there was romance. He's so sweet. I'd think something was very wrong in the world if there was no romance in those pages. And...well....I wanted to say something about ANOTHER character that I really liked and want to high five, but I'm not going to spoil who that not-bad character is. So...yeah. NO SPOILING HERE....

The ending. I will give you one word here. Or, well, a name: Tyler. That's it. That is all I'm giving you.

Overall, Split Decisions was a highly compelling sequel to She Belongs to Me filled with mystery and romance. I was swooning one second and asking myself just what was going ON the next and I loved every moment of it. Another wonderful story by Carmen DeSousa! Now I shall go eagerly await her next one...

♥Jessica(:

VOTE FOR RULE!

 

Hello, lovely people! Remember how I posted about how I was Rule's advocate and his match day was going to be Thursday? Which it, you know, TODAY?

 

If you would please take five seconds of your time to click on this link, scroll a little to get to the poll at the bottom, and vote for my boy RULE, that would be fantastic.

 

Here is that link for you: http://www.naalley.com/2013/06/match-4-rule-14-vs-matt-19.html

 

So...VOTE RULE.

 

Please and thank you. <3

 

Also, you are a wonderful person.

 

That is all.

 

♥Jessica(:

New Romantic-Suspense SPLIT DECISIONS by bestselling author Carmen DeSousa is now available!

Split Decisions is a follow-up novel to the romantic-suspense bestseller She Belongs to Me. While you do not have to read the first book to enjoy the second, we believe you should have the option, so click here to avoid spoilers.

If you’re still here, read on for a first peek at Split Decisions and a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card.

Book Description:

Sometimes you want something so badly you are willing to abandon everything you’ve ever known—including yourself.

Eighteen years ago, Jaynee Monroe married the man of her dreams, became the mother of four, and fulfilled her career goals. About to turn forty, she senses something is missing from her idyllic life. While Googling her name in an attempt to find herself, she unearths something so impossible, she contemplates her own sanity. Seeking answers, she embarks on a journey to discover the truth, only to end up abducted by a deranged stranger who insists on calling her Caycee.

Caycee took the road less traveled. Rejecting a marriage proposal from the only decent man she ever knew, she ventures to California to become famous. Eighteen years later, success has left her alone and miserable. Attempting to locate her lost love on Facebook, she discovers his infatuation with her. Not only does his presumed-dead wife have Caycee’s uncommon middle name, it appears he has photo-shopped her face over hers.

Never could Caycee and Jaynee have imagined decisions they made years earlier would threaten not only their lives but also their loved ones. Caycee must now reunite with the southern gent she dismissed eighteen years ago and convince him to accompany her to New York to locate his wife, the most important person in both their lives.

Download Split Decisions here:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

Now all you have to do to register to win the $10 Amazon Gift Card is share this page via Raffle Copter. Contest ends 7/1/13 at 12:00 a.m. EST and you can share daily if you want. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

I loved She Belongs to Me! Jus throwing that in there ;)

 

♥Jessica(:

Fall From Love by Heather London Blog Tour (Review & Giveaway!)

 

Review:

 

Fall From Love by Heather London

Release Date: June 7, 2013

Format: ebook

Source: Author for review on blog tour

Buy It: Amazon | B&N

 

Description from Goodreads:

Struggling to put her life back together after a tragic mountaineering accident kills her college sweetheart, twenty-one-year-old Holly Treadwell is trying to set aside her grief, forge ahead in school, and find herself again.

When Carter Hansen, a guy who brings back horrible memories from the night of the accident, finds his way back into her life, Holly’s unsure if she should let him in. He terrifies her in more ways than one and invokes feelings in her that she thought were buried forever. Regardless of her fears, she knows she must face him in order for her heart to heal.

Everyone tells Carter that what happened on the mountain that night was just a terrible accident, but even then, he can’t help but carry around the guilt and is unable to forgive himself. He’s drawn to Holly and being near her helps ease his conscience and gives him the release he needs.

As Holly and Carter’s relationship grows, they begin to realize that the more time they spend with one another, the more their wounds begin to heal—her grief and his guilt. But when Holly learns the details about the night of the accident—what everyone has been keeping from her—it will rip open old wounds and tear apart what they’ve both worked so hard to overcome…

 

I read the synopsis of this book. I KNEW what this book was about. And yet, the beginning of this book still broke my heart. It was just...so sad. So, so sad. Luckily, the story was uphill from there. Heather London took my heart and STOMPED ON IT. Then she picked up the pieces and put them back together with a little Carter at a time.

So naturally I read this whole book in one night. I mean, I couldn't help myself. My heart was broken. Obviously I had to sit down and make it better. Right? And this book...it was perfect for that.

Character Rundown:
Holly: As usual, I was not a fan of weak Holly. You know, the one at the beginning of the book who can barely look Carter in the face? Yeah. I did not like her. I felt bad for her, but there was no love there. But as the story went on and she got better, I liked her more. So overall, she was a pretty all right character. I liked how calm she was sometimes. It was nice.

Carter: MY BOY. Mine. Alllll miiiiiine. He was so sweet. I felt for him a lot. I wish he could have been more open, though. He did way too much keeping to himself and walking on eggshells. Nevertheless, I heart him.

Plot. Nothing too shocking in this story. This story was more about character growth and learning how to deal with loss and whatnot. It was a phenomenal story, just not incredibly twisty-turny. There were secrets, though. Some I guessed, some I didn't. Those were interesting to wonder about.

Romance. You see, he was only ACTUALLY in, like, a chapter, but when Adam's accident happened, I legit missed him. So much. Like I said, my heart broke. Because Heather London painted the picture of what his and Holly's relationship was like SO well, it was incredibly sad that he was gone. But then there was Carter. His and Holly's relationship was refreshing compared to the sadness. However, I wish there had been more time of them being a COUPLE. I have a feeling that would have been even MORE cute than what they already were, especially based on the ending of this book.

The ending. You know who are hilarious? Josh and Jenna. *giggles*

Overall, Fall From Love was an emotional story that tore my heart apart and then put it back together piece by piece as I fell further into the pages. It was magnificent, and I most certainly plan on keeping an eye out to see what Heather London comes up with next. It's sure to be fantastic.

 

About the Author:

Heather London is a young adult and new adult author who loves to write stories full of romance, fantasy, and science fiction. She is a lover of only the finest of coffee and premium craft beer, but will settle for anything chocolate, regardless of its quality. Heather lives with her husband in Dallas, TX where she is currently working hard on her next project.

 

Links:

Website: http://heatherlondon.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6520318.Heather_London

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heather-London-Author/217852745010011

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hlondon06

 

Giveaway:

There's a tour-wide INTERNATIONAL giveaway for two paperbacks of Fall From Love! WOOT! You want this book, y'all. Trust me.

 

Just fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

♥Jessica(:

Cover Reveal: FIRE & FLOOD by Victoria Scott!

 

Yesterday, all of us lucky ducks in the V Mafia got a super exciting email. Personally, I squealed. I'm going to assume that by the title of this post you already know what was in that email, so I'm just going to show you THE SUPER FANTASTIC COVER TO FIRE & FLOOD THAT I LOVE SO MUCH.

 

Okay?

 

Okay.

 

 

Expected Publication: March 2014

Publisher: Scholastic

 

Description from Goodreads:

In a perilous race across the world, having the best Pandora can be the difference between life and death.

Sixteen-year-old Tella Holloway isn’t happy. Her mother rushed them out of Boston and into a craptastic house nestled in Middle of Nowhere, Montana. To make matters worse, Tella’s brother is sick, and though a dozen doctors can’t determine the cause, her mother is sure Montana’s “fresh air” will help. Now Tella spends her days being homeschooled, and uses her imagination as entertainment.

But when a small blue box appears on her bed, Tella’s world is rocked. Inside the strange package she finds a white ear bud—and after she fits it into place and touches its blinking button—an unknown voice fills her head. Tella is invited to join the Brimstone Bleed, a race across four ecosystems: desert, sea, mountains, jungle. The voice in Tella’s ear explains she has 48 hours to retrieve her Pandora, an animal genetically designed to help her win.

Tella has never been the sporty type; she’s more a cheerleader than an athlete. But despite her mother’s warnings, she’s determined to compete in the race. And she’ll do anything to win, because if Tella is the Brimstone Bleed victor, she'll be granted a specific gift—the cure to save her brother’s life.

FIRE & FLOOD is a teen thriller set in modern day.

 

Now tell me:

What do you think? Do you LOVE it?

Because I love the crap out of this cover. Can you imagine holding that in your hands and seeing it on your shelf and just...AHHHHHHHH!

I was already unbelievably excited about this book (Victoria Scott is one of my favorite people EVER), but now...I'm just...I can't stop smiling, you know? EEEEEEEEEP!

 

Seriously, though. I'd like to know what you think!

 

♥Jessica(:

Top Ten Books I've Read in 2013 So Far

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme host over at The Broke and the Bookish!

 

I'm not sure what order to put these in, so they aren't really in order. Also, Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker is an honorable mention. So, yeah...

 

My Top Ten Books Read in 2013 So Far:

 

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

I rave about this book all the time. IT IS SO FANTASTIC OHMYGOSH AHHHHH

One of my favorite books EVER, not just this year. It's rare that I read a book and I can't think of anything I do not like about the book. But...I honestly have trouble thinking of anything negative about this book.

 

The Collector by Victoria Scott

Dante's MY BOY. Goodness, this boy. LOVE. His book also sits on my all-time favorites shelf. Both literally and figuratively (Goodreads).

Oh, and V. That girl can WRITE. Also, I heart her face, but that has nothing to do with the book.

 

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Travis Maddox. There's just something about that guy...I don't know what it is exactly, but I LOVE it.

 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I have no words. It is just so wonderful.

 

 The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Now I REALLY have no words. Just tears.

My first John Green book, and it has definitely ensured that I'm going to read more. I need to put time in between them, though. My heart can't take them all at once.

 

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

I read this book only because I couldn't find any spoilers to tell me just what the what happens in this book to make everyone cry so freaking much after reading it. But now...I adore Colleen Hoover. Holder is one of my favorite book boys of all time. And Hopeless is one of my favorite books. Well played, Colleen. Well played.

 

Wait For You by J. Lynn

It's a book by JLA. Obviously I expected to love it. But I didn't expect to love it THIS much. I think about this book all the time now. I'll be having a conversation and for no reason whatsoever be reminded of Cam and Avery. Or I'll be eating a freaking COOKIE and start giggling because of Cam's cookies.

 

Hehehe

 

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Oh, this book. This book just affects me so much, there is no way I can't admit it's one of my favorites. I just THINK about this book...and Ty...enough and I start tearing up/CRYING MY FACE OFF. But I love it. And Ty. Even though I probably shouldn't.

AHH I'm so conflicted.

 

One Week Girlfriend by Monica Murphy

Drew + Fable just make me happy dance. That's all there is to it.

Monica Murphy's got skill, also.

 

A Different Blue by Amy Harmon

My favorite word to use when talking about this book is "stunning." Because it without a doubt IS. And I still want to name something Darcy. Or Wilson. Or one thing Darcy and another thing Wilson. *swoons*

 

And...that's ten!

 

What do you think of my picks? What would YOU pick?

 

♥Jessica(:

Review: Blood Moon by Teri Harman

Blood Moon by Teri Harman
Release Date: June 22, 2013
Format: ARC, 354 pages
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Series: Moonlight Trilogy #1
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Description from Goodreads:
Willa dreams of true events and her best friend is a ghost. Simon can heal any wound with a touch and senses others’ emotions, intentions. All their lives they’ve felt alone in their bizarre abilities, hiding behind a facade of normalcy, wondering why and how. The night Simon walks into the Twelve Acres Diner and meets Willa face to face, in a swirl of electric heat, they are bound to one another and glimpse the magic of who they are.

Across town a witch is held prisoner in the derelict basement of an old Victorian house. One night as it rains, she dares to reach her filthy, scarred hand out the window. Willa, walking home from work, recognizes the pathetic hand from a recent, terrible dream.

After a daring rescue of the witch, Willa and Simon are catapulted into the alluring but dangerous world of witchcraft and the magic of The Six Gifts. Answers to all their questions are within reach, but they’ve stepped into the middle of a deadly fight for the Powers of the Earth. Do they stay, risk their lives on the promise of power, or walk away?

Teri Harman's groundbreaking debut novel, the first installment in The Moonlight Trilogy, completely reinvents the modern concept of witches and magic. With its authentic translation of the history of witches into a fresh and entertaining package with unprecedented characterization, Blood Moon is sure to capture readers from the first page.

Oh, sweet baby mama of Jesus. THIS BOOK. So, I was expecting to like it. Obviously. I wouldn't have accepted the review request or chosen to read it otherwise. But...holy snap, y'all. I loved this book! So much. I think part of my happiness is timing--I've been wanting to re-read my Secret Circle books for a while now, and then I had this sitting in my stack of books and pulled it out and...wow. Just wow.

My dearest Teri Harman, YOU are a wonderful human being for writing this book. The beginning...you...just...that beginning was made for me. (Not literally. But wouldn't it be cool if I WAS being literal?) It got me and then I read more and was like THIS IS SO COOL, and...magnificent. High five, author lady!

Character Rundown:
Willa: I liked Willa! She wasn't needy or whiny or weak or anything that usually bugs me about female protagonists. She didn't make me angry, like, at all. That in and of itself is a freaking miracle.

Simon: Can I just marry this boy now? PLEASE? He is so mine. I'm calling dibs right now. He was strong and kind, and he just...I approve of this boy. One hundred and ten percent. I am so excited for the rest of this trilogy to see more of him. <3

Plot. I loved how Teri Harman had our main characters meet AND THEN started in on the magical stuff. Because that drew me in (goodness knows I am the biggest sucker for anything even remotely romantic), and then all the cool witch stuff KEPT me there. It reminded me of The Secret Circle by L.J. Smith. I mean, they are two TOTALLY different stories, but that book drew me in with the beginning just like Teri Harman did, and then held me there with awesomeness.

Romance. First of all, this is one of the strongest couples I've read in a while. Usually I need the guy to hold things together, but in this book, they are equally amazing. They are fine separately, but together...together they're just better. Second, I've already talked about this, but Teri Harman doesn't take forever to bring in the romance which made me all flail-y and happy. I started reading and started giggling because I was so HAPPY. And lastly, Willa & Simon aren't the ONLY couple in this book. I loved the idea of the witch couples, how they make magic together and whatnot. Again, high five, author lady!

The ending. What have you got up your sleeve for us next, Ms. Harman? I wonder... I'm definitely going to be reading it. I wish I could read it RIGHT NOW. Can I? PLEASE?

Overall, I was completely impressed by Blood Moon. Its romantic beginning drew me in with ease and the magical story that unfolded within the pages kept me devouring this book in hours. I am STILL smiling about this. Teri Harman, I am most definitely going to stick around to see what comes next. I'm so excited! :)

♥Jessica(:

Team Rule in the NA Crush Tourney (Info & Buttons!)

Hey everybody! So, I know I was just representing my boy Dante in the YA Crush Tourney, but not I'm the advocate for Rule in the NA Crush Tourney! As I've said, I have a lot of time on my hands. :)

Just like with Dante, I've made a form where people (i.e. YOU!) can sign up to help me out. ALSO, I will be sending out links and everything you need on the day of Rule's match(es). I was told during the YA Crush Tourney that it was really helpful, and it's no trouble at all for me to do. So if you heart Rule, or you wanna be a cool cat and help me out, you can sign up using THIS FORM.

If you just took a second to sign up, you are my favorite.

Okay, now info. The wonderful people at NA Alley post the bracket and schedule. If you want to see all of that info, just click HERE, and that will take you to the post. But for now, the relevant information is:

Rule's first match is June 27th against Matt from Flat Out Love!

 

That is THIS THURSDAY, y'all! So be sure to drop by the Alley and vote for my boy. Sign up through the form for me to remind you. Or keep following my blog. Goodness knows I'll remind you here, too. ;)

 

Also, there is a Facebook page for Team Rule! All the info and links will be there, too, so head on over and like the page, too!

 

Oh, HERE IS THE LINK. To the Facebook page. Which you should like. Because how is it possible to not love Rule?

 

Seriously, how? I can't even fathom this.

 

And lastly: BUTTONS! There aren't that many this time around, but there are a few. As always, I'll update this post if I get any more, but for now this is it!

 

This one is made by Natasha:

 

And these ones were made by me:

 

 

(Out of my two, I like the second one infinitely better.)

 

UPDATE:

More buttons from Natasha! I LOVE THESE THINGS SO FREAKING MUCH.

 

 

 

*flails*

 

END OF UPDATE.

 

And that is it, my friends. Rule's match is Thursday, the 27th, be sure to sign up through the form to be a cool kid and help me out, and please grab a button to put on blogs/avatars, and whatnot! <3

 

(Of course I made another one of these. They're so fun!)

 

Thanks go to Natasha, too, for even making a button AND for being the mastermind behind the Facebook page. WOOT!

 

♥Jessica(:



Forever ME by Thomas Amo Excerpt!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Forever ME by Thomas Amo

Release Date: October 11, 2012

Publisher: GothicTwist Publishing

Buy It: Amazon 

 

Description from Goodreads:

Forever Me is considered YA and NA.

Inspired by True Events

Hannah Richards isn't your typical 16 year-old at Wichita Falls High. Fashions, trends, cosmetics and style are unimportant to her. An avid reader, guitar player, classic movie and television buff, Hannah marches to the beat of her own drum. Visible only to her Father the town Sheriff, and her two best friends. Hannah lives a simple, un-pampered life as an "Eastie."

After coming to the aide of Taylor Monroe, a popular member of the ultra snobby "Stilettos" at school, Hannah's life beings spiraling out of control. As she starts spending more time with Taylor, her best friends abandon her, after a series of misunderstandings, causing Hannah to re-invent herself.

Hannah quickly gets caught up in a life much different than the one she knows, where status, glamour, makeup, appearance and acceptance become her masters. And what of the dark secret that haunts the streets of Wichita Falls?

Can Hannah survive the lies, deceit, jealousy and rage that are now waiting for her behind every corner? Will she succumb to the pressures of popularity? Or will she be crushed under the heels of the "Stilettos"?

~High school is hard enough just being yourself, let alone being someone you're not~

 

Excerpt:

The alarm buzzed and Hannah rolled over on her back in bed and stretched. She tried to get her eyes to focus on her cell phone to see what time it was. The digital numbers told her it was 4:15 a.m. She stopped the noise and reached an arm behind her to shake Taylor awake, but the bed was empty. Surprised, she rolled over and found she had the bed all to herself.  She hoped she hadn’t forced Taylor out. She had been known to be a bed hog, especially with the covers. She propped herself up on her elbows when the bedroom light flipped on. Like a vampire recoiling from the sunlight, Hannah’s hand quickly went to shield her eyes.

“Morning sunshine,” called Taylor in a chipper voice.

Hannah slowly lowered her hand and saw Taylor standing in the doorway, still wearing her father’s t-shirt but with a gator clip in her hair to hold it up.

“I thought I set my alarm for six.”

“You did, but I changed it. Hot Girl Rule Number 1: Rise early and get your face on. Only homely girls sleep in.”

Hannah let her head fall back on the pillow. “Ohhhh, let me be homely, just for an another hour.”

“Oh no you don’t,” called Taylor as she reached under the blanket, grabbed Hannah by the wrist and tugged her up into a sitting position. “Let’s get those feet on the floor, I already picked out your outfit, got the flatiron hot and made coffee.”

“I swear, if I didn’t love men, I’d probably marry you, just for the fact you made me coffee,” Hannah said rubbing her face trying to wake up.

“Yeah, don’t get ahead of yourself there, doll. You’re pretty cute, but not my type. By the way I made the coffee for me. I’m just sharing it with you. Now let’s get going, the sun will be showing up in an hour,” Taylor teased.

 “Okay, Sarge,” Hannah said with a half salute. Her feet touched the floor and she recoiled. She started to climb back under the covers but then saw the look on Taylor’s face. “Okay, okay.” Hannah stood up and winced once more from the cold floor on her feet. She stumbled from her bedroom to the bathroom across the hall. Taylor had everything laid out like a display in a showroom. She was truly organized when it came to preparing for the day. Hannah examined her face in the mirror. She was prepared for the worst. She was afraid she was going to wear the after effects of Lauren’s punches for the next week, but surprisingly, there was only a small amount of bruising on the corner of her chin and up next to her right eye. Even the swelling in her lip had pretty much disappeared.

Taylor returned to the bathroom with a cup of coffee for Hannah. Hannah turned and took the cup with a grateful expression. She took a sip and instantly felt the perfectly made drink intoxicate all of her senses. She sat the cup on the vanity and wrapped her arms around Taylor and hugged her. “I love you,” she whispered.

Taylor stood being a prisoner of Hannah’s clinch. Her eyes darted from side to side. Her expression of feeling awkward reflected in the mirror. “Um—love you too, but it’s just coffee, Hannah.”

Hannah shook her head. “No, that is a cup filled with love,” she said with sleep-crusted eyes.

“Okay—are you like this every morning?”

“I just need a moment,” Hannah teased as she hugged her once more. Taylor gave the patented pity hand pat on Hannah’s back that meant, Okay, I love you too but I’m beyond comfortable now.

“How did you sleep?” Hannah asked as she took a healthy drink of coffee.

Taylor took Hannah’s hair into her hands and ran the flatiron across it. “Pretty good, but you are a cover hog.”

“I know, but in my defense you’re the first person I’ve ever slept with.”

       

“Yeah—let’s not share that information,” Taylor said teasing.

 

About the Author:

 

Thomas Amo is the author over 20 comedies and farces for the live theatre. This former full time theatrical producer has spent the last thirty years writing in many different genres, from pilot scripts for television to screenplays on independent films. Outside acting, directing and producing, his first love has always been writing. Forever ME, marks his debut into YA fiction. He is also the author of the horror series, An Apple For Zoe.

 

Author Links:

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♥Jessica(: