Monday, August 31, 2015

August Wrap Up & Book Haul

*Books Read in August*

Homecoming by Kass Morgan
Most Likely To Succeed by Jennifer Echols
The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick
What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick
First & Then by Emma Mills
Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines
Firewalker by Josephine Angelini

*August Book Haul*

Concentr8 by William Sutcliffe
The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Truest by  Jackie Lea Sommers
Infinite in Between by Carolyn Mackler
Legacy of Kings by  Eleanor Herman

e-Arcs:
Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Grey
Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan
The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine
Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers
The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins
Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace
The Mystery of Hollow Places by Rebecca Podos
Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie
Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima

August was a super busy month for me with getting the kids back to school and everything.
I somehow still managed to read 10 books, which is not too shabby.
I had a pretty awesome book haul as well; I'm SO freaking excited for all the
eArcs I got. I really can't wait to start them!!

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #213 - The Killing Jar by Jennifer Bosworth

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17608898-the-killing-jar
The Killing Jar
by Jennifer Bosworth
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: January 12th 2016
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ISBN: 9780374341374

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17608898-the-killing-jar

Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

“I try not to think about it, what I did to that boy.”

Seventeen-year-old Kenna Marsden has a secret.

She’s haunted by a violent tragedy she can’t explain. Kenna’s past has kept people—even her own mother—at a distance for years. Just when she finds a friend who loves her and life begins to improve, she’s plunged into a new nightmare. Her mom and twin sister are attacked, and the dark powers Kenna has struggled to suppress awaken with a vengeance.

On the heels of the assault, Kenna is exiled to a nearby commune, known as Eclipse, to live with a relative she never knew she had. There, she discovers an extraordinary new way of life as she learns who she really is, and the wonders she’s capable of. For the first time, she starts to feel like she belongs somewhere. That her terrible secret makes her beautiful and strong, not dangerous. But the longer she stays at Eclipse, the more she senses there is something malignant lurking underneath it all. And she begins to suspect that her new family has sinister plans for her…
(Goodreads)

Oh! A new book by Jennifer Bosworth!
I'm super excited to check this out, as I really enjoyed her last book, Struck!
Does this summary sound awesome, or what??
And, this cover is pretty gorgeous.
I can't wait to check this out!!
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Review: Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24885704-until-friday-night
Until Friday Night
(The Field Party #1)
by Abbi Glines
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: August 25th 2015
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9781481438858
Genre: Young Adult | Comtemporary
Source: Edelweiss

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

To everyone who knows him, West Ashby has always been that guy: the cocky, popular, way-too-handsome-for-his-own-good football god who led Lawton High to the state championships. But while West may be Big Man on Campus on the outside, on the inside he’s battling the grief that comes with watching his father slowly die of cancer.

Two years ago, Maggie Carleton’s life fell apart when her father murdered her mother. And after she told the police what happened, she stopped speaking and hasn’t spoken since. Even the move to Lawton, Alabama, couldn’t draw Maggie back out. So she stayed quiet, keeping her sorrow and her fractured heart hidden away.

As West’s pain becomes too much to handle, he knows he needs to talk to someone about his father—so in the dark shadows of a post-game party, he opens up to the one girl who he knows won’t tell anyone else.

West expected that talking about his dad would bring some relief, or at least a flood of emotions he couldn’t control. But he never expected the quiet new girl to reply, to reveal a pain even deeper than his own—or for them to form a connection so strong that he couldn’t ever let her go… (Goodreads)
Until Friday Night is the very first book I’ve read by Abbi Glines. I’ve had a few of her books on my to-read list for a while now, and I was thrilled to finally read something by her. I went into the book with really high expectations, and unfortunately, the book was not exactly what I expected. Not saying that I didn’t like the book, as there were some things that I really enjoyed in the book, but I really didn’t love it as much as I had hoped to.

One of my main issues in the book was the boys. At the beginning of the book they were all pretty rude and some just downright jerks, especially the male lead, West. I seriously considered DNFing this book not even halfway through because of this; it was a big turn-off for me. Of course, they got better as the story goes along, but their actions in the beginning of the book almost made me set it aside. I am glad that I finished it, however.

And it wasn’t just the boys in the book, but I also didn’t like the way most of the teenage girls were written as well. Almost all of them came off as mean girls, and it seemed like because of that it made it ok for the boys to treat them like crap. I didn't enjoy this at all.

There were a few characters in the book that I really liked. The main character in the novel, Maggie, to be really nice, but she almost seemed too perfect, especially considering all the things that she had been through in her life. I did, however, appreciate how she dealt with some of the things that happened with her in the book, especially some issues between her and West. Her aunt and uncle were pretty awesome, as were West’s mom and dad as well. And there was one guy in the story, Nash, who was nowhere near as bad as the other guys, and I really hope he gets his own story.

If you overlook the issues that I had in the story with the characters, the storyline for the book was interesting and somewhat addictive. While it does have some sweet moments throughout, it also touches bases on some pretty deep issues as well, and it was interesting to see how the characters overcame these issues. I also really enjoyed the football scenes in the book, and would have loved to have seen more, as I really love football. I read this book pretty quickly, all in one day. I liked that it was a pretty quick read.

Overall; while I didn’t completely love everything about Until Friday Night like I expected to, I did enjoy reading the book, and I’m definitely going to read more by Glines in the near future. I also plan to continue with the series as it goes along, as I’m really curious about some of the other characters.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Review: What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15832932-what-i-thought-was-true
What I Thought Was True
by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: April 15th 2014
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Pages: 422
ISBN: 9780803739093
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Own

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

From the acclaimed author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.

Gwen Castle has never so badly wanted to say good-bye to her island home till now: the summer her Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, takes a job there as the local yard boy. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

A magnetic, push-you-pull-me romance with depth, this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti. (Goodreads)
At the beginning of the summer, I set a goal to finally read ALL of Huntley Fitzpatrick’s books. What better time to read summer themed books than in the summer, right?! Having just recently finished reading My Life Next Door and The Boy Most Likely To, I absolutely couldn’t wait to get started on What I Thought Was True. I found it to be a very enjoyable summer read.

What I Thought Was True is the story about Gwen and Cass; two teens who live on the same island, but who are also from completely different worlds. Gwen comes from a family full of fishermen and house-cleaners. Cass is from a rich family that lives across the bridge, who never wants for anything. The two had known each other for forever, but have drifted apart after a night gone wrong.  Both Gwen and Cass were pretty headstrong and both more than a bit stubborn, and they spend most of the book walking circles around each other, but then, they have some moments where everything clicks, and it is perfection. Also, Cass is kind of swoon-worthy. Wink.

There were also a lot of interesting secondary characters in the book as well; especially a few that you will really come to love over the course of the story. I especially love Mrs. Ellington, Gwen’s brother, Emory, and her grandfather as well. Something that I’ve noticed in all of Fitzpatrick’s books so far is that she writes really great families, and Gwen’s family is no exception. I loved how really involved the whole family was, even though it wasn’t a perfect family. They were really great.

I really enjoyed that the book has the same setting as the other books by Fitzpatrick. I love the setting, at the beach, in the summertime. This atmosphere makes for a really good summer read. The storyline, while fun and swoon-worthy in some places, also has a lot of sensitive issues in it as well, and because of that the book had a bit of a different feel than My Life Next Door had. That’s not saying that I didn’t like it, just not quite as upbeat as the previous book.

Overall; I enjoyed reading What I Thought Was True.  Of course, My Life Next Door will always be my favorite Fitzpatrick read, but I What I Thought Was True was very enjoyable as well. I am beyond thrilled that I was able to fit these books into my summer reading schedule.  I really can’t wait to see what Mrs. Fitzpatrick has in store for us next, as she is quickly earning a spot on my favorite authors list!

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Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #212 - Riders by Veronica Rossi

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23430471-riders
Riders
(Riders #1)
by Veronica Rossi
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: February 16th 2016
Publisher: Tor Teen
ISBN: 9780765382542

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23430471-riders

Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

For eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake, nothing but death can keep him from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.
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? (Goodreads)

So, I'm really looking forward to reading this book.
I loved Rossi's Under the Never Sky series, it was so very original and creative.
I adored the characters and the story.
I can't wait to see what she has come up with in this new series!!
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Review: The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24611582-the-boy-most-likely-to
The Boy Most Likely To
by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: August 18th 2015
Publisher: Dial Books
Pages: 432
ISBN: 9780803741423
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: First To Read

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Available for Purchase:
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Surprises abound and sparks ignite in the highly anticipated, utterly romantic companion to My Life Next Door

Tim Mason was The Boy Most Likely To:
- find the liquor cabinet blindfolded
- need a liver transplant
- drive his car into a house

Alice Garrett was The Girl Most Likely To:
- well, not date her little brother’s baggage-burdened best friend, for starters.

For Tim, it wouldn’t be smart to fall for Alice. For Alice, nothing could be scarier than falling for Tim. But Tim has never been known for making the smart choice, and Alice is starting to wonder if the “smart” choice is always the right one. When these two crash into each other, they crash hard.

Then the unexpected consequences of Tim’s wild days come back to shock him. He finds himself in a situation that isn’t all it appears to be, that he never could have predicted . . . but maybe should have.

And Alice is caught in the middle.

Told in Tim’s and Alice’s distinctive, disarming, entirely compelling voices, this return to the world of My Life Next Door is a story about failing first, trying again, and having to decide whether to risk it all once more. (Goodreads)
The Boy Most Likely To is the much anticipated follow-up to My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. Having read and adored My Life Next Door recently, I couldn’t wait to dive right into The Boy Most Likely To. It’s been a really long time since I’ve been completely sucked in by a book, and that’s exactly what happened once I started these books. I absolutely couldn’t put them down, and now that I’m finished with them, I have the best book hangover!

The two main characters in The Boy Most Likely To are Alice and Tim, who we originally met in My Life Next Door. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect from these two characters, as I knew they were so completely different than Samantha and Jase, who I absolutely love. Alice is really a badass in most ways, but I love how much she loves her family. Her devotion to her parents and siblings was really inspiring; even when life was chaotic and so overwhelming, she still did what she had to do for the ones that she loved. As for Tim, I was a little worried about him when starting the book. He didn’t get off to the best start in the first book, even though he completely turned his life around. I was really hoping that he could stick with it in this book, and he totally did. I really, really love how much his character grew over the course of these two books, the transformation was really amazing, and you honestly can’t help but to fall in love with this boy.

I love that all of the secondary characters that I fell in love with in My Life Next Door were in this book as well, especially the Garrett family. I seriously love this family, I think they are one of my favorite YA families of all time. There’s just something about them that is absolutely wonderful, and if Ms. Fitzpatrick decided to keep writing stories about them, I’d totally keep reading them.

The storyline for the book, while about different characters, follows much of the same storyline for the previous book. While the book had lots of fun, flirty moments in it, it definitely dealt with more issues than what were in the first book. My Life Next Door was definitely my favorite book of the two. Not saying that I didn’t enjoy the book, I just liked it in a different way than I did the first book. Both books were really great, however.

Overall; I really enjoyed both My Life Next Door and The Boy Most Likely To! I can’t believe I waited so long to start reading these books, as I absolutely love them, and I’m now a fan of Ms. Fitzpatrick for life. I still have one more book left of hers to read, What I Thought Was True, and I will be diving into that book ASAP, and I absolutely can’t wait.

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Monday, August 17, 2015

Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12294652-my-life-next-door
My Life Next Door
by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: June 14th 2012
Publisher: Dial Books For Young Readers
Pages: 394
ISBN: 9780803736993
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Own

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.
(Goodreads)
I’ve had My Life Next Door sitting on my bookshelf for forever, and now that I’ve read the book, I’m kicking myself for not having read it sooner. I am a huge fan of contemporary books; it’s my favorite genre. I’d seen so many rave reviews for My Life Next Door everywhere I looked, and I figured with the release of The Boy Most Likely To coming up, it would be a great time to read ALL the Huntley Fitzpatrick books back-to-back, and feature them all on the blog. So far, this has been the absolutely best thing ever, and I’m thrilled to add this book to my favorite list!

It seems like Samantha has the perfect life. She’s a good girl, she gets good grades, she listens to her mom and never does anything wrong. But her life is far from perfect, with her busy mom who is painfully strict, living in a house that’s too big and cold. Samantha has watched the family next door for years; they are wild and disorganized and so very different from her own. Samantha has always wished she could be one of them, and then one night, her wish finally comes true.

Samantha was an easy character to like. I empathized for a lot of the things that she went through in the book, especially with her family life. It was great watching her grow as a character though, especially after Jase and his family comes into her life. There were a lot of times throughout the book where I really wished that she would just stand up for herself, especially when it came to her mom. Luckily she does finally find the courage to do so, and that made me like her even more.

Can I tell you how much I absolutely adore the Garrett family?? I adore all ten of them, from the awesome parents to the eight wonderful kids who are all different in so many ways. You’d think having so many characters in a novel would be confusing, but it totally wasn’t. I love that each character is so different from the others, they were all so well written. This family is loud and chaotic, but so full of love and affection; it really made me want to just be a part of this huge, awesome family. Jase, of course, is my absolute favorite of the bunch, (is this boy perfection, or what?), followed closely by George.

While the storyline for the book has a really fun, sweet feel to it, it also touches bases on a lot of different issues that young adults face today, like sex, drugs, and even consequences that come with lying and not being true to yourself. I really love the way these issues were wrote into the story. The story came together really well at the end; the only issue that I had with the book was about something that I felt was left unresolved between Samantha and her best friend. 

Overall; I really enjoyed My Life Next Door so much more than I expected to. I really do wish that I had read the book sooner, but now I’m looking forward to starting the next book, The Boy Most Likely To, and I can’t wait for Alice and Tim’s story!

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Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #211 - Queen by Aimee Carter

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25246657-queen
Queen
(The Blackcoat Rebellion #3)
by Aimee Carter
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: November 24th 2015
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
ISBN: 9780373211616

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25246657-queen

Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

PAWN...CAPTIVE...QUEEN?

Kitty Doe is a Blackcoat rebel and a former captive with a deadly connection to the most powerful and dangerous man in the country, Prime Minister Daxton Hart. Forced to masquerade as Daxton's niece, Lila Hart, Kitty has helped the Blackcoats take back the prison known as Elsewhere. But Daxton has no intention of ceding his position of privilege—or letting Kitty expose his own masquerade. Not in these United States, where each person's rank means the difference between luxury and poverty, freedom and fear...and ultimately, between life and death.

To defeat the corrupt government, Kitty must expose Daxton's secret. Securing evidence will put others in jeopardy, including the boy she's loved forever and an ally she barely trusts. For months, Kitty's survival has hinged on playing a part. Now she must discover who she truly wants to be, and whether the new world she and the rebels are striving to create has a place in it for her after all. (Goodreads)

Squeeeeeeeeeee!!
The third and final book in The Blackcoat Rebellion series will soon be ours!!
I can't wait to get my hands on Queen, as I really loved Pawn and Captive,
and I'm dying to see where the story goes!!
Is it November yet, because I really need this book in my life!!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Monday, August 10, 2015

Review: How to Say I Love You Out Loud by Karole Cozzo

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22718802-how-to-say-i-love-you-out-loud
How to Say I Love You Out Loud
by Karole Cozzo
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: August 4th 2015
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 240
ISBN: 9781250063595
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Realistic Fiction
Source: Publisher

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Words are strong. Love is stronger.

When Jordyn Michaelson’s autistic brother joins her at her elite school, she’s determined not to let anyone know they're related. Even if that means closing herself off to all her closest friends, including charming football stud Alex Colby. But despite her best intentions, she just can't shake the memory of kissing Alex last summer, and the desire to do it again.

Can Jordyn find the courage to tell Alex how she really feels—and the truth about her family—before he slips away forever? (Goodreads)
I was really intrigued when I first discovered How to Say I Love You Out Loud by Karole Cozzo. There just aren’t enough books out in the world with autistic characters, so I’m always very interested in reading a new one when it crosses my path. I really, really enjoyed How to Say I Love You Out Loud!

I have to admit, it was kind of hard to like Jordyn in the beginning of the book. She came across as very selfish and self-absorbed.  I’m not sure if I felt this way because I have firsthand experience with autism, and it made me kind of angry about how she felt about her brother. Over the course of the story, we start to understand her reasoning for the way she feels, and you’re definitely able to empathize for her because of it, but she still came across as really selfish throughout most of the story. She does have moments, however, where we get to see the ‘real’ Jordyn, and these are the moments where she shines, and I really like her in those moments.

There are SO many secondary characters in the story that I really love. Jordyn’s mom was amazing, the woman definitely had the patience of a saint, and I loved her so much for that. Her brother, Phillip, was so well characterized, and so very much autistic, and you can’t help but love him. Jordyn also has a really great best friend, Erin, as well as another best friend-turned-love interest, Alex, who was all kinds of swoon-worthy. Also, the romance in the book was very swoon-worthy as well. Wink.

I’m always a little weary when I start reading a book that deals with autism. I have an autistic niece, so I know all the little things that make an autistic child perfect and special, and I’m always worried how an author is going to portray the disorder. Cozzo did a wonderful job describing not only the characteristics of an autistic person, but also described perfectly what parents and other family members endure as well. I was pleasantly surprised by this, and it made me enjoy the book so much more.

Overall; I really enjoyed How to Say I Love You Out Loud! I’m so glad to see more and more of these books being published, as I think it really to help people understand more about the disorder, and just like the book says, the Autism Awareness really helps!! I really enjoyed the book, and I can’t wait to get my hands on Cozzo’s next book, How to Keep Rolling After a Fall, out in 2016!!

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #210 - Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21936937-blackhearts.
Blackhearts
by Nicole Castroman
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: February 9th 201
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 9781481432696

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21936937-blackhearts

Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything. This is their story.

Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay. (Goodreads)

In my opinion, there just aren't enough books about pirates.
I LOVE PIRATES, and anything related to pirates!
And this retelling has Blackbeard, which makes me even more excited.
This book sounds really awesome, I can't wait to go on this adventure with Teach and Anne!!
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Fairytale Retellings I Want To Read

August 4: Ten Fairytale Retellings I've Read/Want To Read



1. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige -I've had this book on my TBR for too long now, and I still haven't read it yet. I'm SO SUPER CURIOUS though!! I love that it's a retelling of The Wizard of Oz, but with an evil twist.

2. The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige - Same as above!! I Must read these books soon!



3. Spelled by Betsy Schow - This is another Wizard of Oz retelling that I'm so super curious about. I love the cover, it's just stunning!

4. Wicked by Gregory McGuire -And one more Oz book that I've had on my TBR for a while. I've always been curious for the Wicked Witch's story.



5. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer -I read Cinder, the first book in this series, and absolutely loved it. Scarlet is the second book in the series, and it's also Little Red Riding Hood's story!

6. Cress by Marissa Meyer -Book 3 in the same series as above is Cress, which is Rapunzel's story!! I love that every book in this series is about a different fairytale character!! I must read these soon.



7. Splintered by A.G. Howard -Alice in Wonderland was one of my favorite movies growing up, and I've been wanting to read Splintered for a while now! I hope it's awesome!

8. Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce -Another Little Red retelling that I can't wait to cross off my TBR!!



9. Towering by Alex Flinn - I really enjoyed Flinn's Beastly, and I have a couple of her other retellings on my TBR as well, but I'm most excited about Towering! This is another Rapunzel retelling, and I really want to try to read it soon. The cover is stunning!

10. Entwined by Heather Dixson - I've had Entwined on my TBR every since I discovered YA books years ago, and I still haven't had a chance to read it! One of these days, I will finally have a chance to read this 12 Dancing Princesses retelling!!

Monday, August 3, 2015

Review: Most Likely to Succeed by Jennifer Echols

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23309713-most-likely-to-succeed
Most Likely to Succeed
(Superlatives #3)
by Jennifer Echols
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: August 4th 2015
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9781442474512
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Edelweiss

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

In this sexy conclusion to The Superlatives trilogy from Endless Summer author Jennifer Echols, Sawyer and Kaye might just be perfect for each other—if only they could admit it.

As vice president of Student Council, Kaye knows the importance of keeping order. Not only in school, but in her personal life. Which is why she and her boyfriend, Aidan, already have their lives mapped out: attend Columbia University together, pursue banking careers, and eventually get married. Everything Kaye has accomplished in high school—student government, cheerleading, stellar grades—has been in preparation for that future.

To his entire class, Sawyer is an irreverent bad boy. His antics on the field as school mascot and his love of partying have earned him total slacker status. But while he and Kaye appear to be opposites on every level, fate—and their friends—keep conspiring to throw them together. Perhaps the seniors see the simmering attraction Kaye and Sawyer are unwilling to acknowledge to themselves…

As the year unfolds, Kaye begins to realize her ideal life is not what she thought. And Sawyer decides it’s finally time to let down the facade and show everyone who he really is. Is a relationship between them most likely to succeed—or will it be their favorite mistake?
  (Goodreads)
Most Likely to Succeed is the third and final book in the Superlatives series by Jennifer Echols. I’ve really enjoyed the first two books in the series, with Perfect Couple being my favorite, and I couldn’t wait to see how Most Likely to Succeed would compare. It was definitely a fun read!

I was super excited to read Sawyer and Kaye’s story. I’ve really loved Sawyer since the first book, and I really wanted to know more about him. While he’s always been a fun guy in the previous books, we discover in Most Likely to Succeed that things aren’t exactly perfect in his life. Actually, they are so far from perfect, you couldn’t help but empathize for him for the situation that he was in. In the story we get to see so many different sides of Sawyer, parts of him that we really didn’t get to see in the previous books. I really enjoyed getting to know him better, and after reading his story, I love him even more.

Kaye was a bit of a harder for me to connect with. I like her, but I really just wanted her to stand up for herself more, and to be more confident. For being a cheerleader and vice president of student council, you’d think that she would be more confident, but thanks to her boyfriend, she really wasn’t. She did grow more confident throughout the story, however, and it was great to see that from her.

The relationship between Sawyer and Kaye got off to a bit of a rocky start, and there were lots of drama throughout, but there were also some really sweet moments as well. Also, there were more than a few steamy moments as well, ones that were definitely swoon-worthy.

The book followed the same storyline for the previous books, and all the character we’ve already met previously were in this book as well. I love that each book in the series is about a different couple, but the secondary characters still play a really big part throughout each other’s stories. I love so many of these characters, and it’s going to be really hard to let them go now that the series is over!

Overall; Most Likely to Succeed was a really great ending for the Superlatives series. I really enjoyed Sawyer and Kaye’s story, and getting to spend some time with the characters in the series again. I can’t wait to see what Echols' as in store for us next!!
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