Review: Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

Dreamless
(Starcrossed #2)
by Josephine Angelini

Publication Date: May 29th, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 487
ISBN: 9780062012012

B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository | Goodreads

Can true love be forgotten?

As the only Scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on.

Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out—a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies’ cry for blood is growing louder.

As the ancient Greek world collides with the mortal one, Helen’s sheltered life on Nantucket descends into chaos. But the hardest task of all will be forgetting Lucas Delos.

Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding as an unforgettable love triangle emerges and the eternal cycle of revenge intensifies. Eagerly awaited, this sequel to the internationally bestselling STARCROSSED delivers a gritty, action-packed love story that exceeds expectation. (Goodreads)

Last year I read, and adored, Starcrossed. I was thrilled to get my hands on an advanced copy of Dreamless, and I’m kicking myself for taking so long to have read it. I loved this book just as much, if not more than, Starcrossed. (How is that even possible??) Love!

Dreamless picks up where Starcrossed left off and all of my favorite characters are back once again. Helen, Lucas, friends and family, they all make an appearance. Poor Helen, you have to worry for her for all of the things that she is going through when she descends into the Underworld each night. But she’s a strong young lady, and therefore perfect for the job. Lucas. I love Lucas. He’s definitely one of my favorite hero’s of all time. (He is in the same ranks with Jace, Noah and Dimitri!) We do see him go through some different changes in Dreamless, but that just made me love him even more. I’m curious to see more of him in the next book.

We are also introduced to some new characters as well; the main being Orion. Oh, Orion… I found him to be a delightful addition to the group. Not only was he smart and funny, but he was sweet and mysterious as well. All of the things I love in a great hero. There is a bit of a love triangle in the book between Helen, Lucas and Orion. I’m not a big fan of the love triangle, but I felt that it was tastefully written. I am usually quick to pick a side early when that happens, but that didn’t happen this time. II love them both! While I love Lucas and his tortured, bad-boy self, I also really loved Orion as well. Helen definitely has a tough decision to make.

Both the storyline and pacing for this book were very well done. There never seemed to be a dull moment when I was reading this. While this is a hefty book at almost 500 pages, I still flew through the pages and had it finished in no time. The book does have a bit of a darker feel to it than the previous book, but it wasn’t an overpowering darkness. The ending was a big cliffhanger. However, I also felt like I had closure at the end of the book as well. There is definitely a lot of anticipation built up for the next book!

Overall, I loved this book. I love this series! The storyline and the fantastic characters mix together to make an engrossing read that will leave you yearning for more! I can’t wait to get the next book in the series, Goddess, due in 2013!

Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #69 * Rift by Andrea Cremer

Rift
(Nightshade Prequel #1)
by Andrea Cremer

Publication Date: August 7th, 2012
Publisher: Philomel/Penguin

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Chronicling the rise of the Keepers, this is the stunning prequel to Andrea Cremer's internationally bestselling Nightshade trilogy!

Sixteen-year-old Ember Morrow is promised to a group called Conatus after one of their healers saves her mother's life. Once she arrives, Ember finds joy in wielding swords, learning magic, and fighting the encroaching darkness loose in the world. She also finds herself falling in love with her mentor, the dashing, brooding, and powerful Barrow Hess. When the knights realize Eira, one of their leaders, is dabbling in dark magic, Ember and Barrow must choose whether to follow Eira into the nether realm or to pledge their lives to destroying her and her kind.

With action, adventure, magic, and tantalizing sensuality, this book is as fast-paced and breathtaking as the Nightshade novels. (Goodreads)

I have only read the first book in the Nightshade series, but I loved it. (One day, I will actually get caught up enough to read the rest of the series. lol!) I was really excited to see that there will be a prequel series. I can't wait to check all of these books out, and hopefully soon!

What are you Waiting on this week???

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

Review: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Of Poseidon
(Of Poseidon #1)
by Anna Banks

Publication Date: May 22nd, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9781250003324
From Publisher for Review

B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository | Goodreads

Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves  that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk. (Goodreads)

I want to start off by saying that this book was hilarious! I loved the main character, Emma, and I really felt a strong connection to her. Not only is she smart, funny and a bit snarky as well. It was so much fun to read this book through Emma’s eyes. I love her character! We really see her grow more confident with herself throughout the book, especially after she meets Galen. Ah, Galen. He was such an interesting character. I also enjoyed watching the relationship grow between him and Emma. They were so very sweet together. (Well, most of the time!) I also enjoyed reading some of the chapters from his perspective as well.

The secondary characters in the book were so much fun as well! I enjoyed Rayna, Galen’s brother, and Toraf, Galen’s best friend. The only character that I couldn’t quite figure out was Emma’s mom. She was very mysterious, and I was quite curious about her story.

This book starts off with a bang and just keeps going! The storyline was interesting enough to keep me turning the pages, and the pacing flowed perfectly. I love the idea of mermaids and mermen (called Syrena). I haven’t read many, if any books, that deal with mermaids, and I found it to be extremely delightful. The ending definitely left me hanging, and I’m really curious to see what is going to happen next!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book more than I expected to. It was a great read for this summer, and I’m glad I read outside by the pool. It was a perfect setting for this beach read. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book!

Happy Reading!

Mother Daughter Book Club & Giveaway!

Hey guys!

Today I am sharing with you an awesome new monthly event from Scholastic.
It's a Mother Daughter Book Club!
Being a mom of three, two of those three daughters, this event is right up my alley. I love reading, especially reading with the kids. Not only does reading help your children become better readers themselves, but I truly believe that it helps their imaginations grow leaps and bounds! I love going on a journey with a new book.

About the Mother-Daughter Book Club:

Start a tradition of reading with your daughter with a Mother-Daughter Book Club! Scholastic’s monthly selections will help you choose books that you and your daughter will enjoy!

The book club launched May 1 with 4 titles: Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood, Pie by Sarah Weeks, The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone, and Tomorrow Girls: Behind the Gates by Eva Gray, and there will be 2 new featured titles each month. 

Along with book selections, the Mother-Daughter Book Club website also features discussion questions and snack suggestions for your book club meetings and a monthly Skype sweepstakes where you can enter to win a Skype visit from one of the authors at your next book club meeting. May’s sweepstakes author is Augusta Scattergood, author of Glory Be.

All of these books sound absolutely amazing! My oldest daughter and I had a bit of a hard time choosing, but we have decided to read The Boy on Cinnamon Street together first, as it sounds like a really cute read that both of us will enjoy. I'm super excited to share all of these new books with her!

Want more information on the Mother Daughter Book Club? Visit Scholastic's website to find out more!

Mother Daughter Book Club : Website

Now, on to the giveaway:::

ONE (1) lucky winner will receive copies of all May book club titles:
Glory Be, Pie, Tomorrow Girls: Behind the Gates and The Boy on Cinnamon Street!

Sounds awesome, right?
Enter NOW for your chance to win these awesome books!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Noteworthy New Releases 5/28 - 6/3

New in Hardback:

Dreamless - Josephine Angeline   ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Keep Holding On - Susane Colasanti   ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Changeling - Philippa Gregory   ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )


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New in Paperback:

Bloodlines - Richelle Mead   ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Darkness Before Dawn - J.A. London   ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Dark Frost - Jennifer Estep   ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Life Eternal - Yvonne Woon   ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Uncommon Criminals - Ally Carter   ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Tempestuous - Lesley Livingston   ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )

Weekly Book Haul #3

Mirage - Kristi Cook
Being Friends with Boys - Terra Elan McVoy
(Courtesy Simon & Schuster)

Hey guys!

Slow book week for me this week, but I'm totally ok with that.
I'm a bit overwhelmed with the amount of books I need to be reading at the moment. (lol!)

o.O

However...  I love the books that I got in the mail this week!
I Adored Haven when I read it last year, so I can't wait to get started on Mirage!
Being Friends With Boys is new to me, but I'm looking forward to checking it out!

Now... What new books did you get this week???

Review: Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

Dark Kiss
(Nightwatchers #1)
by Michelle Rowen

Publication Date: May 22nd, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 348
ISBN: 9780373210473
From Publisher for Review

B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository | Goodreads

I don't do dangerous.  Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back. Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me....  NIGHTWATCHERS When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising... (Goodreads)

I was so excited to get my hands on Dark Kiss. This is the first book I’ve read by Michelle Rowen, and I found it to be an enjoyable read!
After a kiss with her long-time crush, Samantha’s life is completely changed forever. The kiss turned her into something that she didn’t even know existed.  Now it’s up to Samantha to work with Bishop and Kraven, who are both angel and demon sent from above, to stop the terrible destruction of earth by people just like her.

The characters in the story were very interesting, and each for their own reason. Samantha definitely seemed to be determined young lady. I love that she had a snarky quality to her when she was nervous, and I found it easy to relate to her because of this. Bishop was quite a mystery to me, and kept me guessing throughout the book. Kraven was also a snarky character, and I really enjoyed the chemistry between him and Samantha.  The secondary characters were interesting as well, and I really wanted to know more about them.

The storyline for the book was very intriguing.  I’ve read quite a few angel/demon books lately, and this book definitely stood out from the others. The book was also well paced. The ending was a little bit of a cliffhanger, but it also closed up nicely. I am, however, looking forward to seeing where the story goes in the next book. I also want to add that the cover for the book is pretty gorgeous!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I went in not really knowing what to expect, but ended up enjoying the story and the characters. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book, Wicked Kiss, due in 2013!

Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #68 * Dearly, Beloved by Lia Habel

Dearly, Beloved
(Gone With the Respiration #2)
by Lia Habel

Publication Date: September 25th, 2012
Publisher: Del Rey Books

Add to Goodreads

The second book in this new young adult series following the highly-praised Dearly, Departed is packed with adventure, danger, zombies, humor, and romance, an addictive page-turner that will thrill fans of Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games, Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series, Fallen by Lauren Kate, and James Dashner’s The Maze Runner.

It’s 2196, and the city of New London is now markedly changed. Political and social tensions are building around the advent of the “civilized” undead, and there’s violence in the streets. When that violence hits close to home, Nora Dearly and Bram Griswold are once again forced to take control of their own destinies. As old friends become foes and chaos reigns all around them, Nora and Bram must find strength in each other—no matter the cost. (Edelweiss)

I read, and LOVED, Dearly, Departed last year. The world building and the characters where so interesting. I'm really looking forward to meeting Bram and Nora again in Dearly, Beloved!

Sooo...
What are you Waiting on this week???


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

Review: The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar
(Steampunk Chronicles #2)
by Kady Cross

Publication Date: May 22, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9780373210534

From Publisher for Review

B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository | Goodreads

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous.

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens. (Goodreads

Last year I read and adored The Girl in the Steel Corset. So, of course, I was super excited to get my hands on a copy of The Girl in the Clockwork Collar! It definitely did not disappoint.

Finley, Griffin and crew are en route to America in search of their dear friend, Jasper. But things in New York are not what they seem, and Jasper is now at the mercy of a former friend that could take from Jasper the one thing he loves most.

I have loved Finley since the very first book. She is an amazing, kick butt character, and those are my favorite kinds. Though she is put through all kinds of different situations that would hurt the average girl, she comes through like a charm. She definitely gets to show off all of her strength this time around.

Griffin is another character that I have loved since the beginning. (I have always pictured him as James McAvoy.) I don’t know what it is about him, but he’s definitely got me hooked. The romantic tension between Finley and Griffin is excruciating! I love that their relationship is ever so slowly building up over time. I’m really hoping there will be another book in this series, so that we can see the relationship progress even more.

Most of the secondary characters that we met in the first book were along for the ride again in this book. Sam, Emily and Jasper are all interesting characters, and each in their own way. There were quite a few bad guys in the book, and a few that were particularly evil.

The storyline for the book was very engrossing, and definitely kept me guessing. The book was very well paced as well; I was flying through the pages to see what would happen next.  I really enjoyed the New York setting for the book, especially the descriptions of the people and clothing.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s a great series! I am curious to see if we are going to see more books in this series in the future, I would definitely love it if we did!

Noteworthy New Releases * 5/21 - 5/27 *

New in Hardback:

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar - Kady Cross  ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Of Poseidon - Anna Banks  ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Fated - Alyson Noel  ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
The Enchantress - Michael Scott  ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Taken by Storm - Jennifer Lynn Barnes  ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )





New in Paperback:

Dark Kiss - Michelle Rowen  ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
A Need So Beautiful - Suzanne Young  ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Something Deadly This Way Comes - Kim Harrison    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
OyMG - Amy Fellner Dominy   ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
So Silver Bright - Lisa Mantchev    ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Ruby Red - Kerstin Gier     ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )

Friday Hops 5/18

Follow Friday! #57

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read. It's a great way to meet new blogger friends!

Q: Summer Break is upon us! What would be the perfect vacation spot for you to catch up on your reading & relax?

A.  A Beach.
Any beach, with a shade tree and a hammock.

Enough said. :)

TGIF at GReads #24

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com!

A Book Blogger is Born: What made you decide to start your very own book blog?

I started blogging as a way to share my thoughts with some friends on the books I had been reading at the time. The more I blogged, and the more lovely people that I met, the more I fell in love with the book blogging community! It's an awesome place to be. :)

Thanks for stopping by everyone! Please leave a comment with your link so I can follow you back!

Waiting on Wednesday #67 * Undeadly by Michelle Vail

Undeadly
(The Reaper Diaries #1)
by Michelle Vail

Publication Date: November 20th, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird...

Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper—and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath.

Within days, she’s shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath. Who seems to hate her guts.

Rath will be watching closely to be sure she completes her first assignment-reaping Rick, the boy who should have died. The boy she still wants to be with.

To make matters worse, students at the academy start turning up catatonic, and accusations fly—against Molly. The only way out of this mess? To go through hell. Literally. (Goodreads)

I love, love, LOVE books that have necromancers as the main character. They are SO interesting! That, and the fact that Harlequin Teen has some pretty awesome books, has me really excited to get my hands on Undeadly.

I. Can't. Wait!

What are you Waiting on this week???

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

Review: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

City of Lost Souls
(The Mortal Instruments #5)
by Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: May 8th, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Shuster
Pages: 536
ISBN: 9781442416864

B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository | Goodreads

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.. (Goodreads)

After the major cliffhanger ending in City of Fallen Angels, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on City of Lost Souls. I know I am not alone when I say that it has been quite a wait. I’m thrilled to have finally read the book.

**If you have not read this series yet, this review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk!

The things I enjoyed most about this book were getting to see all of my favorite characters again. They are all there; Clary, Jace, Simon, Isabelle, Alec, Magnus, etc. I loved getting to meet them all again.  Simon is rapidly becoming one of my most favorite male characters ever. The more I read about him, the more I fall in love with him. I really enjoy the relationship between Simon and Isabelle, and I’m so glad that Cassandra Clare decided to pair them together.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this book is that there never seemed to be a dull moment. There was always ‘something’ going on, with lots of action and suspense. The plot and pacing were very well done.  I must also say that the villain in the book, Sebastian, has got to be one of the worst villains ever! Wow, he was definitely pure evil.

Unfortunately, I had one small issue with the book, and that was with Jace. Much like the last book, he was just not the same person that I had grown to love in the first three books. Of course, this is no fault of his own, but I found myself missing the old Jace. While it was interesting seeing a different side of him, he was just not his lovely, tortured self in this book. Bring back the old Jace already!

Overall, this is still one of my most favorite series, ever!  While I did have a small issue with the book, and that is just my own personal opinion, I did still enjoy the book. I’m really looking forward to reading City of Heavenly Fire now!

Happy Reading!

Noteworthy New Releases * 5/14 - 5/20 *

New in Hardback:

Immortal Hearts - Ellen Schreiber  ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Gilt - Katherine Longshore  ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Code Name Verity - Elizabeth Wein   ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )





New in Paperback:

Cryptic Cravings - Ellen Schreiber  ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )
Bitter End - Jennifer Brown  ( B&N | Amazon | Goodreads )

Weekly Book Haul #2

Bought:

City of Lost Souls - Cassandra Clare

Sweet Evil - Wendy Higgins

This is So Not Happening - Kieran Scott

Shine - Jeri Smith-Ready

For Review:

Darkness Before Dawn - J.A. London
(Courtesy HarperCollins!!! Thank you, HC!)

Netgalley:

The Unquiet - Jeannine Garsee
Silver - Talia Vance

I received the goodies above from Big Honcho Media and Scholastic for their upcoming
Mother Daughter Book Club! More information about this will be posted here on the blog later this month. I do hope you will check it out!

The Boy on Cinnamon Street - Phoebe Stone
The False Prince - Jennifer A. Nielsen
Whatever After - Sarah Mlynowski
Behind the Gates (Tomorrow Girls, #1) - Eva Gray
Glory Be - Augusta Scattergood
Pie - Sarah Weeks

********************************************

Hey guys!
I'm so very excited for all the books I got this week. With it being Mother's Day, I felt the need to spoil myself a little bit, so I ordered some books. :) I can't wait to dig into them.  I was so excited to find Darkness Before Dawn in the mail, I've been drooling over that book for ages! I'm really excited about my Netgalley books, and the books from Scholastic as well. :)

What new books did you get this week??

And Happy Mother's Day fellow moms!

**This post was inspired by In My Mailbox by TheStorySiren, in order to share books received each week.**