Dark Souls by Paula Morris

Title: Dark Souls
Author: Paula Morris
Publisher: Point (August 1, 2011)
Source: ATW Arc Tours

I enjoyed read Paula Morris' Ruined, so I was happy to get the opportunity to review her latest book, Dark Souls. 

From GoodReads: 

Welcome to York, England. 
Mist lingers in the streets. 
Narrow buildings cast long shadows. 
This is the most haunted city in the world. . . 

Miranda Tennant arrives in York with a terrible, tragic secret. She is eager to lose herself amid the quaint cobblestones, hoping she won't run into the countless ghosts who supposedly roam the city. . .

Then she meets Nick, an intense, dark-eyed boy who knows all of York's hidden places and histories. Miranda wonders if Nick is falling for her, but she is distracted by another boy -- one even more handsome and mysterious than Nick. He lives in the house across from Miranda and seems desperate to send her some sort of message. Could this boy be one of York's haunted souls? 

Soon, Miranda realizes that something dangerous -- and deadly -- is being planned. And she may have to face the darkest part of herself in order to unravel the mystery -- and find redemption.

Paula Morris has a writing style all her own. I think you could hide one of her books among nine others, and I'd be able to pick it out with ease. What I enjoy about this style is tone and mood it sets. It gives that creepy vibe, which is appropriate for books about ghosts. Neither of her books are fast paced, but the slowness adds to the book instead of detracts.

Dark Souls follows the story of Miranda, a girl who recently survived a tragic accident and can now see ghosts. Her parents, unaware of her new ability, take her to the most haunted city in the world. Yay, you guessed it. A certain level of chaos ensues.

I enjoyed Dark Souls because I couldn't guess what would happen. There were lots of pieces to the puzzle and I could figure out certain aspects, but not others. The characters had me questioning their motivations and sincerity, but rightly so. No out-of-left-field stuff. Overall, sufficient curiosity throughout the story and satisfying ending.

Another thing I love about Paula Morris' books is how they end so completely. So many books end up as series or have cliffhanger-ish endings (and you all know how much I like series, so I'm definitely not dissing them), so it's nice to read a stand alone book once in awhile. I can easily imagine more to the story because the characters are so complete, but I'm not left yearning for more. Ms. Morris gives me all I need.

Overall rating: Borrow or buy.

Banned Books Week

As I'm sure you are all aware by now, it's Banned Books Week. In celebration, all my YA Book of the Day recommendations this week come from the ALA list of banned and challenged books.

Now, I don't shy away from banned books to begin with. After reviewing the list on the ALA website, I was surprised by how many books I enjoy are on the banned or challenged list. I've posted several recommendations for these books, including the Harry Potter series, Twilight series, Hunger Games series, and His Dark Materials series (lots of series, huh?). I've also recommended others such as classics like Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and 1984 by George Orwell and more modern books like Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and Looking for Alaska by John Green.

So, if these books have been banned or challenged, why is it still so easy to go to a bookstore and pick one up? Answer:  teachers, librarians, and others who fight against censorship. These are the people who allow writers to write whatever story they feel close to, and allow us readers to decide whether or not it's the right story for us.

Thank your teachers, librarians, and booksellers for keeping banned and challenged books in easy access. Show your support by buying and reading a banned or challenged book this week. I'm purchasing The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. (Surprisingly, I've never read it.)

What about you?

Teaser Tuesday: The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegan

Title: The Mephisto Covenant: The Redemption of Ajax

Author: Trinity Faegan

Publisher: EgmontUSA (September 27, 2011)

Source: NetGalley

The Mephisto Covenant: The Redemption of Ajax by Trinity Faegan is the first in a series. 

From GoodReads:

Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger—Sasha is Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx’s biggest threat.

A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant—God’s promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he’s finally found the girl he’s been searching for: Sasha.

With the threat of Eryx looming, Jax has to keep Sasha safe and win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?

I admit, I was immediately drawn to the book by it's cover. Isn't it beautiful? This scene never actually plays out in the book, but it definitely sets the right tone. It's dark, mysterious, and sexy, with a hint of fear. Perfect for the book.

Besides loving the cover, the story is great. I set out to read a chapter or two before working on something else and before I knew it, I'd finished the book. The story completely kept me captivated the entire time. In many ways, it reminded me of my experience reading Falling Under by Gwen Hayes. Both books have a really interesting storyline that strays from the typical paranormal, both have a heavy romance theme, both Haden and Ajax (who I love!) are tortured souls trying for a better future (and are desperately in love with the heroine), and both stories sucked me in so completely I read them in one sitting. Also, just the feel and tone of the books are similar. That's not to say you shouldn't read both because the stories are also very different from each other. 

I really enjoyed the mythology in The Mephisto Covenant. I always love when books use mythology in new and creative ways or introduce new mythology, and The Mephisto Covenant satisfied my interest in that department. It was complex without being difficult to follow. I could guess at certain aspects that would come true in the end, but not everything was easily guessable. There were surprises and some things came together in ways I hadn't anticipated. 

The only thing that bothered me while reading I probably wouldn't have picked up on if I didn't also like to write. There were certain parts in scenes where I wanted to comment: "Show, don't tell!" I noticed many of these times came when showing would likely reveal explicit language or actions. When I realized this, I thought to myself, "Okay, if the author doesn't want to spell out this dialogue or interaction, that's okay. It's an artistic choice, like choosing to 'close the bedroom door' for a sex scene. Not a problem." But then, there was an explicit sexual scene later in the book. Honestly, the discrepancy between the different scenes threw me off. I didn't dislike either the earlier scenes or the later one, but I was confused by why one would be spelled out and the others brushed over. (This probably doesn't make much sense if you haven't read the book. Sorry. I'm trying to explain without spoiling.) Either way, it's not a deal breaker for how much I liked the book, just something I found confusing while reading.

Overall rating:  If you like romance, buy it. 

In My Mailbox Monday

IMM #3! It's a slow week this week. I've got tons to read already, just finished an ARC from a tour, and haven't seen many new galleys this week that caught my interest. Since I've been so busy, I also haven't been actively purchasing or requesting new library books (though my holds list still has several on it).

Library Books:

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young
Undercurrent by Tricia Rayburn
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness *

Giveaway

Between by Jessica Warman (ARC)

Suggestion Saturday

Thirst series by Christopher Pike

Happy reading!

* I started reading this awhile ago as an eBook from the library. Unfortunately, I didn't finish it quick enough and the hold expired...I finally got it again so I can finish! :D

Recap: September 19-23

Miss a tweet? Not a problem. I've got this week's recommendations all lined up for you:

BORN AT MIDNIGHT by C. C. Hunter

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever.  Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.”  Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either.  Or does she?  They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason.  As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas.  Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past.  Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart. 

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

Review:  Sexy, fun, and full of all the paranormal elements and fantasy creatures I love!

I recommend BORN AT MIDNIGHT by C. C. Hunter to anyone looking for a good, quick fantasy read. Bonus points for romance. 


RED GLOVE by Holly Black

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else. 

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does. 

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself? 

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

Review:  Love the world. Love the story. Love the book.

I highly recommend RED GLOVE by Holly Black to anyone interested in cool, urban fantasy. Bonus points for male POV. 


ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

Review:  Absolutely brilliant. Every piece of this story is carefully crafted into sheer awesomeness. 

I highly recommend ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins to everyone. Seriously, it's just that good.


THE TWO TOWERS by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Fellowship was scattered. Some were bracing hopelessly for war against the ancient evil of Sauron. Some were contending with the treachery of the wizard Saruman. Only Frodo and Sam were left to take the accursed Ring of Power to be destroyed in Mordor–the dark Kingdom where Sauron was supreme. Their guide was Gollum, deceitful and lust-filled, slave to the corruption of the Ring. Thus continues the magnificent, bestselling tale of adventure begun in The Fellowship of the Ring, which reaches its soul-stirring climax in The Return of the King.

Review:  Exciting second installment of an incredible trilogy. 

I highly recommend THE TWO TOWERS by J.R.R. Tolkien to everyone. Epic awesomeness! 


LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green

Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps. 

Looking for Alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact one life can have on another. A stunning debut, it marks John Green's arrival as an important new voice in contemporary fiction.

Review:  Gut-wrenchingly honest and emotional. 

I recommend LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green to anyone who likes to read. Bonus points for literary fiction. 

*Summaries provided by GoodReads.

Giveaway!

My blog followers have been steadily growing since I actually started posting (instead of just recounting twitter info). To show my appreciation for my wonderful followers, I'm doing a giveaway of two of my favorite books I've read this year:

That's right. A copy of Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz or Wither by Lauren DeStefano could be yours. 

How do you enter? Simple. If you're not already a blog follower, become one. Then, just add a post to this comment mentioning which book you'd like to win (you can say both). You have until September 30 at 11:59pm to enter. On October 1, I'll use a random number generator to pick the two winners. 

Cover Copies

I absolutely love looking at book covers. I could sit in a book store all day looking at each and every one. There is such a range between strikingly beautiful images to stock random body parts (you know the ones I'm talking about). The cover can tell you so much from the genre to the tone. It can make me want to pick up a book or make me hesitate. The point is, there is lots of variety.

Which is why it's funny when I see covers that appear so similar.

Now, I'm not talking about the stock body part books. We've all seen the photographed girls with their heads chopped off or random legs dangling on the cover. I'm talking about the other ones. The ones that would appear very original if not paired up against each other.

Let's take a look, shall we?

Both As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott and Fury by Elizabeth Miles are Fall 2011 releases. To be fair, they aren't completely similar. However, the coloring, combined with the hair turning into fire is pretty distinctive. And they both share it. For Tod's sake, the authors even share the same first name.

Fateful by Claudia Gray and Hurricane by Jenna-Lynne Duncan are being released within about a month of each other. In each we have a girl with her back to us, long hair falling down her back, looking out at the water. It seems to be about the same time of night with similar coloring in each cover.

This pairing really gets me. Just look at the body positioning. Sure, they aren't in the exact same pose and their hair is blowing in different directions, but come on. The door on the Hourglass cover is in the same place as the wall of water on the Imaginary Girls cover. They were even released on the exact same day! (June 14, 2011) Craziness.

Anyone else seen similar cover pairings lately?

Teaser Tuesday: If I Die by Rachel Vincent

Title: If I Die

Author: Rachel Vincent

Publisher: Harlequin (September 27, 2011)

Source: ARC Tour

If I Die by Rachel Vincent is the latest book in the Soul Screamers series, coming out next week. As many of you know, I've been absolutely dying to read this book ever since I started the series two months ago.

From GoodReads:

No one wants to be this teacher’s pet . . .

Everyone else is talking about Eastlake High’s gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck, but Kaylee Cavanaugh has bigger things on her mind. Kaylee’s a banshee—her scream is a portent of death.

But the next scream might hit too close to home. Kaylee’s borrowed lifeline has almost run out.

Yeah—it’s a shock to her, too. So to distract herself from her own problems, Kaylee is determined to defend her school against the latest supernatural threat. That hot new teacher is really an incubus, who feeds from the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend’s delinquent ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren’t quite human either.

But Kaylee’s running out of time, and those who love her will do anything to save her life.

Anything. 

Oh. My. Tod. This book was amazing! Killer plot, new evil beings, complex relationships, and a literal life-or-death situation. I absolutely devoured it. And the ending....holy Tod, the ending. I did not expect what happened, yet it was completely fitting. I am so excited for the next installment of this series. 

One of the strengths of the Soul Screamers series is the cast of characters. There are a lot of them, and Rachel Vincent doesn't forget about them or make them disappear. She weaves them through each story, while also adding new ones for us to learn about. The complexity of several of these relationships was highlighted throughout If I Die. The challenges in each relationship made all the other events of the book more interesting.

I really appreciated that Avari wasn't the main bad guy in this book. Don't get me wrong, the hellion is a crazy good villain, but he's been the main one in the last few books and I was eager for a change or a new angle. While not out of the picture, If I Die wasn't focused on him. 

And Tod. *swoons* It's no secret that I'm in love with Tod, but man, I didn't think it was possible to love him even more.  If I Die totally does that. As with the previous books, his presence and page time has grown and I liked what I saw (read?). I won't give anything away, but let's just say Tod delivers all the snarky, quick-witted humor I needed, while still being the loyal, caring guy that he is.

Overall rating:  Buy the whole series.

In My Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday #2! I'm going to add an extra section to this one. Since I do Suggestion Saturdays on twitter, I'm going to let you know what everyone is recommending. Honestly, I probably won't have time to read each recommended book (though I do keep track and make an effort), so the least I can do is share with you what other followers are reading and think are good. This week, I'll post all the recommendations I haven't read. From here on out, I'll post all recommendations from Suggestion Saturdays (even if they've already been YA Books of the Day).

ARC Tours

Dark Souls by Paula Morris

Galleys

Touch by Jus Accardo

Hushed by Kelley York

Purchased

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Intertwined by Gena Showalter

Unraveled by Gena Showalter

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Need by Carrie Jones

Entice by Carrie Jones

Captivate by Carrie Jones

Suggestion Saturday Recommendations

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
Glimpse by Stacey Wallace
Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn
Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian
Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park
The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

The Liar Society by Lisa & Laura Roecker
Everlost by Neal Shusterman
What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
Fairy Godmother Dilemma by Danyelle Leafty
Clean by Amy Reed
Me, the Missing, and the Dead by Jenny Valentine
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Trapped by Michael Northrop
Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gill
A Swift Pure Cry by Siobhan Dowd
Wings, Spells, & Illusions by Aprilynne Pike

Enjoy!

Recap: September 12-16

Here ar this week's YA Book of the Day recommendations:

SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Review: The characters in SHADE will blow you away. Unique, fully developed, & they jump right off the page. Love them! 

I recommend SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready to fans of paranormal (all kinds)!


THE IRON DAUGHTER by Julie Kagawa

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Review: Heart stopping moments of both romance and action kept me turning page after page. 

I highly recommend THE IRON DAUGHTER by Julie Kagawa to all fans of fantasy and romance. Bonus points for faery love. 


THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson's fourth summer at Camp Half-Blood is much like his previous three—high-octane clashes with dark forces, laced with hip humor and drama. Opening with a line for the ages—The last thing I wanted to do on my summer break was blow up another school—this penultimate series installment finds Percy, Annabeth and the satyr Grover furiously working to prevent former camp counselor Luke from resurrecting the Titan lord Kronos, whose goal is to overthrow the gods. When the heroes learn that Luke can breach Camp Half-Blood's security through an exit from Daedalus's Labyrinth, they enter the maze in search of the inventor and a way to stop the invasion. Along the way they encounter a lifetime supply of nightmare-inducing, richly imagined monsters. Grover's own quest to find the lost god Pan, meanwhile, provides a subtle environmental message. Percy, nearly 15, has girl trouble, having become something of a chick magnet. One of Riordan's strengths is the wry interplay between the real and the surreal. When the heroes find Hephaestus, for instance, he's repairing a Toyota, wearing overalls with his name embroidered over the chest pocket. The wit, rousing swordplay and breakneck pace will once again keep kids hooked. 

Review:  Love the mixture of Percy and Annabeth in this one. Great dynamics.

I highly recommend THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH by Rick Riordan to fans of action and humor. Bonus points for Greek myths.


THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING by J.R.R. Tolkien

Frodo Baggins knew the Ringwraiths were searching for him - and the Ring of Power he bore that would enable Sauron to destroy all that was good in Middle-earth. Now it was up to Frodo and his faithful servant Sam to carry the Ring to where it could be detroyed - in the very center of Sauron's dark kingdom.

Review:  Wow...just...wow.

I highly recommend THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING by J.R.R. Tolkien to anyone who enjoys fantasy. Why haven't you read this?


THE SUMMONING by Kelley Armstrong

After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home. 

At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…

Review: The darker elements really make this series stand apart. 

I recommend THE SUMMONING by Kelley Armstrong to to fans of paranormal who can handle a little creepiness. 

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Title: Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill (November 25, 2009)
Source: My Choice; Library

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead is the first in the Vampire Academy series.

From GoodReads:

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

I've been avoiding the Vampire Academy books for quite awhile. They came out around the time of the vampire craze, and I'm just not crazy about vampires. Sure, I like them, I've read books about them, I don't boycott them...but I don't pick up every vampire book I see either. Maybe it's they way the books were displayed or the title Vampire Academy but I always imagined these books were the epitome of the vampire hype. I assumed they'd be some dramatized version of high school with hot vampires walking around ready to suck the next thing in sight. The vampires would be sexy, not dangerous. The main character would be some weak human who constantly needed to be saved.

Boy was I wrong.

These books are awesome. The main character is a dhampir (human and vampire hybrid) whose job it is to protect Moroi vampires. That's right. The half human chick protects the fully vamped Moroi. Sure, the vampires are hot, but the dhampirs can be hot too. *Ahem, Dimitri.* Let's not forget the Strigoi either. Those creepy vamps are definitely not hot and are supremely deadly.

The main character is refreshing. Rose has spunk. She's sexy and she knows it. She can kick butt and isn't afraid to do so (regardless of how much trouble she'd get in). And she's got this carefree attitude that I love. When I read about Rose, I feel sexier, stronger, and more free. Now that's a sign of an awesome character.

Despite the fact that Rose can easily be seen as a bi....witch to outsiders, she also has amazing depth. Her character is as strong as her punch. Even if I can't relate to her on many physical levels, I can relate to her thoughts. She truly cares for those around her and I respect her for the length she goes to help others.

Oh, and did I mention Dimitri? Let's just say, he's worth reading about. :D

If you've been avoiding this book as just another vampire novel, I urge you to give it another look. I'm glad I did.

Overall rating:  Buy it or borrow it. It's worth the read.

Oops & Good Stuff

Well, the post I was supposed to have up this Wednesday needed some last minute meddling...and then I forgot to change it from "draft" to "scheduled." :( Sooo, you're getting nothing today, but giveaway news.

Wait.

Giveaway news?

That's good stuff, right?

You bet it is!

I just stopped at a Border's that's closing in 5 days and picked up a bunch of YA books for my follower giveaways. I'll be giving away a book when I reach 400 twitter followers (@YA_BookOfTheDay) and you'll get more than one chance to win if you follow the blog. (I'm hoping to get to 50 followers soon.)

Stay tuned for more details. :D

Teaser Tuesday

Since I'm starting to receive ARCs and Galleys that I'll be reviewing for the site, I thought I'd make Tuesdays into Teaser Tuesdays. As the name suggests, I'll be posting book reviews for new or soon-to-be-released titles.

I'm so excited to start reading these books and posting reviews. You've already seen the list of ARCs and Galleys I currently have here, so I'll start with a teaser of which I'm reviewing next week....

Squee!

In My Mailbox Monday

I'm trying something new this week. Besides trying to post more regularly, I'm also figuring out themes for certain days. Since I feel like I always have tons of books in my possession or on their way to me that I'm dying to read, I thought I'd start an In My Mailbox (idea curtesy of The Story Siren).

I'll let you know the new books I've bought, received, or are heading my way via the library, ARC tours, contests, giveaways, my own purchases, etc. I've also added a handy little widget in the sidebar that shows you what's currently in my To Read pile (will update that weekly).

ARC Tours:

IF I DIE by Rachel Vincent

Galleys:

THE SILENT by Rebecca Kenney
MISFIT by Jon Skovron
THE MEPHISTO COVENANT by Trinity Faegan
BLOOD by K. J. Wignall
DEVIANT by Adrian McKinty
TRIS AND IZZY by Mette Ivie Harrison
STICK by Andrew Smith
THE IRON KNIGHT by Julie Kagawa
DANCERGIRL by Carol M. Tanzman
SAVING JUNE by Hannah Harrington
THE BOOK OF BLOOD AND SHADOW by Robin Wasserman

Library books: 

WHERE THINGS COME BACK by John Corey Whaley

THE HIDDEN by Jessica Verday

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis

HOURGLASS by Myra McEntire

Purchased:

Vanished by Sophie Jordan

Today's IMMM is much longer than I usually anticipate because I wanted to include all the galleys I'd recently received. Stay tuned tomorrow for excited news!

Recap: September 6-9

Happy Labor Day everyone! Short week this week:

FALLING UNDER by Gwen Hayes

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

Review:  Completely surprised me...in the best way!

I highly recommend FALLING UNDER by Gwen Hayes to anyone looking for a good romance or an interesting take on demons.

CHAIN REACTION by Simone Elkeles

Luis Fuentes has always been sheltered from the gang violence that nearly destroyed his brothers’ lives. But that didn’t stop him from taking risks—whether he’s scaling a mountain in the Rockies or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis can’t stop looking for the next thrill.

Nikki Cruz lives her life by three rules—boys lie to get their way, don’t trust a boy who says “I love you,” and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Her parents may be from Mexico, but as a doctor’s daughter, she has more in common with her north-side neighbors than the Latino Blood at her school. Then she meets Luis at Alex’s wedding, and suddenly, she’s tempted to break all her rules.

Getting Nikki to take a chance on a southsider is Luis’s biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by Chuy Soto, the new head of the Latino Blood. When Chuy reveals a disturbing secret about Luis’s family, the youngest Fuentes finds himself questioning everything he’s ever believed to be true. Will his feelings for Nikki be enough to stop Luis from entering a dark and violent world and permanently living on the edge?

Review:  CHAIN REACTION lived up to all they hype from the previous books. Sexy, surprising, and satisfying.

I highly recommend CHAIN REACTION by Simone Elkeles to anyone looking for romance, multicultural stories & great characters.

FABLEHAVEN by Brandon Mull

For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite.

Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken — Seth is a bit too curious and reckless for his own good — powerful forces of evil are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.

Review:  Perfect story to read aloud. Action, adventure, with magical fairytale language and storytelling. 

I recommend FABLEHAVEN by Brandon Mull to anyone looking for an exciting fantasy tale. Bonus points for fans of fairy tales. 

DREAMLAND by Sarah Dressen

Rogerson Biscoe, with his green eyes and dark curly hair, is absolutely seductive. Before long, sixteen-year-old Caitlin finds herself under his spell. And when he starts to abuse her, she finds she's in too deep to get herself out...

Review:  Realistic portrayal of a difficult topic.

I recommend DREAMLAND by Sarah Dressen to fans of contemporary fiction. Bonus points for tough subjects. 

*Summaries provided by GoodReads