In My Mailbox #3

Middle Grade ARCs

Fly Away by Lucy Christopher (Scholastic)

First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci (Scholastic)

Signed copy of Shift by Jeri-Smith Ready (Simon Pulse)

Signed bookmarks 

Sign Enthralled Postcards

2 ARCs of Liar's Moon by Elizabeth C. Bunce (Scholastic)

I'LL BE DOING A REVIEW/GIVEAWAY FOR THIS BOOK LATER THIS WEEK!!!

Teen ARCs

Modelland by Tyra Banks (Random House)

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts (Pulse It)

 Frost by Wendy Delsol (Candlewick Press)

Books I won

One Salt Sea by Seanan McGuire

Graphic Novels

Becoming by Kelley Armstrong

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR A GREAT IN MY MAILBOX WEEK!!!

ARC Review: Eve by Anna Carey

Eve by Anna Carey
Release Date: Oct. 4th/11.
Galley from publisher
HarperTeen

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads:

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her. 

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.


My Thoughts


WOW! I freakin LOVED this book. I read it all in one sitting. It had everything I love in a book- action, ROMANCE, suspense (the list could go on all night). Word of warning to the faint of heart. This is a somewhat gruesome/graphic read- the heroine is surrounded by violence.


Eve and Caleb are perfect for each other and Caleb is truly a knight in shining armour. The romance between these two is sweet (not incredibly steamy) but I think the build-up between these two is genuine, considering Eve's upbringing.


Warning to readers! Keep the tissues handy because this book had me spilling tears a few times- especially at the end. All I can say is thank God that it's a trilogy- cause I couldn't stand the thought of knowing this was how things would end.


If you love a healthy combination of romance and action in your YA reads than be sure to pick up Eve. You will not be disappointed. I know I wasn't!


Happy Reading!!!

ARC Review: Sacrifice by Laura Burns & Melinda Metz

Sacrifice by Laura Burns & Melinda Metz
Simon and Schuster
Galley From Publisher
Release Date: September 20th/11.

Synopsis curtesy of Goodreads:

Gabriel and Shay are convinced that they can make their relationship work. Knowing that Shay is half-vampire, Gabriel thinks that his coven will embrace her as one of their own, but instead they view her as an abomination, a thing that doesn’t belong in either world. And they want her dead. Now Gabriel must make the ultimate decision - watch his love be killed by his coven or defy the people closest to him, the people he has spent centuries with to save her

My Thoughts:

First off just need to say that this is  a SEQUEL so please be warned there MAY BE SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T READ CRAVE.

Secondly, I absolutely loved the show Roswell, and book series Roswell High growing up, with that said- let's get on with the review!

This is the sequel to Crave, and O my God, was it ever amazing! This book kept me up all night, I just couldn't put it down. I enjoyed Crave, but with the first book Shay and Gabriel spent a good 3/4 hating each other. The relationship is built and solid between these two in Sacrifice.

I should warn you though, a good portion of this book, Shay and Gabriel spend apart from each other (not of their own free will of course). The story picks up right where Crave left off. I fell in love with Gabriel while reading this book- his goal throughout the book "I've got to get to Shay"- the "Sacrifices" he's willing and does make to keep her safe left me swooning.

Also, we're given a HUGE piece of information that challenges the blossoming love these two share (I won't say anything else except it's HUGE :)).

The only complaint I have about this installment is that it ended! But the ending does give its audience closure, while leaving room for a third novel.

Thank you so much Burns and Metz! CanNOT wait for the next one!

Happy Reading!!!

Review SHUT OUT by Kody Keplinger

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger
Little, Brown and Company (Poppy)
Release Date: September 5th/11.


Synopsis curtesy of Goodreads:
Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention. 

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: she and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming. 





My Thoughts:


Shut Out was a great follow-up to The DUFF. Keplinger is a wonderful writer of contemporary YA fiction. I wonder what a paranormal novel from her, would be like...


Shut Out is a contemporary retelling of Aristophanes' play Lysistrata, and (I think) a great addition to the ever-growing number of re-imagined tales of Greek myths, that currently populates the YA industry at this time.


Keplinger has the unique ability to write a character that the reader can both, envy and love at the same time. Her heroines are never the most popular, or beautiful, but somehow, always manage to catch the attention of the most popular and beautiful high school boys. I'm a romantic, so I ALWAYS love this. But I think what I love most about Keplinger's writing, is her ability to capture the voice of young adults. I realize that she's not that old herself, but her books never seem to be "censored" like so many YA novels of today. The issues in her books are real and prevalent, and showcased in a fresh and entertaining manner.


With all that said, I really enjoyed Shut Out, I rooted for Lissa through the entire book and I actually really liked Randy, until I didn't (won't spoil for anyone who hasn't read the book). Cash was charming and sexy, although I have a hard time believing that someone as hot as he is described in the book, wouldn't go on a few dates with his fellow female peers.


Overall I would recommend this book to all Keplinger fans. I still loved The DUFF much more, but Shut Out was definitely a strong second novel from a very talented YA author.


Happy Reading!!!

ARC Review Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Release Date: September 6th/11.
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: Galley from publisher

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads:
To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone. 

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love? 

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.


My Review:


This is the second book in Sophie Jordan's A Firelight Novel series. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T READ FIRELIGHT DON'T CONTINUE READING THIS REVIEW. 


If you've read my other reviews you'll know that Firelight was my very first review on this blog- it also happened to be my favourite YA read of 2010. Vanish had a lot to live up to and it did that in spades! I flew right through this book. 


All you Will fans be warned, the crush-worthy hero is not the main focus of this installment. While Firelight built the relationship between Will and Jacinda, Vanish focuses more on the relationship between Jacinda and Cassian- and let me tell you I am a HUGE Will fan but Cassian really had me walking the line towards his side with this installment. We get to see a new, caring side to Cassian in Vanish that was absent in Firelight and we come to see just how much he truly cares for Jacinda and the lengths he's willing to go to make her happy.


The relationship between Tamra and Jacinda is a bit rocky in the beginning, but (like all sisters) they're able to meet a common ground. It helps that Tamra has finally come into her draki powers of course... while I love the thought of two vying for Jacinda's attention, I can't help but feel for Tamra (she needs someone who generally cares for her). 


And then there's Will *sigh* Will, who risks everything to be with Jacinda, but will they be able to pack up everything and runaway together despite the consequences it will each of their love ones?


The ending left me angry- angry in the sense that, I WANT MORE. Grr canNOT wait for Firelight #3 to come out next fall. Seriously, I don't know how I will make it :).


If your a fan of love triangles with a paranormal twist, you must pick up this series. You won't be disappointed. I know I wasn't!


Happy Reading!

Jill Scribbles: Interview with Brodi Ashton + EVERNEATH giveaway

Jill Scribbles: Interview with Brodi Ashton + EVERNEATH giveaway: Today I am thrilled to share an interview with fellow Balzer + Bray-er and Apocalypsie, Brodi Ashton! And there shall be a giveaway, as...

And the Reviews continue, o and there is a lot coming your way...

Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent
ARC from Publisher
Release Date: August 23/11.

Synopsis curtesy of Goodreads:

By blood, by word, by magic... 

Most can't touch the power. But Liv Warren is special – a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood. 

Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one. 

But when her friend's daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can't rest until the child is home safe. But that means trusting Cam Caballero, the former lover forbidden to her. 

Bound by oath and lost in desire for a man she cannot have, Liv is racing to save the child from a dark criminal underworld where secrets, lies, trauma and danger lurk around every corner...every touch...every kiss. 

And more blood will be spilled before it's over...


My Review:


When can I get the next one? Seriously, this was an AMAZING start to a new trilogy. Rachel is definitely honing her craft. BLOOD BOUND made me fall in love with Rachel's writing all over again. 


The world of BLOOD BOUND is much different from the SHIFTER series. It's set against an urban landscape and narrated between the duel voices of Cam and Liv. Cam is definitely a swoon worthy hero and a perfect counter point to the kick-ass heroine, Liv.


The action is non-stop with this novel and the world is unlike any other I've read in the urban fantasy genre. The action and somewhat muted romance will keep you turning pages til you reach the end. Then, all you'll want is MORE! 


So thank you Rachel for this amazing story and I canNOT wait to read the next one!