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REVIEW: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Jen's Review

Starcrossed
by Josephini Angelini
May 31, 2011
HarperTeen
488 pages, Paperback

This book was a MONSTER! A monster as in, a long book… Sadly, not as in "it was absolutely amazing". Because unfortunately,  Starcrossed fell a little flat for me. It wasn't terrible in any way--I quite enjoyed it, actually--it just kind of let me down. I was expecting this totally epic love story with TONS of awesome Greek mythology. While there definitely was a beautiful love story and many elements of Greek mythology that I loved, there were some things here and there in the story that I just didn't like.

For example, probably the major letdown of the novel for me was the amount of characters in the novel. You've got Helen, her family, the ENTIRE Delos family (which was like 10+ people, I swear), and the bad guys, and the Gods. I totally lost track of a lot of the characters, and I thought some of them really didn't even need to be part of the story. It all just confused me and made me frustrated.

The other thing that bothered me terribly was Lucas and Helen's relationship in the beginning. I was fine with their romantic relationship after they fell in love, but in the beginning, their romance just didn't make any sense and it could have been done better. When Helen and Lucas first meet, Helen tackles (yes, the girl attacks the guy) and they have an instant hatred for each other. WHAT? That makes no sense. WHY? Why the hate, people? The reader goes on wondering this for a good chunk of the book. That's way too long, and I still had a problem with when they DID fall in love. Their sudden transition from hate to love was spontaneous and didn't make much sense at all.

Aside from the negative, everything else was pretty nice and solid. The Greek Mythology was really fantastic and interesting, probably the best part of the book! I always love reading about different authors' views on mythology, and I couldn't have loved Miss Angelini's mythology more. It was great! The plot was very fabulous as well. I wasn't expecting mystery and thrill. Alas, Josephine Angelini adds it in there and it's done very well! Her crafting of plot line was exciting with tons of plot twists and shocking scenes.

Starcrossed is overall a solid Greek mythology novel--while the romance and characters were certainly baffling, Starcrossed proved to be a great story with exciting scenes and entertaining Greek mythology elements thrown in. Definitely recommended for readers who want to try out a good mythology if they won't mind the romance.

Audiobook Review: The audio was.. Alright. Could have been better, but I'm not complaining. It's long though, so I think it's probably faster and it's easier to understand if the reader physically reads it.

3.5 Teacups for Starcrossed! 

REVIEW: Pretty Girl- 13 by Liz Coley

Jen's Review

Pretty Girl- 13 
by Liz Coley
March 19, 2013 
Katherine Tegen Books
352 pages, Hardcover

I love psychological thrillers. Seriously, like, ever since I read Mara Dyer, I've been dying to get my hands on another creepy, mind-boggling read that will make my brain go, "Wuuuut..". Yes, Pretty Girl- 13 is a psychological thriller, but less in the paranormal way, more in the contemporary way. Liz Coley's Pretty Girl- 13 is a unique read that deals with concepts I have never stumbled upon until now. While this captivating read wasn't the best, I definitely don't regret reading it.

One of the many reasons that I enjoyed this book so much was because of the fascinating concept of multiple personalities. Now, I'm not sure if this is an actual thing (that would be cool and freaky if it was!), but it was so interesting to read about. It's as if this idea physically pulled me into the story and tied me down in a chair until I was knowledgeable in the topic.

At first, I was on the fence about this idea because I was worried that I wouldn't be able to understand the real Angie, but Coley is able to make it work. The main character, Angie, has to deal with this multiple-personality disorder that she never knew about until after she returned from her abduction.

 I loved watching Angie's character grow as she began to slowly recollect and understand herself and her past. As a reader, I didn't particularly dislike or favor Angie, but I appreciated her and what she had to go through.

The downfall of this novel for me was the plot-pacing. The first half was absolutely riveting; I gripped my Kindle like no other and had to know who her kidnapper was, what exactly happened to her, etc. However, the last half just dragged on… And on... And ON. I don't even know how the book managed to keep going for 40%, since nothing really actually happened. There is a bit of a plot-shift, which caused me to lose interest after that. The last 10% picked up again, but the actual ending was a bit disappointing. My thoughts exactly: "That's… that's IT?"

So what's my overall thought? Pretty Girl- 13 is a better-than-decent read, for sure. It held my attention from the beginning, and although it dropped a bit towards the middle, the concept and main protagonist were a treat to learn about. If you're in for a read that is enthralling and haunting at the same time, I recommend you check out this uniquely different thriller!

3.5 Teacups for Pretty Girl- 13!

*Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the review copy!*

Blog Tour: Stung Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway!

Hey everyone! Today is my stop in the Stung blog tour, hosted by The Book Paparazzi Blog Tours. Thank you ladies so much for allowing me to be a part of this awesome tour! Today I have my review of Stung, a guest post from Bethany Wiggins herself, and a giveaway to share with you all! Check out the rest of the tour here.

Jen's Review

Stung
by Bethany Wiggins

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Release Date: April 2, 2013 (US)

Pages: 304, Hardcover

Source: For review via Netgalley/blog tour

Rating: 3.5 Teacups

Of all things, Stung was definitely an interesting read to say the least. It wasn't jaw-dropping amazing, but it wasn't bored-to-tears awful, either. Pretty much somewhere in between. In my opinion, Stung was moderately creative, but also your typical post-apocalyptic story. The concept behind the reasoning for the chase and action is awesome: bees being extinct and a flu that turns humans into beasts. But the rest of the plot was a bit boring and vague itself. Up until the halfway point, I had no idea where this book was going. Everything was kind of hidden in that cryptic way and there was no explanation as to what was happening. It's a little annoying at first, to put it nicely. Thankfully, the plot picked up later on.

The plot for the second half was gripping and intense. The characters are constantly on the run from society. You all know those chase scenes are lovable and extremely awesome. I'm one of those people who highly enjoy these parts in the story, therefore my liking for this book increased. It kept me intrigued and wanting to know what happened next.

Now the characters are a curious thing in Stung, as was the romance. Since finishing the book, I am still not quite sure what to think about them. I didn't particularly connect with them on any emotional level; these characters were just kind of there. Fiona, the main protagonist, wakes up from a coma, so it was bit difficult to sympathize with her when she didn't really know what was going on half the time. And Bowen, the love interest, was your typical guy-- nothing special. Their romance can definitely be considered insta-lovey. I was not a fan of this, but I can see how their romance developed after trying to survive together for a week.

To sum up my thoughts, readers will enjoy Stung if they are a fan of post-apocalyptic stories with lots of action, chase scenes, and an addicting plot. While lacking in the character and romance department, Stung was enjoyable and can pass as a quick action-packed story.

3.5 Teacups for Stung!

*Thanks to the publisher and TBPBT for the review copy!*

Guest Post

My question for Bethany Wiggins:  How did the idea for Stung come about? (What was your inspiration?)

Inspiration is a funny thing! You never know when/where/how it will hit. The story of how STUNG came into existence is this:

The first was an early morning nightmare that woke me from a dead sleep (I usually don't wake up from nightmares, let alone remember them!). This nightmare was so vivid and riveting, I wrote it down and it became chapter one of STUNG. 

Also, I started writing STUNG at the time the swine flu scare was running rampant through the USA. I watched these crazy people on the news who were swarming the health departments, frantic to the point of violent to get the swine flu vaccine for their kids, and it made me wonder, "What if the government told us there is this huge flu to scare us into taking a vaccine that is really going to harm us?" 

Lastly, I remember getting a Discovery Magazine that talked about the decline of bees. And all of sudden, it was like a puzzle clicking into place. I had everything I needed to write a book. And that is the recipe for STUNG!

Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HAPPY reading,
Jen xx

Showcase Sunday #15

Showcase Sunday is hosted by the lovely Vicky over at Books, Biscuits, and Tea! It's a great way to share what you have received for the past week and to also gush over the wonderful books to other bloggers have added to their bookshelves!

 Jen's Books

 

For review:

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover - OMG Y'ALL. I loved this book so so much. It's being published by Atria Books now, get exciiiited! See my review here.

Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith - Blurbed by Gayle Forman... ? UM, YES PLEAZE.

Blaze (or Love in the Time of Super Villains) by Laurie Boyle Crompton - I totally did not know there are pictures in this book! So cool. :)

Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton - LOVE. THIS COVER.

Borrowed:

Wait For You by J. Lynn - Currently reading this, not even 5% through, and I already LUUURV it. ;)

Much thanks to Atria Books, HarperCollins, Sourcebooks, Flux, Netgalley, and Edelweiss!

Beverley didn't get any new books this week!

What books did you get this week? Link us up and happy reading, everyone!
Bev and Jen xx

REVIEW: Becoming by Raine Thomas

Name: Becoming

Author: Raine Thomas

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: July 24, 2011 (US)

Pages: 261, Kindle Edition

Source: For review from author

Rating: 4 Teacups

Every three years, Amber Hopkins explodes. Okay, not a blown-to-smithereens explosion, but whatever it is always hurts like hell and leaves her life a shambles. She’s already worked her way through five foster placements, and she’s doing whatever she can to avoid getting blasted into a sixth.
As her eighteenth birthday approaches and she feels the strange and powerful energy building, disaster looms. When the inevitable explosion occurs, her life gets its biggest shakeup yet. She’ll not only learn how her fellow foster and best friend, Gabriel, really feels about her, but she’ll discover that she isn’t really without family.
To top it all off, she’ll finally find out why she’s having the power surges: she isn’t entirely human.
Amber must Become, transitioning to another plane of existence and risking the loss of the most important relationship she’s ever had. Her choice will impact the future of an entire race of beings, and will pit her against an enemy that will prey upon her doubt to try and take her very life.
Kind of makes the explosions now seem like a cakewalk.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Jen's Review

Becoming is quite the read! I have to say that I'm very satisfied with the way this book turned out. When I first started this book, it read like a contemporary, but towards the middle, as the paranormal elements were involved, I got a little confused. From there, I thought I was going to dislike the book. However, towards the end, it picked up immensely, and I grew to love it. The characters were fabulous the entire time though, bringing up my enjoyment level. Becoming is a unique supernatural romance story that I definitely recommend.

One of my favorite things about Becoming are the characters. Surprisingly enough, it's not the main character Amber that stands out for me (even if she is super sweet and awesome); it's the main character's love interest that catches the reader's attention. Gabriel is Amber's stepbrother, and has always been loving and protective towards Amber. He's always had a secret crush on her since they were tweens, and his undying love for her grows more after they find out about the Estilorian world. He reads like an angel for me, he is so sweet and just perfect. The fact that he is with Amber through the toughest of times is just adorable and it is never obsessive or creepy. Gabriel is a character that really shines in Becoming.

I also have to give tons of credit to Raine Thomas for creating such a different supernatural world! I have never read anything like Becoming, with the different planes and powers that the characters have. It's certainly unique and holds the readers interest easily. I'm thankful for the creativity, because the plot was mediocre in the beginning. I kind of just went along with the story, not thinking much of it. But the ending was very fast-paced and tension-filled! I needed to know what happened immediately.

There aren't many problems in this book at all; in fact, I only had one minor problem: the names of the Estilorian people were so confusing! I could never get their names straight since there were so many of them. Most of them turn out to be minor background characters, but still. I frequently had to go back and remind myself who was who. This problem detracted my enjoyment in the middle of the novel, but the main characters and plot made up for it in the end.

I am still pleased with the way this book turned out. If you're able to see past the confusion factor in Becoming, and you love yourself an extremely precious or tender romance and an incomparable supernatural element plot-line, I highly recommend this book! I have to say that I am surprised that I adored this book so much. The creativity of it all will make readers craving for more!

4 Teacups for Becoming!

*Thanks to Raine Thomas for providing me with a copy for review!*

REVIEW: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Jen's Review

Hopeless
by Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: December 17, 2012
Pages: 486, Paperback
Source: Borrowed from BookLending.com//For review from Netgalley & Edelweiss
Rating: 5 Teacups

Originally, I was going to start off this review with a string of cuss words expressing how absolutely fantastic this book was. But that would be kind of disrespectful towards this book, wouldn't it?

Because this book is unlike any I've ever read. It's a New Adult, sure, but on a whole different level of New Adult. Hopeless brought about so many different emotions out of me that I don't even know how Colleen Hoover does it. Throughout the span of this book, I was laughing out loud, excited, sympathetic, crying (GASP), and let's not forget broken hearted. At one point, I had to physically take a breather and put the book down and just think for a second. Hopeless is emotionally draining yet fulfilling at the same time.

One of the most stunning qualities in Hopeless was definitely the characters. I've never connected with characters so well before, I don't think. Hoover is able to allow the readers to understand the characters like the back of their own hand, and it's because of this full understanding that the reader is able to enjoy the book so much. Sky, the main female protagonist, goes through a series of issues that are indescribably terrifying; and while I couldn't possibly relate to those issues, I was still able to sympathize with her, because of the way her feelings are expressed. And Holder, who is probably the most endearing boy I've ever read about. Holder was supportive, brave, and honest. He respected Sky in every way and it's just one of those things that touches your heart. The characters in Hopeless are forever memorable and the names Sky and Holder will always remain in a special place in my heart.

The plot for Hopeless was drastically intense and full of twists and turns. Because of it, this book is literally un-put-down-able. The first half wasn't as gripping as the second half, but it's enough that you want to read more to find out about Sky and Holder's relationship. But the last half.. Don't even get my started. I could not stop reading, simply because so many answers are revealed, leaving me gasping, sobbing, and just stunned at multiple points. There were so many things I didn't see coming, but I was left pleasantly surprised and happy that things turned out the way it did. At the end of every chapter, it left me wanting more, more, more. The plot for Hopeless is mind-blowingly addicting like no other.

The last favorable quality that I loved so much was of course, Colleen Hoover's writing style. From page one, it just clicked. Like that. I fell in love with her writing style so easily, I constantly wondered if she wrote this book according to my preferences, it was that good. It's simple yet beautifully lyrical at the same time. In a way, I'm glad that this is my first read from Hoover because now I can go off to read her other books and experience (hopefully) the same gorgeous prose.

To conclude, Hopeless is a story that you won't want to skip out on. It's one of those books where, during the process of reading it, your heart is ripped out, and mended back together. It's one of those books where, after you finish it, you collapse on your bed and just think about all of the things you just read about. I'm honestly shocked that I was able to write a coherent review for my thoughts on this book, because I thought I was going to be at a loss for words. Hopeless is a story that everyone needs to read, experience, fall in love with, and hold onto for dear life, for it is a very--despite the title-- hopeful story.

5 stars for Hopeless!

*Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with a copy to review!*

REVIEW: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Jen's Review

The Madman's Daughter
by Megan Shepherd
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: January 29, 2013 (US)
Pages: 420, Hardcover
Source: For review via Edelweiss
Rating: 4.5 Teacups 

My goodness, you guys. This book is unlike anything I've ever read. The Madman's Daughter is full of grit, savagery, and intensity. Because of this, it's memorable and terrifying at the same time. This book is absolutely unput-downable and totally addicting.

The prose itself is one thing that I have to mention: lush and beautifully written, it adds more to the already mysterious and hypnotic mood to the story. From description to description of the island to the creatures, the visual images Shepherd creates are vivid and real, as if the reader is submerged in the world itself. Shepherd's writing style is juicy and just plain awesome.

My favorite part of this addicting story was the different and exciting characters. The character development and changes that they go through are incredible; from being civilized to savaged, Juliet slowly learns the horrifying truths about the island and her father. I couldn't help but feel for her-- I found myself gasping along with her revelations. Juliet is also a cautious character, and thank the lord for that or she would have died a long time ago. Yes, there is a love triangle. I wasn't terribly annoyed with this, but Juliet's indecisive thoughts were a little hair-pulling sometimes. I was a strong believer of Montgomery from the start, purely because he and Juliet shared a past together and his friendly nature was endearing. 

And I totally have a love-hate relationship with the vivid descriptions of the creatures. I think it's completely terrifying and disgusting, but it's also kind of cool, if that makes me a terrible person for thinking that. The island setting and concept just works really well, and it's enchantingly intriguing. The story is captivating and is quite an addicting read; I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen next.

The one minor issue I had with The Madman's Daughter was the ending to this story. Not going to spoil anything, but WHAT THE HECK. NO. You canNOT just end a story like that. It's not a cliffhanger, but it's just like, HELLO I WANT MORE. Sorry for the all-caps, but it was a bit disappointing. I suppose it inspires the reader to read book two, but still. However, it did evoke an emotion out of me, and it is unexpected. My heart kind of melted a bit. It's an interesting type of ending. I didn't like it, but I liked it. Yep. Best way to put it!

So as you can see, I highly enjoyed The Madman's Daughter. If you're in for a spine-tingling, great romance, and an awesome retelling, please check out this book, I'm begging you. Even if you don't completely enjoy it, I promise you that you'll be glad to have read a book with such a unique concept. I highly recommend it-- I'll definitely be looking out for book two!

4.5 Teacups for The Madman's Daughter!

*Thanks to Harper Collins and Edelweiss for providing me with a review copy!*

Things I Can't Forget Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway!

Today, I'm super excited to be hosting my stop for the Things I Can't Forget blog tour and I would like to take this chance to thank Giselle at Xpresso Book Tours for letting me take part!  For my stop today I have a review of the book and an international giveaway for a grab bag of Miranda's favourite books for you all to enter.  To follow the rest of the tour, click HERE.

***

Name: Things I Can't Forget (Hundred Oaks #3)

Author: Miranda Kenneally

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: 1st March 2013

Pages: 320, e-ARC

Source: For review (from publisher/blog tour)\
Rating: 4 stars

Companion to Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker.
Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…
This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt…with her.
Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…

Beverley's Review

Things I Can't Forget was one of those books I just knew I had to read and I had heard endless praise for Miranda Kenneally's other contemporaries.  I had high expectations and Things I Can't Forget didn't disappoint, balancing serious issues and self-discovery and romance in one delightful, thought-provoking concoction.

Kate Kelly really stood out to me as a character.  She wasn't afraid to let her thoughts be heard and she stood very strongly by her beliefs - something I really admired in her.  I can see why this can be bad in some situations and I understand why some bloggers really loathed her in the beginning but I really took a liking to her.  I must admit the religious element of the book took me by surprise as I wasn't expecting it but I enjoyed reading from Kate's perspective.

What I loved most was the way Kate developed as the book progressed.  Although I'm not religious, I could immediately relate to her in that as you grow up, you begin to question your beliefs and the world around you.  Kenneally portrayed this superbly and provided lots of space for Kate to grow and understand that in having your own beliefs, you must accept others' too.  I always love character development and it was spot on in Things I Can't Forget - something which makes it all the more memorable.

Other than the weighty issues like pregnancy and teenage sex, there's a nice romance weaved in.  Matt was incredibly cute and I adored him.  He also attended church but was not as firm as Kate in his beliefs and more accepting that not everyone has the same opinions as him.  I loved the way Kate could learn from him and how he wasn't pushy for the physical side of the relationship.  He was a true gentleman and it was refreshing to read about a relationship which wasn't too physical.  He many not have completely won me over, but he was a very strong contender.

Overall, Things I Can't Forget was a thought-provoking read which dealt with interesting issues.  The main characters were a delight to read about, with wonderful support from the secondary characters and the romance was sweet and sure to be a hit with readers.  Miranda Kenneally's prose is neither fancy nor flowery, yet still succeeds in conveying the message that everyone's beliefs matter.

4 Teacups for Things I Can't Forget!

***

So, has my review given you that extra nudge to read the book?  I hope so... Get buying!:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

The Book Depository

And here is the giveaway to win a Grab Bag of Miranda's Favourite Books.  Don't forget that it's open internationally!  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy reading,
Beverley x

REVIEW: Beautiful Creatures Official Illustrated Movie Companion by Mark Cotta Vaz

Name: Beautiful Creatures: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion

Author: Mark Cotta Vaz

Publisher: Penguin UK

Release Date: February 2013

Pages: 144, Paperback

Source: For review (from publisher)
Rating: 4 stars

Explore the making of the film Beautiful Creatures in this ultimate visual companion, lavishly illustrated with full-color photos of the cast, locations, and sets. This beautiful paperback edition celebrates the on-screen creation of Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's fascinating world, brought to life by screenwriter and director Richard LaGravenese.
With never-before-seen images, exclusive interviews and personal stories, Mark Cotta Vaz takes you behind the scenes with cast and crew, uncovering intimate details of the filmmaking process.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Beverley's Review 

Having been rather curious about the film, I jumped at the chance to review this movie companion.  And I think everyone who's planning to see the film should read this first or even if you've already seen it, this is definitely well worth the read.

This book is full of detail and gorgeous photographs and charts the whole process of making the film.  It was particularly interesting to hear that the director wanted to keep the film as similar to the book as possible.  I don't really like it when adaptations aren't entirely faithful to the original so I'm eager to see how the film turns out so present fans of the book needn't worry!  Another thing which was refreshing to hear is that CGI wasn't used too heavily as they wanted to keep things as natural as possible to fit in with the idea that 'magical' people like Casters can meld in seamlessly in society.  The detail about how different scenes were created was spectacular and it felt as if the scenes were actually playing out in front of me as I read!

In addition to the detail, the photographs really complemented the book and added a depth of vividness. They brought the book to life and filled it with a sort of magic and splendour that pushed me further into the realms of Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's world.  If a book about a film can be so stunning, surely the film must be amazing too?

I'm without a doubt very glad that I read this because when I do go and see the film, I will appreciate it even more because I'll be aware of the sheer effort and dedication that the 'backstage' crew put in.  Sometimes we forget about the people behind the scenes but this book brings fabulous awareness to them and ensures the audience do not forget that it's not only the actors who are creating the magic before them.

Overall this movie companion was great entertainment, spilling all the secrets on the film-making process and a wonderful encouragement for readers to hurry up and see the film in all its glory!  This is a must read for existing and soon-to-be Beautiful Creatures fans alike!

4 Teacups for Beautiful Creatures: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion

*Thanks to Penguin for the review copy!*

Showcase Sunday #14

Showcase Sunday is hosted by the lovely Vicky over atBooks, Biscuits, and Tea! It's a great way to share what you have received for the past week and to also gush over the wonderful books to other bloggers have added to their bookshelves!

Jen's Books

Holy shiznet y'all. I haven't shown you guys my books in six weeks, but still. I have a total of 42 books. Let's ALL admit that I have an extreme book-hoarding obsession. 

Borrowed via BookLending / Bought / Freebies (click on cover to go to Goodreads):

For Review via Netgalley / Edelweiss / Author (click on cover to go to Goodreads):

 
  

 

WOW. MUUUUUUUCH thanks to Scholastic, Soho Press, Bloomsbury, Macmillan, Grand Central Publishing, Random House UK (Vintage), Harlequin Australia, Atria Books, HarlequinTEEN, Simon & Schuster, HARPER COLLINS <3, Netgalley, Edelweiss, Kaleb Nation, and Chelsea M. Cameron. Thank you so so much, everyone!


Bev's New Books

Haha, so I don't actually have as much new books as Jen but the ones I did get are pretty awesome!  I'm kinda behind my reading schedule and I feel I'm sort of falling into a slump.  I've been busy with school lately so I've tried to keep requesting to a minimum, so here goes...

Physical Books:

For review:

Dented Cans by Heather Walsh: I'm not usually eager to read self-published books but I was really attracted to the premise of this.  Hopefully, it'll be a nice surprise.  Thanks to the author for the copy.

Borrowed from Library:

Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers:  This was a re-read.  A short book for me to pick up during exam time.  I think I may have enjoyed this more this time round.

For review via Netgalley/Edelweiss:

The Sea of Tranquillity by Katja Millay:  This book sounds so utterly beautiful and I really can't wait to pick it up.  

How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski:  Another book about a road-trip! I think I'll enjoy this. 

September Girls by Bennett Madison:  This one seems so thrilling... and my birthday is in September too!

Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike:  I really enjoyed reading Wings and loved her writing so I'm eager to see how this one goes.

Dear Cassie by Lisa Burnstein:  I actually got this from a 'First 10 to RT will get a review copy' sort of thing and I was lucky enough to nab one.  I'm very much looking forward to this... thing is, it's a pdf and it's quite difficult to read on my Kindle... any ways to convert it or something?

The Collector by Victoria Scott: OMG.  So excited to be a part of the 2013 Belongs to Dante event!  Seriously, Dante seems so... swoonworthy *sighs*

Many thanks to Atria Books, HarperCollins, Simon Pulse and YA Bound!

Gifted:

Touch by Jus Accardo: Another book I got from a 'RT for a copy'  I fell in love with the cover... *swoons*  Thanks to the author for the lovely gift!

What did you guys get in your hauls this week?  Don't forget to link us up!

Happy reading,
Bev and Jen xxx