The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test
Aimee Carter
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: April 18, 2011
Pages: 293

Rating 4.5 stars

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

The Goddess Test was an absolutely refreshing read with a new twist on mythology that I absolutely devoured! This was a spectacular debut, and I am very excited to see more from Aimee Carter in the future.

Mythology is a topic that in my opinion can never be written about enough, and Aimee Carter has written a series that is so charming and delightful. Her take on mythology was a lot of fun to read about, as I could never guess where the plot was going to lead Kate.

I really liked Kate. The one thing about her that drove me nuts was her fixation on the fact that Ava's death was her fault. Clearly when the mean girl does what she knows best and instead dies for it, it is not your fault. Everything else about her - I really liked her voice. I have to say I felt that Ava failed at the being the mean girl for the most part. Henry was a really great character - I didn't like him as much in the beginning, but as Kate grew to know him, I liked his character more and more.

This book ended way too soon. I was getting more and more involved with the story, and then it ended. I was really sad. I guess it's kind of a good thing I waited until now to read it, since now I only have to wait three months instead of eleven. Moving past that, the ending was a ton of fun. I knew something was going to have to happen, but I wasn't exactly sure how that something would. There were so many shocks and surprises and it was just a whole lot of fun.

This is a book I would recommend to all. I read it in 2 hours and just couldn't put it down. I am very excited for book 2, Goddess Interrupted. The Goddess Test was a book with a twisty plot and a great cast of characters all wrapped up in a fabulous debut.

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Moonglass
Jessi Kirby
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Pages: 232

Rating: 4 stars

I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now, I've thought maybe my mother drowned in both.

Anna's life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It's bad enough that she has to leave her friends and her life behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love- a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.

While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide means that nothing- not the sea glass that she collects on the sand and not the truths behind Anna's mother's death- stays buried forever.

Moonglass was a really touching debut. It was a much needed contemporary that I really enjoyed. It had a story that I really enjoyed and the characters were just great.

The plot of this book was just very easy going and had a steady pace. I loved that Anna and Tyler's relationship took a bit to build. It wasn't simply ok, we're together now. I was actually a good chunk into the book before they actually got together, and that was awesome.

The characters were my favorite part of this book. I loved Ashley - she isn't the type of character I usually would be crazy about, but she was just lovely. I would love to have her as a friend. Jillian was another character who was just great. She was just a really nice person. James was a hilarious character and I would've loved to hear more from him.

I wasn't quite satisfied with the ending. I wish the story had gone on a little more. I felt like the peak of the book happened and then the book just ended.

Moonglass was a really great read. I loved the stories within the story and the action by the ocean. It was just a really nice read, and while it was a something of a book of grief for Anna and her dad, it was also very much about growth. I really am curious to see more from Jessi Kirby in the future.

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Dark Inside
Jeyn Roberts
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: November 1, 2011
Pages: 329

Rating: 3.5 stars

Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everday people into hunters, killers, crazies.

Mason's mother is dying after a terrible car accident. As he endures a last vigil at her hospital bed, his school is bombed and razed to the ground, and everyone he knows is killed. Aries survives an earthquake aftershock on a bus, and thinks the worst is over when a mysterious stranger pulls her out of the wreckage, but she’s about to discover a world changed forever. Clementine, the only survivor of an emergency town hall meeting that descends into murderous chaos, is on the run from savage strangers who used to be her friends and neighbors. And Michael witnesses a brutal road rage incident that is made much worse by the arrival of the police--who gun down the guilty party and then turn on the bystanding crowd.

Where do you go for justice when even the lawmakers have turned bad? These four teens are on the same road in a world gone mad. Struggling to survive, clinging on to love and meaning wherever it can be found, this is a journey into the heart of darkness – but also a journey to find each other and a place of safety.

Dark Inside was a book I was really looking forward to. I had heard all sorts of brilliant praise and while it was a still a good book, it sadly did not live up to the hype I had heard.

I loved the idea behind Dark Inside. The book was told between many alternating perspectives which was cool. Aries storyline was definitely my favorite of the four. The others had their interesting moments, but I wasn't as into their storylines. I loved as the story got more chaotic, the storylines began to intersect.

I was hoping for more from the plot. I thought this one was supposed to be scary, and for me, it was a bit intense at times at the most.  This book took quite awhile to get into - it was after page 100 until the story picked up enough for me to be captivated enough to read more than a few pages at a time.

The characters were intriguing. I really want to know more about Daniel. He is so mysterious, never revealing much. I really liked Aries as well - she had spunk. Chickadee was another character who I really liked, even though she played a small role in the book. Some of the other characters bugged me at times.

This was a book I did enjoy overall, but I had a lot of issues along the way. I am curious about the sequel, more because I'm hoping for more questions to be answered. This was a promising debut, and I'm curious to see more from Jeyn Roberts in the future.

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Catching Jordan
Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: December 1, 2011
Pages: 288

Rating: 5 stars

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

Books that star girls who play sports are my favorite sort of contemporaries. Catching Jordan was phenomenal debut, and I am already eagerly anticipating Miranda Kenneally's next book that comes out next year. I seriously just loved everything about this one, and am sitting here gushing as I'm typing up this review. Miranda Kenneally is the next big thing!

The characters were probably my favorite thing about this book. I loved them all - Henry, JJ, Carter, Jordan, Marie, Carrie - they were all just such great characters. I found myself very easily being able to connect with the different characters. All the guys just hilarious - they were always up to something.

The story was so easy to get caught up in - while I did not play varsity football, it was still very easy to connect with Jordan and get so caught up in her story. I loved that there were so many side stories with all the different characters as well, yet they all connected in the end.

This is a book that is among my favorites of the year and was a stunning debut. It's a book that I will be telling everyone about, and how they need to read it now, as it is that good. Words really cannot capture how much I loved this book. It has a brilliant story worth telling, and sends a great message: to work for your dreams no matter what others tell you.

*side note* If you love Keri Mikulski's books (Pretty Tough series) you will adore this one as well!

This review is cross-posted from YA Books Central where it was originally posted.

Legend by Marie Lu

Legend
Marie Lu
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: November 29, 2011
Pages: 336
Source: BEA

Rating: 4 stars

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.


From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Legend was an interesting read - it started out being a book that I almost didn't finish, but ended up finishing strong and turning out to quite the read.

It was divided into 2 sections. Part 1 was a total flop for me. I was bored until about the last 15-20 pages of it, and even then I wasn't completely on board. Part 2, now THAT was one heck of a read. I couldn't put it down, and I loved the twists and turns to plot took. The plot was not simple at all, instead it kept thickening and thickening.

The world was super cool - I always love the worlds in dystopians. I think that was part of what contributed to the slow factor - the world building that had to go on. The whole deal with the Republic was a bit confusing at first, but as things became clearer, it was simply fascinating.

I had issues connecting with the characters. As the book went on, it become a bit easier to connect with them but characters were definitely not my favorite point of the book. I really liked Tess, I thought she was just a total sweetheart. Though, I would have loved to know more about her and why she is on the streets with Day.

As far as dystopians go, this one was a pretty good read as long as you don't mind a very long beginning of about 150 pages in which nothing happens. The other half of the book is brilliant, but it was that first part that held me back from absolutely loving this one. I am super excited to see where Day and June's story goes in book 2!

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

Witch Eyes
Scott Tracey
Publisher: Flux
Release Date: September 8, 2011
Pages: 332
Source: BEA

Rating: 5 stars

Braden was born with witch eyes: the ability to see the world as it truly is: a blinding explosion of memories, darkness, and magic. The power enables Braden to see through spells and lies, but at the cost of horrible pain.

After a terrifying vision reveals imminent danger for the uncle who raised and instructed him, Braden retreats to Belle Dam, an old city divided by two feuding witch dynasties. As rival family heads Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe desperately try to use Braden's powers to unlock Belle Dam's secrets, Braden vows never to become their sacrificial pawn. But everything changes when Braden learns that Jason is his father--and Trey, the enigmatic guy he's falling for, is Catherine's son.

To stop an insidious dark magic from consuming the town, Braden must master his gift—and risk losing the one he loves.

Oh my gosh, I have just been reading so many fabulous books lately. Witch Eyes fit right in that category. I have been really looking forward to Witch Eyes for months, since I first heard about it, and I honestly don't know if I have the words to express my feelings for Witch Eyes, but I'll certainly try.

I really love witches. I think they're one of the most fun, well paranormal isn't really the right word but I'll just use it for the lack of a better word, paranormal being out there because they're human, they just have magic. There's also so many different ways witches can be, and Scott Tracey really went out on a limb and made his witches super unique. That made Witch Eyes so much fun to read, because there was no predictability with the business of witches.

Witch Eyes was really well written. This was my first thought when I started reading the book, and continued to be an omnipresent thought as I read Witch Eyes. The storyline was super easy to get caught up in. With everything going on in this small town, I was so curious as to how everything would turn out. I loved that I never was able to predict the path of the story line.

All the characters in Witch Eyes were all around super lovely, with the exception of Fallon and Jason, because I thought they were kind of just slimeballs and Catherine was kind of a snot. I really loved Braden. He was super witty and I just loved his character. He had the best insults, ever. I loved Riley's spunk. I wasn't expecting to like Jade, I honestly was expecting her to turn out to be the typical mean girl.

Witch Eyes was another phenomenal debut that I have read this year. With its original storyline and unforgettable characters, Witch Eyes is one of the best books of the year. Scott Tracey is definitely an author to watch.

(Be sure to check out my giveaway of Witch Eyes, where you can win a signed copy!)

Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

Epic Fail
Claire LaZebnik
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: August 2, 2011
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher

Rating: 4.5 stars

Will Elise’s love life be an epic win or an epic fail?


At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you. Case in point:


As the son of Hollywood royalty, Derek Edwards is pretty much prince of the school—not that he deigns to acknowledge many of his loyal subjects.


As the daughter of the new principal, Elise Benton isn’t exactly on everyone’s must-sit-next-to-at-lunch list.


When Elise’s beautiful sister catches the eye of the prince’s best friend, Elise gets to spend a lot of time with Derek, making her the envy of every girl on campus. Except she refuses to fall for any of his rare smiles and instead warms up to his enemy, the surprisingly charming social outcast Webster Grant. But in this hilarious tale of fitting in and flirting, not all snubs are undeserved, not all celebrity brats are bratty, and pride and prejudice can get in the way of true love for only so long.

Since I heard about Epic Fail, I have been very excited for it. I am a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice, so when I found out this contemporary book that was based on Pride and Prejudice was coming out, I was thrilled. Epic Fail turned out to be a wonderful read, and I am very anxious to check out more from Claire LaZebnik after finishing this one!

I really loved the plot. It was so much fun to read. I loved trying to figure out what major plot points from Pride and Prejudice LaZebnik would through in. Throughout the entire book I was waiting for this to happen or that to happen, but what was very cool was that LaZebnik really took liberties with the story and it wasn’t simply a modern retelling. It was this really unique story, with obvious similarities.

I loved the characters. I thought Elise was a great character and narrator; I really liked her tone of voice. I couldn’t help falling for Derek right away, he was just wonderful. Chase and Juliana were such likable characters, you couldn’t help but to just love both of them!

I would really recommend this fabulous YA debut from Claire LaZebnik. It was entertaining and was a really light read, I found myself reading straight through it. With its great writing and fabulous cast of characters, I found a new favorite read.

Tour: Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff

Isle of Night (The Watchers #1)
Veronica Wolff
Publisher: NAL Trade
Release Date: September 6, 2011
Pages: 320
Source: Author

Rating: 4.5 stars

Is life offering fewer and fewer options? Then join the dead.

When Annelise meets dark and seductive Ronan, he promises her a new life-if she has the courage to chance the unknown. Now, she's whisked away to a mysterious island and pitted against other female recruits to become a Watcher-girls who are partnered with vampires and assist them in their missions. To survive and become a Watcher, Annelise has to beat out every other girl, but she's determined to do so, because to fail doesn't mean dishonor-it means death.

Isle of Night was a fantastic start to a new series that was a ton of fun to read. With it's fast paced action, I could scarcely put it down. Wolff balanced all the elements needed to great a perfectly epic story.

It took me several chapters to be fully on board. I wasn't quite understanding what was going on and it was a bit unbelievable, then all at once everything made sense and I just couldn't put Isle of Night down. I was up until some crazy hour of the morning reading, until I finally made myself put it down. The whole situation with Isle of Night was so well done - it was this perfect balance between intriguing, scary, and a bit of just down-right creepy.

The vampires in Isle of Night were different than others - in Wolff's world male's become Vampires and females train to become Watchers. This in itself was really interesting, as it was brand spanking new.

I loved the characters. Annelise was so incredibly spunky, I loved her. Ronan was one gorgeous hunky guy. I really hope to see more from Emma as well in future books, as she was super lovely.

I am very excited to see where this series will go. Book 2, Vampire's Kiss, is due out early next year, and I am very excited for it! Isle of Night was an absolutely fantastic read!

*Random Cover Comment* Does anyone else TOTALLY think that the guy on the cover looks like the guy from The Devil Wears Prada?

Also be sure to check out the snazzy trailer, here.

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

The Near Witch
Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Hyperion Books CH
Release Date: August 2, 2011
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher

Rating: 5 stars

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.
 
But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.
The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.
As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

The Near Witch was a phenomenal read. It was an epic tale filled with a marvelous cast of characters. I found The Near Witch to exceed all expectations I had for it, and become an instant favorite.

I was not expecting it to be a historical, fairy tale type read. I was expecting something modern, then I cracked it open and was so pleasantly surprised and it made me love the book 10 times more. The plot was so original. While I found the actions of certain characters to be fairly predictable, I loved seeing how the plot would unfold and figure out the mystery of who was behind everything.

The writing was absolutely beautiful and simply enchanting. This was probably about my favorite thing about the book. I would credit The Near Witch with being one of the more gorgeously written books I have ever read.

I loved the moor. I felt like it almost felt like a character of its own. The beautiful descriptions and the tales about it made me feel like the moor was right outside. The other characters were quite fabulous as well. I really liked Lexi. I loved that she was this kick-ass  awesome, strong girl who wasn't just going to let guys boss her around.  Cole was also quite wonderful and what a hunk! Though, probably one of my sole complaints for the book was that I wish I had learned his real name.

The book was filled with so many little rhymes and songs that were from the town of Near that were part of the book that were very catchy and those were a lot of fun. They kept playing through my head over and over, on a sort of repeat as I read the book.

This book was one of the best debuts I have read in quite a while. I found it enchanting from page one to the last and the characters were just marvelous. After a book like this one, I am highly anticipating future works from Victoria Schwab.

Tour: Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

Here Lies Bridget
Paige Harbison
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: January 18, 2011
Pages: 219
Source: Publisher

Rating: 3 stars

Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don't worship as attentively, teachers don't fall for her wide-eyed "who me?" look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she's always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she's wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she's inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.
 
And Bridget's about to learn that, sometimes, saying you're sorry just isn't enough….

Here Lies Bridget was a book I was super looking forward to - I loved the idea of the premise and it was from Harlequin Teen, which is one of my absolute favorite imprints. The majority of the book just didn't do it for me, but I absolutely loved the last 50 pages and the growth they brought with them.

The first half really just didn't do it for me. It was simply Bridget going through life being a snot to everyone and treating everyone absolutely horrible, and I really did not like her as a character. I am not a fan of shallow, conceited, witchy characters. The next chunk was reliving her being a witch, with a few touching scenes thrown in. I liked that section a wee bit more, but not much. The last 50 or so pages I really enjoyed - while it was really predictable as to what would happen, I thought it was super sweet and cute.

Besides Bridget, there were quite a few characters I really liked - particularly Liam and Meredith. I thought both were such good souls and before that last chunk, it was the scenes with them that I was looking forward too.

While it started out on a bumpy ride, I really did end up liking Here Lies Bridget. It wasn't my favorite read or one I would be jumping out of a chair to go get, but the ending was really sweet.

Cover Rating: B - I like this cover, I like the layout. It's super fresh and fun.

The Survivors by Amanda Havard

The Survivors
Amanda Havard
Publisher: Chafie Press
Release Date: March 29, 2011
Pages: 283

Rating: 4.5 stars

In 1692, when witch trials gripped the community of Salem, Massachusetts, twenty-six children were accused as witches, exiled, and left for dead. Fourteen of them survived.


The Survivors is the first installment of the tantalizing tales of the fourteen ill-fated Survivors and their descendants, who have been content in hiding for over three centuries. Isolated on a Montana mountainside, only Sadie, the rogue daughter, dares to abandon the family’s sacred hiding place. But no matter how far Sadie runs, something always pulls her back.


On a muggy summer night in Tennessee, she witnesses a shocking scene that will change her life forever. It is the first in a sequence of events that will drag her from the human world she’s sought to belong to for over a century and send her back to her Puritanical family and into an uncertain future filled with cunning witches, mysterious nosferatu shape-shifters, dangerous eretica and vieczy vampires, millennia-old mythology, and the search for her own mortality. After all…


HOW DO YOU KILL A SURVIVOR?


The Survivors will steal your heart and invade your mind. Fall into the pages of Sadie’s life, a world so frighteningly similar to your own, you’ll find yourself wanting to go to the Montana mountains to find the Survivors for yourself.


And it is only the beginning.

Let's try this again...I scheduled the post and blogger ate the entire post. (My review was much better the first time through, I feel like I should let everyone know that)

The Survivors is a spectacular debut from Amanda Havard. Despite it's slower start, the book makes a full turn around and had me absolutely falling in love. This is a must read.

I really enjoyed this book. The plot was quite cool. The first 30 or so pages were slower, and after that it picked up and I barely put it down until the last page. I loved the path Sadie took, and found myself unable to guess exactly what would happen next or where it would go.

I really enjoyed the characters in The Survivors. Particularly Cole and Ginny - they were my 2 favorites. Sadie was a great narrator, I really enjoyed her voice and thought she was a great character. Sadie goes between 2 guys, and sorry other guy, but I am 100% Team Cole!

I really enjoyed the originality and variety of paranormals in the book. The survivors was just such a unique idea, and I really enjoyed that freshness. As the book went along, readers and Sadie cross paths with other paranormal creatures, and they were all more along the lines of creatures off the beaten track of paranormals.

The ending was absolutely epic. The build up to it has me on the edge of my seat. I think it's safe to say that I am very excited for book 2. I am really curious to see where Havard will take the story after where it was left off.

I absolutely loved this book. I am now beginning my impatient countdown until book 2 is released next year. It is a stunning debut that will be sure to captivate readers. It's a book you will be quite sorry to miss.

Cover Rating: A-  - I really like how there's the darkness around the light in the forest. It's just a beautifully scene.

Tour: How I Stole Johnny Depp’s Alien Girlfriend by Gary Ghislain

How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend
Gary Ghislain
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Release Date: May 4, 2011
Pages: 208
Source: Publisher

Rating: 4 stars

David Gershwin's summer is about to take a turn for the weird. When his dad's new patient Zelda tells him she s from outer space and on a quest to take Johnny Depp back to her planet, he knows he should run away screaming. But with one look from her mean, green eyes, David's hooked, and soon he's leaping across rooftops, running from police, and stealing cars just to stay by her side. He might not be a typical hero, but David's going to get the girl even if it takes him to the ends of the earth or beyond.


How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend is an absolutely brilliant read. It was a ton of fun to read and I couldn't put it down.

The storyline is so awesome. It did have a bit of a slower start, but don't let that throw you off for this great book - because it's a real treat. I could never quite guess where the story would go and Zelda and David's adventure would lead me.

I loved the characters. I really liked David's voice. Zelda was absolutely hilarious, I loved watching her grow throughout the book. Malou was another character I really liked - when I met her I was under the impression I wouldn't like her, but she really grew on me.

This is a book you do NOT want to miss. It is an unput-downable read. Filled to the brim with charming characters and an epic story, How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend is a must read. I am very excited to see what Gary Ghislain comes up with next.

Exposed by Kimberly Marcus

Exposed
Kimberly Marcus
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Pages: 288

Rating: 2.5 stars

In the dim light of the darkroom, I'm alone, but not for long.
As white turns to gray, Kate is with me.
The background of the dance studio blurred, so the focus is all on her
legs extended in a perfect soaring split.
The straight line to my squiggle,
my forever-best friend.


Sixteen-year-old Liz Grayson is photogirl—sharp, focused and ready to take the world by storm with her camera. But Liz's entire life is called into question when her brother is accused of a crime—and the accuser is Liz's own best friend. As the aftershocks from that accusation rip through Liz's world, everything she thought she knew about photography, family, friendship and herself, shifts out of focus. And for the first time in her life, Liz finds herself unable to trust her own point of view. Told in stunning, searingly raw free verse, Exposed is Kimberly Marcus's gut-wrenching, riveting debut and will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson and Virginia Euwer Wolff.


Exposed's premise intrigued me from the start. My first thought after reading it was actually, oh maybe it'll be like Speak! And then I noticed it would be in verse and I thought - hey cool, kind of like Ellen Hopkins. I really wanted to like Exposed more but it just came up short of my expectations I had for it.

My big thing with Exposed was that I had trouble connecting with the story and characters. I am not huge on poetry, and I refused to pick up any books in verse until last semester I had to read Impulse by Ellen Hopkins for my YA Lit class at school. Exposed just didn't make me feel anything for the characters - and with the situation at hand, I thought it'd be an emotional fiesta.

 Now that's not to say the writing wasn't good - I absolutely loved the writing of the verse. There were so many beautiful phrasings that when I read them I just smiled.

I also had a bit of an issue with the relationships in the book. None of them felt authentic. I found Liz and Kate's friendship really odd. The one relationship that seemed to work in the book was Liz and Brian. I found them adorable in the few appearances Brian made.

I really like the cover - It's quite eerie and it's a cover that really makes me think for a second when I look at it. Exposed is a fast read - I read it in about an hour and a half. I just didn't feel much of anything and I just breezed by the pages. For me it's a book that I'd suggest waiting to get from the library or borrowing from a friend.

While I wasn't super crazy about this one, here are some reviews of others that were:

Good Choice Reading
Stacked Books
Y.A. Love

Blog Tour: Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

Tempest Rising
Tracy Deebs
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 10, 2011
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher

Rating: 5 stars

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her—and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.


I absolutely loved this book! Tempest Rising was such a refreshing read, it was different from anything else I have read lately. Mermaids are one of my favorite mythical creatures, so I cannot tell you how excited I was for this book. I had high expectations for it, and it surpassed my every expection. Absolutely brilliant.

I loved that Deebs really look liberties with her story - a lot of the mermaid aspects of the book were so different from everything else I have read about mermaids. I loved it! It was one aspect that kept me reading so fast - it was just so different.

The plot also took so many twists and turns, I couldn't guess where most things were going. Yes, the obvious sort of land marks I could guess, but after that I really wasn't sure where Tracy Deebs would take the story. It was also very well written. The story was just beautifully woven.

The characters in Tempest Rising were awesome. I loved Mark and Kai both. They were both different from each other, yet alike. Tempest was a really great character as well, I loved her witt and snark. Her insecurities that came out were almost a bit much at times, and did marr my image of her.

The ending was perfect. As the last 50 pages came up, I sat there thinking to myself, "How on earth will she tie this up well?" There was a ton going on, and I was honestly worried that I wouldn't be happy with the ending, and there would be loose ends. There was none of that - Deebs ties up everything that needs to be perfectly, while leaving enough open to sort of imagine what happens next. With the way she ended the story, I will be very interested if there will be a sequel or if it will merely stand alone - either would work marvelously.

I absolutely loved Tempest Rising. I couldn't put it down, and when I had to, I was constantly trying to sneak in a few more pages. With a kick-ass plot and an awesome cast of characters, Tempest Rising is a book you will not want to miss. I definitely see this one falling among my top books of the year. It was simply amazing.

Flawless by Lara Chapman

Flawless
Lara Chapman
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: May 10, 2011
Pages: 272
Source: Publisher

Rating: 4 stars

Sarah Burke is just about perfect. She's got killer blue eyes, gorgeous blond hair, and impeccable grades. There's just one tiny-all right, enormous-flaw: her nose. But even that's not so bad. Sarah's got the best best friend and big goals for print journalism fame.
On the first day of senior year, Rock Conway walks into her journalism class and, well, rocks her world. Problem is, her best friend, Kristen, falls for him too. And when Rock and Kristen stand together, it's like Barbie and Ken come to life. So when Kristen begs Sarah to help her nab Rock, Sarah does the only thing a best friend can do-she agrees. For someone so smart, what was she thinking?
This hip retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac is filled with hilariously misguided matchmaking, sweet romance, and a gentle reminder that we should all embrace our flaws.
 
Flawless was an adorable read that would be perfect for the beach, with the warm weather that is approaching! It was absolutely entertaining and had a very light feel to it, the book was over far too soon - all at once I felt like I have flipped the last page, and it was done.
 
I loved how Lara Chapman made the retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac completely her own! The plot was so fun to read - I just wanted to see how things would pan out for one character or another. The sort of sign posts along the way were obvious, but I never would have guessed a lot of the events that happened more towards the end.
 
The characters were very real - I found myself connecting with them all, particularly Sarah. While at first I wanted to just ask Sarah what on EARTH she was thinking, to agree to help Kristen to get the guy she wanted, she really grew on me. I found all the insecurities she had very easy to relate to.

I really love the cover of Flawless - I think it is simply gorgeous. Flawless is a book to make sure to check out. It would be a perfect summer read, on the beach, outside, or in the comfort of your air conditioned house. The characters are fun, and while the plot is quite predictable, it's just quite the charm.

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Rival
Sara Bennett Wealer
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 15, 2011
Pages: 336
Source: Bought

Rating: 4.5 stars

What if your worst enemy turned out to be the best friend you ever had?

Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star.

Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship.

The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. With competition day nearing, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation.

As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?

Rival was a book I was looking forward to months and months. And for some reason even once it was out, I didn't read it until now. What a stupid move. Rival was absolutely amazing in so many ways, and has made me very excited for whatever Sara Bennett Wealer comes up with next!

Rival is set up in a really neat way. First, there are the two main characters - Brooke and Kathryn. The story is told through alternating points of view with them. But the book also jumps back and forth from present (senior year) to the previous / junior year. It would be a nice chunk of the book in one year, then switch back to the other. I think it does that four times. It was really fun to read - I love alternating POVs and Wealer pulled it off very well. I would have to say I thought the Brooke chapters were more fun for me to read, as I thought her story was a bit more interesting.

I found the characters to be very relatable, particularly Brooke and Kathryn. I am a singer, so all the dramas they go through are all too familiar. I really liked Matt - I thought he was a great. guy and the perfect best friend :) My sole issue with Rival was Kathryn, and it was only in the last 1/4 of the book. She came off almost a bit self-centered, and I wasn't too crazy about that. She also made a few poor choices.

I really loved that Wealer finally wrote the music book I have been waiting for. It was a typical high school story, but that element of music being such a central point to the story was awesome. Drama in the music department is so much more than regular high school drama, so seeing that on the pages was really amusing to read about.

I would really recommend Rival. It is a really great read whose characters you will be sure to love and a plot you will absolutely enjoy. I cannot wait to see what Sara Bennett Wealer comes up with next.

Clarity by Kim Harrington

Clarity

Kim Harrington

Publisher: Scholastic Point

Release Date: March 1, 2011
Pages: 242
Source: ARC For Review

Rating: 5 stars

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?
This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.
Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.
And a curse.
When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Clarity is an absolutely thrilling read that will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out all the pieces to the puzzle. I was glued to the pages and any time I was forced to set it down, I was counting down until I could  read some more.

Clarity is just merely an awesome character. She was so spunky and I loved her confidence she has. There is a hilarious scene where she just dumps a soda on this snotty girl and I was sitting her cheering for Clare! I also am officially declaring myself Team Gabin, as I can't choose between Justin and Gabriel as they are both awfully lovely. Both of these guys were so swoon worthy and awesome.

I loved the mystery! It was so fun to try to figure out everything. While the story is a murder mystery, it still has a very light feel to it. There was a great mix of lighthearted, funny scenes with the more serious ones. Clarity will keep you absolutely captivated.

I absolutely adored every page of this book. It has made it's way on to my list of favorites, and is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Clarity is the sort of book that one could reread over and over, yet still never get bored, as it just has a certain quality to it that never gets old.

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

Where I Belong
Gwendolyn Heasley
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: February 8, 2011
Pages: 304
Source: Copy from friend

Rating: 3.5 stars

Via Goodreads: Meet Corrinne. She's living every girl's dream in New York City—shopping sprees at Barneys, open access to the best clubs and parties, and her own horse at the country club. Her perfect life is perfectly on track. At least it was. . . .

When Corrinne's father is laid off, her world suddenly falls apart. Instead of heading to boarding school, she's stripped of her credit cards and shipped off to the boonies of Texas to live with her grandparents. On her own in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the life she's supposed to be living. She doesn't care who she stomps on in the process. But when Corrinne makes an unlikely friend and discovers a total hottie at work, she begins to wonder if her life B.R.—before the recession—was as perfect as it seemed.

I have been looking forward to Where I Belong for months, even more after I saw the gorgeous cover. I started reading, and I was let down. The plot was very slow and I wasn't completely captivated, about 2/3  the way through the book, something clicked and I was absolutely addicted.

My feelings on the characters were completely mixed. At first, I absolutely hated Corrinne. I thought she was a complete snob, and wanted to slap her. As the book went on, she really grew on me, and I really did like her by the end of the book. I really liked Kitsy throughout the whole novel, she was really fun and totally likable.

The plot was really fun. It was fun to see how Corrinne adapted after being thrown into a completely different lifestyle. Pampered princess to Texan. All the scenes with Corrinne's grandparents were absolutely lovely, and I really enjoyed them. I wish my grandma cooked like that all the time! I wasn't completely on board with the ending - it was nice, but I felt like there were still a few strings that weren't quite all tied up.

Where I Belong was a pretty decent read. I thought it was enjoyable, and you should read it should you have the opportunity. It wasn't amazing, but still quite a read.

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Angelfire
Courtney Allison Moulton
Publisher: Harper Collins / Katherine Tegan Books
Release Date: February 15th, 2011
Pages: 464

Rating: 5 stars

This debut, the first novel in a trilogy, is achingly romantic, terrifying, and filled with blistering action.

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

Have you ever loved a book so much you simply have no words to explain your feelings for it? This is slightly like my feelings for Angelfire. I have no critism for this book what so ever. I found it to be perfect in every way, and I am very excited for future works from the marvelous Courtney Allison Moulton.

Angelfire was one of the most original fantasy books I have ever read. Right off the bat, you experience Moulton's world and her version of reapers. When most people think reapers, they think hooded guy in a cloak with a scythe. Moulton's reapers come in a whole range of terrifying beings, from giant wolf like reapers to those that can appear human. Then you throw characters like Ellie and Will into the mix, who are most definately not human The world is absolutely fascinating. It's set in the world as we know, but there's this world that coexists with the world called the Grim.

With creatures as enticing those, and a world that cool, when you throw the awesome characters into the mix, it nearly throws you over the edge. All the characters feel so real. You fall for Will on about page 2. He is bad-ass and a character you can't help to love! Ellie's friends, Kate, Landon, Chris, and Evan, are a ton of fun, and every time they walk on the page, you can be sure it'll be a good time. Ellie is your average teenage girl, and it's fun to watch what learning what she is does to her life.

The action and combat in the book is bloody brilliant! Both are seriously I think the best I've ever read. Tied in with the intriguing plot, Angelfire is a winner. The romance of the story is exceptionly awesome. It was so sweet, and I was instantly drawn to it.

Angelfire is a book that will simply blow you away. With just this one book, Courtney Allison Moulton has earned a spot on my list of authors I auto-buy whenever a book comes out. It's that good. Between the epic plot, the amazing world, and the charming cast of characters, Angelfire is a book you will be sorry to miss.

2011 Debut Author Challenge

It's that time again! I'm so excited for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge! The 2010 Debut Author Challenge was super fun. This year, I'm going to try to read 35 debuts. I don't think this should be that hard, as I'm SUPER excited for at least that many. You can find more information about the 2011 Debut Author Challenge here!

My List:
BOLDED Titles are books I have read, but not reviewed yet.
ITALICIZED Titles are books I own, but have not read yet.

I know there are way more than 35 (more like near 80!), but these are all the debuts I'd love to read, and I'm going to aim to read as many of them as I can. I am sure there are probably loads more I missed!

JANUARY


* Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
* XVI by Julia Karr
* Timeless by Alexandra Monir
* Head Games by Keri Mikulski
* Across the Universe by Beth Revis
* The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
* The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher
* Vesper by Jeff Sampsen
* Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
* Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison
* Warped by Marissa Guibord
* Choker by Elizabeth Woods
* Entangled by Cat Clarke

FEBRUARY
* Rival by Sara Bennett-Wealer
* A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
* So Shelly by Ty Roth
* Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton
* Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley
* Exposed by Kimberly Marcus
* Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
* The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

MARCH

* Clarity by Kim Harrington
* Wither by Lauren DeStefano
* Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach
* The Survivors by Amanda Havard
* Entertwined by Heather Dixon
* Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys
* Born at Midnight by C. C. Hunter
* Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
* The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker
* Dark Mirror by MJ Putney

APRIL

* Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton
* Enclave by Ann Aguirre
* Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis

MAY

* Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs
* The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
* Divergent by Veronica Roth
* Die for Me by Amy Plum
* Hourglass by Myra McEntire
* Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
* Popular by Alissa Grosso
* Flawless by Lara Chapman
* Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
* Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin
* How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend by Gary Ghislain

JUNE


* Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle by Crickett Rumley
* Forgotten by Cat Patrick
* Possession by Elana Johnson
* The Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills by Joanna Pearson
* Hereafter by Tara Hudson
* Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley

JULY

* Wildefire by Karsten Knight
* Lost Voices by Sarah Porter
* Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
* Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray

AUGUST

* The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
* Possess by Gretchen McNeil
* Dark Parties by Sara Grant
* Michael Vey by Richard Paul Evans
* Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
* Hooked by Catherine Greenman
* A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

SEPTEMBER

* Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
* Frost by Marianna Baer
* Skyship Academy: The Pearl Ways by Nick James
* The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
* The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
* Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff
* Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
* A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

OCTOBER

* The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
* Virtuousity by Jessica Martinez
* Mercy Lily by Lisa Albert
* Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
* Audition by Stasia Ward Kahoe
* Ashfall by Mike Mullin


NOVEMBER

* The Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts
* Crave by Melissa Darnell
*  Legend by Marie Lu
* Saving June by Hannah Harrington

December

* Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally