Sunday, March 27, 2016

In My Mailbox- March 28, 2016



In My Mailbox: Here's what I got in my mailbox last week: 

MONDAY
The Way Back to You- Michelle Andreani & Mindi Scott--review for an Around the World ARC Tour












We Were Never Here- Jennifer Gilmore--review for an Around the World ARC Tour











TUESDAY
A Hundred Hours of Night- Anna Woltz--from publisher for review











What Happens Now- Jennifer Castle--review for an Around the World ARC Tour











FRIDAY
The Season of You & Me- Robin Constantine---review for an Around the World ARC Tour











Wanderlost- Jen Malone---review for an Around the World ARC Tour

Monday, March 21, 2016

In My Mailbox- March 21, 2016

In My Mailbox: Here's what I got in my mailbox last week: 

THURSDAY
Even if the Sky Falls- Mia Garcia--review for an Around the World ARC Tour

The Sunday Salon- March 20, 2016


The Sunday Salon

I finished and reviewed the following books last week:
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard












Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington 












Right now, I'm catching up on running magazines.

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Book Review- Liv, Forever

I finished reading Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington a few nights ago.

From Goodreads:

When Liv Bloom lands an art scholarship at Wickham Hall, it’s her ticket out of the foster system. Liv isn’t sure what to make of the school’s weird traditions and rituals, but she couldn’t be happier. For the first time ever, she has her own studio, her own supply of paints. Everything she could want.

Then she meets Malcolm Astor, a legacy student, a fellow artist, and the one person who’s ever been able to melt her defenses. Liv’s only friend at Wickham, fellow scholarship kid Gabe Nichols, warns her not to get involved, but life is finally going Liv’s way, and all she wants to do is enjoy the ride.

But Liv’s bliss is doomed. Weeks after arriving, she is viciously murdered and, in death, she discovers that she’s the latest victim of a dark conspiracy that has claimed many lives. Cursed with the ability to see the many ghosts on Wickham’s campus, Gabe is now Liv’s only link to the world of the living. To Malcolm.

Together, Liv, Gabe, and Malcolm fight to expose the terrible truth that haunts the halls of Wickham. But Liv must fight alone to come to grips with the ultimate star-crossed love.


As you know, I love stories set at boarding schools, so this one was no different.  Malcolm and Gabe--I thought there would be a love triangle but Gabe truly stays a friend throughout the whole story.  

I thought I had it figured out but I only had it half right and was very wrong about part of it.  And nope, I'm not going to give it away.  

I felt bad for Liv.  She had a rough upbringing (and while it had no effect on the story, I want to know what happened to her birth parents.)  And she's finally happy and herself at the school, with a love interest, and then BAM! It all ends.  But I guess the ending to that end ended as happily as possible (how many times can I use one word in a sentence??)

Anyways, this was a fun little mystery/ghost story that kept me entertained.

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

*FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher for a review. 

Monday, March 14, 2016


In My Mailbox: Here's what I got in my mailbox last week: 

THURSDAY
The Great Hunt- Wendy Higgins--review for an Around the World ARC Tour












FRIDAY
Down with the Shine- Kate Karyus Quinn--review for an Around the World ARC Tour

Book Review-- Red Queen

Late last week I finished reading Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.

From Goodreads:

This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart ...


I wasn't too sure I would like this one before I started it.  I'm not really sure why though.  But once I started, I was hooked!

I really liked Mare.  I liked that she was fiesty and even though she was living the life of a princess in the palace, she didn't succumb to their ways and still fought for her family and people.

I really torn between Maven and Cal.  I knew something fishy was going on but I couldn't quite decide what or where...or with which boy.  And I was totally shocked when I found out!  And that wasn't the only surprise..there was another one at the end that I didn't see coming!

I'm so glad this book is a series.  I cannot wait to get my hands on the next one, and there's several novellas that I need to read too!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

*FTC Disclosure: I traded this book with a friend.

Monday, March 7, 2016

In My Mailbox- March 7, 2016


In My Mailbox: Here's what I got in my mailbox last week: 

MONDAY
Spark- Holly Schindler--review for an Around the World ARC Tour












Losing Gabriel: A Love Story- Lurlene McDaniel--review for an Around the World ARC Tour











WEDNESDAY
Two Summers- Aimee Friedman--from publisher for review












FRIDAY
Yellow Brick War (Dorothy Must Die #3)- Danielle Paige--from publisher for review

Sunday, March 6, 2016

The Sunday Salon- March 6, 2016


The Sunday Salon

I finished and reviewed the following book last week:
A Walk in the Sun by Michelle Zink 












Losing Gabriel: A Love Story by Lurlene McDaniel











I am currently reading Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and up next, if I don't get a tour book, is Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Book Review- Losing Gabriel: A Love Story

I just finished reading Losing Gabriel: A Love Story by Lurlene McDaniel for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

This emotionally-charged novel about three high school seniors who in the midst of planning their futures after high school are instead faced with present circumstances that force them to grasp what it means to make choices, take responsibility, and truly become an adult.
 
Lani Kennedy has dreamed of becoming a nurse since her cousin Arie died of leukemia. Nothing will stop her from getting into the local nursing program.

Dawson Burke hasn’t dealt with his mom’s death, and he’s angry at his dad for moving them to Windemere right before senior year. He grudgingly accepts that he must wait till graduation before he leaves.

Sloan Quentin can belt out a song and knows that her band is her ticket to fame and fortune. When she discovers that her boyfriend—the band’s lead guitarist—is cheating on her, she finds comfort—and revenge—in someone else’s arms.

When the lives of Lani, Dawson, and Sloan become entangled in unexpected ways, reality hits harder than anyone could have imagined.


I used to love Lurlene McDaniel when I was a teen. I gobbled every book of hers that came out.  So when I saw I had to read this as part of the tour group, I jumped on board.

This book seemed to be more of a "new adult" (I know they used that terminology for a little while but not sure it stuck."  It wasn't quite YA--the first part was but the second part was a little older.  Anyways, it had more of a mature feel that her other books do.

And I quite enjoyed it.  It had the usual combination of sadness mixed with hope that I loved when I was a kid.  But this one had a different take on juvenile illness than the other's did.  I don't want to give too much away though.  I'll be on the lookout for Lurlene McDaniel's next books, just like I did when I was younger!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

Losing Gabriel: A Love Story will be released on June 14, 2016.

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.