Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Have you ever wanted a chance to start over? To erase all of your memories and start life fresh? That's exactly what happens to Samantha Franco, except her memories begin with her standing on a road covered in blood and dirt. She has no idea who she is or how she got there or what happened. After being taken to a hospital, her identity is finally figured out and her parents show up a few hours later. Too bad she has no idea who her mom and dad are, that they are super rich, that she has a twin brother, she has a boyfriend who she is basically betrothed to, and she and her mean girl friends basically rule their high school. She also has no idea that her best friend's name is Cassie and is missing.

Sam has to rebuild her life with memories other people have with her and share with her. She has to rely on her boyfriend to tell them how in love they are. She has to rely on her friends to tell her how popular she is and how she is the queen bee of the school. She has to rely on her twin brother to tell her everything about herself that her parents don't want to-- how she was an awful person who manipulated and terrorized everyone with her bestie Cassie.

Sam hates her former self. She doesn't understand how she could ever have been so mean to everyone around and treated everyone so bad. She spends most of the book feeling the shame and embarrassment as she tries to make everyone realize that the old Sam is gone, including her brother's super hot friend Carson. Carson is the son of grounds keeper of her family estate. They were childhood friends, but after Sam met Cassie her whole life changed. She dumped her former friends and the person who she could have been and turned into the mean girl that everyone expected her to be.

Now that Sam is a completely different person, how can she maintain her former relationships? She is expected to have a fairy tale relationship with her boyfriend but now finds herself having feelings for someone else. She hates her friends and finds friendship in her twin brother who seems to be one of the only people she can trust. After Cassie's body turns up and the case officially turns into a murder case, Sam is the number one suspect. People whisper at school and even her own parents can't look her in the eye and say she is innocent. But without having any memory from that night, how does Sam know that she didn't actually kill Cassie? Sam finds herself questioning everyone around her and her own sanity. I was really rooting for Sam to figure out what was going on, and I kept getting super frustrated for her when everyone was calling her crazy. Every time I thought I knew what was happening, something new would pop up.

The book has a lot of mystery surrounding it and I felt like I was playing a game of Clue the whole time. I kept thinking EVERYONE was a suspect and felt super suspicious the whole time. There is a big twist at the end, but I guessed it a few chapters before just by picking up on clues. It's a very unique twist and really brings a creepy feel to the book. Even with all the mystery and drama, JLA still gives you a few steamy scenes with a good romance to keep you feeling the feels. The book sort of reminds me of the Mara Dyer series, so if you are a fan of that, then I think you'll enjoy this book.

Like all of JLA's books, the book neatly resolves itself after all the twists and drama so that you have a good ending. I'm very happy with the ending (I was super worried for a while) and think this is an AWESOME standalone book. I was so relieved after reading because it seems like every book I've read lately has been a bust. Once again, JLA proves herself to be my favorite YA author.

5/5 stars. 

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Have you ever finished a book and then read other reviews and wondered if you and your fellow readers actually read the same book? That's how I felt after reading A&TFK. I normally love a good cheesy romance book, but this didn't even feel like that. I was expecting a super hot French guy, a silly American girl, and TONS of romance. Well, you get the first two without question.

St Clair fits the package as the French hottie who is smart and sweet and seems like the type of guy that would get all of your jokes, but he has a girlfriend for almost the entire book. Sorry, in my mind that doesn't scream romantic guy that I want to get with.. That screams douche bag that has a girlfriend but wants a friendzoned girl who he can do all the fun stuff with minus the commitment. I really wanted to like him. Trust me, I did. I just couldn't get over the fact that he had feelings for Anna most of the book while his girlfriend is across the city. They were having problems, ok cool, but then you need to break up with her before you move on to your side girl. Sorry, St. Clair, no matter how handsome and smart and funny and witty you are makes up for the fact that you were playing with two girls (well three if you count the other girl he friendzoned) because you didn't know what you wanted to do and wanted to stay "safe." Loser. Give me a guy like Roth or Daemon (shout out to JLA always) who are upfront about their douche baggy attitudes but end up being good guys any day over a "nice" guy like St. Clair.

 Anna ABSOLUTELY fits the part of the silly American girl. The whole book I was just like OMGSHUTUP. So let me get this straight, you're a poor little rich girl who's daddy sends you off to Paris for your last your of high school, but I'm supposed to feel sorry for you? I was 17 once too, and I can see where all her angsty-ness was coming from being uprooted from all her friends for her senior year. I also felt bad for her when she went back home to visit for Christmas and that rando dude she was sort of dating but not really at all announced to the entire world that her BFF is his girlfriend, not Anna. Shot through the heart on that one, but that's all I'm giving you, Anna. The rest of her time in Paris she spends hanging out with a guy she knows has a GF but "becomes best friends with him" anyway.. DEPSITE THE OTHER GIRL TELLING HER IN THE BEGINNING SHE ALREADY HAD FEELINGS FOR HIM. Way to be a D to basically you one and only friend, Anna. Anyway, the rest of the time she basically just wanders around Paris being all toursity. I cringed the most when she didn't eat for like the first week because she didn't even try to speak English to the chef at their school. Um, it's an American school in Paris. It's pretty easy to assume the dude knows at least enough English for you to be able to point at food and say you want it. GAH GET OVER YOURSELF.

 The romance. Oh there was romance in this book? Yeah, that is my question too. I didn't realize that the entire book was going to lead up to ONE kiss that finally happens at the very end of the book. Are you kidding me? I read 300 something pages of NOmance to get a kiss? This, people of the blogging world, is why I will happily stick with authors like J. Armentrout who give you the romance from the start and do it heavy handed. Sorry, Stephanie Perkins, you can take back A&TFK and keep all the rest of them. I won't be reading.

2/5 stars

The Raven Boys: Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Boys: Maggie Stiefvater

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year when she goes with her aunt instead to write down the dead's names. When a boy emerges from the dark and she's able to speak directly to him she knows from what she's been told her whole life that things are no longer going to be easy.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school where all the Raven boys go. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys... They're two things, trouble and bastards. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys- Adam, the poor shy scholarship boy; Ronan the moody mysterious one; and Noah the quite "loner" who notices many things but says very little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem as long as she stays away from dating. But now as her life becomes caught up in the bizzaro world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

I know I'm WAY behind on reading this series... But I'm really glad to be getting on board with it now. Sometimes I like to wait until there are several books out to pick up a series so I can Netflix it and go crazy. (That's what I plan on doing with this series.) 

Maggie Stiefvater was able to create such a interesting, rich, and quirky story. I didn't think I was going to even like this boo, but I've been won over. I will say though that there were some holes in this book... So let me break both the good and bad down for you... The characters in this book are larger than life. The boys (Gansey, Ronan, Adam, and Noah) are all loud and each one completely different from the other. Blue is in a group all her own. I loved that she didn't look like every other girl in ya reads. She didn't have have hair that goes to her waist that happens to be an unheard of shade, or grey eyes, no she has short dark crazy hair and dresses like she rolled straight through the closest hot topic. I would normally hate that she was so quirky but the way she is written actually makes both her and her style refreshing. Blue also has no filter. LOVE! She says whatever comes to mind and has very little shame in doing so. All the characters kind of reminded me of the cast of Scooby-Doo. Especially since they are solving mysteries together. Even the sub-characters in this book hold their own. My favorite thing was the banter and sass that Gansey and Blue bring to the table. I mean right when they met I knew right away that I will love them as a book couple...

She said, “Do you see how I’m wearing this apron? It means I’m working. For a living.
The unconcerned expression didn’t flag. He said, “I’ll take care of it.”
She echoed, “Take care of it?”
“Yeah. How much do you make in an hour? I’ll take care of it. And I’ll talk to your manager.” 
For a moment, Blue was actually lost for words. She had never believed people who claimed to be speechless, but she was. She opened her mouth, and at first, all that came out was air. Then something like the beginning of a laugh. Then finally, she managed to sputter, “I am not a prostitute.”

 From then on out I was waiting for them to hit it off. I love the way Gansey says things in the snarkiest ways that are oh so perfect...

“I guess I make things that need energy stronger. I'm like a walking battery."
"You're the table everyone wants at Starbucks," Gansey mused as he began to walk again.
Blue blinked. "What?"
Over his shoulder, Gansey said, "Next to the wall plug.”  

This does however lead me to the thing that I was a little disappointed in. It is made pretty clear from the get go that Gansey is going to either be Blue's one true love that she will kill, she will just kill him, or possibly both. So I was waiting the whole time for them to start at least flirting... Doesn't happen. They are both drawn to each other but neither acts upon it (sigh). Blue spends most of her time with Adam in this book. I loved that once I started to like Adam and was like whatever towards Gansey that their actual personalities started showing and I began to switch sides. Gansey really does win you over by the end of the book. Ya know once he stops acting like a total diva. Doesn't hurt though that he sounds so handsome, guess I can look past those little indiscretions.

I hear as the series goes on their romance blossoms, but I did want it in this book too. The other thing that was ehhh about this story is that at some points it gets a little confusing. I found myself having to read some paragraphs over again just to figure them out. But the two plot twist that happen both towards the end of the book are jaw dropping. Especially one of them that just came completely out of left field. This book does suffer from a little bit of a slow middle but the first and last part of the book more then make up for that. I CAN NOT WAIT TO GET MY HAND ON BOOK TWO! 

8.5/10 Stars 
-Angela 

(side-note: I hope they come out with new covers for book one and two because I hate the current ones and it was the main reason I put off reading it for so long.) 

Angela's October Reads

Angela's October Reads:

So October's reads were either hit or miss... Good news though they were (for me) almost all hits! I'm
going to do a review on my top pick then have a list of what I read this month following it. If it's been reviewed on our blog you'll be able to click the links and go straight to the review! If the link isn't below you can go to either of our goodreads and see the reviews there.

I really had more than one top pick this month. Stone Cold Touch, All Our Yesterdays, and Forbidden were all among my top picks for not only this month but all year. As far as misses go Nil, Unremembered, and Enclave all made that list. My top choice however is Taboo Unchained by C.M. Stunich. I figured since we've already done reviews on the other ones that now would be a good time to do one for Taboo.

I was recommended this book by a fellow goodreads friend, and I choose to go through and read it because it seemed like a book that would be 1) unlike anything I normally read and 2) completely out of my comfort zone.

This story is a lovely coming of age tale where two young teens fall in love and try to save the world from the evil government... JUST KIDDING! Taboo Unchained  is a 100,000 word stand-alone dark romance. It's recommended for Ages 18+. (There is a disclaimer at the front of the book for pete's sake and that right there is how you know I was going to be out of my zone...)  
 
Hold onto your panties, ladies. Lucas Carter is here to show you the dark side of the sheets.It is going to be so hard to tell you much about this book without really giving anything away. This book is a dirrrrrty dirty version of Dexter... Taboo was and wasn't what I expected it to be. I mean come on we all knew this book was going to be steamy, what I didn't know was that it would be was funny, page turning, and kind of romantic. This story even has a love triangle (NO ITS NOT WHAT YOU THINK ITS ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD). The things that would drive me insane in a book won me over in this one. Lucas refers to himself in the third person which was so annoying at first but as the book went on it both died down and was revealed to be a necessity to really show how dramatic his character was. He is also making a reference to "the beast inside him" or his "darkness" (which is what makes this so much like Dexter that and some people get killed/murdered). I will warn you this boy has a boner 99.9% of this book... It's almost to the point where he should probably see a doctor.
 
Oh and when I mentioned a love triangle I should have gone further into it and really said its more like a love pentagon with no real "love"... Yeah that made some and no sense. Mainly however the "triangle" is just between Mister Carter and two other ladies (I don't want to reveal their names). The two girls however are complete night and day which I loved. That and that neither of them were petty B's. The sex was all sorts of hotness and actually takes up a lot of the plot. However, this is one story where I actually feel like sex is necessary... Yeah never thought that sentence would EVER come out my mouth. Lucas Carter is everything you love to hate in a man and OH SO MUCH MORE!!!! The first thing he say, the first line in the whole book is "My name is Lucas Carter, and I'm a fucking God." ... He is so so so so so hot but trust me when I say you wont want to love him but you wont be able not too. 

Overall this is the best and most F-d up love story ever and will more than likely be you 2014 guilty pleasure. I gave this book 10/10 not a whore stars! And yes I was blushing the whole time I wrote this review.

-Stone Cold Touch: Jennifer L Armentrout

-Half-Blood: Jennifer L Armentrout
-Born at Midnight: C.C Hunter
-The Raven Boys: Maggie Stiefvater
-NIL: Lynne Matson 
-All Our Yesterdays: Cristin Terrill 
-Taboo Unchained- C.M. Stunich  
-The Bodies We Wear: Jeyn Roberts 
-Take Me Tomorrow: Shannon A. Thompson 
-So it Goes: Grace Elizabeth Collins 
-Push: Eve Silver 
-Moon Tortured: McKenzie Hunter
-Falls the Shadow: Stefanie Gaither (broke up with)
-Unremembered: Jessica Brody 
-The Kiss of Deception- Mary E. Pearson 
-Gravity: Melissa West 
-Forbidden:Tabitha Suzuma
-The Beginning of Everything- Robyn Schneider 
-Snow Like Ashes: Sara Raasch
-Enclave: Ann Aguirre 
-Say Her Name: James Dawson
-The Girl in Between Laekan Zea Kemp


(I feel like I'm missing something but can't seem to figure out  what... OH WELL)

  

  

Leah's October Reads

October was a really good book month for me. If you remember, I was planning on dedicating this whole month to The Mortal Instruments series. Well, that was my intention, but if you have ever read the series, you know how long the books are and how in depth they go. I kept finding myself having to take breaks in between books (even though I LOVE THE SERIES SO FAR!) because I was just so overwhelmed with emotion and information from this killer endings. I am currently about halfway through book three and taking a break because I am SO mad with everything that is happening to poor Simon. In the meantime, I've read lots of really awesome books. Seriously, some of my favorite books of the year was read this month. Here is my list, and I'll put my absolute favorites at the very end:

-City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
-City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
-Losing It by Cora Carmack
-Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
-I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga
-These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman
-The Jewel by Amy Ewing
-Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter
-All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
-Pivot Point by Kasie West
-The Young Elites by Marie Lu
-Don't You Forget About Me by Kate K. Quinn
-Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout
-Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter

October Favorite! 

 This is really, REALLY hard for me. Like I said above, some of my top books this where read this month. If I HAVE to choose, my top picks are Stone Cold Touch and All Our Yesterdays. Stone Cold Touch was highly anticipated for us because of how much we love Jennifer L. Armentrout and how awesome White Hot Kiss was. Roth made the Holy Grail of Book Boyfriends list because he is hot hot hot and so swoon worthy. Demon or not, he is such an awesome character that JLA developed. You want to hate him in this book, but it's only because the pieces of your heart are laying all over the floor. And the ending of the book..... OMG the ending. I may or may not freak out because I have to wait until July for book three. Alas, this book comes in second place (though it is very close) because my actual top favorite made me feel so many feels that I have no choice but to name it my top.

All Our Yesterdays is probably in my top five books that I have read all year, which should say a lot. I was kind of skeptical when I first read the synopsis because it sounded super action packed and intense but I didn't know where all it could go. I picked up the book and couldn't put it down. I was so invested in the characters, and every time I thought I had things figured out everything fell apart. It was so intense. I felt all the feels in this book, and again, this ending is what made it... The ending. I can't even talk about it without wanting to tear up. I don't know why I reacted so strongly towards the end except maybe it was just so unexpected for me. I had tears pouring out and was literally yelling at my book at the same time. But, you know, it wasn't just the ending of this book.. The whole thing was just nerve wracking and heart wrenching that it takes the cake hands down as my favorite for this month. I just can't explain it. You just need to go buy it.

Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Stone Cold Touch: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Layla Shaw is trying to get things back to "normal"... But for a seventeen year old half demon half warden that doesn't seem like an easy task. Layla still has feelings for her hot warden best friend who is still off limits due to the fact that her kiss can suck out his soul. She definitely hasn't forgotten about Roth, the hot Prince of hell who sacrificed himself so Zayne the warden could survive. The boy drama is the least of Layla's problems. As her powers start to evolve and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever.When things finally look like things might actually end up in her favor hell will literally be breaking open, and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay


(Angela)--
Is there anything Jla can’t do!??? Stone Cold Touch is my new jam! I’ll start off by saying this book is even better than the first. I don’t know how I'm going to make it till June to read the third
one. Also I feel like I should warn you that this review is going to be a mess because I am currently frantically fangirling all over the place. SCT picks up right where book one left off. Roth is still kicking it in the underworld, Layla is still super depressed about it, and Zayne is still be all stony. Jla is the only writer whose love triangles NEVER bother me, and since this book is heavily weighed down with one it's a good thing she's mastered it. SCT does focus more on the relationship between Layla and Zayne, unlike book one where it was all Layla and Roth. I thought this was going to bother me but all it did was tear my heart to pieces by trying to decide whose “side” I wanted to be on. I was seriously texting Leah every ten minutes saying “ok Team Roth… No Team Zayne… Team Roth… No Team Zayne.” After sleeping on it… I know who I choose BUT I won’t let anyone know till book three.... Okay who am I kidding... IT'S ROTH! You’re probably at this point in time thinking the same thing I was thinking “No Roth IDK man”… NO! DON’T LET THAT CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT READING THIS because Zayne steps up his stony sexy game, and there is plenty of hot Roth to go around as well. But enough with the boys we can come back to them later… On to Layla. She starts becoming real B-A in this book. She’s slapping guys in the face with bibles, she's shifting, she’s fighting night crawlers, she's smashing hamburgers… oh and she is starting to figure out “what she is”. Her friendship with Sam and Stacey also has a lot more light on it in this book and I really enjoyed that as well. They're not the only ones friends that come more into play as the book went on as well. Dez and Nic start really shining towards the end. (Rumor is the sub characters like Zayne, Roth, and Layla's friends will play bigger parts in book three, fingers-crossed.) Of course like all of Jennifer’s books there are a lot of steamy scenes, and I'm not mad about it. Here's a tiny list of things Jla's writing has me looking at in a whole new-sexy-mood-light setting: Aliens, cookies, cheese puffs, kittens, glow sticks, Las Vegas, gargoyles, pure bloods, and pens... Whoosh someone bring me some ice tea while I swoon over some flashbacks.
There isn't a lot of world building in this book, which would normally make me rate it lower. However I'm still giving it all the stars because the plot had me pulling my hair out, the characters are amazing, and because of the two twist that come at the end of the book... THAT YOU WILL IN NO WAY SEE COMING!!!! OMG THAT ENDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT ENDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, it's that good!

I know this isn't my longest review, but with Leah's following mine I'll leave it at this... If the gates of hell opening up mean the world could be filled with sexy Roth and his friends; then I would personally go down there and rip through those fiery bad boys.

10/10 Steamy Stars

(Leah)--
The first part of this book made me want to throat punch Roth across the freaking universe and back down into the underworld. Well, I pretty much felt that about him the whole book but of course his hotness and steamy demon charm had me hating myself for loving him. Zayne definitely steps up his game and he had my heart aching at the end. THE ENDING. OMG THE ENDING. WHATEVER YOU THINK YOU MAY KNOW ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN JUST GO AHEAD AND THROW IT ON THE FLOOR AND SET IT ON FIRE BECAUSE YOU ARE WRONG. I was blowing up Angela's phone as I was reading the last chapters because my head was about to explode. I'm not even ashamed to say tears were shed towards the end. Pretty much all the feels that are capable of being felt were felt at some point during this book. FREAKING AMAZING. Like Angela, I really loved how Stacey and Sam's friendship were included more in this book. Stacey is an awesome friend and I love her! I also really grew to love some of the other Wardens. Dez and Nicholai will always hold a special place in my heart forever now. I even hated Danika a little less in this book but I still didn't like her (NO I'M NOT JEALOUS OVER A FICTIONAL CHARACTER. WHATEVER). You also get a taste of more of the demon world which is pretty cool. Cayman also makes my list of favorite characters because he sounds awesome and is frequently the bomb during the book.

I'm still Team Roth FOREVER, but I wasn't mad about Zayne stepping up to side chick status in this book. I'm sure what happens between him and Layla will win over a lot of people and make them Team Zayne fans. I wavered a little during the middle, but my heart almost always belongs to the dark-side so I knew all along despite everything that happened and probably will happen next book that I love Roth. Roth officially enters the world of book boyfriends that is known as the Holy Grail of Book Boyfriends. It is an elite club featuring Daemon Black (Lux), Aaron Warner (Shatter Me), Noah Shaw (Mara Dyer), Edward Cullen (Twilight..haters gonna hate), Four aka Tobias (Divergent.. really it's just Theo James. I'm not ashamed to say that I worship at the alter of Theo James), and now Crown Prince Roth. This list reigns high above all the other book boyfriends and is sacred to us as fangirls. These dues have changed cookies and cheese puffs and all sorts of seeming innocent things into things you cannot think about without blushing. These dudes are the ones that just the thought of them makes you want to rip your clothes off and go running straight into the nearest icy lake or ocean.

I also cannot believe the ending of the next book will be decided on by a reader poll. IF ALL YOU PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THE INTERWEBZ DID NOT VOTE FOR ROTH THEN YOU'RE DEAD TO ME. Ok, not really dead to me but seriously if Layla doesn't end up with Roth at the end of the next book I may pull an Upper Level Demon move myself and rain fire and brimstone down on the earth.

Can I give this more than five stars? (According to Angela, YA books should be based out of ten stars, but what can I say I'm traditional) I'd give this 100 stars if I could. Seriously. Go buy now and lock yourself in a room because you're not going to come out until you're done with all 440 something pages.

5/5 stars

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Adelina caught the Blood Fever when she was a young child. The fever swelled so much inside of her that a doctor had to remove her left eye. After she healed, she also developed markings that many children were cursed with after the Fever. Her hair and eye lashes turned silver and now she has a huge scar across her face where her eye should be. Her mother died from the Fever and her sister survived but did not become marked. She grew up with her sister who has developed into a beautiful young girl and her awful father who hates her for what she has become. Her dad sucks. Like really really sucks. After he makes a deal to sell her away to some old guy as his mistress, she tries to run away but he ends up hunting her down. She conquers up some dark powers and accidentally kills him.

Adelina doesn't discover that her powers are like the other Young Elites (a group of young folks that are marked from the Fever and developed supernatural type powers) until she is rescued by them at her execution for the murder of her father. Enzo, Raffaele, Lucent, Gemma, Michel, and Dante are the Young Elites who take her in and help train her and show her how to use her powers. Their main goal is to overthrow the king and take over the kingdom and like marked people like them live normal lives and not be outcast and executed.

First things first, this isn't a happy book. You're not going to come away from it feeling all the happy feels or find yourself laughing at funny dialogue. Marie Lu made this book super dark. Personally, I felt like I was reading a story from the villain's point of view instead of the heroines. Adelina isn't a heroine. She is dark and has dark things living inside her. She gains her power from how the darkness feels inside her and she thrives off of fear and anger. This isn't a story where she learns to harness her bitterness and turns good and hearts and happy endings. Nope, she gets darker and more powerful as the book goes on. I mean, you can't really blame her because she has pretty much been shat on her entire life. Her father sucks, society treats her like a freak, the kingdom wants her dead, and even her new Young Elite friends are kind of using her for what they can for their mission. She's a pretty bitter person and probably would do better with a round of therapy for her daddy issues instead of trying to conquer demons from the underworld. I just didn't like her as a leading lady because her choices and the things she does pretty much hurts everyone around her in someway. I just feel like she didn't develop as a character as the story went along. She just kind of spends most of the book feeling sorry for herself, talking about how she doesn't know how much time has passed, and being followed around by her father's ghost who tells her much she sucks.

The story was pretty much a NOmance for me. The relationship Adelina develops with Enzo was weird, especially since they are both so volatile. They are pretty much doomed even though nothing really even develops. I was kind of hoping she would start something up with Raffaele (who BTW kind of reminds me of a zen version of Magnus Bane).

Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book. It just wasn't for me. I didn't feel attached to any of the characters and when deaths happened, I just kind of felt "meh." The writing was very descriptive and the world developed nicely. I didn't really feel like I was even getting into it until 100pg in, and even after that I didn't feel attached. I could have easily put this book down and not came back to it. There is a good cliffhanger and twist at the end, but I feel like it kind if sets it up for the next book.. Especially with what happens in the epilogue. I don't know. I know most people really loved this book, but it just wasn't for me. I probably won't bother reading the sequels because I just don't really care what happens to the characters.

3/5 stars

Pivot Point: Kasie West

Pivot Point: Kasie West

What would you do if you knew the outcome of your life... If you could see the outcome of both paths and what would happen to you in each one... This is Addison Coleman's life.

Addie has the ability as a searcher to look into the future and see both of the outcomes. When Addie's parents announce they're getting divorced you think she would have seen it coming, but that is the least her worries. She is faced with having to pick between living with her mom in the para world; or moving out of the compound in the norm world with her father. When her best friend Leila convinces her to just take a little dip into the future pond Addie searches six weeks into the future to see what both worlds would hold. 

In one of the potential futures Addie is trying to adjust to the "norm" life at a new high school with a made up background story and being the predictable loner new girl. That is until she meets Trevor. The ex football star who seems to understand her better than most. In the other future Addie is being pursued by the hottest and most popular guy in school Duke who also just happens to be the football teams star quarterback. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound in both futures, she’s drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she knows and loves. With the risk of loss and love in both lives, she'll have to decide which future she can live with and what she's willing to live without.

Let me start off by saying Wow just wow. I didn't see this read coming. I have never read anything by Kasie West until now, but I will be buying books by her in the future. Her writing style is flawless! Seriously I need to go take a Tylenol after reading this book... because my mind was that blown.

I am very good at predicting most book ending, and when I thought I had it figured out West

would shock my socks off with twist that I think anyone whose read it can agree, we didn't see coming. I have always find myself disliking books that have dramatic changes in time and even places and flip back and forth... Never once did I feel that way about this book. West's writing keeps you from needing to stop and ask for directions.

Not only is the plot super strong so are the characters. Addie is so strongly written she feels like an extension of yourself. Duke was so disgustingly loveable and you'll hate how much you like him because he is the epitome of "dude". Trevor, whoosh never thought I'd be swooning over a boy who wears cowboy boots, but there's a first time for everything. Then there Addie's best friend Leila WHO I LOVE!!!! She is all sass and brass.

This book has so much going for it and probably turned out to be one of the biggest surprise reads Ive came across this year... Since I fear I can't go to into detail because of spoils I'll leave it at this.

If you walk into the book store and you have the choice between two futures; one being another book from your TBR list and the other being Pivot Point take the path that leads to this book. You wont be disappointed in the outcome or end up with "what ifs". 

9.5 Stars 

-Angela

**I just finished this book and I want to add to Angela's review by saying OMG WOW. This book really blew me away. I kept texting Angela saying I felt like I was in inception because it was like a thing within a thing within a thing. Killer book that took me all of 12 hours to read (that's including being at work for 8 of those hours so that should say how quick this read was). I'm really looking forward to reading book 2 just to see how the story continues. The ending was amazing even though it wasn't exactly how I had hoped (#teamtrevor). I just loved this book!! 5/5 stars from Leah!

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

All Our Yesterdays is a story of time travel. It follows two girls, Marina and Em, and two boys, Finn and James, on a very complicated journey from the future back four years into the past. I can't give much away about the plot without giving away spoilers because believe me when I tell you it's really freaking complicated. 

Em and Finn are trying to go back in time to change the actions of a future doctor who grows up to change the world. While his intentions were good, the power got intense and crazy world war changing stuff started happening. Em and Finn know how to fix things because they've gone back in time fourteen times before and have failed every time. This is their last shot to get it right because they'll probably end up dead in the process of trying.

Marina and James are best friends and have been since they were kids. Marina is madly in love with James, but he has no idea. He's the boy genius type and at 17 is studying at Johns Hopkins for his PhD. Tragedy strikes James and he and his friends and Marina are now caught up in all the mess that Em and Finn are trying to change...... Like I said, It's really freaking complicated.

Really all you need to know is this is one of the best books I've read this year. I'd never even heard of it until I was messing around on Goodreads looking for recommendations. (Pro tip- if you go to Goodreads and organize all of your absolute favorites into their own folder/category and them get recommendations based off of those books only, you'll get some really amazing suggestions). The synopsis sounded cool enough and they had it in stock at my local Barnes and Noble, so why not? Once I started, I couldn't put this book down. I had my hand over my mouth almost the entire time because the book is constantly going from INTENSELY INTENSE to intensely sad. It's very fast paced and action packed. There are very few things that are mentioned that aren't for a reason. You are confused for a lot of it but things start making since pretty early on. From there you just have to put the pieces together. I had absolutely no idea how this book was going to end. No idea. There were SO many different possibilities. I won't give any spoilers because reading it on your own is worth it, but the ending was a nail biter and made me shed a few tears. It blew me away with all the feels it made me feel. I was so SO sad, but happy at the same time. If I could give this book more than five stars I would. Go pick it up and you won't regret it. It will be one of the best standalone books you will read this year.

5/5

The Beginning of Everything: by Robyn Schneider

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider is a book about a boy named Ezra Faulkner. He's the definition of a parents wet dream; that is until his world comes crashing down on him... Well its not the world it's more like a car. Ezra use to be a star tennis player, the most popular guy in school, had the most popular girl in school as his girlfriend, and makes pretty good grades. He's living the high school dream until he walks in on his girl friend cheating on him at a party; where he gets in his car to leave and then immediately gets into a car accident. The crash shatters both his knee and dreams. His friends don't seem to get that he can't be the person he use to be. He can't play tennis, can't keep up with the wild pranks, and parties they go too... Oh and on top of all that his now ex girlfriend is dating the his replacement and friend... Sounds like the end of the world right? Well then you should know it's just the start of it. Ezra meets the mysterious riddle talking new girl Cassidy. Ezra is thrown into a world where he no longer knows who he is. He throws himself into school work, a debate team, and an old friendship. Thankful to have Cassidy to distract him from the accident and life in general by dragging him around on her endless adventures he soon realizes she might just be what he needed to get out of his accident funk. He'll soon learn that life isn't always about living up to others expectations it's about living up to your own. 

 I would like to thank the book gods for this book, because after reading so many fails in the contemporary ya field finally one has stepped up and won my heart... 

First off the cover of this book is beyond perfectly witty (Once you read it you'll know why). Second, again, I can't believe I liked a contemporary read. Third this book was like eating a handful of Valentine's Day candy; it was so sweet. TBoE will have your sides splitting and you hooked within the first few pages... Don't believe me? Well feast your eyes on this snippet from page four:

  “What the news reports didn't say was how the kid's head sailed backward in its mouse-ear hat like some sort of grotesque helicopter, and how Toby Ellicott, on his twelfth birthday, caught the severed head and held onto it in shock for the duration of the ride.
     There's no graceful way to recover from something like that, no magic response to the "getting head" jokes that everyone threw in Toby's direction in the hallways of Westlake Middle School.”

Think I made my point. BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE...
The characters in this book felt way more realistic than I could have imagined. Ezra's character development is off the charts along with his amazing level of sarcasm. I almost felt like a proud mama bear watching Ezra become a man over the course of this book. TBoE is full of razor sharp wit and took me by surprise with how compassionate it is. I imagine it's hard for a writer to really make a character develop so much in one book but Robyn Schneider makes it look effortless. Her writing style mirrors that of John Green's and definitely has the same tear jerker effect on people. Character development isn't the only thing that is strong in this book... The overall writing style and silver tongue that Robyn uses throughout this story is insane. The debate scenes and childhood flashbacks will have you dying of laughter. Oh and if you like vampires, witty  comebacks, and Harry Potter you'll enjoy this story as well.  

 The only downside(s) of this book was a rather predictable ending. I figured it out about half way through, but it still didn't stop me from getting teary eyed or enjoying the story till the

end. The only other thing was Cassidy... She wasn't my favorite female character. I did like her and Ezra's relationship; it was truly loving and sweet...but I found myself being annoyed with her. She keeps telling Ezra to be himself, to learn who he is, to tell her who he wants to be, but then gives nothing back in return. I guess I was just hoping she'd have as much development as he did. Basically by the end of the book I wanted to throat punch this B. As far as the sub characters in this book, they are as amazing as Ezra especially Toby. (Oh Toby you cutie you! I just wanted to pinch and kiss his cheeks!)

This book has a great pace, and is a nice new spin on a coming of age novel. I wont give away what happens at the end, even with its predictability, I was still happy with how she left the characters and the stories. TBoE is a perfect rainy day-cuddle in a snuggie-drinking hot coco book.  This was a light and fun read, and something that if you haven't had the chance to pick up you should definitely set aside and afternoon to do so. 

8/10 Stars  

-Angela

Take Me Tomorrow: Shannon A. Thompson

Take Me Tomorrow by Shannon A. Thompson

"You have no filter do you?" "I have no fear, I think there's a difference." 

Two years after the massacre, the government enforces stricter rules and harsher punishments on anyone rumored to support tomo. Tomo is the clairvoyant drug that caused a regional uprising. Sophia Gray has other and bigger problems. Between her father’s illegal forgery and her friends secrets spilling out left and right the last thing Sophia sees coming is a boy. He’s wild, determined, and one step ahead of her. When Noah pulls her and her friends in too deep she has to decide, stay by his and their sides and fight for the future or stand aside and potentially sacrifice her loved ones.

Leah and I were contacted by Shannon A. Thompson and was asked if we would read a couple of her books and to do reviews on them. I'm kind of sad to say that until now I had never heard of her. I'm glad to say that's not the case anymore!

First let me state that I love the cover of this book... Did I say love, because Yes I  LOVE it. But to the important stuff... This book cuts right to things, Mrs. Thompson clearly has no time to play around. It goes right into action and introduces us to the kick ass Sophia Gray. When Sophia is making her rounds around her property she runs into a boy whose clearly running from something. After forcing him to leave her property, by force I mean she threatens him with a throwing knife, she knows that things aren't what they seem. Of course sticking with ya trend you know she is going to end up running into him again somewhere...  and I personally would love to run into Noah anywhere... whoosh ya boy sounds dirty hot! He makes my cheeks blush and my eyebrows wiggle. *pulls out paper fan and cools off in true southern fashion*


Even though this hottie is hot he is also dangerous. Mainly because he's all jacked up on drugs. Noah is a tomo addict and uses it to help himself out in planning his next steps and to try to keep ahead of everyone else. Not only is Noah doing the tomo he is constantly putting Sophia and her loved ones in danger. It also doesn't help that she is constantly being left in the dark by all of them *sigh so like guys to leave out important information*.  Even though she doesn't want her friends to have anything to do with bad boy Noah she finds herself struggling to keep her distance because somehow he keeps wiggling his way further in her life like a splinter. This bring me to something that Thompson did that I really liked. SHE DIDN'T DO INSTA LOVE!!!! The romance between Sophia and Noah built and I appreciated it. Yeah, so Noah might not be boyfriend material, but you know us girls love a good fixer upper and Sophia is no diff. (I also loved that she lays a WWE Raw Smack-down on him as well.)  This read is action packed and fast paced. It didn't slow down the whole time and had far from predictable twist that I really enjoyed.  I feel like normally books just slam action at the start and finish, but Thompson did an excellent job keeping the pace throughout the whole book.

I did want a little more world building. There's one part where Noah starts explaining that they aren't really where she thinks they are (Kansas), but it's never further discussed and I wish it would have been. I also wish there would have been more talk about what it was like when you do tomo. What do you see? Is it like the movie Limitless and you just see the next steps or do you see lots of things? So I felt there were a few pot holes in this story. I got so much out of Sophia and Noah that I wish I would have gotten out of the sub characters as well... I was hoping  her father would have been a more active character... I always find myself thinking during ya books "where are these kids parents, they all just can't be out of town on business all the time", but apparently they are. 

To wrap this all up I will say that when I started this book I was doing laundry at the same time, and before I knew it I had been sitting on the washer reading for thirty minutes and hadn't even noticed; I was that pulled in that the little bell at the end of the wash was the only thing that broke my focus. I still had a lot of unanswered questions when I finished reading that I wish I would have gotten more details on... I'm not going to point any fingers but someone better be writing a sequel to this *cough Shannon cough*.

I'm very much looking forward to reading the next book she has sent me and anything she write in the future. 

7/10 Stars

-Angela 

Proxy: Alex London

Proxy by Alex London is a story about Knox who was born into one of the wealthiest families. He has more than anyone should have along with owning his own proxy.  When Knox does something naughty his proxy takes the punishment.  When Knox breaks a vase, his proxy is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke his proxy is forced to haul rocks. When Knox crashes a car killing the girl he’s trying to score with his proxy is branded and sentenced to death. Syd is Knox’s proxy. After being sentence Syd flees and “kidnaps” Knox.  They are forced to go cross country to find out the truth that's been hidden from both of them. They encounter gangs, thieves, death,  battles, and uncover the truth that could prove that some debts cannot be repaid.

Ok confession time... I bought Proxy because I wanted the free shipping from Barnes and Nobles. So I spent the extra 8 dollars and I couldn’t be happier that it did. The cover in my picture isn't the same cover as the hardback and I wish it was, the HC is so much prettier. This book isn’t your typical ya read it's a new futuristic spin on The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman.  I might just be speaking for myself, but I know as a female reader it is harder for me to get into a leading male characters and this book has two. I had no problem liking and relating to either of them and by the end I loved both of them more than I could have thought. I know I’ve said in the past I usually don’t go for books with male protagonist, gamer style, and no real romantic sub plot, but Proxy still held its own.

The writing is a little; ummm, different than I 
normally like and seems a little clunky in some parts, but in the long run it turn out the be a breath of fresh air. The characters themselves made up for the spotty plotty start as well. I can’t even express how much I loved that Syd is both a character of color and homosexual. Syd is also pretty broke, he's both living and working in a repair store for some pretty sketchy dude who he sees as a father figure. Knox the other main man is your typical prefect sarcastic a-hole from the upper class who you fall in love with by the end. Side note: YA BOYS DAD IS A D! One character has everything and one character has nothing. The sub characters hold their own as well through out the story, and Syd's best friend is too cute. I was hoping maybe for a little something something between them, but sadly it never arrived. In several parts of the story they do some chatting about Syd's childhood and it was probably some of the more favorable moments in the book. London does a great job on world building along with striking all emotional chords as the story progresses. The discussion on taking personal  responsibly make this a nice coming of age story. As Knox discovers that Syd is more than deserving of what is rightfully his you're left remember how lucky you are to have your own freedom. The risk London takes in his writing are risk that pay off.

This story however is a tortoise and the hare race of a read. It’s all about pacing yourself. The story’s slow start is worth it for the gripping ending. Another thing this book has going for it is character development! The relationship between Knox and Syd is so unusual it made for something really pleasant and surprising to experience. I will say it one more time THIS ENDING IS AMAZING and beautiful and had me so surprised.
 
I liked Proxy, but I didn't love it, just liked. I'd still definitely recommend it for anyone new to the dystopian thing but are looking for a new entry in the genre.  Overall Proxy is a light read that was nice to have around to catch a break from the norm. 

7/10 Stars
 
-Angela 

REBOOT!: Amy Tintera

Reboot by Amy Tintera is the first book in the Reboot Duology. When I first read the synopsis of this book I had to do a double take because I thought someone had written a biography about me....

Girl has no emotions, a bad case of resting bitch face, and hates everything...

Turns out it wasn't about me it was just about my new favorite fem heroine Wren! And yeah you guessed it Wren is a reboot. A reboot is when someone dies and comes back to life then becomes part of a government program where they are trained to basically be the new form of police. The thing about reboots is they are ranked by a number system, the longer you're dead the higher you are ranked. Your rank is tattooed on your wrist with a little bar-code. The longer you're dead means the less human emotions you come back with. With the lack of emotions your number also indicates the faster your healing ability is and be a better fighter you'll be.

Wren was dead 178 minutes after being shot in the chest. She is well known for having the highest reboot number in all of Texas. Oh and yeah she's been trained to live up to that number. In one scene she even talks about how she overcame her fear of gun by being repeatedly shot in the chest by her trainer.

Wren helps with the new recruits and only trains the higher ranking new reboots. She has the highest mission success rate, and she is a girl that doesn't break the rules... that is until a new recuit seems comes into the picture. (Que some Taylor Swift music because we knew this boy was trouble when he walked in.) Callum is the lowest ranking reboot sporting a number 22. After Callum decides to take a liking to Wren and convinces her to train her all the shizz hits the fan. Wren has to decide between this new odd feeling she has for the overly smiley Callum or the government in which she loves.

Reboot is the odd sort of book that pretends to be something it is not, and that's a good thing. This book tells you what it is from the get go and does the whole hiding in plain sight thing. You don't piece together the obvious till around the middle. This read was truly unexpected and was a random find for both Leah and I. Wren is the definition of a Bad Ass! She is hands down my favorite female in any ya book I've read. She's the kind of girl who kicks ass and takes names. She will pull your arms off then use them to beat you and anyone with you to death without even breaking a sweat. She really owns every fight seen that is written.The relationship between her and Callum is so amazing. Amy really wrote them to be  complete opposites and I think that's why I love them so much. Its so rare in the books we read that the female doesn't become a strong character, that she already is one and the guy is leaning on her for support.

This book really was a sweet sixteen of reads. Just overall a good time.


 9/10 Stars

(side-note: I have read the second book in this series; Rebels, and I'll have the review for that up maybe in a few weeks.) 

-Angela

Coming in October!

We have some really awesome plans for October! Fall has finally arrived in Charleston and so has the arrival of tights, dark colors, and every white girl in America's official uniform of leggings, cardigans, UGGs, and Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks. BUT instead of taking the expected route and doing spooky themed books this month, we thought we would recognize an amazing author and make it all about her. October has officially been deemed (well in our small corner of the universe) Cassandra Clare Appreciation Month, or as Angela is calling is #CCAM.

As long as I have known Angela, she has RAVED about the Mortal Instruments series. I saw all over Instagram when the sixth book came out and everyone was freaking out. Well, per usual, I am a few years behind the times and have not read any of the books. I will be devoting my entire month to reading the series (I'm expecting it to take 3-4 days for each book given how long they are), so basically about a book a week. After I finish each book I'll post a review per usual. At the end of the month when I read all of them, I'll watch the MI movie and then do a review of that. I'm super stoked to finally get in on this series!!

As far as how I (Angela) am going about honoring #CCAM I am finally going to be starting the Infernal Devices! There's only three books in that series but I as well will be reading and then reviewing each one. I also just maybe will be posting a little pic of the mi section of my room... Yeah I might have a little too much love for Mortal Instruments, judge all you want. But to keep from the mundane (yes pun intended) I will be posting a few other books that might not be Cassandra Clare written but more than likely they will be books that fall in the same genre. No promises though.

We also will be continuing our MCM Book Boyfriend Editions on Mondays and WCW Author Edition posts on Wednesdays. We are also hoping to feature a few guest posts! YALLFest is also quickly approaching in the beginning of November, so we will be posting our plans and things involving YALLFest as they come up. It's going to be an exciting month!!!

Upcoming Events for October:

Gone Girl movie premiere 10/3

In The Afterlight (Darkest Minds book #3) by Alex Bracken book release 10/28

Stone Cold Touch (White Hot Kiss #2) by Jennifer Armentrout book release 10/28

Leah's September Recap

-Black City by Elizabeth Richards

-Throne of Glass by Sarah Maas

-Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah Maas

-Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre

-Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

-Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini

-Alienated by Melissa Landers

-Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

-Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins

-Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

-Forest of Hands and Teeth

-Pawn by Aimee Pawn

-Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

-Phoenix (Black City #2) by Elizabeth Richards**

**This book has a star beside it because I am in the middle of it, but temporarily broke up with it so I could start another. I promise I'll come back and finish it later!!

So in upcoming months we will post book reviews as we finish them and then at the end of the month we'll post our monthly book haul recap. Since we didn't start the blog until almost the end of this month, we're going to do it a little differently then we will in the future. This month we're are just going to post our list and then in the next few weeks we'll back track and post reviews for September books on here. BUT at the end of all of our monthly book haul recap posts we will crown the winner of our favorite book of that month!

Also, Angela and I will do separate posts with our individual book recaps because with the amount of books we each read... Well, it would be a ridiculously long post if we tried to cram it all together. So y'all get a special treat of getting an individual post from each of us that shows our own person tastes! Enjoy!

September's Favorite Book-

This was a really hard decision for me because I was really torn between two books, but one book stood out so much that there was no way I couldn't pick it.

Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

This is the sequel to the 5th Wave that came out last year, and I am not exaggerating when I say it is absolutely amazing. If you liked 5th Wave then you will LOVE this book. Rick Yancey took me to a darker place than the first book but I enjoyed it so, SO much more. Like the 5th Wave, the book switches perspectives with each section.

The biggest difference is that the character Ringer is a huge part of this book. A lot of the book is from her perspective so you really get a good look at her back story (her family, how she earned her nickname, etc.) and it really helps you appreciate her character and what she brings to the table. Zombie, Poundcake, Nugget (Sam), Teacup, Vosch, Evan, and of course Cassie are still big parts of this book as well. There are a few new characters that are introduced (one word: Razor.. OMG) that completely help this book go from awesome to AMAZING.

I sat down intending to only read a few chapters but ended up finishing the whole thing in about 3hours. It is so action packed and the ending......... holy cow. That ending. I was in tears and in shock and just O M G. It is one of the best endings I have ever read in a book. The fact that I have to wait almost an entire year to get book year 3 and get some resolutions makes me want to throw myself on the floor and have a freak out. GO BUY THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW.


Stay tuned for a post about what I have coming up in October. It's going to be an extra special month for sure. :-) Can't wait to share it with y'all.