Leah's January Reads

Half Blood by Jennifer Armentrout

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawks

Fever by Maya Banks

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Paper Towns by John Green

Broken Skies by Theresa Kay

Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

Erased by Jennifer Rush

Bound by Duty by Stormy Smith

Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Charmed by Michelle Krys (ARC)
Inexcusable by Chris Lynch
Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahren 

This year has started off so good with reads!! I've started SO many good series and finished a few. It's nice to tie up some loose ends and start some new beginnings. Even though I've super late to the game, I'm super excited to have started The Covenant series by Jennifer Armentrout. Y'all know our love for JLA runs deep, and I just LOVE this series so far. I've only read the first book, but I'm planning on ordering the rest next month. Two other exciting opportunities I got this month was when two up and coming authors approached us to read their books: Broken Skies by Theresa Kay and Bound by Duty by Stormy Smith. I loved both of the books so much that they are instantly on my 2015 favorites list. YES, REALLY. I'm so excited for the sequels of both to come out. I loved reading books that are being made into and have been opted for movies. Paper Towns (seriously, can John Green write anything bad??), Miss Peregrine's, and Red Rising were all so good. I also got an amazing opportunity to receive an ARC of Charmed by Michelle Krys which doesn't come out until May. Thank you Brittany from Brittany's Book Rambles for the ARC! Y'all got check out her blog, it is one of my favorites! Angela and I also did another book swap, so I have loads of new books to read next month.

My absolute favorite for this month, though, was Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover. This book was absolutely amazing. Definitely one of my all time favorites. We have the opportunity to go to a book signing for CoHo next month in Savannah and I AM SO EXCITED THAT I CAN BARELY BREATHE. She is becoming one of my favorite authors.

The Bodies We Wear: Jeyn Roberts

The Bodies We Wear: Jeyn Roberts 

People say when you take Heam, your body momentarily dies and you catch a glimpse of heaven. Faye was only eleven when dealers forced the drug on her and her best friend, Christian. But Faye didn’t see heaven she saw hell. And Christian died. Faye spends her time keeping secrets from those around her and training to seek revenge on the dealers who took her life away. When a mysterious young man named Chael appears, Faye's life gets even more complicated. Chael seems to know everything about her, including her past. dom dom dom! Will her thirst for vengeance be worth the risk or will the need swallow her whole. 

So I spotted TBWW at my local B&N and it was with a lot of other Halloween/seasonal reads so I figured it was going to be spooky and would prep me for Halloween. Nope, turns out just the title is scary. I should go ahead and get this out of the way... THIS BOOK IS VERY PREDICTABLE. I figured out the whole thing by page fifty. That being said I still really enjoyed Roberts' writing style.

I had a love hate relationship with the leading lady. She's stubborn, irrational, and makes ridiculous choices. She has some pretty rad fighting scenes throughout this book and it's really the only thing I liked most about her. The thing I didn't like about her is that she was constantly saying she had no emotions... and for a girl with no emotions she sure did talk about hers a lot... Then there's the "mysterious" Chael. He's really not that mysterious... and by not really I mean he's not at all. *SLIGHT SPOILER AHEAD*. I figured out before page fifty that Chael was basically wearing a skin suit; and that Chael was actually Christian. Why he insist on being called Chael is beyond me. The main thing he has going for him is the fact that he sounds really hot. Black hair Green eyes sign me up... Besides that I didn't really feel all that connected to him. There are some sweet moments, and nice quotes scattered around this book, but plot is a little spotty. I was left having some underlying questions that never got answered. This book had one "twist" that sprung up that I didn't see coming but it didn't follow through. When the big moment following it happened it was a short sizzle and then was blown out. 

The author does quite a bit of flashbacks to Faye and Christian's childhood and those along with the few fight scenes were probably the two most favorable things about this book. TBWW had the potential to be a top pick, but just kind of fell flat.  I will say again that I did enjoy the way she wrote so more than likely I'll pick up other books by her in the future.

The Bodies We Wear was not one of those flip your table five-star reads, but it was enjoyable enough that I did get through it and wasn't mad I read it after.  

6/10 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 

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.