Review: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Series: Masque of the Red Death #1
Author Info: Website | Goodreads
Published: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 319

Age Group: Young Adult
Format I Own: Hardcover
Rating: 3.5/5

It may come as no surprise that the first things that drew me to this book were the name and the title. It instantly seemed like a nice dark/gothic non-horror novel that would be right up my alley. And then when I read the summary of what it was about, I knew I had to have it as soon as it came out. So I had extremely high expectations of this book. Unfortunately it did not deliver.

I'm definitely not saying it was a bad book, I just feel like my expectations were so high and that's why I feel a little disappointed but I still did enjoy this book. Just not as much as I'd hoped. It started out great, the way the world and surroundings were subscribed set a dark atmosphere to the story which I loved. Plus there's glitter. And I do love glitter. But quickly after that the story was only mediocre. Boring is not the word for it, I never once felt bored while reading it. But there also wasn't anything that made me really want to keep reading as much as I can to see what happens next. Perhaps I'm stupid but I was questioning what the main plot was about for about the first half of this book. Yes there's a sickness that plaguing the world, and Araby and her friend April get all glittered up and go to the Debauchery Club, but is that all there is to the story? I later realize that answer is no.

The climax was great though. It drew me into the book much more, and even made me decide that I probably will read the sequel when that comes out, because I am very interested to see what happens next. And perhaps I will enjoy that book as much as I hoped to enjoy this one. And maybe there will be more glitter, although I'm really doubting that.

Even though I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, I still would recommend it because it was a good read. I just had this book so high on my list of books that I wanted to read, that I was expecting it to be a favorite.

Review: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Author Info: Website | Goodreads
Published: December 28, 2006
Publisher: Dutton Books
Pages: 221
Age Group: Young Adult
Format I Own: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon
Rating: 5/5

This is the second book I've read by John Green so far (the first being The Fault in Our Stars) and I loved it every bit as much as Looking for Alaska. Gosh I don't even know what to say about this book, I'm finding it quite difficult to come up with reasons why I liked it so much, which seems to be common among people who rate books they loved.

I loved the characters, all of them, particularly Alaska. I found her to be quite intriguing. But I will say that it was a little irritating that she would get super cranky at times, and it was never really discovered what exactly she was so cranky about. And then there's the main plot point in this book which wasn't 100% resolved, which left me feeling kind of an empty void, but at the same time it fits in well with the story, it would have been unrealistic to get the answers to all the questions that were asked. Often times when someone is put into that experience, they are left with a lot of questions, that can never be answered but will still tear you up inside. However I feel like not knowing kind of drew me closer to the characters and everything they were going through.

This book is definitely one that will have you questioning a lot about life, and why we are the way that we are. It's something I think about from time to time anyways, but this book brought me right back into that mind setting. Very thought provoking, and just an altogether amazing read.

Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Series: The Infernal Devices #1
Author Info: Goodreads | Wikipedia
Published: August 31, 2010
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 479
Age Group: Young Adult
Format I Own: Kindle e-book
Purchase: Amazon
Rating: 3/5


I've been wanting to read this (or The Mortal Instruments) series for quite a while, considering they're quite popular and the story seemed unique enough to spark my interest. And now that I've finished Clockwork Angel, I'm not completely floored by it, but I did still enjoy it. But I'm perhaps thinking that maybe I picked the wrong book to read first, and maybe I should have started with City of Bones. I picked Clockwork Angel to read first because it's story comes first, in timeline order. But I got the feeling while reading this that it assumes I have already read at least the first Mortal Instruments book. I felt like there might have been some things left out. For example I didn't quite understand exactly why everyone was doing what they were doing. I think maybe there was some back story that was told in City of Bones/Glass/Ashes that if I had read those first (considering they were published before Clockwork Angel) that maybe I would have had a better understanding of the plot.

This book was still enjoyable though, I felt that most of the characters were really unique. I took a liking toward Jem, wasn't sure whether to like or dislike Will, and I couldn't stand Jessamine. Every time she spoke she made me dislike her. They only character that bored me was Tessa. I felt she was just very flat and boring. Nothing at all interested me about her, save for her ability. And I still enjoyed the story even though I felt there were things that were left out. There were lots of plot twists and shockers, especially towards the end, that I didn't even see coming.

I may or may not continue on with these series, I think if I do I'll read them now in publication order instead of timeline order. Maybe then I'll have a better grasp of what these novels are about. And of course I'd also like to know, what's up with Will? Why is he the way he is? What secrets is he hiding? Those questions alone compel me to want to read more.

Friday Finds 6/29

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS! 
Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

 Have you read these books? Let me know your thoughts, or show me your review!

Friday Finds 6/1

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS! 
Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

 Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t…

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable–hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

 In this intensely romantic, modern recounting of the greatest love story ever told, Romeo’s original intended—Juliet’s cousin Rosaline—tells her side of the tale.

What’s in a name, Shakespeare? I’ll tell you: Everything.

Rosaline knows that she and Rob are destined to be together. Rose has been waiting for years for Rob to kiss her—and when he finally does, it’s perfect. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who used to be Rose’s best friend. Juliet, who now inexplicably hates her. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy… and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t even stand a chance.

Rose is devastated over losing Rob to Juliet. This is not how the story was supposed to go. And when rumors start swirling about Juliet’s instability, her neediness, and her threats of suicide, Rose starts to fear not only for Rob’s heart, but also for his life. Because Shakespeare may have gotten the story wrong, but we all still know how it ends…

 Have you read these books? Let me know your thoughts, or show me your review!

Review: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Series: Pretty Little Liars #1
Author Info: Wikipedia | GoodReads
Published: October 1, 2006
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 286
Age Group: Young Adult
Format I Own: Kindle e-book
Purchase: Pretty Little Liars Books 1-4 on Amazon
Rating: 4/5

Gonna keep this review short and sweet, I don't know what else to say about this book, other than I loved it.

I didn't know what to expect when I first started reading this book. Nor can I pin down my exact reasoning for wanting to read it in the first place. It was mostly just to see what the hype was about (granted I jumped on the bandwagon pretty late) but also it sounded like it was a story full of drama, and I like reading drama, even if it is a little juvenile for my tastes.

When I first started reading, I found it to be pretty predictable and not all that interesting, but I still continued to read, I don't like leaving books unfinished. And sure enough, the more I read, the more intrigued I got. And by the ending cliffhanger, I'm now totally hooked and have to have more.

Review: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Author Info: Website | GoodReads
Published: January 10, 2012
Publisher: Dutton Books
Pages: 318
Age Group: Young Adult
Format I Own: Hardcover
Purchase: Amazon
Rating: 5/5

When this book first came out, I had never heard of John Green, because I was just starting to get really into reading. But so so so many people were excited to read this book, and also were raving about it once they read it. At first I didn't think anything of it, I didn't think it would be something I'd be interested in. But the more I heard people talking about it, the more intrigued I became. I did not hear one negative review about it. And then I caught on to the fact that evidently, the ending of this book made a lot of people cry. I've never had a book make me cry before. Challenge accepted, John Green.

It did not make me cry, but it almost did. Regardless of that, I completely loved everything about this book from the first day I started reading it. All the main characters were interesting and likeable, the bursts of humor actually made me laugh out loud, and then there were sad moments that made me question life and everything in it. Even though it didn't make me cry, I can definitely see how it made others cry. Clearly my heart is made of stone or something. Or it's partly made of stone, because I was sad, just not in tears.

After reading this, I definitely have to say that I will be picking up more of John Green's books. If they are anywhere near as good as this one, he's sure to become a favorite author of mine.

Review: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Author Info: Website | GoodReads
Published: May 24, 2011
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 396
Age Group: Young Adult
Format I Own: Hardcover
Purchase: Amazon

Every now and then I get in the mood for something humorous and quirky, and that's how I was feeling when I picked up this book. It had been on my wishlist for a little while and sounded like it was going to be really funny. And it definitely was.

This book is full of wacky, fast-paced fun action. There was not a dull moment in this book, it goes straight from one crazy hilarious event after another, and they just got better and better as the book went on. I felt that the majority of the characters all had their own personalities that made them totally unique from each other, but there were a few that fell flat and were generally unmemorable, and thus also didn't play too big of a role in the story.

Much like Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, I felt like this book was quite heavy on the language for being YA, and also a little heavy on sexual references as well. It doesn't bother me at all, just surprises me.

Now I know a lot are saying this book reminded them of Miss Congeniality or Lord of the Flies, and I do agree with that, but the main thing this book reminds me of is a little known independent film I watched ages ago titled Death to the Supermodels. The plots aren't entirely the same, but there are many similarities.

If you're looking for a book that will keep you laughing with it's random, kooky adventures, of beauty queens surviving on an island, or you are a fan of Libba Bray's sense of humor, I recommend this.

Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Series: Graceling Realm #1
Author Info: Wikipedia
Published: Octorber 1, 2008
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 472
Age Group: Young Adult
Format I Own: Kindle e-book
Purchase: Amazon

I hate that I'm giving this book a rather negative review, especially because I had really high hopes for it. But this book really didn't meet any of my expectations. I do hope that when you read this review, you understand that is this soley MY opinion on this book, if you don't agree with it I respect that, but please also respect my opinions.

To be completely honest, I mainly read this book because I liked the premise of the second book in this series titled Fire. I didn't want to jump into the second book without reading the first, cause I might have missed out on some key points or just been totally confused. After reading this, I have much less of an interest to read the second in the series because I found this book to be rather dull.

This book started out with action. So at first I was excited, my expectations went up even higher, and I was really expecting to be completely sucked into the book. Once that initial action was over, it got extremely dull from there, and I slowly found myself losing interest, and even finding it hard to keep myself reading. At one point I even considered putting it down and marking it as unfinished, but I don't like doing that so I forced myself to continue on. It wasn't until the second half that the pace started picking up a bit, and more excitement was thrown in, but not enough to get me really interested.

The characters were not interesting at all to me. Yes I did enjoy having a kickass female lead, but that's pretty much the only thing I liked about Katsa. I thought Po was completely flat and boring. None of the characters in this book stood out to me.

I really don't know what else to say about this, I'm finding it difficult to describe my feelings for this book. But you get the general idea. I didn't like it, and was left rather disappointed.

Friday Finds 4/20

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS! 
Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

 After rebounding from a broken engagement and relinquishing her job in sports PR, the irrepressible Waverly Bryson has a new man, a new career, and a new lease on life. Her part-time gig as an advice columnist has proven to be as entertaining as it is affirming, and her fledgling greeting card line, Honey Notes, is off to a promising start. After a series of disastrous romantic rebounds, she has settled into a long-distance relationship with handsome Jake McIntyre. Things are certainly looking up?at least, until lingering emotional baggage threatens her love life and her best friends stun her with a pair of shocking announcements. Suddenly, Waverly is faced with being left behind by everyone she loves. And in true Waverly fashion, things must get comically worse before they can get better. It takes forming an unexpected new friendship with an elderly neighbor and meddling in the love lives of two of her coworkers to make ?the American Bridget Jones? realize that although life ? before and after thirty ? never fails to be messy and unpredictable, friendship and love make it all worthwhile.

Have you read this book? Let me know your thoughts, or show me your review!

Waiting On Wednesday: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that highlights upcoming releases that we can't wait to read.



I know a lot of you have probably seen this book mentioned hundreds of times already but I couldn't resist!

 From Goodreads

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.  

What books are you eagerly anticipating the release of? Let me know!  

Friday Finds 4/13

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS! 
Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.




I only added one new book to my wishlist this week!

There are stories where the girl gets her prince, and they live happily ever after. (This is not one of those stories.)

Jenna Lord's first sixteen years were not exactly a fairytale. Her father is a controlling psycho and her mother is a drunk. She used to count on her older brother—until he shipped off to Iraq. And then, of course, there was the time she almost died in a fire.

There are stories where the monster gets the girl, and we all shed tears for his innocent victim. (This is not one of those stories either.)

Mitch Anderson is many things: A dedicated teacher and coach. A caring husband. A man with a certain...magnetism.

And there are stories where it's hard to be sure who's a prince and who's a monster, who is a victim and who should live happily ever after. (These are the most interesting stories of all.)

Drowning Instinct is a novel of pain, deception, desperation, and love against the odds—and the rules.

 Have you read this book? Let me know your thoughts, or show me your review!

Review: Fated by Alyson Noel

Recieved ARE from GoodReads
Series: Soul Seekers #1
Author Info: Website
Release Date: May 22, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 368
Age Group: Young Adult
Format I Own: Paperback
Pre-order: Amazon

First I'll mention that I really love this cover. I know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover but I will admit that was what originally drew me to this book. The next thing that drew me to the book was reading the premise, where it states the main character Daire, is being haunted by disturbing visions. Woohoo! I can never turn down a book with insane characters in it.

And that's pretty much how the book starts out, with a little bit of insanity, and it was a perfect way to get me instantly sucked into this book. However I'd say the beginning was probably the best of the book in my opinion, but I'm very confident the majority of readers will not feel the same way. Don't get me wrong though, I still found the entire book to be quite enjoyable.

I liked that this book incorporated hispanic origins and cultures into it, that was a unique change of pace which I think is almost necessary in a good paranormal romance, considering just how many YA books are popular in this genre these days.

I did find Daire to be a little annoying and childish at times, but on the other hand when I think about it, if I was in her situation I probably would have reacted in a similar manner. Also, I felt like it took forever to get to the point of just what the plot was supposed to be. I found myself asking 'what's really going on?' for quite a large part of reading this.

The ending didn't leave me with that feeling of NEEDING the next book right now because I have to find out what happens, even though there was one specific thing mentioned towards the end that had me asking questions, and wanting to figure out what it means. Because of that and my overall liking of this book, I do plan on reading the next one in the series once it comes out.

Friday Finds 4/6

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS! 
Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.




I actually feel like I found quite a lot of books to add to my wishlist this week, so instead of listing them all individually, I'm going to group them all together and you can click on the books to take you to a page where you can read more about them!

These book covers are REALLY difficult to rearrange side by side. I must be doing something wrong but this is the best I could get them. :P

Waiting on Wednesday: Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that highlights upcoming releases that we can't wait to read.

From Goodreads

Mirabelle's past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents' tragic deaths to her guardians' half-truths about why she can't return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.

In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who's a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.

But fairy tales aren't pretty things, and they don't always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy tale curses of their own . . . brothers who share a dark secret. And she'll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns.

What books are you eagerly anticipating the release of? Let me know!

Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Series: Vampire Academy #1
Author Info: Website
Published: August 16, 2007
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 332
Age Group: Young Adult
Format I Own: Kindle e-book
Purchase: Amazon

When I first heard of the book, I was constantly seeing it being compared to Twilight, and considering I did enjoy Twilight, I thought I should probably read this too, even though I'm not a huge vampire lover or anything.

I didn't really enjoy this book much at all, and usually when I'm not enjoying a book, I don't focus all my attention on it, and let it consume me, so I probably miss a lot of important factors, keep that in mind when reading what I'm about to write.

I found this book to be... a little too young for me. I'm only in my early 20's, but when reading this, I felt like I was in high school again with all the catty girls, gossip, and sex references galore. If this hadn't been a vampire-themed book and it just focused on a bunch of normal teenagers, I would have felt like I was just reading some 15 year-old girls diary.

I also felt like there was a lack on any real plot. Usually when I read a book I notice the main focus of the story pretty early on, but not with this. It wasn't until I got to the end that I got a better understanding for what the plot was, and perhaps found it a bit more interesting as well, but at that point I was more focused on finishing the book, rather than what was going on.

Rose just seemed like your stereo typical high-school girl to me. She was boy crazy, kind of slutty, wanting to drink even though she's underage, and had a foul temper. However the foul-tempered thing didn't bother me too much, because with that I also felt that she was quite badass, but that's about the only thing I liked about her.

The last thing I want to point out, is that I felt this book was ridiculously inappropriate for being YA, mostly because of the language, but also again, sex references and underage drinking. I'm pretty sure that if this was 8-10 years ago and I had asked my parents if I could read this book, they would surely say no if they knew what was in it. So I wouldn't have been allowed to read it as a teenager, and found it to be too juvenile as an adult.

Overall, I know these are very popular books and tons of people like them, but I had high expectations for this book, and they were not met at all.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that highlights upcoming releases that we can't wait to read.

From Goodreads

Enter a world where everything, even our classic fairy tales, is not at all what it seems.

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You've never head of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only as "Prince Charming." But all of this is about to change...

Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, Liam, Frederic, Duncan, and Guztav stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger each of their kingdoms. Now it's up to them to triumph over their various shortcomings, take on trolls, bandits, dragons, witches, and other associated terrors to becom the heroes no one ever thought they could be.

This title is the first in a series about the adventures of Liam, Frederic, Duncan, and Gustav. The second title is due out in 2013.

 What books are you eagerly anticipating the release of? Let me know!

Review - Divergent by Veronica Roth

Series: Divergent #1
Author Info: Blogspot
Published: May 3, 2011
Publisher: Katharine Tegen Books
Pages: 487
Age Group: Young Adult
Format I Own: Kindle e-book
Purchase: Amazon

I was very excited to read this book after reading what it was about and hearing so many people rave about it. And I was not disappointed at all.

At the start of the book I was constantly wondering which faction I would probably be in (Amity), as well as my parents, and what it must be like, etc etc. Overall I thought the idea of having factions was quite a unique thing for a book, granted I also started questioning how that could even work, having everyone segregated like that, and only allowing each faction to do/think/act a certain way.

I loved how Beatrice's character kept changing and progressing as the book went on, and I was so into this book that I actually noticed it. I can't recall a single moment in this book that I found dull, and the closer I got to the end, the more I found myself becoming completely sucked into it. Yes, this book is jam PACKED with action, with a little romance thrown in. However I must say I'm not totally madly in love with Four like everyone else seems to be. Do I think Beatrice and Four make a bad couple? Certainly not. And I'm not saying I dislike four either, I'm just saying that he doesn't have a quality for me that makes me really like him.

I did feel that the ending was slightly anti-climactic, but everything leading up to it certainly had my heart pounding.

Now I'm really looking forward to reading Insurgent as soon as it comes out.

Oh and the only thing I'm going to say in regards to comparing this with The Hunger Games (which a lot of people like to do, seeing as their both very popular in the dystopian genre) is that I actually enjoyed Divergent more.

Friday Finds 3/23

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS! 
Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

 Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

“Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world.”

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home: her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons?

 Awakening by Karice Bolton

Alone in snowy, remote Whistler village, Ana tries to build a new life since losing her parents. With a cozy condo, a sweet-faced bulldog and an evening job to leave the days free for the slopes, life slips into a great routine. If only she could shake the guilt for not remembering anything about her parents and banish the night terrors that haunt her every dream.
On a whim, Ana goes out with Athen, a guy she's just met in the Grizzly Pub... The only problem is that she feels like she already knows him.

Within 48 hours of meeting Athen and his family, Ana's world implodes. She falls for Athen quickly and before she knows it, a past life begins to resurface. As thrilling as the revelations appear at first, she fights against the chilling information that Athen is from the underworld. Soon she begins to struggle as her own supernatural gifts are slowly unveiled, and she realizes that the nightmares she's been having might be premonitions and not dreams at all.
It is up to Ana to decipher between fact and fiction before it is too late, and her new love, Athen, follows in her same fate - one that is lost between two worlds. 

 Heiress Without A Cause by Sara Ramsey

 A disgraced son with a dark reputation, William “Ferguson” Avenel is content to live in exile – until his father dies in the scandal of the Season. With rumors of insanity swirling around them, his sisters desperately need a chaperone. Ferguson thinks he’s found the most proper woman in England – and he won’t ruin her, even if he secretly desires the passionate woman trapped beneath a spinster’s cap.

One chance to break the rules...

Lady Madeleine Vaillant can’t face her blighted future without making one glorious memory for herself. In disguise, on a London stage, she finds all the adoration she never felt from the ton. But when she’s nearly recognized, she will do anything to hide her identity – even setting up her actress persona as Ferguson’s mistress. She’ll take the pleasure he offers, but Madeleine won’t lose her heart in the bargain.

One season to fall in love...

Every stolen kiss could lead to discovery, and Ferguson’s old enemies are determined to ruin them both. But as their dangerous passion ignites their hearts and threatens their futures, how can an heiress who dreams of freedom deny the duke who demands her love?

 Not Wicked Enough by Carolyn Jewel

 When Lily Wellstone heads to the Bitterward Estate to comfort her widowed friend Eugenia, she certainly does not have romance in mind. In fact, the playful but level-headed Lily is amused to no end when, en route, a Gypsy gifts her with a beautiful medallion, claiming it will ensnare the romantic desires of a stranger.

But fate has other plans in the form of Eugenia’s ruggedly handsome brother, the Duke of Mountjoy. One day at Bitterward and Lily can’t deny the sizzling attraction between her and the roguish duke. Nothing can come of it, of course. She’s not looking for entanglements and he’s practically engaged. But whether it’s her outgoing nature and the duke’s outlandish ways sparking off one another; or the mysterious gypsy medallion working “magic,”—hearts are stirring in the most unexpected and wicked ways. . .

 

Have you read any of these books? Let me know your thoughts, or show me your review!

Waiting on Wednesday: Masque of the Red Death

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that highlights upcoming releases that we can't wait to read.

From Goodreads

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

What books are you eagerly anticipating the release of? Let me know!

Review - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Series: The Hunger Games Trilogy
Author Info: Website
Published: September 14, 2008
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 374
Age Group: Young Adult
Format I Own: Kindle e-book
Purchase: Amazon

This was the first dystopian novel I've ever read, and what a great novel I chose to break me into this new genre. The Hunger Games was an excellent read, although I wasn't thinking that for the first part of reading this.

This had an excellent story, fast-paced action, and even a hint of romance, but for the first third of the book, I was completely uninterested. Fortunately I wasn't bored because of how quick the story moved along, but it was until the actual Games begun that I finally started being consumed by the plot. So many twists were happening one after another, and it was extremely exciting to see what was going to happen next.

I also can't help but wonder a few things about this book. For example, as a previous reviewer said, I would have liked to know more about what had caused the fall of the United States, and more about what started The Hunger Games in the first place. And also, why throw children into an arena to fight to the death? If I were living in this world, I would be reluctant to have children so they wouldn't suffer being apart of the Games. It just seems like there could have been other, less cruel ways to show dominance rather than making innocent children kill each other.

Regardless of these questions, it still does not change how much I enjoyed reading this, and that I will read the next two books of the trilogy, and also read more books in the dystopian genre.

Friday Finds 3/16

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS! 
Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

Matthew has always lived in Safe, a community hidden far beneath the pipes and tunnels of the city Above. The residents fled to Safe years before to escape the Whitecoats and their cruel experiments, and now Matthew is responsible for both the keeping of Safe’s stories and for Ariel—a golden-haired shapeshifter, and the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen.

But one horrifying night, an old enemy murders Safe’s founder, Atticus, and the community is taken over by an army of shadows. Only Matthew, Ariel, and a handful of friends escape Above. Now they not only have to survive in a sunlit world they barely know, but they must unravel the mystery of the shadows’ fury and Atticus’s death. It’s up to Matthew to find a way to remake Safe—not just for himself and his family, but for Ariel, who’s again faced with the life she fled, and who needs him more than ever before.

An urban fantasy and a love story, Above is the breathtaking debut of an extraordinary new voice.

Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

I also added Catching Fire and Mockingjay, part of The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, but I didn't list them because I haven't just discovered them, but I felt they deserved a mention because they are new to my wishlist. My review of The Hunger Games first book is coming soon!

Have you read any of these books? Let me know your thoughts, or show me your review!