Love & Profanity(ARC)

" Here are more than forty short, brilliant, and unforgettable true stories from writers famous and on-the-rise. Here is the intensity of daily life. Here are transformative moments arising from the mundane. Here are strange and surprising tales that tap into universal truths. Here are teenagers in full splendor and horror. Here they are, bursting with love and profanity. "

Love & Profanity(ARC) edited by Nick Healy
232 pages
Expected release date: March 1st, 2015

Short stories, in and of itself, are not meant to continue on as books. A collection of short stories, however, is a different story.

Common to other short story collections, this book is compiled of a few parts. Part one being titled "Love & Profanity." Like its title suggests, these stories are full of love and a bit of profanity here and there. Definitely two things prominent in teenage life and woes. 

Part two, "Love & Physics," goes into the troublesome young adult years of love and the physics of life that disown the idea of "everything is possible." From the nervous confession to the exciting moment of driving, these authors artfully write it all.

"Love & Madness" explains the extremely angst side of those high school years where any kind of change to yourself is possible. This part of the book was more or less on the wacky side of life, but nonetheless one of the more interesting parts of life. 

The last part, "Love & Apologies," is one of the better and emotional parts of this book. High school may be full of good changes in and of teens, but it can also be the most strained part of their life. The hardest part usually being an apology for a childish act in these years.

My favorite part of this book could actually be the last story told in these pages: "Letter to my Sixteen-Year-Old Self" by Alison McGhee. Why? This letter ties pretty closely to the, in my opinion, meaning of Love & Profanity. I won't spill my thoughts on the meaning, but of course I'd like to give my own two cents on this book.

There weren't really any quarrels I had with anything in Love & Profanity at all. The forty or so thoughtfully written tales of youth were a pleasure to read. It's no doubt that I give a 5 of 5.

Back in Business?

After a considerably long time being gone from this whole book blogging thing--no, this whole reading thing, I've picked up "A Collection of True, Tortured, Wild, Hilarious, Concise, and Intense Tales of Teenage Life". Also known as Love & Profanity. I have also had the time to pick up other books such as: Undercover with the Hottie(sequel to Investigating the Hottie) and Some Kind of Magic. Hopefully, I'll be done with Love & Profanity and have the review up before the holidays! Until then, everyone!

Because I'm Disposable by Rosie Somers RELEASE DAY BLAST

Because I'm Disposable – Launch Book Blast

Because I’m Disposable is a YA contemporary by Rosie Somers, out now!

Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old Callista Tanner was in the bathroom slitting her wrists the night her father took a fatal plunge down the stairs. People around her think she attempted suicide because she found him dead -- or worse, because she had a guilty conscience. Few know the truth; Michael Tanner had been beating her for years.

The freedom that should have come with her father's death becomes a cage of rumors and self-doubt. Callie seeks escape in the most destructive ways, bringing her emotional scars to the surface for the world to see.

One bright spot exists in Callie's dark world.

Lincoln Devaux refuses to let Callie sink fully into the depths of her own depression, stepping into her life when she needs someone the most. She tries to push him away, but Link is determined to save Callie from herself. Even when she doesn't think she's worth saving.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22493845-because-i-m-disposable

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/because-im-disposable-rosie-somers/1119741675

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/447086

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/because-im-disposable/id889671142?mt=11

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Because-Im-Disposable-Rosie-Somers-ebook/dp/B00LMEGZ6G/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1404838205&sr=1-1

Trailer:

The author, Rosie Somers, has decided to giveaway a Kindle for the blog tour!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Bio:

Rosie Somers is a YA author who lives in Florida, soaking up the year-round sunshine. She can often be found in her favorite spot on her favorite beach, nose-deep in a good book.

Website: http://www.RosieSomers.blogspot.com

Twitter: @prosyrosie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProsyRosie

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

" Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.
Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. "

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

328 pages

There are trillions of romance YA books waiting for you to delve into them. This just happens to be one of the best I've read in a long time.

Eleanor is noticeably different than anyone in her school. It could just be because she's new to the school or because her stepdad finally let her back into the house. It's not like her mom stopped her stepdad from kicking her out. When Eleanor returns home--a year later--everything and everyone is different. Her sisters, her brothers--everyone. They're not exactly on her side against their stepdad anymore either.

Park is just getting by. He knows the rules of the school and he's not planning to stick out. Especially not on the bus when he's got a comfortable spot by himself. Then Eleanor appears on the bus and he can't help but to make room for her.

Eleanor isn't what most people would call pretty. She's called chubby at best. It's no wonder she's already landed herself a nickname on her first day. Her weight, however, doesn't explain why she seems to already have someone after her head.

Park and Eleanor--Eleanor & Park--have been sitting near each other on the bus for a while. They haven't spoken one word to each other since he told her to sit down on her first day. Then they start talking to each other and not talking to each other quickly stops being an option.

I absolutely loved this book. The setting, 1986, doesn't seem like a random date after reading this. From all of the things I've seen and heard, love now is horribly different than love then. I think that might have been why Eleanor & Park was set 1986 instead of, say, 2010.

Love is a strong, sometimes unbreakable connection to a lot of people. In Eleanor & Park, love is that desperate, overwhelming thing that rids you of every thought until you're only thinking of them. Back then, technology wasn't as advanced as it was now--that much is obvious. Connection, communication, wasn't as easy. If you needed to talk to someone as if your life depended on it, you'd brace the journey to their home or call them or drive to them. The internet was not an option. I guess that's why Eleanor & Park is an amazing, special book.

Eleanor & Park tells the tale of young, desperate, craving love when connecting to someone wasn't that easy for some people. Fans of John Green or Sarah Dessen or anything in YA romance will dig into this book like there's no tomorrow. Then they'll fall into a shocked state as they turn and read through the last pages...

Because I'm Disposable by Rosie Somers

" Sixteen-year-old Callista Tanner was in the bathroom slitting her wrists the night her father took a fatal plunge down the stairs. People around her think she attempted suicide because she found him dead -- or worse, because she had a guilty conscience. Few know the truth; Michael Tanner had been beating her for years.

The freedom that should have come with her father's death becomes a cage of rumors and self-doubt. Callie seeks escape in the most destructive ways, bringing her emotional scars to the surface for the world to see.

One bright spot exists in Callie's dark world.

Lincoln Devaux refuses to let Callie sink fully into the depths of her own depression, stepping into her life when she needs someone the most. She tries to push him away, but Link is determined to save Callie from herself. Even when she doesn't think she's worth saving. "

Because I'm Disposable by Rosie Somers

This is one of those very short reads that you'll finish reading in no time. I certainly did.

Callie is an interesting character to say in the least. She's gone through a hellish life with her abusive father and now she's free. This book explores her wavering tidal waves of emotions and her changing lifestyle. From new friends to a side of her that she's quite unfamiliar with, Callie just tries to get through it. What happens when Callie isn't herself anymore?

Lincoln is the good looking next-door neighbor boy who's always seemed to brush off Callie's existence. It's no wonder--considering how she does the same. For whatever reason, he seems to have taken an interest in her...

It's no problem to say that Callie has a bit of family issues. When she's starting to change, her little sister isn't very enthusiastic about her choice of company. Callie's mother isn't even home most of the time. With her emotions starting to show, maybe she'll start to find out what really happened the night of her attempted suicide.

Throughout the book, Rosie Somers displays the reality of high school and how change isn't always for the better. The book brings out the emotional turmoil of Callie and the reasoning that you can change your life whenever you want to.

Overall, I'd give this a 3/5. Because I'm Disposable is a good read that I'll probably reread sometime. The characters, while generally pleasing, needed a bit more development. I think that might just be because it wasn't essentially long enough to give as much character development as I would have liked. I am, however, curious to see what else Rosie Somers has in store for the literary world.


You can find Rosie Somers at these sites:

Website: http://www.RosieSomers.blogspot.com

Twitter: @prosyrosie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProsyRosie

COVER REVEAL: Because I'm Disposable by Rosie Somers

Because I’m Disposable is a YA contemporary by Rosie Somers, releasing July 9th. It's her debut novel and I'm very glad to have the chance at showing this off to the world! In a couple of weeks following this cover reveal, Fictional is Better will be participating in Because I'm Disposable's Release Day Blast!! After that(or before that), I'll post my review!

I really like the cover because it just fits the gloomy theme of the book. It's beautiful in the tragic way it portrays how she feels about life. 

Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old Callista Tanner was in the bathroom slitting her wrists the night her father took a fatal plunge down the stairs. People around her think she attempted suicide because she found him dead -- or worse, because she had a guilty conscience. Few know the truth; Michael Tanner had been beating her for years.

The freedom that should have come with her father's death becomes a cage of rumors and self-doubt. Callie seeks escape in the most destructive ways, bringing her emotional scars to the surface for the world to see.

One bright spot exists in Callie's dark world.

Lincoln Devaux refuses to let Callie sink fully into the depths of her own depression, stepping into her life when she needs someone the most. She tries to push him away, but Link is determined to save Callie from herself. Even when she doesn't think she's worth saving.

Trailer:

You can find Because I'm Disposable at these sites:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22493845-because-i-m-disposable

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/447086

iBooks pre-order: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/because-im-disposable/id889671142?mt=11


Author Bio:

Rosie Somers is a YA author who lives in Florida, soaking up the year-round sunshine. She can often be found in her favorite spot on her favorite beach, nose-deep in a good book.

Website: http://www.RosieSomers.blogspot.com

Twitter: @prosyrosie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProsyRosie

Parasite(ARC) by Mira Grant

" A decade in the future, humanity thrives in the absence of sickness and disease.

We owe our good health to a humble parasite -- a genetically engineered tapeworm developed by the pioneering SymboGen Corporation. When implanted, the Intestinal Bodyguard worm protects us from illness, boosts our immune system -- even secretes designer drugs. It's been successful beyond the scientists' wildest dreams. Now, years on, almost every human being has a SymboGen tapeworm living within them.

But these parasites are getting restless. They want their own lives . . . and will do anything to get them. "

Parasite(ARC) by Mira Grant
Parasitology #1
512 pages


I've actually had the ARC on my Kindle shelf for a long time and I've finally gotten to read it!

Sally Mitchell, the main character of this book, had an accident that nearly killed her. Miraculously, she woke up right when the doctors were trying to convince her family to get her off of life support.

The book mainly is set 6 years after her accident when things are starting to fall together. Sally, or Sal, is still living with her family and still going to her dreaded therapy sessions. Everyone around her that knew her before the accident tells her that the old Sally was extremely different from how she is now. Maybe that's why she's decided to be called Sal instead of Sally nowadays.

After a horrifying eyewitness with a lifeless little girl dragging her mother away, Sal is terrified. Throughout the book, these things keep happening and it seems like everyone is in danger.

So why isn't any of this appearing in the news?

Sal and her family are somewhat indebted to SymboGen. Why wouldn't they be? Sally had the Intestinal Bodyguard implant before the accident and it doesn't look like anything else would have ensured her survival. SymboGen, being the huge and wealthy corporation it is, could be the ones keeping everything off of the news. Though why would they?

Throughout the book, various news articles about SymboGen or various writings are entwined into the story. They give an almost haunting reality to the book and egg you to read further.

I can't say that I'll be reading Parasite again anytime soon, but I will be looking forward to the next book! Mira Grant tells an interesting tale of how a parasite can help or harm you. 

City of Heavenly Fire

" In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother.

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments! "

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

Book 6 of The Mortal Instruments

725 pages

I have been a fan of Cassandra Clare's books for a couple of years and reading The Mortal Instruments' last book was pretty depressing as I turned one of the last pages and read the end. I think that if you stuck with the books long enough and read them and waited for them as long as you have, then you grow with them. From the first book to the last book, we've laughed and cried and about threw our books out the window in anger. We've grown up with the characters and I guess that's what makes book series so special.

Many of us started off reading City of Heavenly Fire with a million questions and a growing fear for our beloved characters. Death for some of them was inevitable. Sebastian would never have allowed any of them to go free without any pain or injury.

Like the other five books before, City of Heavenly Fire makes us crave more and more and more! The characters' laugh-inducing comments and steamy little scenes when no one else is around makes me wish this wasn't the end. Side by side with the happy moments, there were moments between the characters that brought tears to my eyes and moments where my anger could have been as deadly as the Heavenly Fire that courses through Jace's veins. When I spent my days reading this book, my feelings went from anguish to laughter and sadness to a feeling of content. It's no wonder there's millions and millions of copies sold in over 30 languages!

As many fans know, the ending of The Mortal Instruments will not be our last moment dealing with the Shadowhunters. Last year, we said goodbye to the characters of The Infernal Devices(TID) and next year, we'll be saying hello to The Dark Artifices(TDA). In City of Heavenly Fire, we catch a couple scenes with characters from TID and characters from TDA. It was wonderful seeing the characters interact and seeing how Clare artfully weaves their stories together.

There were many things that happened within this book that I had never even imagined could happen. Like most good authors, Clare neatly wraps loose ends up. Unlike other authors, she creates new loose ends that are most likely going to be tied up in TDA.

All great things come to an end and I can't say that I imagined a better ending for The Mortal Instruments.
Ave Atque Vale Mortal Instruments,
Amor verus numquam moritur

What did you guys think about the ending of The Mortal Instruments? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Tell Cassandra Clare what you think by sending her fan mail or sending her a comment or two via tumblr or twitter!

Summer Reading

It's now more or less summertime! At the moment, I've been reading City of Heavenly Fire. I'll try getting it finished by the end of this week, so expect a review soon! 

Hiatus

In case you didn't know, I've put this blog on hiatus for now. Once the sun starts shining and my school's closed up until August, I won't have any time to read, much less review whatever I've read.

Thanks for your support and see you in summer!

[Hopefully I'll have another giveaway!]

Relic(ARC) by Renee Collins

"After a raging fire consumes her town and kills her parents, Maggie Davis is on her own to protect her younger sister and survive best she can in the Colorado town of Burning Mesa. In Maggie’s world, the bones of long-extinct magical creatures such as dragons and sirens are mined and traded for their residual magical elements, and harnessing these relics’ powers allows the user to wield fire, turn invisible, or heal even the worst of injuries.

Working in a local saloon, Maggie befriends the spirited showgirl Adelaide and falls for the roguish cowboy Landon. But when she proves to have a particular skill at harnessing the relics’ powers, Maggie is whisked away to the glamorous hacienda of Álvar Castilla, the wealthy young relic baron who runs Burning Mesa. Though his intentions aren’t always clear, Álvar trains Maggie in the world of relic magic. But when the mysterious fires reappear in their neighboring towns, Maggie must discover who is channeling relic magic for evil before it’s too late.
Relic is a thrilling adventure set in a wholly unique world, and a spell-binding story of love, trust, and the power of good."

Relic(ARC) by Renee Collins
400 pages

Renee Collins has created an amazing, interesting world based on our mundane history of the old west. The old west revamped into a magical world filled with extinct mythical creatures we could only dream of meeting in reality.

Relics are the remains of magical creatures that used to inhabit the earth(much similar to the long extinct dinosaurs of the real world) that still possess some of the powers of said magical creatures. Humans have been mining for them and using them for years. The powers are mainly the 5 main elements of the world(water, fire, earth, wind, and spirit).

Maggie Davis is actually one of the more regular characters in this novel. Her family is the most important thing in her life and she just wants to basically give her little sister the world after their parents and brother die because of a mysterious group of people. Moving into Burning Mesa, Maggie tries to get their lives back on track by working at the town's local saloon. Of course, her little sister can't exactly stay with her there. Her sister is forced to stay somewhere else while Maggie is busy making money by cleaning tables.

Álvar is the rich, young, charming hacienda that owns most of Burning Mesa. By fate(or coincidence), Maggie meets him and begins to work at his saloon. Is Álvar just being kind and generous or does he have his own hidden agenda?

Throughout this whole novel, Maggie is forced to make decisions that affect the well-being of her sister and herself. She gets entangled in things of her past and things that she's just discovering about herself. Between making new friends and trying to solidify her life, she can't possibly be crushing on some cowboy, right?

This is actually one of those books where I am pretty set on buying a copy of. I will admit, at first, I thought this would not be the kind of book for me. I shudder just at the thought of the old west. Renee Collins has transformed my opinion on this. She's sucked me into this world and I am very, very, much looking forward to a sequel to this. Definitely a 5 of 5 stars book!

Since You Asked(ARC) by Maurene Goo

"A humorous, debut novel about a Korean-American teenager who accidentally lands her own column in her high school newspaper, and proceeds to rant her way through the school year while struggling to reconcile the traditional Korean values of her parents with contemporary American culture."

Since You Asked(ARC) by Maurene Goo
262 pages

If the summary up there doesn't interest you, then I don't know what will.

Holly Kim is a realistic, albeit very dramatic at times, sophomore in high school. Like any other student with strict parents, Holly has been forced to maintain straight A's and to stay off the radar of the school's cliche pyramid of popularity. She's also part of The Weasel Times, her school's newspaper. One very boring day, Holly basically rewrites a whole entire article and chaos ensues.

Not without the help of her three best friends, of course.

From writing her column to hanging out with her friends, Holly has a lot to work with. What happens when she can't make everyone happy with her snarky articles?

Hey, let's not forget that Holly has to deal with secret admirers, Thanksgiving dinner, and big misunderstandings. Holly deals with all of these events and more while living out her everyday life of a student.

I could barely put this book down, let alone not give it 5 of 5 stars!

Maureen Goo has created a humorous, realistic story with quirky characters and moment-ruining guys that you'll absolutely love! I mean, there are mother to daughter arguments every so often that get a bit over-the-top, but there are also those moments where you just have to close the book and sort of making a dying whale sound. In a good way, of course.

I love how Holly eventually uses her column and changes the way everyone starts thinking about things in their everyday school life. Holly battles unjust systems within her school, is forced to do things she'd never do otherwise, and is basically experiences life. She slowly becomes more of herself and she starts taking a bit more risks, regardless of the problems ahead. A bit dauntless, but what's life without some risks?

Now I just have to go to the nearest book store and buy this whenever I get the chance!

Promise Me Something(ARC) by Sara Kocek

"As if starting high school weren't bad enough, Reyna Fey has to do so at a new school without her best friends. Reyna's plan is to keep her head down, help her father recover from the car accident that almost took his life, and maybe even make some friends. And then Olive Barton notices her. Olive is not exactly the kind of new friend Reyna has in mind. The boys make fun of her, the girls want to fight her, and Olive seems to welcome the challenge. There's something about Olive that Reyna can't help but like. But when Reyna learns Olive's secret, she must decide whether it's better to be good friends with an outcast or fake friends with the popular kids. . . .before she loses Olive forever."

Promise Me Something by Sara Kocek
320 pages
To be released on September 1st, 2013

To be honest, I was pretty sure I was going to end up disliking this book. I'm happy to say that that isn't the case at all!

At first, I absolutely could not stand most of the characters. Take Reyna, for example. She is stuck in the past, for lack of a better way to put it. Her mother passed away when she was a kid and now her father was almost killed. By a car accident that his girlfriend, Lucy, caused by going past a stop sign. Needless to say, Reyna isn't a very big fan of her. Reyna's trying to make friends, but Olive isn't exactly what she's looking for... Sadly for Reyna, she'll just have to take what she can get.

Olive is the outcast of the school. She's a very big complainer and she's very bitter about everything. Even with Reyna's reluctance to be her friend, Olive is determined to stay.

Throughout the whole book, Reyna is wishing that she was with her best friends, at the high school that she was originally supposed to go to. What happens when Olive isn't as bad as she thought she was? And then there's that secret Olive's been keeping...

Reyna isn't really used to not having any friends. She has a group of best friends she's known since she was a kid. They've been together through good times and bad. What happens when Reyna's feeling left out, not a part of the group anymore?

The plot is probably my most favorite part of the whole book. I mean, some things were a bit obvious, but the main thing totally blew me away. Sara Kocek has written a very truthful and realistic story that you can't stop reading. The humor will have you grinning, you'll be feeling for the characters, and you'll read about something that's happening out in the real world. I love the topics discussed in this book and although I wanted more from the ending, I can't help but to give this 5/5 stars!

Clockwise by Elle Strauss

"Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this --she's accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time. Awkward. Protocol pressures her to tell their 1860 hosts that he is her brother and when Casey finds she has a handsome, wealthy (and unwanted) suitor, something changes in Nate. Are those romantic sparks or is it just "brotherly" protectiveness? When they return to the present, things go back to the way they were before: Casey parked on the bottom of the rung of the social ladder and Nate perched high on the very the top. Except this time her heart is broken. Plus, her best friend is mad, her parents are split up, and her younger brother gets escorted home by the police. The only thing that could make life worse is if, by some strange twist of fate, she took Nate back to the past again. Which of course, she does."

Clockwise by Elle Strauss(Book One of the Clockwise series)
290 pages

Let me start by telling you that this book is full of cliches. Full. Of. It. Obviously I won't spoil it for you, but the cliches are likely to make you roll yours eyes or start banging your head against a table. Okay, probably not the latter, but you get what I mean.

Let's not forget the lack of descriptions of things. I mean, it just really irked me sometimes when something wasn't detailed and just written there without anything else continuing it. I WANT to know all of the details.

It's not to say that this book isn't worth your time, because it is/isn't. Depends on how you look at this review and the other reviews you'll most likely read of it.

Casey is everything I dislike in a female main character. Very insecure, compares herself to our people look wise, and crushes on the popular guy. I mean, most of us have probably been there, but Casey just stays like that until basically near the end of the book. BUT I have to admit that she was an okay character. Why? Because she was an independent type of person. She faces all of these obstacles in her life(most of it due to the whole time travelling thing) and she just has that "let's do this" and "I can't stop the inevitable" type of thinking that I just can't help but to admire.

Nate is the oh-so-amazing and oh-so-likable popular guy. With the mean and jealous girlfriend, of course. I can't really say much because his character pretty much only really comes out when spoilery things happen.

I would have to give this a 4/5 stars. It really is a good read. It wasn't very long so you can just read it at your leisure. The plot is pretty good too, but the cliches ruined its hope of a 5/5 from me. Sometimes, though, the cliches just gave you a smile.

I am, of course, looking forward to reading the next book of this series...

Investigating the Hottie by Juli Alexander

"Peterson. Amanda Peterson. When my life suddenly turns into the Princess Diaries meets Mission Impossible, can I do in a week what I haven’t managed to do in all my fifteen years—reel in a hottie?

Investigating the Hottie is a completed young adult romance. When Amanda spends a week with her aunt, Christie, she learns that her aunt is a spy. Christie admits that Amanda has security clearance and has already started her training. When her aunt asks her to investigate a teenage hacker, Amanda thinks that spending time with a nerd should be doable despite her social ineptitude. Unfortunately for Amanda, the hacker is a hottie."

Investigating the Hottie by Juli Alexander
200 pages

First of all, let me just say this book was actually pretty good. The characters were very realistic, and I mean very realistic. This book targets what every teenage girl feels and reacts to each situation brought to her.

Amanda Peterson is anything but normal. Her aunt is a spy and now, she's one too. Her first assignment is to investigate a teenage hacker--who is not what she expected--but what happens when she starts falling for him? Let's not forget that Amanda has basically never talked to a boy because of her shyness! In this crazy ride of firsts and odd situations, Amanda is a hilarious character that you will love reading about!

The teenage hacker, Will, is everything you wouldn't expect. He's popular, plays soccer, he does everything you wouldn't expect a hacker to do! A perfect cover, right? Maybe not so much...

Christie, Amanda's aunt, has her own case to solve with her partner, Nic. Both of these characters are always bickering, over every single little thing. Opposites attract, huh?

In this very short, at least for me, novel, Juli Alexander gives us a good plot and very good characters to go with it!

Anyways, I would rate this 3 out of 5 stars. I loved the characters, but I quickly grew disappointed 3/4 of the way in. The little twist at the end just really doesn't appeal to me. There was a bit of obvious foreshadowing as well... And I think I may have been happier if the ending wasn't so vague.

Feather AND Gates(ARC) by Laurie Lyons

"Lucy is a bright eyed, fiery redhead with a quick wit and a photographic memory. On the night of the spring equinox, Lucy meets Nathaniel, a dark and mysterious man who at first appears to have amnesia. Lucy feels inexplicably drawn to Nathaniel and is amazed to discover that he is invisible to everyone but herself. Fearing she is going insane--or worse, losing her photographic memory--Lucy goes on a hunt for answers. What she learns turns her world upside down.

FEATHER is a tale of love, the power of memories, and the struggle between right and wrong.

How far would you go to save your true love’s soul?"

Feather by Laurie Lyons
Book One of the Feather Trilogy

Feather is a heavenly read, literally.

Lucy has the gift of photographic memory and she can remember every conversation she's ever heard of. This obviously helps her academic grades, but it doesn't help her when she's faced with a problem that she doesn't know the solution to. Let's not forget that not knowing something is a huge thing for Lucy as she's usually known every answer to every question.

Nathaniel is every girl's dream.. Amazing eyes, a sweet and passionate personality, a complete angel. An actual Angel. Too bad Lucy's the only one that can see him.

Life is going great for Lucy. She has her wonderful friends, she has a wonderful future, but she's never had a guy that she's really loved. Sure, she's dated a couple of guys that she's liked, but none of them can really compare to the mysterious Nathaniel.

When the Demons realize that Nathaniel is changing a small place on Earth because of his heavenly connection, how far will Lucy go to keep him with her? Can a mortal come between the laws of Heaven and the wraith of Hell? Can she save his soul?

Feather is a book that you zoom right into. Every page is written so that you just have to continue reading until it's over! At first, it's slow. But once you read on and on, you'll be hooked.

Laurie's writing style is a bit different. It's good, but it is a bit to get used to.

Once you start with Feather, you'll have to continue on and read Gates.

Speaking of Gates, I had the opportunity to read the Advanced Reading Copy of it!

"In the second book of The Feather Trilogy, Lucy and Nathaniel have started their sophomore year at Mulbridge University. Everything seems perfect but a series of strange accidents leave them both wondering if something sinister is lurking. Is it just fate or is something evil after Lucy’s soul? Does Roman, recently returned from the depths of Hell, have anything to do with it? Nathaniel and Lucy struggle to find answers until all is terrifyingly revealed on the Winter Solstice in an ending that will leave you breathless."

Gates(ARC) by Laurie Lyons

Book Two of the Feather Trilogy

In stores on May 24, 2013

Lucy's life is going great and things couldn't get better. She has a life to live with a now visible Nathaniel. Heaven and Hell can't possibly take him away from her now.

Roman is pretty much the only thorn on her side. Lucy, with her amazing memory, remembers every encounter they've ever had... Most of them not being very pleasant. Alas, Lucy's best friend is dating him and falling for him. Can they let bygones be bygones and at least act civil towards one another? Probably not.

Nathaniel's already met Lucy's friends when he was invisible in Feather and he quickly charms his way into her group of friends. They don't suspect a thing.. Except for Anastasia, Lucy's best friend. She's worried that Lucy is getting in over her head and falling for a guy that she thinks she's just met.

One after another, accidents are appearing near Lucy... Deadly accidents. Nothing like this has ever happened to Lucy and Nathaniel is getting extremely worried. Nathaniel proves, once again, that he'll do anything to save her life. But what if she's not the one in danger this time?

The Winter Solstice is coming up and no one is safe. Can Nathaniel and Roman, an Angel and a Demon, mortal enemies, save everyone before it's too late?

The ending of Gates will leave you breathless for more because Laurie Lyons just loves giving her readers a cliffhanger...

Anyways, speaking of Laurie, I've promised to serenade her!

Angel With A Shotgun by The Cab:

(I'm an angel with a shotgun, shotgun, shotgun, An angel with a shotgun, shotgun, shotgun..)
Get out your guns, 
battles begun, 
are you a saint, or a sinner?
If loves a fight, then I shall die,
with my heart on a trigger.
They say before you start a war,
you better know what you're fighting for.
Well baby, you are all that I adore,
if love is what you need, a soldier I will be.
I'm an angel with a shotgun,
fighting til' the wars won,
I don't care if heaven won't take me back.
I'll throw away my faith, babe, 
just to keep you safe.
Don't you know you're everything I have?
And I, wanna live, not just survive, tonight.
Sometimes to win, 
you've got to sin,
don't mean I'm not a believer
And major Tom, will sing along.
Yeah, they still say I'm a dreamer.
They say before you start a war,
you better know what you're fighting for.
Well baby, you are all that I adore,
if love is what you need, a soldier I will be.
I'm an angel with a shotgun,
fighting til' the wars won,
I don't care if heaven won't take me back.
I'll throw away my faith, babe, 
just to keep you safe.
Don't you know you're everything I have?
And I, wanna live, not just survive, tonight.
And I'm gonna hide, hide, hide my wings tonight.
They say before you start a war,
you better know what you're fighting for.
Well, baby, you are all the I adore,
if love is what you need...
A soldier I will be.

*coughs* Not so hard to figure out what character I think this song most refers to.

A slight change of lyrics from Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri:

No, I can't take one more step towards you
'Cause all that's waiting is pain
Don't you know I'm not your problem anymore
You wanted me to lose the love I loved the most

I didn't want to learn to live half alive
And now you want me to one more time
Without him

And who do you think you are?
Runnin' 'round leaving chaos
Collecting your jar of souls
And tearing our love apart
You're gonna catch a cold
From the darkness inside your soul
So don't come back for us
Who do you think you are?

I hear you're asking all around
If I am anywhere to be found
But I have grown too strong
To ever fall back in your charms

And I've learned to live my life
And now you want him to die

And who do you think you are?
Runnin' 'round leaving chaos
Collecting your jar of souls
And tearing our love apart
You're gonna catch a cold
From the darkness inside your soul
So don't come back for us
Who do you think you are?

And it took so long just to feel alright
Remember how to put back the life in my eyes
I wish I had missed the first time that we met
'Cause you broke all your promises
And now you're back
You don't get to get her back

And who do you think you are?
Runnin' 'round leaving chaos
Collecting your jar of couls
And tearing our love apart
You're gonna catch a cold
From the darkness inside your soul
So don't come back for us
Don't come back at all

And who do you think you are?
Runnin' 'round leaving chaos
Collecting your jar of souls
Tearing our love apart
You're gonna catch a cold
From the darkness inside your soul
Don't come back for us
Don't come back at all

Who do you think you are?

Who do you think you are?

Who do you think you are?

So, who do you think my slight changes of lyrics is about for this? :)

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