Wrote that Review Update #216, September 30th

If you want to participate, set a certain amount of reviews to write, and once you make that goal, you can get a reward!

My reviews to reward is writing all of the reviews of the week, and I motivated myself to write my review for Uncanny, Good and Gone, Spark, A Face Like Glass, so I have 4 of 4 reviews written!

And as always, I want to review this week's reviews!

What about you guys? Happy reading!

How Well I Stuck to It #219, September 30th

So I decided that I should have accountability on sticking to what should be in a week, so I'm doing How Well I Stuck to It every Sunday, because my schedule should be fixed in by now!

Week 40:
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, The Hollow of Fear by Sherry Thomas, Lady Pirate by Lynsay Sands, The Loving Daylights by Lynsay Sands, The Reckoning of Noah Shaw by Michelle Hodkin, Shadow and Ice by Gena Showalter, Slayer by Kiersten White, Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Tour Books: NA.

Review Books: NA.

NetGalley: 2. Check.

Edelweiss: 1. Check.

Meme Books: NA.

Rereads: NA.

New Books: 5. Check.

Yeah, this week is longer than usual, but there's just so many books to read!

Week 39:

Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis, Hidden by Rebecca Zanetti, Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness

vs.

Uncanny by  David Mcinnis Gill, Good and Gone by Megan Frazer Blakemore, Spark by Holly Schindler, A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge

Yeah, I read totally different books than what I was planning on, and while I only read 4 books, that's 1 more than I planned, so it worked out! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Week 39 Review: A Face Like Glass

From Goodreads:
In the underground city of Caverna, the world's most skilled craftsmen toil in the darkness to create delicacies beyond compare—wines that remove memories, cheeses that make you hallucinate, and perfumes that convince you to trust the wearer, even as they slit your throat. On the surface, the people of Caverna seem ordinary, except for one thing: their faces are as blank as untouched snow. Expressions must be learned, and only the famous Facesmiths can teach a person to express (or fake) joy, despair, or fear—at a steep price. Into this dark and distrustful world comes Neverfell, a girl with no memory of her past and a face so terrifying to those around her that she must wear a mask at all times. Neverfell's expressions are as varied and dynamic as those of the most skilled Facesmiths, except hers are entirely genuine. And that makes her very dangerous indeed . . . 

My Review:
Oh, this book was weird and strange and a little hard to get into at first, but so great to read! I enjoyed it so much! Remembering the different parts of this book to write this review was a great experience, even if I'm having a bit of a hard time figuring out what to say!

Neverfell was a bit naive at the beginning of this book, which made this book feel more of a middle grade than YA, maybe upper middle grade. She was very trusting, and she was lucky and she was smart and she got through some pretty tricky situations, and learned from them. I was really impressed with who she became in the end!

One weird/funny/strange bit of this book was the guy in charge, with his two halves of his brain, and how they thought differently, and why he'd set that up. It was a pretty bitter-hilarious bit when both halves started attacking each other!

There were a few mysteries going on in this book. Who Neverfall was, where she came from, who was the thief, and more. It was complicated, and there were a few things going on, and I really enjoyed how they all resolved!

This book was great and I enjoyed it immensely once I got going!

Author: Frances Hardinge
Read: September 27th, 2018
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: I enjoyed her other book, and it's a SAC 2018 Book!
Publisher: Amulet Book
Published: May 9th 2017

5/5 Hearts

4/5 Books

4.5/5 Stars

Week 39 Review: Spark

From Goodreads:
Acclaimed author Holly Schindler writes a compelling contemporary tale with a dash of magic. The theater comes to life in this story of family ties, fate, love, and one girl's quest to rewrite history.

The local Avery Theater was just a run-down building to Quin—until her mother told her about the tragic love that played out on the theater's stage many years ago. Quin is convinced it's the perfect story to re-create for her drama class. And when she does, the Avery begins to magically regain its former splendor, clearly setting the stage for her classmates Dylan and Cass to relive the romance from a time before. Quin can see the spark between them, but it's up to her to make sure her friends—and the Avery—can both be saved this time around. 

My Review:
I've really enjoyed Holly Schindler's other books, and I was really fascinated by the idea of a theater coming back to life, of a second try at the romance that ended in tragedy! Really enjoyed it, and the idea that the narrator wasn't the one going on the romance journey!

Quin has a pretty interesting family history. While her adopted mom had a minor role in the past, her birth family memory had see what was going to happen in the stars, and that there'd be another chance. So that was quirky and interesting to read!

Dylan and Cass were the ones who had the romance, while Quin was on the side lines, helping where she could. I was really happy to read that, it was different, to have the narrator not be a member of the romance. And Dylan and Cass were a great couple!

I really enjoyed how everything came together, that the Avery was used to show their production, that the random bits that they practiced came together, that what went wrong the first time, didn't this time around. Made for a good read!

This book was unique and fun to read and I really enjoyed it!

Author: Holly Schindler
Read: September 26th, 2018
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Loved her previous books, and it's a SAC 2018 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: May 17th 2016

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 39 Review: Good and Gone

From Goodreads:
Honest and emotionally charged, Good and Gone is the story of a teenage girl who must find her way back to herself as she grapples with the truth of what her boyfriend did to her. A gripping YA that will appeal to fans of Jandy Nelson and Sara Zarr.

When Lexi Green's older brother, Charlie, starts plotting a road trip to find a famous musician who's been reported missing, she’s beyond confused. Her brother hasn't left the couch since his girlfriend broke up with him months ago—but he'll hop in a car to find some hipster rocker? Concerned at how he seems to be rebounding, Lexi decides to go along for the ride.

Besides, Lexi could use the distraction. The anger and bewilderment coursing through her after getting dumped by her pretentious boyfriend Seth has left her on edge. As Lexi, Charlie, and their neighbor Zack hit the road, Lexi recalls bits and pieces of her short-lived romance and sees, for the first time, what it really was: a one-sided, cold-hearted manipulation game. Not only did Seth completely isolate her, but he took something she wasn't ready to give up.

The further along in their journey they get, the three uncover much more than empty clues about a reclusive rocker's whereabouts. Instead, what starts off as a car ride turns into something deeper as each of them faces questions they have been avoiding for too long. Like the real reason Charlie has been so withdrawn lately. What Seth stole from Lexi in the pool house. And if shattered girls can ever put themselves back together again.

My Review:
Yeah, this book was really interesting to read. I have a harder time with contemporary books because the conflict is usually internal or the relationships with other people, not always the romantic ones. I did take a longer time to read this book given its shorter length, but I did enjoy it!

So Charlie deals with depression, though its more shown then outright stated. And this trip was a break from the pattern that he'd been in, and going out on the road looking for the missing musician. While he and Lexi did have some sharper comments for each other, they both wanted the other to be happy and healthy, though Charlie didn't realize he needed to worry about Lexi at first.

Lexi was angry. She'd been dating Seth, and then we slowly saw what happened between them. And that Charlie was too entrenched in his issues to notice her own, and that caused some tension between the two of them. I'm glad that they worked it out!

I really enjoyed the investigation that they made looking for the singer, it took them from place to place, and allowed them time to heal, to learn more about themselves. And that ending with the note, yeah, that worked well with this book!

Yeah, this book was a great look into some issues without being preachy or in your face and I enjoyed it!

Author: Megan Frazer Blakemore
Read: September 26th, 2018
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2018 Book!
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: November 14th 2017

4/5 Hearts

4/5 Books

4/5 Stars

Week 39 Review: Uncanny

From Goodreads:
A chilling stand-alone novel by the acclaimed David Macinnis Gill. This original and sinister spin on gothic tradition will appeal to fans of Asylum, American Horror Story: Coven, and The Walking Dead.

When a bolt of lightning causes a Boston-wide blackout on her sixteenth birthday, Willow Jane doesn't think anything of it—until she begins stopping time, until she comes face-to-face with her menacing familiar, until her sister disappears.

But these aren't the only strange and horrifying things to come out of the storm. An ancient witch named the Shadowless has awoken and escaped from her crypt, and she's looking for revenge on Willow Jane's family.

From the critically acclaimed author of Black Hole Sun and Soul Enchilada, this eerie horror story lingers long after its bloody end, and is perfect for fans of Madeleine Roux, The Ghost Files, and anyone who likes things that go bump in the night. 

My Review:
This book was very weird. I would read the first few pages, just not get hooked, and later come back and start over. This happened a few times. But once I really got into it, I was really interested in the weirdness and wanted to know more about this world!

For me, this book had a slow burning beginning, but the heat is really on in the end! We were slowly introduced to this world, and its strangeness, and while we didn't see everything, because it was a whole maze of confusion for me, but once enough of the ground rules were established, yeah, it flew by!

The Shadowglass was pretty terrifying. I mean, she survived being buried for at least a century. Anything that can do that, you be wary of. And that she was able to control various people, well, that just makes it harder, because its not their fault, they're innocent and you don't want to hurt them, but you don't want to be hurt by them, you know?

That ending was pretty awesome and heart-pounding! It didn't end with a happily ever after, there was some cost to their victory, but it was well earned and a really satisfying ending! Though I'm still left uneasy about it, I'm glad that it wasn't me!

This book was strange and enjoyable and I'm still not quite sure what I read. I enjoyed it so much!

Author: David Mcinnis Gill
Read: September 23rd, 2018
Source: Edelweiss/Bought
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a SAC 2018 Book!
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Published: September 5th 2017

5/5 Hearts

4/5 Books

4/5 Stars

Book Blogger Hop #51, September 28th

Book Blogger Hop

The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer from Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer's permission, I relaunched the meme on February 15, 2013. Check out the hop here! 

Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end on Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop's purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

The Question of the week is: Do you sneak a peek at the number of views your posts have gotten? (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)

Well, with blogger, I can see the number of views when I'm on the posts page and pages page. And then there's also the stat's page. So yeah, I see that, but it's not really sneaking a peak given that it's just there on posts page! What about you guys? Happy reading!

The Reward Challenge Update #367, September 28th

The Reward Challenge is almost the complete opposite to a book buying ban as you'll end up buying lots of new books throughout the challenge but only after you've completed a certain amount of reading. It was hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly, so thanks to her for starting it!

OK, so I read Uncanny which counts 3 times as a Edelweiss Book and a SAC 2018 Book, Good and Gone which counts 3 times as a Edelweiss Book and a SAC 2018 Book, Spark which counts 4 times as a Edelweiss Book, SAC 2018 Book and a SAC 2018 Book, A Face Like Glass which counts 3 times as a NetGalley Book and a SAC 2018 Book.

So I have 13 counts which translates to $6.50 this week! I'll use it to buy a cheap book or a used book!

First Lines Friday #385, September 28th

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. We encourage all of our fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

-Grab your current read(s)
-Share the first line(s)
-Include the title and author so that other FLF participants can add the book to their TBR Lists!

Yeah, not reading anything today, so no first lines! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Random Reads #357, September 27th

Random Reads is a monthly meme (that I'm going to do weekly) hosted by I'm Loving Books to read some books that have been on our TBR piles for a long time. Using Random.org, I got 6567 which turned out to be Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure by Diane Kelly! It's been on my TBR pile since June 10th, 2017, and I added it because I enjoy her writing! Happy reading!

Third Sentence Thursday #372, September 27th

Third Sentence Thursday is a weekly meme which likes to watch fireworks especially while eating a cookie!

1) Take the book you are currently reading and open it to a random page. Share the third full sentence on that page. (If there isn't a third one – like at the end of a chapter or a blank page – you can share the third sentence of the book or just choose another random page.) Feel free to share more than one sentence, if you feel the need to do so.

2) Review this sentence anyway you want (funny and silly reviews encouraged)

3) Post a link to your sentence at Words I Write Crazy (This Blog)

4) Visit one or two of the other blogs to check out their third sentences!

"She used to live in the Doldrums, a terrible district full of drub-driers, fossil-glossers, and cut-price Cartographers, where nobody asks questions." -A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge, page 199.

That doesn't sound like a good area to live in! Which is probably why it's being mentioned!

What are your guy's 3rd lines? Link up below!

Will the Time Come #382, September 27th

Every Thursday I am going to list a book which I really want to read/keep meaning to get to. These are mostly books which have been on my shelf for awhile now but don't have to be, maybe you got it two weeks ago and really want to read it! Thanks to Jodie from Books for Company for this meme!

Want to Join?

-Pick a book you have been meaning to read

-Do a post telling us about the book    

-Link the post up in the linky  

-Visit the other blogs

From Goodreads:

Soraya Gamo was meant to be queen of Qilara, until an Arnath slave rebellion destroyed the monarchy and the capital city. Now, improbably, she sits on the new Ruling Council beside her former enemies, finally holding the political power she always wanted - but over a nation in ruins. As she works to rebuild Qilara, she can, at last, use what everyone once told her to hide: her brain.

But not everyone is ready to accept the new equality that the Ruling Council has decreed between the Arnathim and Qilarites. So when a slave ship arrives in the city, full of Arnathim captured before Qilara fell—the civil unrest that has been bubbling since the rebellion erupts.

Forced to confront her own prejudices, Soraya struggles to gain the trust of the Arnath people she once disregarded and establish peace in what has become chaos. With the threat of attacks high, Gelti, a former guard captain, trains Soraya in self-defense. As the two grow close, tension within the city ramps up, with danger, betrayal, and deception meeting Soraya everywhere she turns. Friends become foes, adversaries become companions, and the clashing of classes threatens to unravel all the good Soraya has been trying to do. Can Soraya, raised to be a proper Qilarite lady, learn to be a true leader? Or will the sins of her past forever haunt the footsteps of her future? 

Why the time hasn't come yet...
It hasn't come out yet, so yeah, really excited for this book! Can't wait to read it! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #385, September 26th

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

The Reckoning of Noah Shaw by Michelle Hodkin
Expected Publication: November 13th, 2018
From Goodreads:
Noah Shaw confesses all in this second novel of a chilling new companion series to Michelle Hodkin’s New York Times bestselling Mara Dyer trilogy!

Noah Shaw doesn’t think he needs his father’s inheritance.
He does.

Noah believes there’s something off about the suicides in his visions.
There is.

Noah is convinced that he still knows the real Mara Dyer.
He does not. 

Everyone thought the nightmare had ended with Mara Dyer’s memoirs, but it was only the beginning. As old skeletons are laid bare, alliances will be tested, hearts will be broken, and no one will be left unscarred.

This Splintered Silence by Kayla Olson
Expected Publication: November 13th, 2018
From Goodreads:
Lindley Hamilton has been the leader of the space station Lusca since every first-generation crew member on board, including her mother, the commander, were killed by a deadly virus.

Lindley always assumed she’d captain the Lusca one day, but she never thought that day would come so soon. And she never thought it would be like this—struggling to survive every day, learning how to keep the Lusca running, figuring out how to communicate with Earth, making sure they don’t run out of food.

When a member of the surviving second generation dies from symptoms that look just like the deadly virus, though, Lindley feels her world shrinking even smaller. The disease was supposed to be over; the second generation was supposed to be immune. But as more people die, Lindley must face the terrifying reality that either the virus has mutated or something worse is happening: one of their own is a killer. 

Four Three Two One by Courtney Stevens
Expected Publication: November 13th, 2018
From Goodreads:
Golden “Go” Jennings wasn’t supposed to be on Bus 21 the day it blew up in New York City. Neither was her boyfriend, Chandler. But they were. And so was Rudy, a cute stranger whom Go shared a connection with the night before. And Caroline, a girl whose silence ended up costing nineteen people their lives.

Though it’s been almost a year, Go is stuck in the memory of that day. She needs to talk about what happened and would like it to be with Chan, but he’s completely shut himself off to what happened and what Go needs to move on from it. Then she makes contact with Rudy. Just like that, she again finds herself connecting so easily (and guiltily) to him.

Talking to another survivor has opened up a small window of healing in an otherwise stifling nightmare of memories. So she makes an impulsive decision: take her Gran’s truck and her best friend Becky, road trip to Florida to pick up Rudy and Caroline, and, somehow along the way, convince Chan to join them. Their destination? New York City to board an art installation made of the charred remnants of Bus 21.

But things are never easy when it comes to healing. Uniting the four stirs up conflicting feelings of love, anger, and forgiveness. And secrets. Secrets that answer long-awaited questions. Secrets that dig schisms. Secrets that just may save these survivors—from themselves and the guilt that plagues them.

Wow, some really great books! I'm so excited for this books and I can't wait for them to come out! What about you guys? Happy reading!

WWW Wednesday #389, September 26th

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?

Thanks to MizB of Should Be Writing now A Daily Rhythm for starting this meme!

I'm reading Good and Gone, and yeah, it's a really enjoyable read, moody and awesome!

I read Uncanny, and it was dark and creepy and I enjoyed it so much! Such an awesome book!

I'm going to be reading Slayer, and I can't wait, I read a teaser and it was so fantastic, and I love Kiersten White's writing!

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Teaser Tuesday #389, September 25th

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Today's teaser comes from Good and Gone by Megan Frazer Blakemore, page 84.

"Knowing how awful she is, but still wanting her? That's the actual worst."

Yeah, that is! Poor Charlie! What about you guys? Happy reading!

We Have the Cover of The Lovely and the Lost!!!!

Yeah, we have the cover of The Lovely and the Lost by Jennifer Lynn Barnes!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #381, September 24th

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week...and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well...you never know where that next "must read" book will come from!

What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #380
Teaser Tuesday #388
WWW Wednesday #388
WOW #384
Will the Time Come #381
Third Sentence Thursday #371
Random Reads #356
First Lines Friday #384
The Reward Challenge Update #366
Book Blogger Hop #50
How Well I Stuck to It #218
Wrote that Review Update #215

Week 38 Reviews:
Fangirl
Ash and Quill
Smoke and Iron
Vampires Like it Hot
Made for You
Lucky Girl

Tours:
The Bridge Kingdom: Cover Reveal

Random:
My Lifestyle Change(s)

OK, so I got 19 posts in 7 days, which is pretty fantastic given that I've kinda let blogging all into the wayside. But I hope to catch up soon! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read Give the Dark My Love, Hidden, and Time's Convert.

When seventeen-year-old Nedra Brysstain leaves her home in the rural, northern territories of Lunar Island to attend the prestigious Yugen Academy, she has only one goal in mind: learn the trade of medicinal alchemy. A scholarship student matriculating with the children of Lunar Island's wealthiest and most powerful families, Nedra doesn't quite fit in with the other kids at Yugen, who all look down on her.

All, except for Greggori "Grey" Astor. Grey is immediately taken by the brilliant and stubborn Nedra, who he notices is especially invested in her studies. And that's for a good reason: a deadly plague has been sweeping through the North, and it's making its way toward the cities. With her family's life--and the lives of all of Lunar Island's citizens--on the line, Nedra is determined to find a cure for the plague.

Grey and Nedra continue to grow closer, but as the sickness spreads and the body count rises, Nedra becomes desperate to find a cure. Soon, she finds herself diving into alchemy's most dangerous corners--and when she turns to the most forbidden practice of all, necromancy, even Grey might not be able to pull her from the darkness.

Hide. That's all Pippa can do to escape the terror chasing her. But now that she's off the grid in a safe house, she finds plenty of interesting things to watch through the window. Like her new neighbor, with his startling green eyes, killer smile, and sexy bad-boy tattoo . . .

Run. Malcolm West is fleeing the hell he unleashed in his last assignment as an undercover cop. A backwoods bungalow sounds like the perfect place to start over. Until he discovers he's been set up . . .

Fight. Someone's gone to a lot of trouble to bring them together. No matter how much he resents that, and his own driving needs, Malcolm will have to dig deep and let loose the banished killer inside himself, or Pippa's fears could come true faster than the flip of a bolt in a lock . . .

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Discovery of Witches, a novel about what it takes to become a vampire.

Set in contemporary Paris and London, and the American colonies during the upheaval and unrest that exploded into the Revolutionary War, a sweeping story that braids together the past and present.

On the battlefields of the American Revolution, Matthew de Clermont meets Marcus MacNeil, a young surgeon from Massachusetts, during a moment of political awakening when it seems that the world is on the brink of a brighter future. When Matthew offers him a chance at immortality and a new life, free from the restraints of his puritanical upbringing, Marcus seizes the opportunity to become a vampire. But his transformation is not an easy one and the ancient traditions and responsibilities of the de Clermont family clash with Marcus's deeply-held beliefs in liberty, equality, and brotherhood.

Fast forward to contemporary London, where Marcus has fallen for Phoebe Taylor, a young employee at Sotheby's. She decides to become a vampire, too, and though the process at first seems uncomplicated, the couple discovers that the challenges facing a human who wishes to be a vampire are no less formidable in the modern world than they were in the 18th century. The shadows that Marcus believed he'd escaped centuries ago may return to haunt them both--forever.

A passionate love story and a fascinating exploration of the power of tradition and the possibilities for change, Time's Convert will delight fans of the All Souls trilogy and all readers of magic, the supernatural, and romance.

Wrote that Review Update #215, September 23rd

If you want to participate, set a certain amount of reviews to write, and once you make that goal, you can get a reward!

My reviews to reward is writing all of the reviews of the week, and I motivated myself to write my review for Fangirl, Ash and Quill and Smoke and Iron, Vampires Like it Hot, Made for You, Lucky Girl, so I have 5 of 5 reviews written!

And as always, I want to review this week's reviews!

What about you guys? Happy reading!

How Well I Stuck to It #218, September 23rd

So I decided that I should have accountability on sticking to what should be in a week, so I'm doing How Well I Stuck to It every Sunday, because my schedule should be fixed in by now!

Week 39:

Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis, Hidden by Rebecca Zanetti, Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness

Tour Books: NA.

Review Books: NA.

NetGalley: 1. Check.

Edelweiss: NA.

Meme Books: NA.

Rereads: NA.

New Books: 2. Check.

Yeah, a nice short week with some fantastic books that I can't wait to read! 

Week 38:

Dare You to Lie by Amber Lynn Natusch, For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig, Pride by Ibi Zoboi, Vampires Like it Hot by Lynsay Sands

vs.

Fangirl by Rainbow Roswell, Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine, Smoke and Iron by Racine Caine, Vampires Like it Hot by Lynsay Sands, Made for You by Melissa Marr, Lucky Girl by Amanda Maciel

Yeah, I only read one of what I wanted to read, but I read about the same amount of books, so it works out! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Week 38 Review: Lucky Girl

From Goodreads:
Lucky Girl is an unflinching exploration of beauty, self-worth, and sexual assault, from the author of the acclaimed Tease.

Rosie is a beautiful girl—and it's always been enough. Boys crush on her, men stare at her, girls (begrudgingly) admire her. She's lucky and she knows it. But it's the start of a new school year and she begins to realize that she wants to be more. Namely, she's determined to be better to her best friend, Maddie, who's just back from a summer program abroad having totally blossomed into her own looks. Rosie isn't thrilled when Maddie connects with a football player who Rosie was hooking up with—but if it makes her friend happy, she's prepared to get over it. Plus, someone even more interesting has moved to town: Alex, who became semifamous after he stopped a classmate from carrying out a shooting rampage at his old high school. Rosie is drawn to Alex in a way she's never experienced before—and she is surprised to discover that, unlike every other guy, he seems to see more to her than her beauty.

Then at a party one night, in the midst of a devastating storm, something happens that tears apart Rosie's life and sets her on a journey of self-discovery that forces her to face uncomfortable truths about reputation, identity, and what it means to be a true friend. 

My Review:
I enjoyed reading this book. It was a great book about friendship and about sexual assault, and how one can affect the other. Rosie had to deal with her ex assaulting her-come to the terms that it was assault-and growing up and figuring out what matters in life. Because she always was the pretty one, and now, that doesn't mean much to her.

So I really enjoyed her first book, Tease, because the main character was flawed and had made mistakes, and was a book that made you think about the issues. This book did the same, which was really great, we'll need books about sexual assault until a) it stops happening, and b) everybody has healed from it. And even then, we'll need books like this to keep it from happening again. So this is a good step!

Rosie and Alex, I wanted to read about them, but I also wanted to cringe away, because they were so awkward, and I have a hard time with awkward, because I don't want to be that, myself, though I can't help myself sometimes. But they were really cute together, and I really enjoyed their relationship!

One big part of this book was her friendship-or temporary breaking of-with Maddie. Because Maddie was interested in Rosie's ex, and when she walked in on them and made the wrong assumptions, that messed things up. Though they were a little wrong earlier, what with Rosie being jealous of Maddie. I was so glad that they worked things out!

This book was a really great read, and I really enjoyed it!

Author: Amanda Maciel
Read: September 20th, 2018
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Enjoyed Tease, this sounded good, and it's a SAC 2018 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Published: April 25th 2017

5/5 Hearts

4/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 38 Review: Made for You

From Goodreads:
Bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely books Melissa Marr's first contemporary YA novel is a twisted southern gothic tale of obsession, romance, and murder. A killer is obsessed with Eva Tilling. Can she stop him, or will he claim her?

When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she's confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she's awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people's deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva's power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows increasingly frantic in his attempt to get to Eva.

For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr has applied her extraordinary talent to contemporary realism. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this Gothic, racy thriller—a story of small-town oppression and salvation. Melissa's fans, and every YA reader, will find its wild ride enthralling. 

My Review:
I really enjoyed reading this book! I mean, I know I write that all the time in my reviews, but any book that I finish, yeah, it's because I enjoyed it! Melissa Marr is a really fantastic author, and yeah, this book combined paranormal with YA and romance and mystery, and was just so great to read!

Eva is that girl, the one that every girl wants to be, every guy wants to be with. Pretty, popular, and in their small town, good solid families on both sides of her family tree. So it's a shock for her to be the victim of a hit and run-that as it turns out, someone wants to hurt her.

I really enjoyed the relationship with Eva and Nate, they had been friends, then circumstances pulled them apart, but now was bringing them back together again. She explored her new ability with him, which was really interesting to read!

The mystery, I didn't know who was the bad guy until what he'd said in Eva's narrated chapters came up again in his chapters from his perspective, that get together that Eva had thrown, yeah, I didn't really think about him as a possibility! So that was really great! I really enjoyed how they beat him!

This book was fantastic and I enjoyed it so much!

Author: Melissa Marr
Read: September 20th, 2018
Source: Bought
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a SAC 2018 Book and a WTC Book!
Publisher: Harper Collins
Published: September 16th 2014

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 38 Review: Vampires Like it Hot

From Goodreads:
New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands brings the heat in this new Argeneau novel, as one woman is rescued by an irresistible immortal …

"Vampires..."

When Raffaele Notte pulls a barely dressed, disoriented woman from the ocean, the last thing he expects is for her to utter that word. The immortal has come to the island resort to help his cousin, but now, it seems, there are rogue vampires dining on unsuspecting tourists. And he soon realizes that not only is Jess a target, she's also the life mate he's been waiting for…

Vampires are real. Jess would've never believed it until she saw them with her own eyes. She knows she has to get off the island, and her gallant rescuer has offered to help. There's something about Raffaele that's unlike any man she has ever met, and his touch sends pleasure through her that is beyond all imagining. But when Jess discovers who he really is, will she risk life as she knows it for a chance of forever by his side?

My Review:
Yeah, I loved reading this book! I always enjoy reading a Lynsay Sands book, and yeah, I just love the uniqueness of her vampires! I love how it combines vampire lore and Atlantis, it's just so original and fresh, even after all these books! I always love the moment when someone is told all about it! It's so great to read!

As always, this book was a lot of fun to read! I mean, Jess comes up with the name Vampirates, which yeah, is pretty hilarious! And then there's all the various kidnap/escape moments, of which there are a number of, and while they were filled with tension, they were a bit funny as well!

The guys are on a trip to try and heal Santo, emotionally, after all the trauma that he's gone through. And I think the distraction of Raffaele finding his lifemate-one that has two Immortals to choose between, helped. Well, also since that was what she was training for before she found out that she cared too much and couldn't detach from her patients. Yeah.

This book was different from the other books. In the others, it's pretty simple, cut and dried about who the bad guy is. But this book, it's set up that the Vampirates are the bad guys. But it's more complicated than that, that things were not all what they seemed!

Loved this book, and I can't wait for more, and how the corrupt South America council will be dealt with!

Author: Lynsay Sands
Series: Argeneau #28
Read: September 18th 2018
Source: Bought
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Avon
Published: September 18th 2018

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 38 Reviews: Ash and Quill, Smoke and Iron

From Goodreads:
Hoarding all the knowledge of the world, the Great Library jealousy guards its secrets. But now a group of rebels poses a dangerous threat to its tyranny....

Jess Brightwell and his band of exiles have fled London, only to find themselves imprisoned in Philadelphia, a city led by those who would rather burn books than submit. But Jess and his friends have a bargaining chip: the knowledge to build a machine that will break the Library's rule.

Their time is running out. To survive, they'll have to choose to live or die as one, to take the fight to their enemies—and to save the very soul of the Great Library....

From Goodreads:
To save the Great Library, the unforgettable characters from Ink and Bone, Paper and Fire, and Ash and Quill put themselves in danger in the next thrilling adventure in the New York Times bestselling series.


The opening moves of a deadly game have begun. Jess Brightwell has put himself in direct peril, with only his wits and skill to aid him in a game of cat and mouse with the Archivist Magister of the Great Library. With the world catching fire, and words printed on paper the spark that lights rebellion, it falls to smugglers, thieves, and scholars to save a library thousands of years in the making…if they can stay alive long enough to outwit their enemies.

My Review:
I enjoyed reading these books so much! I mean, I love the whole "the library of Alexandria survived" concept, and that it then basically took over the world. That they had a series of rotten leaders, yeah, that sucks, but they also have a bunch of good people to defend it's better side!

After the ending of Paper and Fire, yeah, that was pretty cliffhanger-y! That they're in America, with the Burners, yeah, that's not easy! They had to be very clever and tricky! Which they had to continue on, though I wish they hadn't gone to the Brightwell compound because it meant that they were all pt in pretty awful situations!

Smoke and Iron, goodness gracious, it was such a fantastic book! It's the first that we got multiple POV's from all these other characters as well as Jess, and they were all having their adventures and it was so great to read!

Honestly, Smoke and Iron felt a lot like a final book in the series, the way everything all came together. But there are still threats that the library is facing, as well as the turmoil because of the regime change! I can't wait to read it!

These books were so amazing and fantastic, and I can't wait to see how it all ends!

Author: Rachel Caine
Series: The Great Library #3, 4
Read: September 16th, 17th, 2018
Source: Ebook.bike, NetGalley
Reason Why: Love this series and her writing, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Books! And Smoke and Iron is a WoW Book!
Publisher: Berkley Books
Published: July 1st 2017, July 3rd 2018

Ash and Quill:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Smoke and Iron:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars