Review: Down to You by M. Leighton

Title: Down to You (A BAD BOYS NOVEL)
Series: The Bad Boys, #1
Author: M. Leighton
Published: July 1, 2013 (reissue)
Pages: 304
Genre: New Adult
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Rating: C
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Shhh, just let me love you, okay? Don’t think. Just feel.”

summary from Goodreads
One girl. Twin brothers. An uncommon triangle.

When college student Olivia Townsend returned home to help her father run his business, she never imagined a complication like Cash and Nash Davenport—twin brothers different in so many ways but with one thing in common: an uncontrollable desire for Olivia.

Cash is dangerous, sexy, and bad to the bone—a man whose kisses make Olivia forget she is playing with fire. Nash is successful, reliable and intensely passionate—and already taken. But all it takes is one soft stroke to make Olivia forget he belongs to someone else.

However, Olivia is in for a surprise. These boys have a secret that should make her run away as far and as fast as she can. If only it wasn’t too late. A sensual game between three players has begun, and it’s about to spin deliriously out of control.

Review: Freefall by Jill Sorenson

Title: Freefall

Series: Aftershock, #2

Author: Jill Sorenson

Published: May 28, 2013

Pages: 384

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Source: NetGalley

Publisher: Harlequin

Rating: C

Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads

HE'S HER ONLY HOPE...

Park ranger Hope Banning's plans for a little R & R are put on hold when a plane crashes at the top of a remote mountain. Hope will have to climb the summit and assess the situation. And the only climbing partner available is Sam Rutherford--the enigmatic man she spent a night with six months ago.

FOR STAYING ALIVE...

Ever since Sam lost his girlfriend in a falling accident, he insists on climbing solo. But Hope and any potential survivors need his help. As Sam and Hope set out on an emergency search-and-rescue mission, he realizes the sparks still sizzle between them. And when they learn a killer is among the survivors, they must place their trust in each other for a chance at happiness.

Review: Down London Road by Samantha Young

Title: Down London Road
Series: On Dublin Street, #2
Author: Samantha Young
Published: May 7, 2013
Pages: 375
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Source: Publisher (NAL)
Rating: B+
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “But what does it say about humans as a species if we go around killing things just because we fear them?”

summary from Goodreads
Johanna Walker is used to taking charge. But she’s about to meet someone who will make her lose control....

It has always been up to Johanna to care for her family, particularly her younger brother, Cole. With an absent father and a useless mother, she’s been making decisions based on what’s best for Cole for as long as she can remember. She even determines what men to date by how much they can provide for her brother and her, not on whatever sparks may—or may not—fly.

But with Cameron MacCabe, the attraction is undeniable. The sexy new bartender at work gives her butterflies every time she looks at him. And for once, Jo is tempted to put her needs first. Cam is just as obsessed with getting to know Jo, but her walls are too solid to let him get close enough to even try.

Then Cam moves into the flat below Jo’s, and their blistering connection becomes impossible to ignore. Especially since Cam is determined to uncover all of Jo’s secrets …even if it means taking apart her defenses piece by piece.

Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Title: Dare You To
Series: Pushing the Limits, #2
Author: Katie McGarry
Published: May 28, 2013
Pages: 462
Genre: Young Adult
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Rating: B
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

Review: Wild Ones by M. Leighton

Title: The Wild Ones (A WILD ONES NOVEL)
Series: Wild Ones, #1
Author: M. Leighton
Published: March 5, 2013
Pages: 330
Genre: New Adult
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Berkley
Rating: C+
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “I never work for kisses. But I’d be willing to make an exception.”

summary from Goodreads
Passion as hot as midnight in the South and love as wild as the horses they tame." The darling daughter of a champion Thoroughbred breeder, Camille "Cami" Hines has a pedigree that rivals some of her father's best horses. Other than feeling a little suffocated at times, Cami thought she was happy with her boyfriend, her life and her future--until she met Patrick Henley. "Trick" blurs the lines between what Cami wants and what is expected of her--and he just happens to be so sexy she can't keep her hands off him. While they both know that Trick would lose his much needed job on the ranch if anyone finds out, they can't resist the lure of their scorchingly hot encounters. But when Trick stumbles upon a note from his father, it triggers a series of revelations that could ruin what he and Cami have worked so hard to overcome. It turns out there's more to Trick's presence at the ranch than either of them knew, and secrets with the power to tear them apart...

Review: Her Knight's Quest by Alexis Morgan

Title: Her Knight's Quest
Series: Warrior's of the Mist, #2
Author: Alexis Morgan
Published: March 5 ,2013
Pages: 336
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Publisher (Signet Eclipse)
Rating: C+
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “If you have regrets in your life, Duncan, you are indeed blessed, I have many, but kissing you will not be one of them.”

summary from Goodreads
They are cursed by the gods, and war is their salvation. Love is their deliverance.

For centuries, five legendary warriors have braved battles shoulder to shoulder. But now they must divide and conquer as lone champions against evil.

Duncan, a scholar at heart, is drawn to an isolated abbey rumored to hold the answers to countering the terror unleashed by Duke Keirthan. Inside the cloistered walls lies the hidden collection of forbidden lore on dark magic. But the real key to the salvation Duncan seeks—both for the people of Agathia and his soul—is the abbess herself, Lady Lavinia. Hunted by the duke, who seeks to harvest her powers, Lavinia knows Duncan wants to help her. But can she trust the tortured warrior with her secrets?

In the end, it is only by joining forces that they can save not only those they are sworn to protect but each other.

Review: Touch of Steel by Kate Cross

Title: Touch of Steel
Series: Clockwork Agents, #2
Author: Kate Cross
Published: December 4, 2012
Pages: 352
Genre: Stempunk
Source: Publisher (Signet)
Rating: A
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “You try to be so hard and tough, but beneath that you are a good man, and no woman can resist that. I don’t care how well-trained or determined she is. You will make her want to please you, to win your trust and the ultimate prize of your heart, and then she’s lost.”

summary from Goodreads
The Wardens of the Realm are a group with extraordinary abilities, dedicated to protecting England from any threat. But in this steam-powered world, there’s a fine line between enemy and ally…

Reeling from her brother’s death, beautiful American spy Claire Brooks has vowed revenge on the member of The Company who she believes to be responsible: Stanton Howard. But when she chases the man to London, Claire is captured by the Wardens of the Realm and placed in the custody of the Earl of Wolfred, the dashing Alistair Payne.

Seeing the prospect of retribution slipping away, Claire convinces Alistair that she has defected and will help him take down The Company. As they travel via steam liner, Claire and Alistair must pretend to be engaged. Claire can’t deny the growing attraction she feels for her pretend husband, but when Howard is finally within her reach, she will have to decide whether her true loyalties lie with The Company or with her heart…

---

Ellie's thoughts:
Claire Brooks has been a spy for The Company, an American spy agency, since she was fifteen years old and joined with her brother Robert. Claire, aka The Dove, has betrayed her agency and is out for revenge on the man who killed Robert in a fire. On the hunt Claire is shot and ends up in The Warden’s, the British spy agency, custody where she is shocked to be shown kindness and a chance to get her revenge by switching sides. Claire will do anything to avenge her brother’s death and agrees to accompany Alastair Payne to capture the men involved.

Alastair Payne, Earl of Wolfred, always knew he would be a Warden just like his mother and father were but he never expected to be double crossed by her former mistress and left for dead. Now more robot than man Alastair is determined to show everyone that he is a good spy and won’t let a woman get the best of him again. Until he meets Claire Brooks. Claire is not to be trusted but the more time together Alastair sees deeper into her soul and why she needs revenge. The love affair could ruin them both or cost them their lives but they both know it can only end in heartache.

Touch of Steel is hands down the best steampunk-romance book that I have read in 2012 and maybe ever. The world Kate Cross has created is amazingly complex with spies, double crossings and everyone out to save their way of life. Nothing is this world is perfect and both Claire and Alastair have their share of tragedies and hardships that make them the driven people they are. The blend of the Victorian Age with the autotrons, and wonderful gadgets that Arden comes up with make this a world that I never want to leave.

We meet Alastair in the first book Heart of Brass and he comes full circle in Touch of Steel and I liked him so much better this time around. Alastair wants nothing to do with Claire but he knows how valuable she is at bringing down important people in the company. The more time he spends with her he learns what we readers already know: she’s an amazing woman who fights for what she loves and will do anything for the people close to her. He can’t help falling for her and the adventure they go on is an amazing ride of twists, turns and some very steamy scenes.

Claire is one of my new favorite heroines and she is a badass. She hangs with the boys, is an amazing spy and has a fan made with knives. I want to be her when I grow up so badly. Claire is on a mission and nothing will stop her from reaching her goal except her feelings that develop for Alastair. There is a huge plot twist towards the end of the book and it throws Claire’s world upside down.

I can’t say much more without giving too much away but this book is mind blowing. If you love steampunk as much as I do you must read this series that is only getting better. I can’t wait for the next book because these are now at the top of my Must Read Pile.

Review: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Lost Prince (Iron Fey)
Series: The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #1
Author: Julie Kagawa
Published: October 23, 2012
Pages: 379
Genre: YA
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Rating: A-
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “If the damn fey wanted me as an enemy, bring it on. I’d be their worst nightmare.”

summary from Goodreads
Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’s dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.

---

Ellie's thoughts:
Ethan Chase may be a human but his sister is the Iron Queen and that makes him special. But Ethan doesn’t want to be special and he really doesn’t want to have the Sight which allows him to see the fey in our world. Ethan has spent his life trying to avoid the fey and sometimes fighting for his life which lead him to being expelled from his last school. All Ethan wants is to get through his senior year and be left alone but Kenzie, the school’s head reporter, has a different idea and will stop at nothing to get the scoop on Ethan. When Todd halfbreed fey and Ethan’s classmate goes missing Ethan knows he’s the only one who can save him and Kinzie is determined to follow into a world she never knew existed.

I wondered where this amazing series would go next and I was so excited to start this book and get to know Ethan and see what his life has been like since Meghan has become the Iron Queen. Ethan has had a really hard time growing up and because the fey have used people he cares about against him he doesn’t let anyone get close to him anymore. At his new school Todd and Kenzie both breakdown Ethan’s wall that he has created to keep people away from him. Todd is half human half fey and is shocked when he discovers Ethan can see him and enlists Ethan’s help to find out who is after him. When Todd goes missing Ethan knows there’s only one person who can help him and it’s off to Nevernever with Kenzie in tow.

The Lost Prince dives right back into the wonderful world that Julie Kagawa had created and we even get to meet up with some old favorites such as Puck and Grimlikin. Ethan is not a fan of the fey and he makes that very clear when encountering any of them. The quest to find Todd takes Ethan and Kenize all over both sides of the veil. They don’t spend as much time in Nevernever as I would have liked but it was still amazing to read about the Iron Kingdom and see what Meghan has accomplished as Queen.

This book is told from Ethan’s point of view and it was very interesting to see how he viewed Meghan and the fey years after she left everything behind to be the Iron Queen. In previous books Ethan was just the little brother that Meghan had to get back and it was amazing to see him as a young man trying to deal with the Sight and the knowledge that he has of this world that if he told anyone about he would be called crazy. Kenzie is great because she not only offers the most humor out of all the characters but she’s the only one who can get Ethan to be so angry and open up a little.

I missed Puck a lot in this book because there wasn’t anyone to really offer the great one liners or lighten the mood when things were getting dark. Kenzie does an okay job but this book is lacking some brightness at times. Part three drag at the beginning for me but after a few chapters it picked back up and got to the point where i couldn’t stop reading until I finished the entire book.

This is a very wild ride back into the world of the fey and I think any fan of this series is going to be so happy with this book. I do not recommend reading the Lost Prince without reading the Iron Fey series from the beginning. This book and the characters have so much history and such a large backstory that it would very almost impossible to know what is going on. I am so curious to find out what will happen next with the new fey that are emerging and I really hope we get to see more of Ash and Puck in future books. I loved this book and can’t wait to see what happens next in the best young adult series out there.

Early Review: Velveteen by Daniel Marks

Title: Velveteen
Series: Velveteen, #1
Author: Daniel Marks
Release Date: October 9, 2012
Pages: 464
Genre: Paranormal YA
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Dellacorte Books for Young Readers
Rating: B-
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: "And no for something completely different.”

“So, wait. That’s it? We make out and it was awesome and you make me feel things I never have with any other girl, and then you run? I gotta say, I’m feeling a little slutty here.”

summary from Goodreads
Velveteen Monroe is dead. At 16, she was kidnapped and murdered by a madman named Bonesaw. But that’s not the problem.

The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it’s not a fiery inferno, it’s certainly no heaven. It’s gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn’t leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what’s really on her mind.

Bonesaw.

Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she’s figured out just how to do it. She’ll haunt him for the rest of his days.

It’ll be brutal... and awesome.

But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen’s obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she’s willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker.

Velveteen can’t help herself when it comes to breaking rules... or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her.

---

Ellie's thoughts:
We first meet Velveteen in the daylight or “land of the living” as the dead like to call it, while she is visiting the man who murdered her Bonesaw. Velveteen is not allowed to haunt her killer but knowing that he is torturing and killing other young girls like herself makes it impossible for Velveteen to stop especially when she’s helped a few of the girls escape. But Velveteen can’t stay in the daylight, not only since it’s illegal but also because she heads the most successful salvage team in Purgatory history. Her team is responsible for retrieving lost souls, capturing dark souls or banshees and keeping her sector of Purgatory safe. Keeping things safe is getting harder and harder as talks of revolution and departure arise and its up to Velveteen and her team to find out who is behind the talks and how to stop them.

Velveteen blew my mind for the first thirty pages but then it seemed to go into a completely different story and I got kinda lost in transition. I was fascinated with Velvet, as she goes by, and her stalking of her killer. The whole book is very dark but the beginning takes dark young adult fiction to a whole new level but when we get to Purgatory and meet Velvet's salvage team the darkness that I had liked so much goes away. I put this book down at least three times because I just couldn’t get into the Purgatory/salvage part but for some reason I kept coming back. I was just on the verge of DNFing Velveteen when we meet Nick,

Nick, Nick, Nick. This character single handedly saved this book and kept me from making the mistake of not finishing it. Nick was a much needed breath of fresh air into a YA novel that was drowning in gloom. We see a whole new side of Velvet with Nick and they have some great banter. With the introduction of Nick the story had a new feel and got much better to the point that I was eager to get back and see what happened next. He also provides a lot of the much needed humor that was lacking from one of the darkest YA books I’ve ever read.

I really enjoyed Velveteen and I’m so happy that I went back and gave it a couple more chances. I did have a few problems with it which is why I gave it a B-. First problem is that it is long, 464 pages long and there are three or four parts that drag. If it had been a hundred pages less, which I think it could have without losing the plot or characters, it would have been much better. My other problem comes back to how dark of a book it is and that fact that it’s supposed to be for young adults. Maybe I’m just getting old but this book deals with some heavy issues death, murder, sex and drugs which I know kids are exposed to early but it just seemed a little too adult for a YA book. If I had a twelve year old I don’t think I would want them reading about serial killers but again I may just be old fashioned and not in tune with kids now that I’m thirty.

I am very happy with this book and very glad that I went back and continued reading. I loved the characters and the plot and I think a lot of people will really like it if they can get to Nick. I don’t read a ton of YA books but Velveteen will be a series that I will make an effort to read.

Review: Riveted by Meljean Brook

Title: Riveted
Series: The Iron Seas, #3
Author: Meljean Brook
Published: September 4, 2012
Pages: 416
Genre: Steampunk
Source: Publisher (Berkley Trade)
Rating: B
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “It seems a powerful ability to make someone quake in your presence without any action on your part.”

summary from Goodreads
A century after a devastating volcanic eruption forced Iceland’s inhabitants to abandon its shores, the island has become enshrouded in legend. Fishermen tell tales of giant trolls guarding the land and of seductive witches who steal men’s hearts. But the truth behind the legends is mechanical, not magic—and the mystery of the island a matter of life and death for a community of women who once spilled noble blood to secure their freedom.

Five years ago, Annika unwittingly endangered that secret, but her sister Källa took the blame and was exiled. Now Annika serves on the airship Phatéon, flying from port to port in search of her sister and longing to return home . . . but that home is threatened when expedition leader David Kentewess comes aboard.

Determined to solve the mystery of his own origin, David will stop at nothing to expose Annika’s secrets. But when disaster strikes, leaving David and Annika stranded on a glacier and pursued by a madman, their very survival depends on keeping the heat rising between them—and generating lots of steam . . .

---

Ellie's thoughts:
The first time David Kentewess hears Anikka Fridasdottor talk he knew she was the key to finding his late mother’s people and fulfilling a promise he made to her before she died. As luck would have it Anikka is a crew member on the ship David is taking to Iceland and he is fascinated by the woman who refuses to tell him anything of his mother’s people. As their journey continues David and Anikka strike up a friendship and when their ship is attacked they must rely on each other to survive.

Anikka Fridasdottor left her village hidden on Iceland four years earlier looking for her sister and she never expected to meet David, the lost son of her adopted aunt. David is unlike any man Anikka has ever met and the more time she spends with him the more she starts to fall for him. After an attack on their ship Anikka must determine if she can trust David with the secret of her village and with her heart.

If you are not reading the Iron Seas series you are missing out!!! This series was my first trip into the steampunk genre and I am hooked. Riveted is the third installment of the series but can be read as a stand alone with no problem since the characters are completely new from previous books. The characters in this series are always well rounded and the world of the Iron Seas is mind blowing.

Riveted takes place in Iceland a hundred years after a volcano forced the majority of the population to flee to the New World and the world is filled with people infected with tiny metal bugs and prosthetic metal appendages. David lost both his legs, an arm and one of his eyes in a horrible accident as a child which has made it difficult for him to let a lot of people get close to him. Anikka is the first woman who makes him feel like a real man and he soon finds himself in love. I loved David and Anikka so much and I loved watching them build a friendship and then fall in love. Both characters have had a hard time fitting in but together they can be themselves and take on the world.

I loved this installment in one of the most exciting and mind blowing series out there right now. There is such a great mixture of romance, steampunk, fantasy and action that you can never get bored. It was very interesting to see a different side of the world after the Horde has fallen and see how people live outside of England where prosthetic are more common. I wasn’t expecting the massive pro-gay theme in the book but it was a great surprise and made the story even more interesting.

Meljean Brook has created a steampunk world that I never want to leave. The plot and the characters will draw you in and never let you go. I love getting lost in the Iron Seas books and so far every single one had been a winner and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

DNF Review: Size 12 and Ready To Rock by Meg Cabot

Title: Size 12 and Ready to Rock
Series: Heather Wells, #4
Author: Meg Cabot
Published: July 10, 2012
Pages: 361
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source: Publisher (William Morrow)
Rating: DNF
Reviewed by: Tabatha

summary from Goodreads
Summer break . . . and the livin' ain't easy

Just because the students at New York College have flown the coop doesn't mean assistant residence hall director Heather Wells can relax. Fischer Hall is busier than ever, filled with squealing thirteen- and fourteen-year-old girls attending the first ever Tania Trace Teen Rock Camp, hosted by pop sensation Tania Trace herself--who just happens to be newly married to Heather's ex-boyfriend, heartthrob Jordan Cartwright. But the real headache begins when the producer of a reality TV show starring Tania winds up dead . . . and it's clear that the star was the intended victim.

Grant Cartwright, head of Cartwright Records, wants to keep his daughter-in-law (and his highest-earning performer) alive. So he hires his oldest son, black sheep of the family and private investigator Cooper Cartwright--who just happens to be Heather's "new" fiancE. Heather should leave the detecting to Cooper. But with a dorm full of hysterical mini-divas-in-training, she can't help but get involved. And after Tania shares a really shocking secret with her, "this" reality suddenly becomes more dangerously real than anyone ever anticipated.

---

Tabatha's thoughts:
Having gotten this book for review, I went back and read the other Heather Wells novels. I will say that this book just did not measure up for me. I really enjoyed the other ones. Some more than others, but for some reason - this one was just... off? I feel that the characters were not as developed as they were in the previous books. I also don't think the relationship between Heather and Tania was believable at all. I mean really, who is going to sit there and be kosher with the girl who your boyfriend cheated on you with? Not me - or anyone I know for that matter.

I just found Size 12 and Ready To Rock hard to believe and hard to get into.

Review: On The Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves

Title: On the Island: A Novel
Author: Tracey Garvis-Graves
Published: June 7, 2012 (reprint)
Pages: 329
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Plume
Rating: A+
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day.

T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn't bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family - and a stack of overdue assignments - instead of his friends.

Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter. Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.

---

Marq's thoughts:
Let me start off by saying: WOW. Just WOW. I did not expect to fall in love with the story and the characters.

On the Island isn't a book that I would pick up and start reading on my own. I saw some reviews by bloggers that I know and trust and figured I'd give the book a go. When I read the blurb, I hesitated. A romance between a 30 year old and a 16 year old? How can this author make this relationship NOT skeevy and icky? By writing a beautiful story about two people who fight for survival and find love in the least likely place.

Anna and T.J.'s relationship from teacher and student to lovers was written in such a wonderful way that it felt natural and that to have them keep their relationship platonic wouldn't work. Their relationship changes over a span of years. It's not immediate. It's a gradual change that takes place as T.J. transitions from boy to man. The entire time Anna does not cross that line until the line crossing became inevitable.

Once I started reading On the Island, I could not put it down until I'd finished the book. I was engrossed from page one. The writing is so vivid and detailed that I felt like I was on the island with T.J. and Anna. I was on the edge from start to finish. I had no idea how the book would end. T.J. and Anna had serious obstacles to face and I wasn't sure if they would be able to overcome them. Their journey and their struggle felt real and I was rooting for them from beginning to the end.

What really worked for me and kept me in the story was the changing POVs between Anna and T.J. Normally this would drive me crazy but it completely worked in this book. With this type of plot and the situation that the characters were in, as the reader, we had to know what was going on in their heads.

On the Island is one of my favorite reads this year. I am so glad that I decided to read this book. It was the best way to spend a Friday afternoon.  I recommend you read this book. Do not let the premise deter you. It's a beautifully written story about finding love where you least expect it.

Review + Giveaway: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing the Limits (Harlequin Teen)
Author: Katie McGarry
Published: July 31, 2012
Pages: 384
Genre: YA Romance
Source: Publisher
Rating: B
Reviewed by: Marq

Favorite quote: "I've already lost a piece of my mind. I can't trust you with what's left."

summary from Goodreads
No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

---

Marq's thoughts:
I don't normally read YA. As a matter a fact, I tend to stay far away from it. When I started seeing positive buzz about Pushing the Limits, I didn't pay much attention. And then the publisher contacted me and asked me if I wanted to review it. I read the premise. It sounded interesting, especially with a character named Echo, and decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did.

Pushing the Limits is a story about two damaged teens who are drawn to each other through their own individual tragedies. Echo was once the popular girl. She had tons of friends and she dated the hot jock. Her life was perfect until an accident, that she can not remember, happened leaving her with visible scars on her arms and emotional scars. Now Echo is a loner; the freak. She wears long sleeves to hide her arms. She doesn't each lunch in the cafeteria. Rumors swirl about what happened to Echo that fateful day. Echo doesn't remember but wants to get to the bottom of it.

Noah's life changed thanks to a house fire that destroyed his fire. He's no longer the jock kid making good grades. He's a stoner who lives in a foster home with two other teens. He's the bad boy that father's warn their daughters about. All Noah cares about is being with his two younger brothers. Noah and Echo become allies when they start seeing the same counselor and Echo starts tutoring Noah. They are both determined to get to the bottom of their issues and promise to help each other take a peek at their files. There's a deep attraction between the two. Noah is ready to explore it. But as Echo is regaining her old life and popularity, she's not sure if she's willing to risk being "normal" in order to be with Noah.

Pushing the Limits completely exceeded my expectations. I didn't think I would be so drawn into the story and the characters. Noah and Echo are trying to push past the hurt to get their lives on track. They don't trust the adults in their life and feel like they only have each other to lean on. I liked that not all the adults in the book were evil. Ha! The counselor, Mrs. Collins, seemed to be the only person who had their best interests at heart, with no selfish motives but to see these two kids heal.

Pushing the Limits is written in 1st person POV for Echo and Noah. I liked that a lot. And it worked. There's so much going on emotionally that I was happy to be inside both character's heads. The story had me totally hooked and I could not put it down. It was emotional. I was on edge as Echo's memory of that night slowly came to surface. My heart broke for Noah and I loved his dedication and determination to put what's left of his family back together.

I really enjoyed Pushing the Limits and highly recommend this book. Even if you don't normally read YA like me, I say push your preconceived notions aside and read this book!

Giveaway:
I have one copy of Pushing the Limits to giveaway. Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only. Good luck.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: I Suck at Girls by Justin Halpern

Title: I Suck at Girls
Author: Justin Halpern
Published: May 15, 2012
Pages: 180
Genre: Humor/Autobiography
Source: Publisher (Harper Collins)
Rating: C+
Reviewed by: Marq

Favorite quote: "Well, I'm up, and my morning just took a left turn into a pile of dog shit, so you might as well tell me what has you picking my lock."


summary from Goodreads
The story begins when Justin takes his dad out to lunch to announce that he's decided to propose to his girlfriend.

"You've been dating her for four years," his dad replies. "It ain't like you found a parallel fucking universe."

But eventually he gives Justin some advice: that he should take a day off and think back over everything he's learned in life about women, relationships, and himself before making his decision. And that's just what Justin does--revisiting everything from his disastrous childhood crushes to the night he finally lost his virginity while working as a dishwasher at Hooters.

"I Suck at Girls" is full of his dad's patented brand of wisdom. But it's also full of new characters just as funny as his dad--from his brother, who provides insights into wedding night rituals ("You stand in one corner of the room, and she stands in the other. You each take off one piece of clothing at a time") to his first boss, who warns Justin to man up: "That's what a man does. He takes his shots and then he scrubs the shit out of some dishes." The result is a pilgrim's progress through the landscape of sex and love--by one of the funniest writers at work today.

---

Marq's thoughts:
I Suck at Girls is a hilarious recount of Justin Halpern's unsuccessful attempts with girls. The book starts off with Justin telling his dad that he's going to propose to his girlfriend and then Justin's story is told through flashbacks. The first half of the book is beyond hilarious. The star of the book is Justin's dad and his no-nonsense way of telling the truth. He doesn't mince words or try to be politically correct in order to not hurt anyone's feelings.

My favorite chapter is "I Like It" where Justin likes Kerry Thomason and because he likes her, he decides to do what boys do and start picking on her. When he draws an offensive picture of Kerry and gets sent to the principal's office, I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes.

For me the best parts of the book were when Justin was a kid. As the book progressed and you saw his interactions with women as a teen and an adult, they became less funny and kinda sad. There were still some funny moments but they didn't make me laugh like the first half of the book.

I Suck At Girls is a fun, quick read. The dad is amazingly funny and steals the show. I loved how the book starts in the present and then goes back to show how Justin ended up as an adult in a relationship. I recommend this book if you're looking for a quick, funny read. And if you enjoyed Sh*t My Dad Says, you'll definitely enjoy this book.

Review: Heart of Brass by Kate Cross

Title: Heart of Brass
Series: Clockwork Agents, #1
Author: Kate Cross
Published: May 1, 2012
Pages: 400
Genre: Steampunk
Source: Publisher (Signet Eclipse)
Rating: B+
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “It seems you were with me when I didn’t know it”


summary from Goodreads
Arden is an undercover agent for one of the most powerful organizations of this steam-powered world—the Wardens of the Realm, a group with extraordinary abilities, dedicated to protecting England against evil.

Arden Grey enjoys a life most women in 1898 London can’t even dream of: she has the social status, wealth, and independence of a countess. She also has the ability to witness the final moments of a murder victim’s life. But ever since the disappearance of her husband, Lucas, none of this means anything to her. Until one night, when Arden spies a man watching her—a man she recognizes as her missing husband.

He’s been ordered to assassinate Arden as retribution for her part in the killing of a Company agent. Luke remembers nothing of his life before The Company, a corrupt agency that has erased his memory. Even so, something prevents him from completing his assignment. There is something familiar about his lovely target, something that attracts him and fills him with dread. For he knows that if he doesn’t kill her, someone else will—and kill him as well.

---

Ellie's thoughts:
Seven years ago Luke Grey went out on a mission and never came home. In those seven years his wife Arden has never given up hope that he is still alive and she has devoted her life to the Wardens of the Realm, the secret government Luke was working for. Arden is a woman with many talents including building all sorts of devices that can assist in police investigations which she does often. While aiding the police on a very gruesome murder case Arden sees a man that she swears is Luke and her suspicions are confirmed when he tries to murder her days later.

Luke Grey has been as assassin for The Company for seven years. His newest assignment is to kill Lady Arden Grey, a woman of the Ton who murdered a Company agent the year before. As Luke tries to carry out his mission he finds himself unable to kill this woman and it gets even worse when she says his name like she knows him. With old memories surfacing Luke must make a choice to kill the woman and complete his mission or take a chance and discover who he really is.

Heart of Brass is my favorite steampunk novel that I have read so far. It has the perfect blend of 19th century England with all of the gadgets, technology and fashion that any steampunk fan will love. From the very first page I fell in love with the world that Kate Cross has made and I never wanted to leave. This book has it all: romance, murder and mystery all woven together to create a book I couldn’t put down until I finished it.

Arden Grey is strong, smart and stubborn and I really enjoyed her. Arden never gave up that Luke was alive but when he comes back it’s very interesting to see how she adapts to the New Luke. I found myself feeling a little sorry for at times but she always picked herself up and did what she needed to do. The chemistry between Arden and Luke is sizzling and kept the pages flying. There were a few times when the story lagged a little but for the most part I loved it.

We are given a small glimpse into the next book in this series Touch of Steel that comes out in December. This story will surround Alastair, Luke’s best friend, who we meet in Heart of Brass. To say I’m excited for this book is an understatement. I am hoping that this book can live up HofB and if it can I have found my new favorite steampunk series and author.

Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Immortal Rules
Series: Blood of Eden, #1
Author: Julie Kagawa
Published: April 24, 2012
Pages: 504
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Harper Teen
Rating: C-
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “They were sheep, cattle, and I was the wolf, stalking them through the night. I had become the monster.”


summary from Goodreads
In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

---

Ellie's thoughts:
The night before I was given The Immortal Rules to review I was thinking to myself “Why are there never any vampire books where the girl is the vampire and the boy is human?” Literally the next morning I woke up and started reading the newest book from Julie Kagawa about a girl who is turned into a vampire named Allison, Allie, Sekemoto and a human boy Ezekiel or Zeke. I have not been this excited to read a YA book since I read the Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa and I didn’t even blink when I saw that it was almost five hundred pages but sadly this book was a big flop for me and left me very sad.

The Immortal Rules takes place in a vampire ruled world where humans are kept as a food source and must register as a blood donor to receive food and shelter. Allie is unregistered and living with her gang of other unregistered orphans. The world is also full of rabids, zombie like creatures who live beyond the wall of the vampire cities, and one night Allie and her gang are attacked by these horrible creatures. Allie is saved by a vampire and is given the choice to turn into a monster she hates or die. After many months Allie and her maker are attacked and Allie is on her own. She meets up with a band of humans searching for Eden, a place free of vampires and rabids, lead by Zeke and his adoptive father. Allie joins the group that is on an adventure that will change them all forever.

I have read a lot of young adult books in my day and this is by far one of the darkest, saddest and most depressing books I have ever come across. This is five hundred pages of depression and darkness and if I wasn’t such a fan of Mrs. Kagawa I would not have finished it. The first half of the book moves very slowly and could have been shortened but it wasn’t up to me. The second half is much better and fast paced but by the time you get to the good stuff, the book is almost over and you’ve been bored for way too long.

Allie is a great character and I really enjoyed her. I didn’t enjoy the gloom that surrounded her and the fact that she had nothing to be happy about. I needed some type of fun character to break up the darkness and get me to crack a smile but there was no one in a long line of depressed and sad characters. I try not to compare the two series from this author but at least in the Iron Fey Series we have Puck and Grimalkin who are great characters who break up the seriousness of everything and provide humor in what could be another sad book. Zeke was not my favorite character and I really didn’t like him or want him to be with Allie.

I really wanted to love this series but it was very depressing and way too dark for me. I will continue to read the series because Mrs. Kagawa is an amazing author and Allie is a great character. I’m hoping that the series will get better with the next book and I am actually very interested in where Allie will go and do next in her crazy adventure as a vampire.

Early Review: The Prophet by Amanda Stevens

Title: The Prophet
Series: Graveyard Queen, #3
Author: Amanda Stevens
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Pages: 352
Genre: Fantasy
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Mira
Rating: B-
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: "Which only served to remind me of how little I knew of the real John Devlin. In so many ways, he was still a stranger to me, but rather than discouraging my affection, his secrecy only intensified my unrealistic fantasies.”


summary from Goodreads
My name is Amelia Gray.

I am the Graveyard Queen, a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. My father passed down four rules to keep me safe and I've broken every last one. A door has opened and evil wants me back.

In order to protect myself, I've vowed to return to those rules. But the ghost of a murdered cop needs my help to find his killer. The clues lead me to the dark side of Charleston—where witchcraft, root doctors and black magic still flourish—and back to John Devlin, a haunted police detective I should only love from afar.Now I'm faced with a terrible choice: follow the rules or follow my heart.

---

Ellie's thoughts:
The Graveyard Queen series is by far one of the best and most original series out there and I’m addicted to them. With that being said The Prophet was my least favorite book so far and I struggled through it. I found the beginning very hard to connect with and I actually put the book down twice to read other things. These books are usually very creepy to the point that I’ve turned all the lights on in my house while reading at night. I didn’t have any moment like that with The Prophet and I was a little disappointed as a result.

Now don’t get me wrong this is a great book and I really enjoyed it but it took me a bit to get into it. Once I did I found that I couldn’t put it down and I was so surprised and delighted with everything that happens. In this book Mrs. Stevens takes us into the Gullah culture of the lowlands in the South. I was very unfamiliar with gullah culture but it is fascinating, scary and tied in great with the world Mrs. Stevens has created.

This book is very different from the previous two and bring Amelia back to Charleston and her relationship with John Devlin. I usually love Amelia but I found her a little annoying in the beginning and coincidental that she was always in the right spot and the right time to hear a conversation that she shouldn’t be listening to while hiding in someone’s bushes. I felt that John made Amelia less of the strong woman that she normally is and made her into a very needy, lost soul. I am happy with how everything turned out and by the end I was back to liking both characters.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this book that readers love and expect from Amanda Stevens. You never know where this brilliant author is going to take you or what she is going to throw at you next. Mrs. Stevens keeps you on your toes the entire book and never gives you a clue of how things will turn out which I love. I am eagerly anticipating the next book in this series and I can’t wait to see what happens to Amelia next.

Review: The Kingdom by Amanda Stevens

Title: The Kingdom
Series: Graveyard Queen, #2
Author: Amanda Stevens
Published: March 27, 2012
Pages: 384
Genre: Gothic Fiction
Source: NetGalley
Rating: A
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “I sometimes wonder if all that money spent on the dead might not have been put to better use on the living.”


summary from Goodreads
My name is Amelia Gray. They call me The Graveyard Queen. I've been commissioned to restore an old cemetery in Asher Falls, South Carolina, but I'm coming to think I have another purpose here.Why is there a cemetery at the bottom of Bell Lake? Why am I drawn time and again to a hidden grave I've discovered in the woods? Something is eating away at the soul of this town—this withering kingdom—and it will only be restored if I can uncover the truth.

---

Ellie's thoughts:
The Kingdom is the second book in Amanda Steven’s Graveyard Queen series featuring her heroine Amelia Gray. Amelia restores old graveyards all around the south which is a surprise since Amelia can see ghosts and has since she was a young girl. On her last job Amelia broke the rules that her father taught her about seeing ghosts and accidentally made contact with one and got too close to a man who is haunted by his dead wife and child. To escape her mistake and heartbreak in Charleston Amelia takes a job in Asher Falls, South Carolina restoring the town’s graveyard. The more time she spends there she can’t help noticing the strange things that go on in Asher Falls and she can’t shake the feeling that she was brought there for a very different reason then the town’s graveyard.

Once again Amanda Stevens has pulled me in to her Gothic world of southern cemeteries, ghosts and Amelia Gray and I never wanted to leave. The way Stevens write will keep you up at night with all the lights on (there could be ghosts!) reading until the very last page. It has been a very long time since a book could keep me on the edge on my seat , with my heart beating almost out of my chest as I try and try and try to figure out what is going to happen next. Very few books or series have ever captured my attention the way this series has and I can honestly say it is by far the best book that I’ve read since I read The Restorer last year which was my favorite book of 2011.

The town and the people of Asher Falls are a spooky bunch and as much as I disliked them I found them fascinating. The entire town and it’s history is fascinating and the pull that Amelia has to it made me nervous from the start. I don’t think I have been so scared and twitchy reading a book since I read It by Stephen King in junior high school. I was jumping at every noise, keeping the lights on as I fell asleep and never making eye contact with any ghosts (I learned the rules from the last book!) and I loved every single minute of it.

Amelia Gray is not your stereotypical heroine, she’s a loner, she sees ghosts and she has a horrible time connecting with anyone, even her parents. What I love so much about Amelia and, keeps me rooting for her over and over again, is she has an inner strength to survive at all costs and she will always put her life on the line to make things right. Amelia is one of the most complex characters I have ever met and though sometimes I don’t agree with her I am always cheering her on.

The Kingdom is an amazing book and I highly recommend reading The Restorer before starting it or you will be very confused. I already have a good feeling that this will be my favorite book of 2012 and that makes me a little sad because I have a lot more books to read and I doubt to find anything this good. I am highly anticipating The Prophet, the third book in the series, and cannot wait to see what happens next for the Graveyard Queen.

Review: The Legacy of Eden by Nelle Davy

Title: The Legacy of Eden
Author: Nelle Davy
Published: January 24, 2012
Pages: 400
Genre: Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: C-
Reviewed by: Marq

summary from Goodreads
For generations, Aurelia was the crowning glory of more than three thousand acres of Iowa farmland and golden cornfields. The estate was a monument to matriarch Lavinia Hathaway's dream to elevate the family name - no matter what relative or stranger she had to destroy in the process. It was a desperation that wrought the downfall of the Hathaways - and the once prosperous farm.

Now the last inhabitant of the decaying old home has died - alone. None of the surviving members of the Hathaway family want anything to do with the farm, the land, or the memories.

Especially Meredith Pincetti. Now living in New York City, for seventeen years Lavinia's youngest grandchild has tried to forget everything about her family and her past. But with the receipt of a pleading letter, Meredith is again thrust into conflict with the legacy that destroyed her family's once-great name. Back at Aurelia, Meredith must confront the rise and fall of the Hathaway family... and her own part in their mottled history.

---

Marq's thoughts:
The Legacy of Eden reminds of the great mini-series that used to air on TV in the 80s or a two-part movie on Lifetime. The story takes place between the present and the past. The story is told from Meredith Pancetti's point of view. The last of the Hathaway's has died and she must go to Aurelia, the family farm, to finalize the selling of it. Aurelia holds bad memories for most of the Hathways and family secrets. Told from first person POV, the story jumps between Meredith's present day voice and the past, 3rd person POV.

The Hathaways history starts off with scandal. The grandmother, Lavinia, had an affair with Meredith's grandfather, Cal, while she was still married to another man. As the plot progresses, we are privy to the life-changing incidents that shaped the Hathaway family. There's drama, deceit, secrets and lies but nothing that I found earth shattering. I found that as I read The Legacy of Eden, I was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. There were hints throughout that there were big secrets in the family; shameful secrets. When the secrets were revealed - and not in an outright, obvious way - I felt a little let down. I expected something that would make my jaw drop and instead, my reaction was "that's all?" Granted, the secrets are nothing to sneeze at but because I had built up this story to be something that would rival The Thornbirds, I felt that the family secrets didn't rock my world.

I also felt disconnected to the story and to Meredith. It could be due to the fact that Meredith is disconnected as a narrator. She left Aurelia and never looked back. She had no relationship with her two sisters. Meredith is pretty much alone. I felt no sympathy for Meredith especially when her and Ava confront each other. It was an emotional sister moment and I was not moved. I felt that Meredith was selfish and in her actions, only cared about herself.

The Legacy of Eden kept me reading only because of I was curious to discover more about the dysfunction of the Hathaway family. This is a family who suffers a lot of tragedy in their lives and most of it is due to their own selfishness and misguidance.  All in all, it was a nice way to spend an afternoon reading. I wish there was more angst and maybe it's just me, but I wanted it to be a little more over-the-top. If you like stories that spans multiple generations interspersed with family drama and angst, then you might like The Legacy of Eden.

DNF: Gun Games by Faye Kellerman

Title: Gun Games
Series: Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus, #20
Author: Faye Kellerman
Published: January 3, 2012
Pages: 384
Genre: Thriller
Source: Publisher (Harper Collins)
Rating: DNF
Reviewed by: Ellie

summary from Goodreads
Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus are back in this gripping mystery involving a secret cabal of some of Los Angeles' most wealthy--and vicious--teens

LAPD lieutenant detective Decker and his wife, Rina, have willingly welcomed fifteen-year-old Gabriel Whitman, the son of a troubled former friend, into their home. While the enigmatic teen seems to be adapting easily, Decker knows only too well the secrets adolescents keep--witnessed by the tragic suicide of another teen, Gregory Hesse, a student at Bell and Wakefield, one of the city's most exclusive prep schools.

Gregory's mother, Wendy, refuses to believe her son shot himself and convinces Decker to look deeper. What he finds disturbs him. The gun used in the tragedy was stolen--evidence that propels him to launch a full investigation with his trusted team, Sergeant Marge Dunn and Detective Scott Oliver. But the case becomes darkly complicated by the suicide of another Bell and Wakefield student--a death that leads them to uncover an especially nasty group of rich and privileged students with a predilection for guns and violence. Decker thought he understood kids, yet the closer he and his team get to the truth, the clearer it becomes that he knows very little about them, including his own charge, Gabe. The son of a gangster and an absent parent, the boy has had a life filled with too much free time, too many unexplained absences, and too little adult supervision.

Before it's over, the case and all its terrifying ramifications will take Decker and his detectives down a dark alley of twisted allegiances and unholy alliances, culminating at a heart-stopping point of no return.

---

Ellie's thoughts:
I have never done a review on a book that I didn’t finish and am a little unsure of how to start.

I was very excited to read Gun Games because it seemed like a different type of book from what I have been reading lately and I felt I needed to shake things up and expand my horizons. Unfortunately I had a very hard time connecting to the characters and the plot. I found myself at times thinking of my To-Do list or wondering if I should cook or get take out for dinner. When I read a book I like to get lost in it and go along on the journey with the characters.

It was difficult connecting with any of the characters because of all of the different points of views going on. I felt that the characters all came off as the same person instead of a teenage boy or a grown police detective which I found highly annoying.

I'm sure fans of this author and the series will enjoy this book. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. I sadly could not finish this book and have no desire to try to do so in the future.