Book Spotlight: Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question. 

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.
From Goodreads.com

You guys know I haven’t been reading a lot of contemporaries. I love them to pieces, I do, but recently I’ve been drawn to more paranormal/science fiction/steampunk adventures. Well, Meant to Be kind of restarted my whole love for contemporary. I read it months ago and I’m excited to finally share my thoughts with you! 

For Julia, this trip is perfection beyond perfection. She get’s to go to London and work on winning the heart of childhood crush Mark Bixford, her MTB. However, Julia’s whole trip is ruined when she’s partnered up with Jack. Jack makes her life miserable and this is no exception. She thinks this is the worst thing that ever happened to her, especially after he drags her to a party against the rules. The next day, she begins receiving romantic texts and so the adventure begins. Together Julia and Jack must break a few rules in order to find Julia’s secret admirer. Will she who for it or will she stick to her ever guarded rules?

Julia is crazy character to love. She’s klutzy, back straight, follow all the rules kind of a girl. She can be quite annoying if I do say so myself. Here’s the funny part though, I loved her for it. She’s so real in all of her quirks I kind of wanted to hug her for it. Her MTB (meant to be) search is hilarious and something every girl can relate to. 

Now, there’s the other side of the story, Jack. He’s the class clown, let’s make Julia’s life miserable kind of a guy and super adorable while he’s at it. His personality was so much fun and games I loved when he showed up on the pages. Their relationship is fresh and exciting because it’s not all a bed of roses. Both are quite big on the thorns part, arguing more than talking. I want to hug both of them crazy kids. 

Seriously guys, I’m a huge fan of this book. Have you seen the cover? It’s amazing right? Well, the words inside, just as awesome. Lauren does a wonderful job writing a story that’s not only fun, but sweet and exciting, all wrapped into one perfect package. If I wasn’t laughing, I was rooting for Julia and Jack. If I wasn’t rooting, I was yelling at them to get their heads screwed on straight. Now that’s the kind of response that makes for a great book! Meant to Be comes out November 13th, 2012!

Get it, read it, love it! Let me know what you think! 

Happy reading, 

Valia 

Book Spotlight: Conjure (The Hoodoo Apprentice #1) By Lea Nolan

Be careful what you search for...

Emma Guthrie expects this summer to be like any other in the South Carolina Lowcountry--hot and steamy with plenty of beach time alongside her best friend and secret crush, Cooper Beaumont, and Emma’s ever-present twin brother, Jack. But then a mysterious eighteenth-century message in a bottle surfaces, revealing a hidden pirate bounty. Lured by the adventure, the trio discovers the treasure and unwittingly unleashes an ancient Gullah curse that attacks Jack with the wicked flesh-eating Creep and promises to steal Cooper’s soul on his approaching sixteenth birthday.When a strange girl appears, bent on revenge; demon dogs become a threat; and Jack turns into a walking skeleton; Emma has no choice but to learn hoodoo magic to undo the hex, all before summer—and her friends--are lost forever.

From goodreads.com

Emma, Jack and Cooper are spending their summer in the South Carolinas. She has big plans for the summer. After half a year away at a boarding school with her brother Jack, Emma is finally back with Cooper (her secret crush). But things don’t work out exactly as she plans. The three discover a message in the bottle that leads them on a treasure hunt. But this is no fairy tale adventure. Soon, Jack is cursed with the Creep, a flesh eating curse and Emma must do everything in her power to save her brother and the boy she loves. 

So the characters, let’s talk about the characters. Emma was a interesting enough character. I like how she constantly tried to do something in order to help her brother and Cooper. She had a lot to deal with, and while discouraged, she still tried to push through that. I have to give her serious props for that. Jack pretty much annoyed me the whole book. Instead of being the older brother, he seemed like a little kid and I, personally, didn’t care about him being plagued by the Creep. I know, that sounds awful, but seriously, this guy needed to grow up a little. 

I think out of all the characters, I like Cooper the best. I just felt like there was more to his character than the others. He actually seemed like a typical teenage boy. His interactions with Emma were sweet, and his friendship with Jack was what kept me rooting for Jack to survive. 

Overall, this is an interesting premise. The whole hoodoo is not something I’ve ever read before and I enjoyed finding out more about the culture. The world Lea created was believable and a little scary, which I give huge thumbs up for. 

The book was a quick read for me, but it read a little more like a middle grade story. I don’t know if it was just me, but it didn’t read quite like young adult. However, I am interested to see what happens next with the characters and where Lea takes this new world. If you like a little bit of adventure, magic, and romance, this book is the one for you! Conjure comes out October 16th, 2012. 

Happy reading, 

Valia 

P.S. Thank you Entangled Publishing for the ARC!!! 

Book Spotlight: The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an allying pirate clan: she wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to her handsome yet clueless fiance. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns the scorned clan has sent an assassin after her. 

And when the assassin, Naji, finally catches up with her, things get even worse. Ananna inadvertently triggers a nasty curse — with a life-altering result. Now Ananna and Naji are forced to become uneasy allies as they work together to break the curse and return their lives back to normal. Or at least as normal as the lives of a pirate and an assassin can be.
From Goodreads.com

Born and raised in the world of pirates, Ananna is not your typical girl. In the first pages, Ananna is being set to marry a son from an allying pirate clan. But being who she is, Ananna doesn’t want to be a wife to a pirate, she wants to run her own ship. So instead of being pulled into a life she doesn’t want, she runs away. However, there are consequences to her actions and the pirate clan will have none of it. They send an assassin after her, but he is not what she expects.
Naji has a job to do. He must bring the runaway back to the clan, but everything changes when he meets Ananna. Together they embark on a journey neither one of them ever expected. And that’s where the fun begins.
To tell you the truth, I had no idea what to expect from this story. I was going through (and still kind of am) a fantasy kick, and I was desperatly searching for a book that would help with my slight obsession. Well, this book kind of intensified that obsession just a bit.
The story blew me away. I was pulled in from the first pages, eagerly reading each word. Ananna is one of my favorite heroine’s right now. She’s strong, smart, and knows exactly what she wants. I loved how from the very beginning she stood up for her own beliefs. I was routing for her to win the whole deal! Then comes in Naji. And let me tell you, Naji? A-freaking-mazing. I adore him to pieces and I’m not ashamed to say it. He was a fabulous character to read. Not only is he swoon worthy, he’s smart and super skilled to kick anyone’s butt that stands in his way. And once Ananna is in his life, he’s also super protective.
The chemistry between these two is fabulous. I loved how we get to see their necessity turn to friendship and then...that’s right I just left that blank. Don’t assume anything by those dots people. Trust me, this whole book, make no assumptions.
I have to mention the ending. The ENDING! Seriously, I was very unhappy. There were lots of words spoken in fast succession. At work. With people staring. I want the next book RIGHT now. I’m not even kidding. That is all.
Seriously though, Cassandra created a beautiful picture of a world that is ruled by magic. Her characters are real, intense, and just plain amazing. I really felt like Cassandra had a good grip on her story and she showed it in this wonderful debut. This book comes out October 2, 2012. Buy it, read it, love it!

Happy reading, 
Valia

Book Spotlight: Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Inhale. Exhale. 
Breathe. 
Breathe. 
Breathe . . .
The world is dead. 
The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

Alina
has been stealing for a long time. She's a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she's never been caught before. If she's careful, it'll be easy. If she's careful.

Quinn
should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it's also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn't every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

Bea
wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they'd planned a trip together, the two of them, and she'd hoped he'd discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?
From goodreads.com

       The world is not like it used to be. All the trees are dead, and with their death came chaos. The world has no oxygen. The cities are built within a dome, with oxygen regulated by the Breathe officials. The people are divided into three groups of social standings, and freedom is a foreign word. 

Alina is a rebel, set on bringing back the right way of life, the freedom that was taken from the people when Breathe came into power. Bea is a girl from the lowest class, where anything but regular breathing costs more than she can afford. She can’t dance or sing, simply because she doesn’t have enough oxygen. Her best friend Quinn, is from the rich class, so he puts together a trip for the two of them into the Outlands. Then Alina comes along, and that’s where the real story begins. 

I loved everything about this book. I’m a huge fan of dual points of view, when it’s done right, and having three points of view was even better. I felt like Sarah did a great job with all three voices, brining the story to a whole new level. Alina is a tough girl. I liked her character and her no nonsense attitude. The only thing that I was a little put off of is the fact that every guy she met wanted to get with her. It was a bit of “Really? Again?” 

Bea was a great character. I think she may be my favorite. I felt like we really saw her grow throughout the book. She’s the girl anyone can relate her, especially in her love life. She pushes thru the challenges, and takes on the role of protector and fighter. I loved this girl!

As for Quinn, oh Quinn! He’s a handful of emotions. He starts out like any other rich boy. However, he doesn’t end like it, which I loved. I enjoyed seeing him grow as a character, and I loved seeing his relationship with Bea. Those two has amazing chemistry, and they complimented each other in a way that made my heart smile. 

The world of Breathe is both frightening and real. The journey the three must make in order to discover the truth behind the lies Breathe has been feeding them is beautiful and powerful. They have to learn things about themselves and each other, fighting for their right to breathe. After my little reading slump, this was just the book to excite me about stories again. Breathe comes out October 2, 2012. Buy it, read it, love it! 

Happy reading, 

Valia 

Book Spotlight: Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson

Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there. 

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.

Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.
From goodreads. com

Valkyrie Rising starts off with a party. Here we meet Ellie, the main character, along with her brother Graham and his best friend Tucker. Ellie lives her life in the shadow of her brother. She’s coddled and protected from the world and she hates it. When she is sent to Norway to visit her grandmother, she takes it as a chance to have a few days away from Graham and his ways. Little does she know, you should be careful what you wish for. Graham arrives, and he brings Tucker with him. Then, the real adventure begins. 

I loved the premise of this book the moment I read it. Girl power all the way, right? Ellie is the main character here, she’s the girl who is desperate to be her own person only to discover she is actually a Valkyrie (as far as being your own person as you can be). To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about Ellie. As a main character, she wasn’t my favorite. Especially in the fact that she was supposed to be this kick butt of a character. The times I loved her the most? When she was with Tucker. He seemed to bring out the best in her, versus the little girl whiny that she put off in the beginning. 

Ah, Tucker! Seriously, for me, the whole book is on this character. He was my absolute favorite. Sure, parts of him and his relationship with Ellie were predictable, but still. He’s definitely swoon worthy! I mean, who doesn’t want a guy who will push you to be the best part of yourself and risk his life to save yours. Did I mention he was gorgeous? And his sarcastic banter with Ellie was hilarious. Right? The deal people. My point exactly. 

The secondary characters introduces to the story were interesting enough, but didn’t shout excitement like I wanted them to. It was a bit fun seeing grandma kick butt tho. I did enjoy the different aspects of the mythology brought out, even though I wish there were more of it throughout the story. I’m interested to see where Ingrid takes the characters next, because the ending wasn’t your typical ending. Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to see what happens next. Valkyrie Rising comes out October 9th, 2012! Love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading, 

Valia 

Book Spotlight: Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.
From Goodreads.com


       I read this book in March. I was the lucky winner of the first ever ARC and I couldn't wait to read it. The story sounds so amazing and I couldn't wait to hear what happens.
       So now I’m writing a review of Defiance. Oh My Goodness!!!! 

I devoured this book. *Jumps up and down in happiness* It's soooo good! A total win!

Thank you for sharing my enthusiasm! :)

(Sorry, I just had to take a moment and freak out a little bit. )

Rachel is so broken and real and powerful. I loved reading her struggle to keep herself from losing all that she is and discovering what makes her the kind of person she needs and wants to be. C.J. describes her journey very well. I loved the action scenes! She's definitely kick butt kind of a girl!

Logan is *swoons* *faints* *passes out from awesome*
        LOGAN!!!! (by the way, I adore that name).
 I’m sorry I just can’t help myself. His voice is so raw and beautiful! I loved his character, his mind, his everything. 

Their relationship is officially one of my favorites. 

Sometimes I feel there are too many "love at first sight" "omw he's so cute, I just met him but he's my soulmate" kind of relationships. Not that I don’t appreciate those once in a while, but Rachel and Logan are not prince and princess, they're real, powerful, blow your mind characters that have the chemistry that will pull you in and won’t let you go.

The world C.J. created is full of beautiful real people struggling to survive. They live behind walls, protecting themselves not only from the harsh rulers but the creatures threatening to destroy their existence. The story is full of twists and turns, and characters who will grip your heart and leave you breathless.  

This book comes out September of 2012 and I can’t wait for you all to read it! I’ll definitely be reposting this review closer to the release date just so you can ooh and aww over it and run and buy the book! 

So Many Emotions!!! I can't handle it!!!!
        Much love, 

Valia 

Book Spotlight: Rootless by Chris Howard

Seventeen-year-old Banyan is a tree builder. Using scrap metal and salvaged junk, he creates forests for rich patrons who seek a reprieve from the desolate landscape. Although Banyan’s never seen a real tree—they were destroyed more than a century ago—his father used to tell him stories about the Old World. But that was before his father was taken . . .

Everything changes when Banyan meets a mysterious woman with a strange tattoo—a clue to the whereabouts of the last living trees on earth, and he sets off across a wasteland from which few return. Those who make it past the pirates and poachers can’t escape the locusts—the locusts that now feed on human flesh.

But Banyan isn't the only one looking for the trees, and he’s running out of time. Unsure of whom to trust, he’s forced to make an uneasy alliance with Alpha, an alluring, dangerous pirate with an agenda of her own. As they race towards a promised land that might only be a myth, Banyan makes shocking discoveries about his family, his past, and how far people will go to bring back the trees.

In this dazzling debut, Howard presents a disturbing world with some uncanny similarities to our own. Like the forests Banyan seeks to rebuild, this visionary novel is both beautiful and haunting—full of stunning images that will take permanent root in your mind . . . and forever change the way you think about nature.
From Goodreads.com

The book starts out with Banyan getting hired to build a forest for a wealthy man. The world has been torn apart by Darkness, and trees are something of the past. The landscape is destroyed, the locusts eat humans, and the constant dust storms make it hard to breathe. That is the world that Banyan lives in. His father was taken a year ago, and now Banyan is on his own. He’s a skilled builder, able to survive on the hard work he does. This seemed like a routine assignment, but it wasn’t. Banyan didn’t expect to meet a mysterious woman with a strange tattoo, or her daughter. Now it’s Banyan’s mission to find the place where the last trees exist and that’s where the fun begins. 

This whole book was one big mess of crazy! And I mean that in a good way. Banyan is a great character, a surviver, who makes decisions much better than I would’ve expected. I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this book. Every page had me guessing on what’s going to happen next. I like watching Banyan grow as a character and he really had to do that in this book. 

I also really enjoyed Alpha. Although, I swear, every page I felt like she was going to die. Everyone around Banyan just seem to and I kind of wanted her to survive (You’re going to have to read the book to find out what happened). She was definitely a kick butt kind of a girl, who didn’t take any crap from anyone. I liked her chemistry with Banyan, how she balanced him. 

Howard paints a picture of a world that is so realistic it makes you think twice about the one outside your own window. Every page is full of imagination and description that leaps out of the story. It did take me a little bit to get into it, I just wasn’t sure about the whole idea at first. But once I got through the beginning, the story takes off. Rootless comes out November 1st, 2012. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading, 

Valia  

Book Spotlight: Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear

Noli Braddock and her best friend V’s incident with a flying auto have landed them in a heap of trouble. And when Noli is sent to a spirit-squelching reform school in San Francisco, she’s sure that her rebellious adventures are over.
Meanwhile, Kevighn Silver has been ordered by the Faerie Queen to bring a mortal girl back to the Otherworld. The magic requires a blood sacrifice every seven years, and only a mortal girl who shines with the Spark—a girl like Noli—will keep the Otherworld from complete destruction.
When an ill-timed wish sends Noli tumbling into the Otherworld, she’s more homesick than ever . . . until V arrives to save her from an untimely demise. But who exactly is V? And if he helps Noli escape, who will save the realm of Faerie from utter annihilation?


From Amazon.com


Thanks ATWAT for the book!

Innocent Darkness is a story about a girl named Noli, who is nothing like the proper lady of her time. She is rebellious, fun seeker, who rather tinker under a flying car than wear pretty dresses. Despite her social status she is best friends with Steven Darrow, otherwise known as V and she constantly gets him in trouble. When a joyride is caught by the police Noli is sent to a boarding school to “fix” her ways. Separated from her best friend and her mother, Noli must fight the pressures of the boarding school and discover for herself who she truly is. The boarding school is not what it seems and for Noli that’s where the adventure begins. 

There is so much to say about this book. I’m still in the beginning stages of loving steampunk and I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this book but I really wanted to give it a try. I wasn’t disappointed!!! 

I loved Noli as a character. She has a lot of growing to do, and she constantly has to prove to the world that staying true to herself is the best option. She goes through many changes throughout the book but she continues to portray her strength and never giving up. It takes her a while to figure out her feelings on some matters which in itself is sweet and realistic. Speaking of feelings, there’s V. 

I adore V’s character to pieces! From the beginning, I knew there was something about him that’s going to capture my heart. Sure, I felt for Kevighn at times but V has truly won my heart. He is such a sweet, unexpected hero that it makes me squee with happiness anytime he comes across the pages. I love his friendship with Noli and how he makes her a better version of herself. 

The ending took me by surprise! I literally grunted at some things in the last pages. The aspects of Noli that I loved so much are taken to the highest test and I’m really curious to see how book two and three are going to play out. Nervous? Yes. Excited? Most definitely!

Suzanne creates a world that is so real it could be the one we read about in history books. Full of memorable characters, fascinating plots, and flying contraptions (yes, I had to throw that in) Innocent Darkness is a beautiful debut! It comes out August 8th, 2012! I would love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading, 

Valia