Saturday, August 31, 2013

Lindsay's September Recommendations

For our very first month, I proudly came up with the theme novels that take place in school. So read to find out my recommendations for books to read that will make you feel better about going back to school knowing these characters are fairing far worse than you.

Tori's September Recommendations

Friday, August 30, 2013

Bargain Books | #1

I'm starting a new segment where I search Amazon and Barnes & Noble ebooks and try to find you guys the best deals. The books that I list are books that caught my interest, so these aren't the only books that are on sale! Go see for yourself! 

Do you have a budget on books? Well, this way you can get the most bang for your buck! Everything I find is no more than $5, but keep in mind that prices change! So get your books as soon as possible!

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Lindsay's Review: My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler

My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler
Series: None
Genre: Autobiography, Humor, Chick-Lit
Rating: ★★★
Pages: 213
Published by Bloomsbury on May 12th, 2005
Date Read: August 26th, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

In this raucous collection of true-life stories, actress and comedian Chelsea Handler recounts her time spent in the social trenches with that wild, strange, irresistible, and often gratifying beast: the one-night stand. You've either done it or know someone who has: the one-night stand, the familiar outcome of a night spent at a bar, sometimes the sole payoff for your friend's irritating wedding, or the only relief from a disastrous vacation. Often embarrassing and uncomfortable, occasionally outlandish, but most times just a necessary and irresistible evil, the one-night stand is a social rite as old as sex itself and as common as a bar stool.
Enter Chelsea Handler. Gorgeous, sharp, and anything but shy, Chelsea loves men and lots of them. My Horizontal Life chronicles her romp through the different bedrooms of a variety of suitors, a no-holds-barred account of what can happen between a man and a sometimes very intoxicated, outgoing woman during one night of passion. From her short fling with a Vegas stripper to her even shorter dalliance with a well-endowed little person, from her uncomfortable tryst with a cruise ship performer to her misguided rebound with a man who likes to play leather dress-up, Chelsea recalls the highs and lows of her one-night stands with hilarious honesty. Encouraged by her motley collection of friends (aka: her partners in crime) but challenged by her family members (who at times find themselves a surprise part of the encounter), Chelsea hits bottom and bounces back, unafraid to share the gritty details. My Horizontal Life is one guilty pleasure you won't be ashamed to talk about in the morning.


Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Tori's Waiting on Wednesday: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi 
Series: Shatter Me #3
Genre: Dystopia, Young Adult, Paranormal
Pages: 352
Published by HarperCollins on February 4, 2014
The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, called "a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love"
Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

Lindsay's Waiting On Wednesday: Reborn by C.C Hunter

Reborn by C.C Hunter
Series: Shadow Falls After Dark #1
Pages: 400
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on April 15th, 2014

Summary: Stay tuned for an all-new series about Shadow Falls' favourite vampire, Della Tsang!
Other than that, there is no excerpt but it is coming soon according to the author!










Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Lindsay's Top Ten Most Memorable Secondary Characters (7)


This is an event hosted by The Broke and Bookish. This week is the top ten most memorable secondary characters!


I'm going to admit that this is a hard one for me. Not only because I have to limp back and forth to my bookshelf (I'm injured) but also because though I'm great with remembering characters, their names escape me more than a few times. I'm just horrible with names.

In no particular order: (It would take me forever to figure out who gets the number one spot!)

1. Link from Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia
There's just something about Link that I love and I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's because I find him hilarious, or love his awful band and his enthusiasm despite it's awfulness. I've reread this book more than a few times and I still can't pinpoint his awesomeness!

2. Issac from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Isaac leaned a hand against the snack table and focused his huge eye on me. “Okay, so I went into clinic this morning, and I was telling my surgeon that I’d rather be deaf than blind. And he said, ‘It doesn’t work that way,’ and I was, like, ‘Yeah, I realize it doesn’t work that way; I’m just saying I’d rather be deaf than blind if I had the choice, which I realize I don’t have,’ and he said, ‘Well, the good news is that you won’t be deaf,’ and I was like, ‘Thank you for explaining that my eye cancer isn’t going to make me deaf. I feel so fortunate that an intellectual giant like yourself would deign to operate on me.’”

3. Storm from All You Get Is Me by Yvonne Prinz
Her outfits are always outrageous too. They’re the outfits you see in fashion magazines on nine-foot skeletal models. The ones where you always think, Who would wear that? Storm would, that’s who.
I love Storm, always have, and always will. She's just so quirky that I love her, and the quote I chose is one I always remember, no matter how long it's been since I read the book.

4. Kishan from Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck
In the other books he is  a major character, however in the first one, his appearance is brief and despite such a short time spent with him, I loved reading about him so much. His hotness definitely began to rival Ren's in this book, if you Team Ren vs Team Kishan readers know what I mean.

5. Taylor from Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
Taylor was just so crazy, even before she left the group and went out into the jungle to continue her even crazier shenanigans. Despite the problems the characters faced, I was constantly wondering what cray cray Taylor was doing and got excited when she showed up.

6. M from Warm Bodies by Issac Marion
At first his grunts are what gets me. His conversations with R are hilarious, but throughout the book, he grows and turns into a really nice zombie.

7. Roland Sparks from Fallen by Lauren Kate
There's something unique and memorable about Roland. Between his connection with Daniel, his popularity and somehow always getting what is needed for parties, he's still one of my favorites from the series.

8. Marcie Miller from Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
I hated her so much while reading the series and after that she's forever burned into my mind. I disliked her like she was a real person, and no matter how much distance I put between myself and rereading the series, she's always there when I see the books. She's just so awful!

9. Hudson from Ten Things We Did by Sarah Mlynowski
His secret job is enough for an explanation.

10. Tyler Down from Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Even though I'm not finished with this book, I can tell that Tyler (and his clicking camera) is someone I'm not going to be forgetting for quite some time.

So there you have it, my top ten most memorable secondary characters! Agree, disagree? Leave me a comment letting me know why and your most memorable secondary characters!



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Monday, August 26, 2013

Tori's Review: Real by Katy Evans

Real by Katy Evans
Series: Real, Raw & Ripped #1
Genre: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Rating: ★★½
Pages: 266
Published by Smashwords on April 8, 2013
Date Finished: August 25, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A fallen boxer.A woman with a broken dream.A competition…
He even makes me forget my name. One night was all it took, and I forgot everything and anything except the sexy fighter in the ring who sets my mind ablaze and my body on fire with wanting…
Remington Tate is the strongest, most confusing man I’ve ever met in my life.
He’s the star of the dangerous underground fighting circuit, and I’m drawn to him as I’ve never been drawn to anything in my life. I forget who I am, what I want, with just one look from him. When he’s near, I need to remind myself that I am strong–but he is stronger. And now it’s my job to keep his body working like a perfect machine, his taut muscles primed and ready to break the bones of his next opponents . . .
But the one he’s most threatening to, now, is me.
I want him. I want him without fear. Without reservations.
If only I knew for sure what it is that he wants from me?

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Read a Chapter Sampler of Amy Christine Parker's Gated!

I saw this on RandomBuzzers, and they said that they really wanted the word to be spread about Amy Christine Parker's new book, so that's what I'm doing! Check it out below: 



Hope you guys enjoyed it!

Friday, August 23, 2013

Tori's Review: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi


Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me #2
Genre: Dystopia, Young Adult, Romance
Rating: 
Pages: 461
Published by HarperCollins on February 5, 2013
Date Read: August 23, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
it's almost
time for war.
Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.
She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.
Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.
In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Tori's Review: How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Rating: 
Pages: 307
Published by Simon Pulse on May 7, 2013
Date Finished: August 21, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
First she lost her heart. Then she lost her mind. And now she’s on a road trip to win back her ex. This debut novel’s packed with drama and romance!
Rosie’s always been impulsive. She didn’t intend to set her cheating ex-boyfriend’s car on fire. And she never thought her attempts to make amends could be considered stalking. So when she’s served with a temporary restraining order on the first day of summer vacation, she’s heartbroken—and furious.
To put distance between Rosie and her ex, Rosie’s parents send her on a cross-country road trip with responsible, reliable neighbor Matty and his two friends. Forget freedom of the road, Rosie wants to hitchhike home and win back her ex. But her determination starts to dwindle with each passing mile. Because Rosie’s spark of anger? It may have just ignited a romance with someone new…

Tori's Waiting on Wednesday: The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa
Series: Blood of Eden #3
Genre: Paranormal, Dystopia, Young Adult
Pages: N/A
Published by Harlequin Teen in 2014

There is no summary, wahhh wahhh.



Sunday, August 18, 2013

Tori's Review: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan


The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Series: Percy Jackson & the Olympians #2
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Mythology
Rating: 

Pages: 279
Published by Disney-Hyperion Books on April 1, 2006
Date Finished: August 18, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble


The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan's amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a "half blood" whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan's series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment. In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book's drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Lindsay's Review: fml by Shaun David Hutchinson

fml by Shaun David Hutchinson
Series: None, but a book called wtf is on it's way
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance
Rating:
Pages: 304
Published by Simon Pulse on June 25, 2013
Date Finished: August 15, 2013
Goodreads  Amazon  Barnes & Noble
There’s more than one way to get the girl in this fun and fast-paced novel about one epic party and a kiss that could change everything.Tonight’s the night: Simon’s big chance to finally get with Cassie. Cassie, who he’s loved for ages. Cassie, who is newly boyfriend-free. Cassie, who just happens to be throwing the biggest party of the year. Simon’s plan is simple: He’ll go to the party, she’ll fall in love with him, they’ll make out like crazy, and the night will be a complete success.
But things don’t ever go as planned…especially when it comes to Cassie.
In two alternating plotlines, Simon goes after the girl of his dreams and stumbles toward his destiny. It’s one night, one party, and a thousand ways for things to go wrong…but a million ways for them to go right.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Lindsay's Review: How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski


How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Rating:
Pages: 307
Published by Simon Pulse on May 7, 2013
Date Finished: August 13, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

First she lost her heart. Then she lost her mind. And now she’s on a road trip to win back her ex. This debut novel’s packed with drama and romance!
Rosie’s always been impulsive. She didn’t intend to set her cheating ex-boyfriend’s car on fire. And she never thought her attempts to make amends could be considered stalking. So when she’s served with a temporary restraining order on the first day of summer vacation, she’s heartbroken—and furious.
To put distance between Rosie and her ex, Rosie’s parents send her on a cross-country road trip with responsible, reliable neighbor Matty and his two friends. Forget freedom of the road, Rosie wants to hitchhike home and win back her ex. But her determination starts to dwindle with each passing mile. Because Rosie’s spark of anger? It may have just ignited a romance with someone new…

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Tori's Waiting on Wednesday: Snakeroot by Andrea Cremer

Snakeroot by Andrea Cremer
Series: Nightshade Legacy #1
Genre: Young Adult, Werewolves, Paranormal
Pages: 336
Published by Philomel on December 10, 2013

Fans asked for it, and now they've got it! Andrea Cremer is continuing the story she began in in her internationally bestselling trilogy: Nightshade, Wolfsbane and Bloodrose. In this new installment, Bosque Mar haunts the dreams of both Adne and Logan, trying to escape for the Nether, where Calla, Shay and the other Guardians trapped him in the final battle in the War of All Against All. Will he turn Adne to the dark side? Will Logan reclaim his birthright? And will darkness take over our world? In a novel filled with magic, romance and breakneck action, master storytelling Andrea Cremer's newest installment will not disappoint!

WARNING: Don't read beyond this point if you haven't read the Nightshade series as well as all the novellas. There are spoilers.

Lindsay's Waiting On Wednesday: Tiger's Dream by Colleen Houck

Tiger's Dream by Colleen Houck
Series: The Tiger's Saga #5
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance
Pages: N/A
Published by Sterling in 2014
Summary is not out yet, and neither is the cover. However, I found this one on the internet and instantly fell in love. I think it's absolutely perfect for the series and matches everything that happened perfectly.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Tori's Review: Aftermath by Andrea Cremer

Aftermath by Andrea Cremer
Series: Nightshade #3.5
Genre: Young Adult, Werewolves, Fantasy
Rating:
Pages: 19
Published by Philomel on July 31, 2013
Date Finished: August 13, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Picking up where BLOODROSE left off, this short story delves into the aftermath of the final battle between the Searchers, the Keepers and the Guardians. Adne is haunted by her past actions, Logan is running for his life, and the Searchers still don't feel safe. What they thought was the end of the War of All against All may just be the beginning of something even more sinister...

Tori's Top Ten Favorite Books With a Sad Setting (6)


This is an event hosted by The Broke and Bookish. This week is my top ten favorite book with a sad setting (which is the setting that I chose) because I have a lot of books with sad settings.



1. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
The ending was sad-ish. The whole book wasn't sad, but the ending was. Does that count?

2. Saving June by Hannah Harrington.
This book wasn't completely sad, but it had a sad undertone. I mean, the girl's sister died, and they're going to scatter her ashes in Cali. How is that not sad?

3. The Compound by S. A. Bodeen
The kid is freaking locked in a compound that his father built. It reminds me of Blast from the Past but with a crueler dad, you know?

4. Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer
Okay I'm sorry but I had to add this. They're going to war. Of course it's sad.

5. Stolen by Lucy Christopher
Seriously now. Gemma gets kidnapped by a hot godlike male that also happens to be pretty cray cray. It's sad that she got kidnapped in the first place though.

6. Looking for Alaska by John Green
Every John Green novel is sad. Except for Zombicorns.

7. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
You know. You know.

8. I Will Save You by Matt de la Pena
Such a sad book, and the end is phenomenal.

9. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
This book was just sad, okay? It was sad.

10. The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
Don't even get me started. Just read my review and you will understand. Better yet, read the book and you will understand. This book was just so freaking sad at the end, and I couldn't even handle it. I was, like, crying, and I couldn't stop, and I was just so sad.

I don't think this was exactly what they were looking for, but that's okay. Other people (including Lindsay) did places as their settings. I just couldn't find 10 books all based in one place, to be honest. Even if I did happen to have a lot of summer or beach setting books, I wouldn't remember. Plus most of my books are fantasy and paranormal, so they don't really care about the season. But still! I did this!


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Lindsay's Top Ten Favorite Books With A Summer Setting (5)


These are my top ten favorite books with my chosen setting, summer. Because let's face it, summer is sadly coming to and end and we all want it to last forever.
P.S. Screw you, school.


In no particular order:

1. How My Summer Went Up In Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
Though I'm just in the homestretch of finishing this book (and the review will be up within the next few days) I can't deny how much I love summer road trip books, especially during summer. It's like getting a taste of what's out in the world without even going.
2. Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck
Spending your summer in India with a hot guy who is also a prince and white tiger who's in love with you? I'd spend every summer like this if I could.
3. A Shore Thing by Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi
A hot guy, beach, and hilarious filled summer. Nuff' said.
4. fml by Shaun David Hutchinson
Again, not finished with this book, but I can already tell it's going to become a favorite. First part of the summer filled with hilarious, awkward, and cringe worthy happenings.
5. Shadow Falls (Born At Midnight) by C.C Hunter
A camp for super naturals and a romance with Lucas. If you remember from my review: LUCAS LUCAS LUCAS LUCAS LUCAS.  
6. All You Get Is Me by Yvonne Prinz
A usual summer on a farm turned into a coming of age fun one by an amazing boy named Forest. I can't get enough of this book and can't wait to reread it before summer ends.
7. Hold Still by Nina LaCour
Though this book isn't taking place completely through summer, it goes through the season and I absolutely loved this touching book.
8. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
I don't think it's specified what time of year this story takes place, however it is on a deserted island with amazing beaches, so I think that qualifies. This book was hilarious. Beauty Queens stranded? What could be better?
9.
10.

Yeah, I can't think of any more right now. I'll add the other two in later when I can remember some more summer themed books.
What are your favorite books that take place during the summer? Leave a comment and let me know!


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Tori's Review: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
Series: Blood of Eden #2
Genre: Vampires, Young Adult, Dystopia
Rating:
Pages: 434
Published by Harlequin Teen on April 30, 2013
Date Finished: August 13, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.
Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Tori's Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Series: Summer #1
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Chick Lit
Rating:
Pages: 276
Publication by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers May 5, 2011
Date Finished: August 11, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Tori's Review: Ten Things We Did by Sarah Mlynowski

Then Things We Did by Sarah Mlynowski
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: ½
Pages: 368
Published by HarperTeen on June 7, 2011
Date Finished: August 10, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house - parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn't have.

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe "opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: "Lied to Our Parents"). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up "Skipping School" (#3), "Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8), "Buying a Hot Tub" (#4), and, um, "Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn't-have-done at a time.

Tori's Review: Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer
Series: Nightshade #3
Genre: Young Adult, Werewolves, Paranormal
Rating:
Pages: 406
Published by Philomel on January 3, 2012
Date Finished: August 10, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there's more at stake than fighting. There's saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay's wrath. There's keeping Ansel safe, even if he's been branded a traitor. There's proving herself as the pack's alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers' magic once and for all. And then there's deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is. In this remarkable final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, international bestselling author Andrea Cremer crafts a dynamic novel with twists and turns that will keep you breathless until its final pages.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Lindsay's Review: Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

Just One Wish by Janette Rallison
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Chick Lit
Rating:
Pages: 272
Published by Putnam Juvenile on March 5th, 2009
Date Finished: August 9, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Seventeen-year-old Annika Truman knows about the power of positive thinking. With a little brother who has cancer, it's all she ever hears about. And in order to help Jeremy, she will go to the ends of the earth (or at least as far as Hollywood) to help him believe he can survive his upcoming surgery.
But Annika's plan to convince Jeremy that a magic genie will grant him any wish throws her a curveball when he unexpectedly wishes that his television idol would visit him. Annika suddenly finds herself in the desperate predicament of getting access to a hunky star actor and convincing him to come home with her. Piece of cake, right?
Janette Rallison's proven talent for laugh-out-loud humor, teen romance, and deep-hearted storytelling shines in a novel that will have readers laughing and crying at the same time.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Tori's Review: Treachery by Andrea Cremer

Treachery by Andrea Cremer
Series: Nightshade #2.5
Genre: Young Adult, Werewolves, Paranormal
Rating:
Pages: 34
Published by Philomel on December 13, 2011
Date Finished: August 8, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Ansel’s world is falling apart. The Nightshade pack led by his parents has been violently destroyed. His sister, Calla, abandoned her little brother, leaving him to answer for her crimes. And the Haldis pack that would have been his future is irreparably broken by Calla's betrayal. Suffering at the hands of the Keepers, Ansel is losing everything he's ever loved. The only chance he has to save himself means an alliance with his tormentors, and repaying Calla in full for her treachery.
In this novella, find out why Ansel makes the decisions he does in Andrea Cremer's New York Times bestselling novel, Wolfsbane.

Tori's Review: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
Series: Nightshade #2
Rating:
Pages: 390
Published by Philomel on July 26, 2011
Date Finished: August 8, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer–one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack–and the man–she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Tori's Review: World War Z by Max Brooks

World War Z by Max Brooks
Series: None
Genre: Horror, Zombies, Science Fiction
Rating:
Pages: 342
Published by Crown in September 12, 2006
Date Finished: August 7, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. Max Brooks, driven by the urgency of preserving the acid-etched first-hand experiences of the survivors from those apocalyptic years, traveled across the United States of America and throughout the world, from decimated cities that once teemed with upwards of thirty million souls to the most remote and inhospitable areas of the planet. He recorded the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, hell of that dreadful time. World War Z is the result. Never before have we had access to a document that so powerfully conveys the depth of fear and horror, and also the ineradicable spirit of resistance, that gripped human society through the plague years.
Ranging from the now infamous village of New Dachang in the United Federation of China, where the epidemiological trail began with the twelve-year-old Patient Zero, to the unnamed northern forests where untold numbers sought a terrible and temporary refuge in the cold, to the United States of Southern Africa, where the Redeker Plan provided hope for humanity at an unspeakable price, to the west-of-the-Rockies redoubt where the North American tide finally started to turn, this invaluable chronicle reflects the full scope and duration of the Zombie War.

Most of all, the book captures with haunting immediacy the human dimension of this epochal event. Facing the often raw and vivid nature of these personal accounts requires a degree of courage on the part of the reader, but the effort is invaluable because, as Mr. Brooks says in his introduction, “By excluding the human factor, aren’t we risking the kind of personal detachment from history that may, heaven forbid, lead us one day to repeat it? And in the end, isn’t the human factor the only true difference between us and the enemy we now refer to as ‘the living dead’?”
Note: Some of the numerical and factual material contained in this edition was previously published under the auspices of the United Nations Postwar Commission.

Tori's Waiting on Wednesday: Cress by Marissa Meyer

Cress by Marissa Meyer
Series: Lunar Chronicles #3
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Pages: 560
Published by Feiwel and Friends on February 4, 2014
Rapunzel's tower is a satellite. She can't let down her hair - or her guard.

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker – unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. 

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

Lindsay's Waiting On Wednesday: Resist by Sarah Crossan

Resist by Sarah Crossan
Series: Breathe #2
Genre: Dystopia, Young Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 400
Published by Greenwillow Books on October 8th, 2013
The sequel—and conclusion—to Sarah Crossan's Breathe. Three teen outlaws must survive on their own in a world without air, exiled outside the glass dome that protects what's left of human civilization. Gripping action, provocative ideas, and shocking revelations in a dystopian novel that fans of Patrick Ness and Veronica Roth will devour.
Bea, Alina, and Quinn are on the run. They started a rebellion and were thrown out of the pod, the only place where there's enough oxygen to breathe. Bea has lost her family. Alina has lost her home. And Quinn has lost his privileged life. Can they survive in the perilous Outlands? Can they finish the revolution they began? Especially when a young operative from the pod's Special Forces is sent after them. Their only chance is to stand together, even when terrible circumstances force them apart. When the future of human society is in danger, these four teens must decide where their allegiances lie. Sarah Crossan has created a dangerous, and shattered society in this wrenching, thought-provoking, and unforgettable post-apocalyptic novel.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Lindsay's Review: School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins
Series: School Spirits #1
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy
Rating: 
Pages: 297
Published by Disney-Hyperion on May 14th, 2013
Date Finished: August 5th, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.
Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.
Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt? 
Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance!