Endure by Carrie Junes

Title: Endure (Need #4)
Author: Carrie Jones
Publisher: Bloomsbury
My Copy: review e-copy received for blog tour
Summary: Zara is at the center of an all-out war, and an impending apocalypse. True, she’s successfully rescued Nick from Valhalla, but it simply isn’t enough. Bedford is being ravaged by evil pixies and they need much more than one great warrior; they need an army. Zara isn’t sure what her role is anymore. She’s not just fighting for her friends, she’s also a pixie queen. And to align her team of pixies with the humans she loves will be one of her greatest battles yet. Especially since she can’t even reconcile her growing feelings for her pixie king…
Unexpected turns, surprising revelations, and one utterly satisfying romantic finale make Endure a thrilling end to this series of bestsellers.

My Thoughts: Until I started Endure, I had forgotten how much I absolutely adored this series. In fact, I think it may be one of my all-time favorite series so I definitely recommend reading the entire series if you haven't already because they pretty much rock.

My favorite thing about Endure was Zara's voice. It's not your typical teenage girl narrator voice - Zara's spunk and personality truly comes out in the narrative. It's funny, unique, and just makes the entire novel fly by. Plus, I guarantee all girls reading it will not only be able to relate to Zara but also be a little jealous that they aren't as cool and sassy as she is.

Endure picks up not too long after the previous book ended, with Zara and Nick in an interesting situation now that Zara turned into something he refuses to love because she loved him so much and needed to save him. Imagine how much that must suck. But, of course,that's not Zara's biggest problem - there's an evil pixie king and an army of evil pixies attempting to start the apocolypse and kill Zara and her friends in the process.
Sounds pretty insane, right? Right. Once the action in this book starts (on the first page), it never ends!

A great cast of secondary characters, some evil pixies, a very cute pixie, Hel, and a lovely scene featuring 30 Seconds to Mars make Endure a book that you absolutely do NOT want to miss!

I'm Still Alive!

Just wanted to write a quick post to let everyone know I'm still alive and here...I had an absolutely WONDERFUL time in Guatemala and Panama (best month of my life, honestly!) and when I came home, I found myself overwhelmed with schoolwork and absolutely no time to blog.

I'm finishing up my last month of high school (finally! so excited!) and will return to a normal blogging schedule after graduation. Until then, I hope to get a few reviews up soon and do a recap post of my travels, if anyone is interested in that.

I haven't had much time to read lately but I did get a chance to read Underworld by Meg Cabot, which was good, and reread The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin, which I  loved even more than the first time I read it. Has anyone read either of those? What did you think?

Also, preparations for PAYA 2012 are in full swing! (Another reason why I've been so MIA.) Our list is currently at TWENTY SEVEN authors (!!!!!) including A.S. King, Sarah Darer Littman, Margie Gelbwasser, Jessica Spotswood, Elizabeth Scott, Amalie Howard, Miranda Kenneally, Jaclyn Dolamore, Elisa Ludwig, and others. The website is currently being updated but check out the Facebook page and mark your calendars for August 25!

Now it's back to studying for me....

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

Title: Wanderlove

Author: Kirsten Hubbard

Publisher: Delacorte

My Copy: review copy via Netgalley

Summary:

It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America--the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan's found, is to keep moving forward.

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry into this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.

My Thoughts: REALLY FREAKING AWESOME BOOK THAT I LOVE AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ!

That pretty much sums up my thoughts.

Wanderlove is one of my all-time favorite books. I was so excited to read it because, as some of you may know, I traveled to Guatemala last year and will be going again (9 days!!) so Central America has a special place in my heart. It was so cool reading about Bria's adventures in places that I've already visited and I also added quite a few places to my “must-go” list, based on Bria's adventures.

My personal connection aside, Wanderlove is truly a spectacular novel. Kirsten Hubbard has a way of drawing the reader in and taking them on a wild ride. Even if you've never left the United States, I guarantee that you will be able to clearly picture the beaches of Belize or the markets of Guatemala.

Bria may be my new favorite protagonist. I saw so much of myself in her that it was really quite scary. She is the girl that everyone considers being and few are. I loved her spunk. I also loved her drawings throughout the novel. By the time you are finished, you will feel like she is your best friend. The other characters, particularly Rowan, are just as wonderful. In fact, can I just have Rowan as a Christmas present? He is far from your bad-boy-turned-good and I loved it. The relationship between the two of them is so perfect – it's not rushed or unrealistic – and I just wanted to jump up and down in a few parts.

I really cannot say enough good things about this novel. I love, love, love, love, LOVE it. Seriously. Go buy yourself a copy RIGHT NOW. But, be warned, a severe case of wanderlust may ensue!

Cross my Heart by Katie Klein

Title: Cross My Heart

Author: Kate Klein

Publisher: self-published

My Copy: bought for Kindle

Summary:

True love can blossom in unexpected places. This is Jaden pretending not to notice. . . .

Jaden McEntyre and Parker Whalen are a wrong fit from the start. Jaden is driven and focused, Harvard Med School within reach. Parker has a past—a reputation—and the rumors about his mysterious habits abound. So there’s no reason why, when they're assigned to work together on a project in English, they should discover they have anything in common, or even like each other, and they definitely shouldn't be falling in love.

As they bond over Edith Wharton’s tragic novella, Ethan Frome, the “bad boy” vibe Parker plays begins to dissipate. Soon, Jaden finds herself shedding her own “good girl” image: sneaking around to be with him, confiding in him, and ultimately falling hard for this leather-wearing, motorcycle-driving loner who plays into the rebel stereotype.

Still, Jaden can't shake the feeling that there's more to Parker than he's letting on. He's hiding something from her, and discovering the truth means reconciling the Parker she's grown to love with the person he really is. Because it's possible that his life inside the classroom—everything Jaden knows—is one, massive lie.

CROSS MY HEART, told from Jaden's point of view, is a 76k-word/300-page contemporary romance for young adults. Bonus features include the official playlist and an interview with the author.

My Thoughts: Cross My Heart started out splendidly. I found myself wrapped into the plot, loving the characters, and then, bam, crazy twist that make the entire novel make no sense.

Cross My Heart is a little cliché in places, with the smart girl so focused on getting into Harvard and worrying about her self-worth if she doesn't get in and then falling for the bad boy. However, I felt like the relationship between Jaden and Parker was unique. It wasn't forced or random but rather it grew and developed like a real relationship should. In fact, it might have been one of the better good-girl-falls-for-bad-boy romances I've read. There's a handful of sweet, intense romance moments that I really loved.

Another thing that I loved was the emphasis on family. There is a great scene between Jaden and her brother that I absolutely adored.

Unfortunately, in the final fourth of the book, we find out Parker's “lie” and it's quite disappointing. It's certainly a unique twist but just because it's unique and unpredictable does not mean it works in the story. In fact, it completely unvalidated the entire novel for the most part. After that, I found it relaly hard to get back into the story and it just left me disappointed.

Overall, Cross my Heart is worth the read if you're just looking for something to pass the time or a good romance.

Promo Tshirt and Panama Trip Update!

A few weeks ago, I blogged about my upcoming trip to Panama and the promo opportunities that I was offering authors to raise money for the trip.

I plan on getting the shirt printed within the next two weeks, so I wanted to give a quick update.

CINDER by Marissa Meyer is going to be featured on the front of the shirt. There's various titles that are going to be on the back and, as of right now, I have room for about 3 more titles. So, if you're interested, email me by March 10th. All of the details about the shirt can be found in this post but basically, for $15, your book title goes on the back of a shirt which I will design and wear around to promote the books. The money will go towards my trip to Panama where I will be helping to improve the English and literacy skills of children involved in the child labor force.

I just want to say thank you so much to all of the authors who have already signed up to be a part of the project!

To learn more about the trip, please check out this webpage. I'm selling some of my books to raise money as well, so if you're interested in seeing the list, email me, Tweet me, or leave a comment with your email.

I am so excited for this trip! I'm holding a spaghetti dinner this Saturday (if you live in Western PA and may be interested in coming, let me know and I'll give you details!) to raise money for the trip and then next week I'm having a bakesale. I also put in a bunch of applications but so far no one has called me back. :( I'm crossing my fingers for better luck this week!

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

Title: Harmonic Feedback

Author: Tara Kelly

Publisher: Henry Holt

My Copy: borrowed

Summary:

Sixteen-year-old, music- and sound design-obsessed Drea doesn’t have friends. She has, as she’s often reminded, issues. Drea’s mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have settled on “a touch of Asperger’s.”

Having just moved to the latest in a string of new towns, Drea meets two other outsiders. And Naomi and Justin seem to actually like Drea. The three of them form a band after an impromptu, Portishead-comparison-worthy jam after school. Justin swiftly challenges not only Drea’s preference for Poe over Black Lab but also her perceived inability to connect with another person. Justin, against all odds, may even like like Drea.

It’s obvious that Drea can’t hide behind her sound equipment anymore. But just when she’s found not one but two true friends, can she stand to lose one of them?

My Thoughts: Sometimes there's a book that you know you're going to love before you even start it. For me, Harmonic Feedback was one of those books. I'd seen nothing but good things about, my favorite author Stephanie Kuehnert had recommended it, and music played a big role. Unfortunately, when I'm super-excited for a book before I read it, I often put off getting a copy because I'm afraid it won't live up to my expectations, which is why I'm reviewing this long after the release date has passed.

And I must say that I wish I hadn't waited so long to read this one. From the very first page, I was hooked. I even read in my favorite class because I couldn't put the book down.

Harmonic Feedback is so authentic in how it tells the story and portrays the characters. The entire novel is an emotional, wild ride. There are twists that I never saw coming. Drea is such a fascinating character. I love the fact that while she has a diagnosis, this is not an issue book. She is fighting her label and being inside her head was so wonderful. Justin and Naomi are such great supporting characters, though I still haven't decided whether or not I liked Naomi.

Harmonic Feedback is one of those books that stick with you long after you finish reading it. I loved it so much – I've gone back to reread my favorite parts multiple times. It reminds me of a slightly “lighter” version of Ballads of Suburbia (aka my Favorite Book Ever). I definitely recommend getting a copy ASAP!

My Favorite Mistake (The A Circuit) by Georgina Bloomberg and Catherine Hapka

Title: My Favorite Mistake (The A Circuit #2)

Author: Georgina Bloomberg and Catherine Hapka

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
My Copy: finished copy from publicist

Summary:

Tommi, Zara, and Kate are all elite riders on the A Circuit. Tommi, the billionaire heiress, is training a young horse to prove she can make horses a real career. But when her new beau, Alex, convinces her to skip a horse show to party in the Hamptons, the results could be disastrous. Zara, the celebutante wild child, is finally taking her riding seriously. Until the new "nanny" her dad hires threatens to upstage Zara's party girl status. Then there's Kate. She doesn't have money to burn like the others, but she does have Fitz, the barn's resident hot guy. But when the pressure of being a working student builds, Kate's perfectionist tendencies threaten to get in the way of her relationship and her riding.

Readers who are growing out of the Canterwood Crest series or searching for an A-list fix have found just what they're looking for in the A Circuit series.

My Thoughts: The A Circuit series is officially my guilty pleasure series. While I enjoyed the first novel in the series, I enjoyed My Favorite Mistake much more. The authors truly hit their groove with this one, creating a novel that is fun and enjoyable while also hitting upon some tougher subjects.

I love this series because it plays into all the dreams I had when I was 12 – to ride horses competitively and spend almost every minute living and breathing horses. What I love even more is that while I don't really have any experience riding horses at all, let alone in such a competitive circuit, I am still able to relate to the characters. So while this is aimed at horse-lovers, I think others will be able to enjoy it too.

The one thing that bothered me the most about the first book was the drinking and other things “just because”. And while those things still happen in My Favorite Mistake, I felt they were handled so much better. A few other topics, like eating disorders, are also touched upon and while this is far from an “issue” book, I was glad to see these things brought up. I am looking forward to Book 3 where we hopefully get to see the characters go a little more in-depth with some things.

Overall, I definitely recommend this to readers who have grown out of the Canterwood Crest/Thoroughbred/Saddle Club age range. While I don't think it's appropriate for younger teens, I think that anyone 15+ (or even 14+) will love this one. Can't wait for Book 3!