Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala

Source: Publisher
Joy delamere is suffocating.
From asthma, from her parents, and from her boyfriend, Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out. She can take his cruel words, his tender words . . . until the night they go too far.
To escape, Joy sacrifices her suburban life to find the one who offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. He introduces her to a world of fierce loyalty, to its rules of survival, and to love--a world she won't easily let go.
Set against the backdrop of the streets of Seattle, Holly Cupala's power-ful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the secrets we keep, and the ways to redemption. But above all, it is an unflinching story about the extraordinary lengths one girl will go to discover her own strength.
I live on the very streets that this book takes place in. I have walked by many of the places that she walked by. I have also worked with the homeless in this area. So this book definitely hit close to home, but I loved it.  Joy has dealt with a lot and she makes a decision to change. She is smart, but not enough for the streets. Creed was a caring and sweet character that I loved. His love for music was amazing and I just loved how strong of a character he was. I liked that everyone had their own story and there was so much depth to it. Santos and May intrigued me and I found the family, that they all created in spite all that has happened, to be amazing. It was a very intense read, because it dealt with many issues. I love how Cupala dealt with it in a clever and smart way that didn't make it overbearingly depressing. Instead, I felt that this book was hopeful. The plot is packed full of action and interesting. I could not put this book down and I wanted more. This book is very original and I loved all of the details that this book had. Cupala is a great writer and I can't wait to see more from her in the future.  I would recommend this book to anyone that wants an intense and gripping read. If you like Cupala's previous book Tell Me a Secret, you must read this book and I would also recommend this book to fans of Jennifer Brown and Amanda Grace. Don't Breathe A Word has full of complex characters, a gripping plot, and amazing writing and if you enjoy those is a book, you should definitely read it.

Also Known As by Robin Benway

Source: Review
Being a 16-year-old safecracker and active-duty daughter of international spies has its moments, good and bad. Pros: Seeing the world one crime-solving adventure at a time. Having parents with super cool jobs. Cons: Never staying in one place long enough to have friends or a boyfriend. But for Maggie Silver, the biggest perk of all has been avoiding high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations.
Then Maggie and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, and all of that changes. She'll need to attend a private school, avoid the temptation to hack the school's security system, and befriend one aggravatingly cute Jesse Oliver to gain the essential information she needs to crack the case . . . all while trying not to blow her cover.
I adored Robin Benway's books. Audrey, Wait! and The Extraordinary Secrets of April, June, and July were funny and clever books that I adored.
Maggie was a funny and clever. I liked that she was confident about herself. She was just a great character and I loved the relationship that she had with her parents and their family friend Angelo. It was great to see in Young Adult and I hope to see it more. I also adored her friend Roux. She was very spontaneous and unpredictable. Jesse may seem like just another bad ass, but he had a past and I found it very intriguing. I found the plot to be very fast paced and intriguing. I read this whole book in one sitting. I didn't want to put it down, because I had to know what would happen next. I did not want to leave this story unfinished.  I liked the world that Benway built and I wanted to know more about it. The way that Benway wrote about a teenage spy was original and I can't wait to see what is next. Benway's writing is just amazing and I can't wait to read more. Her books are just so funny and clever. I recommend this to the fans of Ally Carter. Seriously, it has a smart and funny character, an exciting and interesting plot, and really sharp and amazing writing. 

Being Burnt Out and General Update

So, last year, I didn't blog that much and I truly apologize about that. I am addressing that now, because I am going to try to blog more consistently. I haven't ever been quiet about being chronically sick. Pretty much with that and University, I didn't find the balance that I had previously. There was also the fact that I was burnt out. I posted daily or more from June 2009 to June 2011. I loved reading and everything, it is just that I didn't want to have to read a book, because I got it for review. I wanted to read the book that sounded good to me and that I wanted to read. Anyways, that is just an explanation of why I was gone and I wondered if anyone else has felt this way.
I just wanted to update on my life. I am in Sophomore at Seattle University. I am taking Intro to Philosophy, Writing the Personal Narrative, and History of the Ancient World. Next quarter, I am taking Astronomy of the Solar System, Philosophy of the Human Person, and A Reading Series in Brit Lit during the Victorian Ages. I am really excited for those classes and I am really enjoying the ones that I am taking.
I am also running again and enjoying it. It helps manage my illness, so I am really focusing on it.
Overall, I am really happy. So, I was wondering how everyone else was and what you have been up to.

In Too Deep by Amanda Grace

Source: Publisher/ALA MW
Sam is in love with her best friend Nick, but she can't seem to tell him. So she decides to flirt with golden-boy Carter Wellesley, hoping Nick will see it and finally realize his true feelings for her.
On Monday, everyone at school is saying that Carter raped Sam. He didn't, but Sam can't find the words to tell the truth. Worst of all, she's afraid she'll lose Nick if he finds out what really happened.
As graduation approaches, Sam discovers that living the lie isn't as easy as her new friends make it sound--and telling the truth might be even worse.
I had a hard time liking Sam, because of  the fact that she doesn't correct people on what Carter did. I get that she had a lot of peer pressure and the fact that Carter was complete asshole to her, but she made his whole life change as result. I found the plot really fast paced and I had to know what happened next. I think that Amanda Grace displayed that there are consequences to every action. I really liked Nick, he was a really great guy that had great standards.  Amanda Grace also creates a spectacular ending. This is a quick read that deals with a complex issue in such a smooth and beautiful way. I can't wait to read more from Amanda Grace in the future. I recommend this book to anyone that wants a book  that deals with complex issues in a realistic way with a quick and engrossing plot.

Waiting on Wednesday (119

Title: Just Like Fate
Author: Suzanne Young & Cat Patrick
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Just Like Fate follows the dual possible narratives that spring from one girl's fateful choice: to stay by her dying grandmother's bedside, or to go to a party and miss her grandmother's last moments.
I love both of these authors, so I really want to read this one. I am excited.

Mind Games by Kiersten White

Source: Publisher
Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. 
Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.
In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost
Fia is a strong character that no one would want to cross, but she cared deeply for her sister Annie. So much that she is controlled by the boarding school that she is at. Annie is an interesting character that I found intriguing. I also liked their abilities, but wish that White went into it more deeply. James' father runs the boarding school and James became a very intriguing character to me and I hope to learn more about him. Adam became an amazing character and I just loved him. 
The plot of Mind Games is very fast paced. I read this book very quickly and wanted more when it was done. I liked the way that Mind Games was told. It switched between Fia and Annie's perspective while alternating past and present. This book felt very original and I liked the world that White built.  White's writing enchanted me and I became immersed into the story. I would recommend this book to fans of White's previous books.  I can't wait for the sequel and to discover what will happen next.

Waiting on Wednesday (118)

Title: The Book of Broken Hearts
Author: Sarah Ockler
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: May 21, 2013
When all signs point to heartbreak, can love still be a rule of the road? A poignant and romantic novel from the author of Bittersweet and Twenty Boy Summer.
Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.
Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?
Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?
Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.
I have adored all of Sarah Ockler's book. I can't wait to read this one. It sounds so amazing.

Pivot Point by Kasie West

Source: Publisher
Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.
In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.
I found this book to be amazing. The format was really interesting and I loved it, because it felt like I read two books at the same time. Addie is a very lovely character. I really connected to her, but I am not sure why. Laila was an awesome character and I believe that she really cared for Addie. I liked Duke, even though I didn't want to. His confidence attracted me, while annoyed me at the same time. I loved Trevor so much. He was so sweet and caring. The world building was very awesome, because it made the book more exciting. Since it felt realistic and unique.
The plot of Pivot Point often overlapped with each other and I really enjoyed that aspect. I just really enjoyed the concept and wanted more. I know that this has been done in other forms of media, such as Sliding Doors. I found the way that West presented it, to be perfect for the story. This book made me feel so much and I began to question every decision that I made. I hope to read more from West in the future. Her writing made me want to read more and I became invested in both the plot and characters. I suggest that everyone should read this book. It was a clever and unique story. I need more books like this in the future.

Contest: The Elite by Kiera Cass

I enjoyed The Selection and I know that a lot of people are also dying to read The Elite.
So I am doing a giveaway of an arc.
Anyways, Here is the summary: 
In America Singer’s world, a bride is chosen for the prince through an elaborate televised competition. In the second book of the Selection series, America is one of only six girls left in the running. But is it Prince Maxon—and life as the queen—she wants? Or is it Aspen, her first love?
Just fill out the form below and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Source: Publisher
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous man, Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.
America was a very strong and independent protagonist. I also liked that she sang. I wish that she were a bit more memorable and also not as indecisive. Prince Maxon made me swoon and I really adored him. At the same time, Aspen was also appealing. I can't wait for the relationships to develop, so that I can choose. I found the concept of this book to be really intriguing. I have watched a lot of reality TV, so seeing it evolve into a Dystopic future entertained me. I found the caste system to be interesting. It also seems like a less tame and Disney version of The Hunger Games. The plot dragged for a bit in the beginning and I wish that their had been more world building, because it isn't fully explained till about halfway through. Cass' writing was good. I enjoyed the book.  I am really excited to read The Elite, because of the cliffhanger at the end of this book. Overall, this book is a fast and fun read that touches on dystopia. I would recommend this to someone that would like that sort of book.

Trailer Thursday (1)

I used to post trailers on Tuesdays a while back, but Thursday is a better day for me now. So I am changing it up as I try to post more frequently.
 
Five reasons that I am excited for this movie:
1. This book is just amazing.
2. The cast of this movie is just like everyone that you would want in the movie.
3. It is directed by Baz Luhrmann, who it known for his lavish and colorful sets. He also directed Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet, which I love.
4. It is set in the 1920's. I adore that time period.
5. This movie was suppose to already be out, so I am like super excited for it. It just looks amazing and I adore the soundtrack so far..

Waiting on Wednesday (117)

Title: The Moon and More
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher:  Viking Juvenile
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.
Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.
Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?
Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?
Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer.
I am really excited for The Moon and More. Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite writers and I can't wait to see what she does next.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Source: Publisher
Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.
Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.
As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.
Scarlet starts right up after Cinder ends. Just like with Cinder, I love the characters.  I also loved the addition of Scarlet, Thorne,  and Wolf. Scarlet is well kick-ass like Cinder. She is also sweet, intelligent, and not afraid to stand up for what she believes in and do anything to get there. Thorne is Cinder's traveling companion and he was really funny, arrogant, and clever. I just found him to be such a great character. Wolf is a strong and mysterious character. I kept on guess what type of character he would be and fell in love with him on the way.  Cinder is just as amazing and Kai is swoon worthy. The plot is exciting and  I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. There were main surprises on the way. The plot is really original and creative. Meyer's world continues to develop and I couldn't wait to find more about the world. Meyer's writing is amazing and I just can't wait for more in this series. I recommend this series if you enjoy fairy tale retelling or want a book with dynamic characters, exciting plot, and a fantastic world. 

Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony

Source: Publisher
After her mother died, Glory retreated into herself and her music. Her single father raised her as a piano prodigy, with a rigid schedule and the goal of playing sold-out shows across the globe. Now, as a teenager, Glory has disappeared. As we flash back to the events leading up to her disappearance, we see a girl on the precipice of disaster. Brilliant and lonely, Glory is drawn to an artistic new boy, Frank, who moves in next door. The farther she falls, the deeper she spirals into madness. Before long, Glory is unable to play anything but the song "Chopsticks."
But nothing is what it seems, and Glory's reality is not reality at all. In this stunningly moving novel told in photographs, pictures, and words, it's up to the reader to decide what is real, what is imagined, and what has been madness all along....
I found this story to be a really creative and new way to tell a story. I liked that it was a mix of visual and text to tell the story. I didn't feel that I got to know the characters as much as you get to in a regular novel. I also feel that the book leaves too much to be determined by the reader. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a unique  format with an uncertain plot.
Also I did like the imagery in the book and enjoyed it.

Read in January 2013

1. Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
2. Now the Day is Over by Joan Fiset 
3. Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed
4. Trojan Women by Euripides 
5. Reached by Ally Condie
6. The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
7. Crash by Lisa McMann
8. In Too Deep by Amanda Grace
9. Trojan Women by Euripides 

Reviews posted from these books: 1 of these books so far, some are planned to be posted later. 
Books for School: 3 
Books for Review: 2
My Favorite: I really loved Cinder and Sapphires. Reached was a great ending. Also Days of Blood & Starlight made me want more.
My Least Favorite: None this month. 
Debut Authors '13: 1 read  24 books left 
2013 Feminist Reading Challenge: 2 of 10
Books I hope to read next month: I would love to read The Elite, Fever, or The Moon and More.

Crash by Lisa McMann

Source: Publisher
If what you see is what you get, Jules is in serious trouble. The suspenseful first of four books from the New York Timesbestselling author of the Wake trilogy.
Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that.
What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.
The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more shesees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.
In this riveting start to a gripping series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann, Jules has to act—and act fast—to keep her vision from becoming reality.
Jules is a strong and funny character. A lot of the things that she thought or said made me laugh. As the visions become more detailed as the story went on, and I realized what Jules was experiencing. I also enjoyed that she was brave. Trey was a funny brother and his protective nature is something similar to what I experience with my brother. Rowan was a cute little sister and I liked that there was relationship between all of the siblings. Sawyer was really sweet and I liked that he didn't believe everything that Jules said. I also liked that their was a history between them. The plot of Crash was fast paced and exciting.  I just felt that the whole family feud thing was over the top. The vision of billboards, TVs, and ect was an interesting concept.  McMann's writing was good, but I feel that there are a lot of question that are left open that I wish I knew about. Overall, if you want a quick contemporary with a supernatural twist or enjoyed McMann's other books, I would recommend this book.