Book Review: Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry

Published July 31st, 2012
Harlequin Teen
392 pages (Hardcover)

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

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

Holy crap, this book is good!  Why did I not read it sooner?

Both Echo and Noah are battling some personal demons that I cannot even begin to fathom, and that's what makes this story so amazing.  They fight adversity and find strength in one another and it is beautiful.  Both characters are very well written, as are many of the secondary characters (although I still don't understand Grace's problem.  Geez girl, you are conceited...).

There has been a lot of hype over this book, and it earned every bit of it.  I found the story touching and enjoyable, barely able to set it down.  If you haven't read Pushing The Limits yet, you should before Dare You To (Beth's story!!!) gets released May 28th.

Much love, Samantha

Book Review: Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Published April 30, 2013
HarperTeen
374 pages (Paperback)

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things. 

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind. 

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life? (From Goodreads)

There are no words for my love of this series.  It's just great.  I read this book so fast, I don't even know how to review it.  Therefore, I'm just going to list some stuff I liked...

• All the characters.  ALL OF THEM!
• Romance!
• Drums!
• Kissing!
• Heartbreak!
• More kissing!
• Surprise twists that I absolutely did not see coming!
• Laughter!
• More kissing!
• Drama!
• An ending that wasn't too cliffhanger-y but suspenseful enough that I am amped for the next book!

*deep breath* Okay, just trust me on this one.

Much love, Samantha

"Waiting On" Isla and the Happily Ever After

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating!

This week I am excited for...

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.
Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new. (From Goodreads)

Last week I decided to read Anna and the French Kiss (I finally get the Etienne hype).  Then I had to read Lola and the Boy Next Door.  Now I am impatient over this book!  I can't wait to learn more about Isla and Josh, and see how this story plays out on September 13th, 2013 (why so far away?!?).  I'm also in LOVE with this cover redesign, and plan on re-purchasing the first two with the new covers!  That's big, because I usually just settle for mismatching books...

Much love, Samantha 

Book Review: Lover At Last by J.R. Ward

Published March 26th, 2013
NAL Hardcover
591 pages (Hardcover)

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one. (From Goodreads)

My love for the Black Dagger Brotherhood novels is no secret.  They have found their way onto almost every top ten list ever.  When I found out book 11 was going to finally be about Blay and Qhuinn, I was pumped.

I hate to have to admit how disappointed I was with this book.

I know that Ward was trying to set up for the next few books, but Lover At Last felt like it was lacking in pretty much everything.

I want to make it clear that my opinion has nothing to do with the fact that this romance involves two males.  I'm all for it, and had been anxiously awaiting this story.  There has been so much build up to this story, and I don't think that hype helped at all.

The book lacked action, which is what the series is built on.  It somehow tried to follow more of a dramatic path, but stumbled a lot.  There were also way too many plot lines going on.  You've got Blay and Qhuinn's story, plus everthing going on with Qhuinn and Layla.  Then add a new plot involving the shadow Trez (which left a lot of questions, and I would suspect a future book).  Plus Assail is still around, now with his very own stalker/assassin.  And don't forget Xcor and the Band of Bastards.  There was just too much happening, but nothing happening at the same time, if that makes sense.

While Lover At Last didn't meet my expectations, I still love this series and will still recommend it to everyone.  It's clear Ward has some good stuff planned for the future, and you know I will be devouring it.

Much love, Samantha
PS. It was announced that book 12, The King, would be another book about Wrath and Beth.  I could not be happier about this.  Expected publication is March 25th, 2014.

Book Review: With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent

Published March 26th, 2013

HarlequinTeen

377 pages (Paperback)

What does it mean when your school is voted the most dangerous in America? It's time to kick some hellion butt...

After not really surviving her junior year (does "undead" count as survival?), Kaylee Cavanaugh has vowed to take back her school from the hellions causing all the trouble. She's going to find a way to turn the incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity against one another in order to protect her friends and finish this war, once and forever.But then she meets Wrath and understands that she's closer to the edge than she's ever been. And when one more person close to her is taken, Kaylee realizes she can't save everyone she loves without risking everything she has... (From Goodreads)

I'm sad to see this series come to a close, but Rachel Vincent has given us a great ending to Kaylee's story.  With snarky characters and lots of action, this series goes down as a personal favourite of mine.

I absolutely love these characters, but two stood out to me: Tod and Sabine.  Tod is just perfect.  He made me cry twice with his epic monologues of love!  Seriously, you can't not swoon over this guy.  Sabine, on the other hand, is the perfect fiery ball of snark.  I love her no-bullshit attitude, and find her the most interesting to read.  Watching her grow through the series has been great, and part of the reason the I love this series so much.

A lot had to be jammed into this book in order to conclude the series.  At times, this created a slight problem for me.  Parts of the story got a bit too slow for my tastes.  It needed to be done, but still.

This series is jammed full of action and drama, and that makes for a great story.  If you haven't given the Soul Screamer books a chance, I recommend doing so.  Rachel Vincent is an awesome story teller.  I can't wait to give this series a reread in the future!

Much love, Samantha

Book Review: Icons by Margaret Stohl

Published May 7th, 2013
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
448 pages (Hardcover)

Your heart beats only with their permission.
Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future. (From Goodreads)

The idea behind Icons is fantastic.  Aliens have taken control of Earth.  Great, I love dystopian.  I like aliens.  We're all set.  Unfortunately, I don't feel that that fantastic idea panned out.

The world that was created was very confusing.  Some parts were explained thoroughly  while others weren't.  Events were mentioned without any explanation whatsoever, yet it still felt like a ton of the book was dedicated to world-building.  It got confusing and frustrating trying to make sense of everything.

Dol wasn't my favourite characters ever.  In fact, she might be one of my least favourite characters ever.  She was scatterbrained and confusing and didn't make me want to read the book.  The rest of the characters were fine.  I actually really enjoyed Ro, Lucas and Tima.  I also enjoyed the "superpower" aspect of the story, and the way that was ingrained with their personalities.

World-building was this book's downfall.  There were just too many question and too few answers.  Maybe future books will remedy this, but for now, I am left unsatisfied.

Much love, Samantha

"Waiting On" Siege and Storm

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating!

This week I am excited for...

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm. (From Goodreads)

I'm so pumped for this book.  I love the characters and the world and can't wait to give this book a read.  Siege and Storm is set for release June 4th, 2013.  I'm so excited that I want to say something about the characters and can't think of anything.  There are no words.  Just... get excited everyone.

Much love, Samantha