Young Adult Books

The Practice Proposal by Tracy March Suddenly Smitten #1 Publisher: Entangled Bliss Release Date: March 11, 2013 Pages: 229 Source: Publisher Buy the Book: Amazon | B&N Rating: 3.5 stars Liza Sutherland isn’t looking for love. Not from a charity-auction date she didn’t even bid on and especially not with Nationals first baseman Cole Collins, the guy she obsessed over as an awkward teenager. She won’t get involved with a notorious player, no matter how attractive Cole is. Cole Collins is up for contract renegotiation, but after too many late-night parties, he’ll need some positive publicity before he can make the roster. His agent, Frank, pitches Liza as the perfect prop…only Cole didn’t account for Liza no longer being just a teenager with a crush. She’s gorgeous and smart and he’s instantly hooked. When Frank makes Liza a deal she can’t refuse—a bet she will fall in love with Cole or a cool half mil goes to charity—the game is on. But neither bet on the real feelings that surface. Could a fake fling turn into an official forever? I don’t know what it is about these sports player romances, but I am just loving them. The Practice Proposal is a super cute read with great characters and a fairly predictable plot line. I loved both Liza and Cole – while they both are very different from one another, they are very much cut from the same cloth and just belong together. Their story was very endearing. While the plot was predictable, it was still fun to see how things would play out. It was especially wonderful when there was one thing that caught me by complete surprise. The Practice Proposal did not have me as in love as some other sports player romances I’ve read lately, but it was still pretty good. A perfect read for someone who wants a way to spend an afternoon out in the wonderful weather. Related posts: Tour: Tempest Unleashed by Tracy Deebs Book Review Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral Book Review Game For Marriage by Karen Erickson Book Review

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols Published: July 16, 2013 by MTV Books Source: For review from edelweiss via publisher From the author of the “real page-turner” (Seventeen) Such a Rush comes an unforgettable new drama that follows friends-turned-lovers as they navigate the passions, heartbreaks, and intrigue of country music fame. Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away. Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again… [goodreads] Getting my hands on the next Jennifer Echols book has become an addiction for me. I love this woman's writing and storytelling so much, that when given the opportunity to read her next release, I literally jump at the chance (yes, I may have actually jumped up and down when I received an e-copy of this to read). There's something so hypnotic, yet familiar in her books that keeps me coming back for more and more. This particular story held my interest when I realized it was based around country music. I love all types of music, so being a girl from Texas, I've been to a few music festivals suited up with cowboy boots and hats, along with a fiddle in the band. Bailey has been tucked away by her parents, out of the limelight, as her sister's career of becoming a country music star take root and begin to grow. The girl has talent of her own, and even though she wants to see her sister succeed, it still makes it difficult for Bailey to want to pursue her own dreams in country music, too. At first I was a bit confused as to why her parents were forcing her to lay low (per her sister's record company's request) and not dabble in her own affair with music. But as the story continues, and the more I got to understand Bailey, the reasons for this became more clear. Given Bailey's talent, and her pure love for the music, it was evident she couldn't lay low for long. Eventually she'd find herself on a stage, performing for a crowd that was instantly drawn to her. There is also a boy, who was instantly drawn to her as well. As Echols always seems to deliver, we meet Sam -- the irresistible character we want to like because he's so dreamy and charming, yet it's his flaws that keep us at a distance, weary of what his true intentions may be. He's insisted on Bailey joining his band, claiming she's the added spark they need to be heard and get signed. However, the mystery plays out, causing you to wonder -- is he falling for Bailey? Or is he using her, and her family's contacts in the industry, in order to get his big break? Jennifer Echols delivers a story in true country music form. It starts out simple, about finding that one person who makes you feel the best you've ever felt, only to lead you down an unknown path full of heartache and wonder. Though I did not always agree with the character's choices, I was still invested in the story and committed to seeing it to the end. Thanks to Echols, I now have the urge to dig out my cowgirl boots and listen to some old classic country. And maybe even plan a trip to Nashville so that I can

That's the thing about Mother Nature, she really doesn't care what economic bracket you're in. Attribution Whoopi Goldberg

Defiant Heart by Marty SteerePublished Date: April 2013?Publisher: Penfield PressGenre: YA Historical Fiction, WWIIThe Story:Set against the backdrop of small town America on the eve of World War II, Defiant Heart features two extraordinary characters and one unforgettable love story.In the spring of 1941, young Jon Meyer’s family dies in a tragic accident, and he is sent to live in a small Indiana town. He arrives to find himself unwanted and shunned.Mary Dahlgren is the daughter of the town’s mayor. A pretty girl, she could have the pick of the boys in town, including Vernon King, the star of the vaunted high school basketball team. To the chagrin of her friends, though, Mary has always been more interested in books than boys. That is, until she meets Jon.But Jon and Mary are kept apart by an insidious campaign orchestrated by Mary’s father, who perceives their relationship a threat to his political aspirations, and Vernon, to whom Jon is a rival for Mary’s affections. For months Jon is subjected to a painful ostracism. Then, just when the young man’s earnestness and perseverance begin to win over many of the townsfolk and it appears that love may conquer all, tragedy strikes.As the country is caught up in war, so too are the young lovers swept up in events beyond their control, leaving both fighting for their very lives. If, against the odds, they are to be together, each will need to find the strength, the courage and the resourcefulness that beat only in a defiant heart.My Review: Wow. I was intreguied to read this book, for one thing, I love historical fiction. For another, I have many family and friends that currently serve in the military, and many who use to! Marty Steere knows what he's talking about in this book. Could be that he grew up in the military - see the About Marty Steere! But, the story he weaves, it's a timeless tale. We not only read about why Jon Meyer - one of the main characters, is shunned, we start to feel sorry for him. And then there's sweet Mary, who is just a pistol! I know you'll laugh and cry as you read Defiant Heart!About Marty Steere:The son of a career air force officer, Marty Steere grew up on or near military installations across the country and overseas before settling in Southern California, where, when he’s not writing, he practices law. His debut novel, Sea of Crises, was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best of 2012.Marty Steere’s WebsiteOn FacebookDefiant Heart on GoodreadsFollow the Tour:So Many Precious Books April 5 Review & GiveawayBooks, Books & More Books April 8 ReviewBooks, Books & More Books April 9 Guest PostDr Bill’s Book Bazaar April 10 ReviewCuzinlogic April 12 ReviewLiterary Addicts April 12 InterviewRaging Bibliomania April 15 ReviewJoy Story April 17 ReviewBookworm Brandee April 23 ReviewBookworm Brandee April 24 Guest PostGreen Mountain Couple April 25 ReviewBroken Teepee April 26 ExcerptEvery Free Chance May 2 Spotlight & GiveawayBook Lover’s Library May 3 ReviewBook Lover’s Library May 3 InterviewMy Devotional Thoughts May 5 SpotlightMy Devotional Thoughts May 6 Review & GiveawayBookalicious May 7 ReviewRecent Reads May 8 ReviewNo Wasted Ink May 8 InterviewBass Giraffe May 9 Review & GiveawayRomance & Inspriation May 10 ReviewBook Mark Blog May 13 ReviewThe Self Taught Cook May 14 Review & GiveawayTeena in Toronto May 15 ReviewBookFan May 17 SpotlightBooks Complete Me May 20 Review

Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters by Suzanne Weyn "When Doctor Victor Frankenstein died, he left behind a legacy of horror...as well as two unacknowledged, beautiful twin daughters. Now these girls are seventeen, and they've come to Frankenstein's castle to claim it as their inheritance. Giselle and Ingrid are twins, but they couldn't be more different. Giselle is a glamorous social climber who plans on turning Frankenstein's castle into a center of high society. Ingrid, meanwhile, is quiet and studious, drawn to the mysterious notebooks her father left behind...and the experiments he went mad trying to perfect. As Giselle prepares for lavish parties and Ingrid finds herself falling for the sullen, wounded naval officer next door, a sinister force begins to take hold in the castle. Nobody's safe as Frankenstein's legacy leads to a twisted, macabre journey of romance and horror."- summary from Amazon This was just an average book- it wasn't that good, but it wasn't that bad. I thought the concept was intriguing and there's some interesting plot points, but I could've definitely gone without reading this book. There was a lot of telling rather than showing and maybe that was just a consequence of it being told in journal format from both daughters' perspectives, but still. The dialogue was a bit stilted too, and not just because the book took place in the 1800s. The ending was a bit abrupt, and a little too tied up (and you all know how I like my endings tied up nicely, but this was just too much and didn't feel right). Overall, if you wanna read this book, get it from the library. It's a fairly quick, scary(ish) read, but nothing to run out and get. FTC: Received e-galley from Netgalley. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

AUDIOBOOK Reboot UNABRIDGED By Amy Tintera Narrated By Khristine Hvam PUBLISHER Harper Audio Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins Release Date: 05-07-13 Buy the audio: Audible Buy the book: Amazon Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes, she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less

THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARINGAshley ElstonContemporary Young Adult320 pagesDisney-HyperionAvailable NowSource: Received from publisher via NetGalleyTHE STORY (from Goodreads)She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.MY THOUGHTSThe Rules For Disappearing is a quick and suspenseful read, giving us a brief look at how quickly life in the Witness Protection Program can eat away at the bonds holding a family together. While not a story that crushes souls and scars hearts with its emotional intensity, it is one that guarantees the pages are turned rapidly so we can figure out just how Meg and her family came to be in their current predicament. There's a light romance mixed in, but this tale is beautifully family-centric, and we read on with smiles on our faces at the connection between Meg and little sister Teeny even as our stomachs tie themselves in knots over her relationship with her mother.Meg is a likable, easy-to-relate-to heroine, someone we genuinely feel for as we join her just before she and her family are shipped off to their newest placement. Her loneliness despite the presence of her sister, father, and mother is palpable, and her fear that this latest identity will be as brief but devastating to leave as the ones that came before it is something we feel keenly. She tries to keep her distance from Ethan–something we wish she wouldn't do but completely understand given her past–increasing her isolation tenfold to leave us feeling as hollow as she does. She handles the stress of not only being ignorant of what landed her Witsec to start with, but also the complications of her mother's rapid descent into alcoholism, with a calm strength we can't help but admire, maintaining a strong front for Teeny to spare her any additional upset.Though Meg has many admirable traits and a situational vulnerability that has us rooting for her from the beginning, she does possess the same frustrating tendency so many teenagers do: thinking she can handle dangerous problems on her own. She luckily does share some things with her father when she realizes she's in a bit over her head, but she keeps the most vital pieces of information to herself, concocting a plan to save her family rather than sharing her revelations with those in charge of her safety. That being said, her secrecy in some areas makes sense as it's made clear to us their Witsec identities are far from impenetrable, but we still wish given the enormity of her problems that she would share the burden with those far more equipped to handle them.Overall, The Rules For Disappearing is a highly entertaining read, not one to be picked up when looking for a dark or gut-wrenching contemporary but rather one to be read simply for the joy of reading.Rating: 4/5 Find Ashley:Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • AmazonThis book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review. I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

Title: The Indigo SpellAuthor: Richelle MeadSeries: BloodlinesBook #: 3Pages: 401Reading Level: YABook Rating: Goodreads Rating: 4.50Published: Feb. 12th, 2013In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.Taschima's POV:"Whatever logic and reason I normally possessed had melted away. There was nothing but flesh and fire left, and I wasn't going to lie to myself—at least not tonight. I wanted him. I arched my back, fully aware oh how vulnerable that made me and that I was giving him an invitation. He accepted it and laid me back against the table, bringing his body down on top of mine. That crushing kiss of his moved from my mouth to the nape of my neck. He pushed down the edge of my dress and the bra strap underneath, exposing my shoulder and giving his lips more skin to conquer."... and I just can't get enough.Even though Adrian always goes after the unavailable girl, even though there is side drama going on between Jill/Eddie/Angeline (barf), and even though witches were thrown into the mix (wtf?), I just can't get enough of the Bloodlines world. I am not as in love with it as I was with Vampire Academy, where I devoured the book seconds after it was published, but I still have a healthy dose of love towards this series. I think the culprit for this is not Adrian specially (though, come on, he is charmingly hot, and even BETTER in this book since he got over the whole Rose debacle and is all manly and protective and loving!), but Sydney.Sydney is so different from Rose, but that isn't a bad thing. She is tough as nails, and quite honestly a little more relatable. After her debacle with Adrian in the last book (kissing disaster) Sydney is more adamant than ever to avoid Adrian at all costs, though that doesn't seem to be working too well since they are both kind of involved in the same mission to keep Jill hidden. She also needs a partner in crime when it comes to everything she has to solve."Sure enough, I glanced back at the tank and found the calistana regarding me adoringly. He was even wagging his tail."No," I said sternly. "This isn't a Disney movie where I have my adorable sidekick. You aren't coming out."I think Indigo Spell was great! I like how it is in the same world as Vampire Academy, but it still is completely different. First off I love the magic component. Sure I wasn't expecting it at first, but now Sydney kicks ass!! It has a little bit of everything to keep you enthralled, a crazy witch trying to suck the life out of other witches, the Alchemists and Warriors of Light secret schemes, Marcus Finch (I'll get to him in a minute) and of course some serious Sydney/Adrian action (SWOON).Now, Marcus Finch. I was a bit disappointed about him. Since he was portrayed as being a BIG ass deal (with all the marketing around the blogsphere and all) I thought he was going to be something for Adrian to contend with. But, he is just not that impressive. At least to me he wasn't. Sydney on the other hand... she i

In My Mailbox is a weekly book blog feature hosted by The Story Siren. It gives book bloggers the opportunity to share the books we get each week with other bloggers, and our followers. Over the past few weeks I got...+ several eBooksThis Strange and Familiar Place (So Close to You, #2) by Rachel Carter (ARC)Thanks to HarperTeenWild Awake by Hilary T. Smith (ARC)Thanks to Katherine TegenThe Dark Shore (The Atlanteans, #2) by Kevin Emerson (ARC)Thanks to Katherine TegenShadow of the Mark (Carrier of the Mark, #2) by Leigh Fallon (ARC)Thanks to HarperTeenDefy the Dark edited by Saundra Mitchell (ARC)Thanks to HarperTeenRush (The Game, #1) by Eve Silver (ARC)Thanks to Katherine TegenThe Distance Between Us by Kasie West (ARC)Thanks to HarperTeenInferno (Chronicles of Nick, #4) by Sherrilyn Kenyon (hardcover)Thanks to St. Martin’s GriffinThis Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales (ARC)Thanks to Farrar, Straus, & GirouxTumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts (ARC)Thanks to Farrar, Straus, & GirouxHorde (Razorland, #3) by Ann Aguirre (ARC)Thanks to Feiwel & FriendsThe Revelations of Jude Connor by Robin Reardon (paperback)Thanks to KensingtonThe Whatnot (The Peculiar, #2) by Stefan Bachmann (eARC)Thanks to Greenwillow, via EdelweissEyes Wide Open (The Blackstone Affair, #3) by Raine Miller (eARC)Thanks to Atria, via EdelweissLeap of Faith by Jamie Blair (eARC)Thanks to Simon & Schuster, via EdelweissTo Be Perfectly Honest by Sonya Sones (eARC)Thanks to Simon & Schuster, via EdelweissInvisible by Marni Bates (eARC)Thanks to K-Teen, via NetGalleyTouching Melody (Forever First, #1) by RaShelle Workman (eARC)Thanks to All Night Reads, via NetGalleyPlaying Tyler by T.L. Costa (eARC)Thanks to Strange Chemistry, via NetGalleyAsylum by Madeline Roux (eARC)Thanks to Harper, via EdelweissOutcast by Adrienne Kress (eARC)Thanks to Diversion, via NetGalleyFangirl by Rainbow Rowell (eARC)Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin, via NetGalleyRelic (The Books of Eva, #1) by Heather Terrell (eARC)Thanks to Soho Teen, via EdelweissDragonfly by Leigh Talbert Moore (eARC)Thanks to All Night Reads, via NetGalleySex & Violence by Carrie Mesrobian (eARC)Thanks to Carolrhoda Lab, via NetGalleyGated by Amy Christine Parker (eARC)Thanks to Random House, via EdelweissDance of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death, #2) by Bethany Griffin (eARC)Thanks to Greenwillow, via EdelweissHow to Love by Katie Cotugno (eARC)Thanks to Balzer + Bray, via EdelweissOnce We Were (The Hybrid Chronicles, #2) by Kat Zhang (eARC)Thanks to Harper, via EdelweissRock and a Hard Place (The Jamieson Brothers, #1) by Angie Stanton (eARC)Thanks to HarperTeen, via EdelweissSnapshot (The Jamieson Brothers, #2) by Angie Stanton (eARC)Thanks to HarperTeen, via EdelweissShadowlark (Skylark, #2) by Meagan Spooner (eARC)Thanks to Carolrhoda Lab, via NetGalleyLosing It edited by Keith Gray (eARC)Thanks to Carolrhoda Lab, via NetGalleyBelieve by Sarah Aronson (eARC)Thanks to Carolrhoda Lab, via NetGalleyA Wounded Name by Dot Hutchinson (eARC)Thanks to Carolrhoda Lab, via NetGalleyThe Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller (eARC)Thanks to Entangled Teen, via NetGalley

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