Double Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Story by Ally Carter (Novella)
Release: January 22, 2013
Publisher: Hyperion
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Pages: 60

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Macey McHenry—Glamorous society girl or spy-in-training?

W.W. Hale V—Heir to an American dynasty or master thief?

There are two sides to every coin. Whether these two can work together is a tossup.

Born into privilege, Macey and Hale are experts at mingling with the upper class. But even if they’ve never raised an eyebrow at the glitz, neither teenager has ever felt at home with the glamour.

When Macey and Hale meet at a society gala, the party takes a dangerous turn. Suddenly they’re at the center of a hostage situation, and it’s up to them to stop the thugs from becoming hostile. Will Macey’s spy skills and Hale’s con-man ways be enough to outsmart a ruthless gang? Or will they have to seek out the ultimate inside girl to help?

The worlds of Heist Society and the Gallagher Girls collide in Ally Carter’s fast-paced, high-stakes and tantalizing new story. Get a behind the scenes glimpse as Ally delivers an irresistible thriller that is full of her signature style and savvy twists.

Oh. No. This novella was like a drop of water after being in the desert; feels oh so great but now all I want is more.

I love both of Ally Carter’s series and this integration was everything I never knew I wanted and I’m so hoping she continues!

This little snippet, quick heist, featuring Hale and Macey was just totally perfect. The two make a surprisingly awesome team and their banter was wonderful. And man oh man I don’t know how Ally Carter thinks up the hows and whys of the situations she writes. I always try to guess what is happening, and I never can and am always surprised. Bonus: HALE/KAT CUTENESS!

One tiny thing: I wish there had been more Cammie. I mean, could you imagine Kat and Cammie meeting? EPIC ADVENTURES! Either way, Double Crossed is a great addition to both the Gallagher Girls series and Heist Society.

Release: January 15, 2013
Publisher: Razorbill
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Pages: 369

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They’re ready to start life afresh–to build a home–on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.

But this new Earth isn’t the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed’s former passengers aren’t alone on this planet. And if they’re going to stay, they’ll have to fight.

Amy and Elder must race to discover who–or what–else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed–friends, family, life on Earth–will have been for nothing.

FUELED BY LIES.
RULED BY CHAOS.
ALMOST HOME.

Let me tell you, I was an EMOTIONAL WRECK throughout this book. Beth Revis has a tendency to rip out my heart.

At the end of A Million Suns, I honestly had no idea what to expect from the last book. But I WAS SCARED. All bets are off in a series-ending. So that I don’t give anything away, here’s a list of things I loved about Shades of Earth:

1. DINOSAURS…but not really. But kind of? COOL MONSTER THINGS.

2. ELDER. Elder Elder. He is my favorite. He’s naïve and sweet and strong and ugh I can gush about him forever. I really did not think he would end up being my favorite character and care about him as much as I do but there ya go.

3. It’s only fair to say AMY now. Goddamn she is AWESOMELY STUBBORN and I loved how she questions a lot. She defies people in order to get ANSWERS and the truth. Especially in this book.

4. MYSTERY. And cliffhangers. At the end of every chapter I was like, “WELL. I gotta keep going now!” even late into the night. I just needed to know what was going on and wasn’t bored for a second.

I’m very particular about how I like series to end: wrapped up enough, but not completely. I still want to wonder about the characters and what might become of them. But I do need some sort of happiness. Not Breaking Dawn-like happiness, just enough so that I’m not curled up in the fetal position crying over everything. There was a point where I started BAWLING (if you follow me on Twitter, you might have witnessed that unfortunate out burst. Apologies) . But I was incredibly happy with the way the book ended so that should give you a little insight.

If you haven’t read this series, seriously: DO IT. It’s an incredible and cool story.

Many of these characters I really do like – or even love. A frustrating character is not necessarily a bad thing and usually, just like real life people, it’s not their ENTIRE PERSONALITY that is frustrating: just certain parts.

 
1. Alex Andros (Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout)

I love this chick but she gets herself into A LOT of trouble and many times it’s not her fault but other times she just makes her own life more difficult. But it’s one of the things I love about her? She’s one of my favorite characters right now.

2. Jessica Darling (Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty)

Again, one of my favorite characters of all time but she did have her moments of OMG WHAT ARE YOU DOING? For me, her most annoyingly frustrated book was Fourth Comings. She was all holier-than-thou and refused to think Marcus going back to college was a good thing and focused on how old he would be when he was done and how gosh darn embarrassing it would be for her to be dating a FRESHMAN. THE HORROR.

3. Nash Hudson (Soul Screamers by Rachel Vincent)

Oh, Nash. He screws up constantly and I don’t know how he does it but it makes me grrr. I think I imagine him with this puppy dog face, though, because I can’t help but expect more from him and like him every time he messes up everything.

4. Eliza Sellman (The Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt)

Eliza was just so angry and never tried to understand or even listen to Cooper. Even when she found out he didn’t do anything, she kept trying to make him pay. I recall her saying in the end that he wasn’t forgiven yet. FOR WHAT?!? ugh.

5. Michael Glass (Morganville Vampire series by Rachel Caine)

THIS GUY. I can’t even tell you the number of times throughout this series that I’ve thought “for fucks sake, Michael, what are you doing?” I mean, talk about a screw up. Michael Glass can never figure out what to do, which way to go, and let’s down his friends often because of this.

6. Lissa Dragomir (and, in turn, Rose, for having such a blind spot when it comes to her Majesty Pettiness)

Lissa is one of the characters who frustrates me with HATE. She was the only bad part of the series. She was a terrible friend to Rose; all take, no give, and Rose’s scenes with her were the only time I disliked my girl.

7. Saba (Blood Red Road by Moira Young)

Saba only frustrated me in regards to her sister. She was incredibly unfair to her and was so entirely focused on Lugh (more like OBSESSED) and it was clear Emmi loved both siblings but was never let in on their relationship on Saba’s end.

8. Holden Caulfield (The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger)

You could give this dude a million bucks and he’d find some way to complain about it.

9. Lena Duchannes (Caster Chronicles series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl)

I liked Lena in the first book but then she kept pushing everyone away and saying the same thing over and over and, frankly, being kind of whiny.

10. Heathcliff (Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte)

Do I even need to write anything about this one? Honestly, I totally could have said EVERYONE IN THIS BOOK but I think Heathcliff was the one that frustrated me the most. And not in a good way.

‘Stacking the Shelves’ is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and ‘In My Mailbox’ is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Bought:

Everbound by Brodi Ashton
Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Borrowed:

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen !!!!! Do I even have to mention how AWESOME this is?! Sarah Dessen fangirl over here and proud of it! (Thanks, Lindsey!)

Happy weekend, everyone!

Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release: December 11, 2012
Publisher: Entangled
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Pages: 382

Synopsis from Goodreads:

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well… There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different… And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger… and they know it

I’ve already talked about what Jennifer L. Armentrout books do to me but let me reiterate: this series turns me into a squealing, swoony, thirteen year old girl. It’s embarrassing, actually.

I was so impressed without how seamlessly Katy and Daemon went from the snarky (borderline mean, at some times) banter to being together. In the first two books, I couldn’t really imagine how it would work but oh it does. I was swooning in Opal even more so than Onyx. And Daemon is so so much hotter in this book. WHEW!

Okay storyline because that’s what’s important, right? (No, but I’ll pretend not to be totally shallow for a sec) For real, the alien/DoD/Daedalus storyline is getting so intense and complex and I keep trying to guess what is all happening and I JUST DON’T KNOW. I’ll say though: I’m super suspicious of certain people. Like Bethany. There is something up with that girl.

There wasn’t a second of this book that I wasn’t on the edge of my seat. The end will leave you with your mouth hanging open and begging for Origin (um like I have! JULY, GUYS, JULY). That is all I can say because I so do not want to spoil people but OMG will be a popular reaction to the end.

Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Release: January 8, 2013
Publisher: Dutton
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Pages: 368

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay

When sheltered American good girl Allyson “LuLu” Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

After the complete heartbreak of If I Stay and Where She Went, I have to admit: I was terrified of reading Just One Day. I mean, excited because Gayle Forman writes beautifully and her characters are some of my favorites, but terrified nonetheless. I CAN’T DEAL WITH HEARTBREAK!

But Just One Day is…different? It’s heartbreaking, yes, but not in the sould-crushing way of the other two (you think I’m being dramatic but I cried for days reading them) were. As someone with a travel bug, this book was simultaneously delicious and dangerous. When I went to London I did the exact trip to Paris that Allyson and Willem take and I got a little wistful for my trip and later I got jealousy pangs for the other travel points that I can’t mention for spoilers. Just know: THERE IS TRAVELING in this book and it’s wonderful.

I was immediately drawn to Allyson even though I am the complete opposite as her, I so enjoyed her journey (literal and metaphorical). Characters is something Gayle Forman does SO FREAKING WELL. Willem was mysterious though what little we knew about him interested me and I’m hoping we will find out much more about him in Just One Year.

My one criticism was the middle was a touch too long and lost my interest a couple of times. I loved the evolution of Allyson from a more typical high school teenager to a more open and independent college student but, in my opinion, it could have been cut down a little.

(Can we have Just One Year, now?)

Deity (Covenant #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release: Novmber 6, 2012
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Pages: 360

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Alexandria isn’t sure she’s going to make it to her eighteenth birthday–to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she’s a goner… and so is Aiden.

If that’s not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time “training”–which really is just Seth’s code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time–she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she’s caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed… and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate…

I realized something as I read Half-Blood, Pure, and Obsidian all in one week that when I’m in a reading slump and I put on Twitter that I’m in need of book heavy on the romance with a touch of supernatural/paranormal/fantasty etc. mixed in, I’m totally talking about Jennifer L. Armentrout’s books. They are the absolute perfect books for me.

Deity doesn’t pick up right where Pure left off, but pretty close, and I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of dwelling on a certain event that happened in the previous book. I feel like many books tend to do that and the present storyline gets lost in the rehashing of past events turning over in the characters’ minds and those books are always a drag for me.

Alex continues to be one of my number one girls. How quickly she rose to my Top Female YA Characters list (which is a coveted spot – not just anyone gets on this list). I adore reckless, sassy chicks. You never know what she’s going to say or do! She has the gutsiness I wish I had. I’m also a TOTAL Aiden fangirl. Like, it’s kind of ridiculous. And all I can say on this front is: WOAH (I hate that I can’t flail more than this but spoilers, ya know).

I just…really love this series. Deity just RAMPED. IT. UP. There was a part where it was midnight and I was texting my best friend about it because I was all swoony and giggly over a scene and then BAM. Something happens that had me gasping. That is basically Deity in a nutshell: it will have you going from fangirling to shocked in a span of three pages.

(It really needs to be April now. I need Apollyon!)

Have any of you read this series? DO YOU LOVE IT?! Tell me your thoughts/link me to your reviews of the books!

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release date: December 11, 2012

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well… There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different… And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger… and they know it.

These books…turn me into a gushing, Justin Bieber-loving thirteen year old girl. It’s actually a bit embarrassing. And this cover makes it look like this trend is going to continue. You can bet that I’ll will be hidden in my room on December 11, squeeing like an idiot over Daemon and Kat. SAWOOON.

HAPPY HUMP DAY! What are ya’ll waiting for this week?

Release: October 23, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Pages: 544

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

OMG YOU GUYS. I can’t tell you enough how much I loved this book. I adored The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Like, A LOT so naturally, I was worried as to how the sequel would live up. Will it still be creepy? Will it have that same chilling, mysterious feel of the first book? Will Noah Shaw still be the epitome of hotness? Hell yes, absolutely, and OH YES.

So many things happen and I will not spoil any of it because that would be cruel so I will just say: some creepy shizz goes down in Evolution. In fact, Evolution creeped me out even more so than Unbecoming, if that’s even possible. I am both amazed and a teensy bit afraid of Michelle Hodkin’s mind. The line between reality and what’s in Mara’s head is so blurred that it pulls you in and makes you feel just like her, asking yourself WHAT IS HAPPENING? over and over.

Noah continues to be hotness personified although I am still suspicious of him, as always. I CAN’T HELP IT, there’s always been nagging thoughts of guardedness when it comes to him and I don’t fully trust him. Even so, the accent he has in my head is so pretty that I really want to trust him and talk myself into it.

MaraMaraMara. I just adore her and want to make everything better for her. She’s one of my favorite characters in YA, right now. She’s a lot stronger in Evolution but at the same time, a little less steady (understandably). Ah she’s just awesome and I can’t wait for more of her!

ANSWERS. There are answers to certain questions and I was completely satisfied/blown away but fret not, there are many more questions to be answered! I adored this sequel, even though it terrified me for so many reasons. Michelle Hodkin, you are terrifying. Don’t ever change.

Last weekend was the second annual Ontario Blogger meetup. My fellow Ottawa bloggers and I piled (or squished, depending on how you look at it) into a car and made the very loud journey to Toronto for the occasion.

The Ottawa Bloggers (Meaghan, Ciara, Kathy, and Emilie) and I drove down Friday night

We took our time getting out of bed on Saturday morning since it was reserved solely for getting ready (girls need time, okay?). After a gagillion hours of makeup and hair and running around going “WHAT AM I WEARING?!” (That was me. The other girls were much more prepared clothes-wise) we made the detoured trek to the restaurant.

The meetup was bustling with so many bloggers I’ve only ever talked to on Twitter and it was so cool so meet in person! I won’t name everyone because honestly there was so many and I know I’d forget someone. I only wish there had been more time with all of them! I also wish I had more pictures of me with peoeple. My excuse for that is I didn’t have my Camera Happy Jen there to force me to take pictures. NEXT YEAR I WILL BE BETTER!

Me and Lindsey

One of the things I was suuuper excited about was being reunited with Lindsey, one of my awesome roomates from BEA. The first thing we talked about was OBVIOUSLY One Direction and whether or not they were saying my name in “Rock Me.”

Me, the Ottawa Bloggers, Michele, and Liz

The Ottawa bloggers with the hilarious Lesley Livingston and Elizabeth Miles

Thank you so much to the organizers of the meetup for making it such an awesome day. Can’t wait for next year! (There are a TON more pictures and other recaps on the Ontario Blog Squad site!). Also thank you to everyone who came to our table and said “Oh, YOU’RE the Ottawa bloggers?” and making us feel like we were in some cool band or something.

After the meetup, Meaghan, Ciara, and I were DETERMINED to go out. We had an absolute blast and ended up at a 24 hour diner at 2AM. The 5 hour drive back home the next morning was…less fun for the three of us.

Deviants by Maureen McGowan
Envy by Elizabeth Miles
The Gypsy King by Maureen Fergus
Etiquette & Espionage Gail Carriger
Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett

Sever by Lauren DeStefano
Croak by Gina Damico
The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen by Susin Neilsen
Fuse by Julianna Baggot
Red Moon by Benjamin Percy

These should keep me busy for a while!