Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

By: Jennifer E. Smith

Pub. Date: January 2, 2012

Publisher: Poppy

Pages: 236

Source: Bought

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

I heard so many excellent things about this book and I could not wait for it to be released! As soon as the UPS man delivered it, I started it. I finished it in one sitting and I was in no way disappointed! This book is a cute, feel good kind of story and the cover is beautiful!

The whole book takes place within a 24 hour time period, with flashbacks showing how Hadley's relationship with her dad got to the point that it is at now. I really did want to hate Hadley's father, but I just couldn't. He really did love his daughter and would have done anything for her.

As far as the main characters go, I think Hadley and Oliver were extremely well written. They were so realistic and I loved that about them. They were both so perfectly flawed. When they meet at the airport they are both on their way to London, each for their own miserable reasons. It was nice that they found each other when they needed someone the most. I also loved how uncomplicated their connection was.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is a sweet, fun, fast read and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for that perfect little story! 

Review: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Wolfsbane

(Nightshade # 2)

By: Andrea Cremer

Pub. Date: July 26, 2011

Publisher: Philomel Books

Pages: 390

Source: Bought

When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer, one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack and the man she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

Let me just start by saying that I am obsessed with this series! I thought Nightshade was one of the best books I have ever read, and with Wolfsbane, this series is just getting better and better! The characters are beautifully written and the plot and writing is so original and captivating!

Wolfsbane starts off right where Nightshade left off. Calla and Shay ran off from the ritual, and she ends up getting kidnapped. Turns out the Searchers are the ones who have her. Her entire life Calla has learned how dangerous the Searchers were, but Calla soon realizes that the Searchers aren't who she thought they were.

From page 1, I was completely engrossed in the story. Calla learns a lot about the history of the Guardians and the Keepers, and I was fascinated the entire time. I also loved seeing the real side of the Searchers. Every single one of them was great. Connor was my favorite and I can't wait to read more about him and the rest of the Searchers!

While there was still the underlying issue of the love triangle, it wasn't as prominent in this book then it was in the first book. Ren doesn't even show up until one of the last chapters! But I am Team Shay all of the way. I absolutely love him! Calla wasn't as kick-ass as she was in the first book, but I think that is because she is so busy trying to distinguish between the truth and the lies she has been told her entire life.

I am so excited to read Bloodrose, the third and final book in the Nightshade series! I would definitely recommend this series to anyone looking for an amazing read!  

Tempest Audiobook Sample!

Tempest

By: Julie Cross

Pub. Date: January 17, 2012

Publisher: Macmillan/St. Martin's

Pages: 334

The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

About three weeks ago, I read and reviewed Tempest by Julie Cross. While, I had a few issues with it, I still really enjoyed it, and I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.

You can read my review of Tempest here!

The wonderful people at Macmillan Audio has provided me with a sample from the Tempest audiobook to share with all of you. Unfortunately, for some unknown reason to me, I am unable to put the clip into this post.

But you can listen to the clip here! I swear, it is a legitimate link and it works!  

From listening to the clip, I can tell this audiobook is going to be a good one. I'll have to get the entire version and listen to it!

If you are looking for a book with time travel, adventure, and a cute boy's POV, then Tempest is the book, or audiobook for you!!

Review: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Vanish

(Firelight # 2)

By: Sophie Jordan

Pub. Date: September 6, 2011

Publisher: Harper Teen

Pages: 294

Source: Own

An impossible romance.  Bitter rivalries.  Deadly choices.

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

**Warning: Do not read this review if you have not read the first book in the series, Firelight**

Vanish is the second book in the Firelight series by Sophie Jordan. I started reading it as soon as I finished Firelight. I knew I wasn't going to be able to wait, so I am glad that I had a copy readily available. While Vanish did start off kind of slow and I was afraid I wasn't going to like it, I ended up loving it. Now I can't wait for the third book!

Vanish starts exactly where Firelight ended. Jacinda, her sister Tamra, their mom and Cassian are about to be taken by Will's family, the hunters. Maybe it was fear, maybe it was adrenaline, but Tamra finally became a draki (she never developed her powers like everyone else) and was able to wipe out all of the hunters memory.

Safely back behind the "walls" of the tribe, Jacinda needs to prove she deserves to be there again, but she hates every minute of it. She wants to be back with Will. But she can't and won't leave her mom and sister.

While I absolutely loved Jacinda in the first book, she kind of bothered me in this book. She was just a lot weaker to me, and she couldn't choose between Cassian and Will. It was just very annoying to me. Cassian completely grew on me in this book. We get to see some awesome sides to him, and you can tell he cares deeply for Jacinda. Tamra played a huge role in Vanish, and I enjoyed seeing her finally coming out of her sister's shadow.

The last few chapters were very intense! I can not wait to get my hands on the third book, Hidden. I think it is going to be the most exciting book yet, which is saying a lot because the first two books were absolutely amazing! 

Review: Crave by Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz

Crave

(Crave # 1)

By: Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz

Pub. Date: September 21, 2010

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Pages: 278

Source: Own

Shay could never do the things her friends could--never try out for sports, never go to parties, never fall in love. Because of the mysterious and incurable blood disorder she was born with, she can barely make it through three days of school a week.

But now, her doctor-turned-stepfather has a brand-new treatment that he thinks will change everything. And it does. As soon as the new blood starts pumping into Shay's veins, she has visions of a different life...Gabriel's life. She sees an orphanage, loss, fangs, blood, and lust that she can't explain.

Is Gabriel real? And if he is, could he really be what she thinks he is?

First off, you have this amazing cover. Then you read the synopsis. I bought the book right away, I was so intrigued! This book did not disappoint. My only regret is that I didn't read it sooner.

Shay has a rare blood disorder. She is so weak that she can't do the things that other people can do. She needs blood transfusions all of the time, and she usually faints in school. Her doctor turned stepfather starts her on a new blood transfusion treatment and she starts to see the inner thoughts and memories of a man named Gabriel. She is also stronger then she has ever been before.

On the last transfusion she sees that Gabriel is chained up in her stepfather's office. She instantly goes to save him, and that's when all hell breaks loose. Gabriel is a vampire and is not beneath using the girl that saved him to escape from the doctor.

I liked Shay. I thought she was strong and respectable, but also a little stupid. No matter how many times Gabriel tried to kill her, she kept going back to save him. Gabriel was a very interesting character. He is a 400 year old vampire that has seen so much pain and suffering. I really liked him!

I really liked Shay and Gabriel together. When he wasn't trying to kill her and she wasn't being stupid, they were really cute together. When Gabriel finally realized where his loyalties were, it was a breath of fresh air!

Crave was such an original read. I never knew where the story was going to take me. The writing flowed nicely and it kept my attention the entire time! 

The ending was crazy!! I can not wait to read the second book in the series, Sacrifice. I just know that it is going to be good! 

Review: Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Firelight

(Firelight # 1)

By: Sophie Jordan

Pub. Date: September 7, 2010

Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 323 

Source: Own

A hidden truth.

Mortal enemies.

Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

I've had a copy of Firelight for a while now, but haven't really had the desire to read it. Then I went to a Sophie Jordan signing at Murder by the Book. She was so nice and cool, and I knew I was going to be reading Firelight ASAP. I was not disappointed and as soon as I finished it, I started Vanish, the second book in the series.

What instantly stood out for me was that the book was about dragons, or more specifically, Draki (meaning descendents of dragons). How awesome is that? It was very refreshing. The mythical world Jordan created was so exciting and original.

I really enjoyed the characters. The main character is Jacinda (love that name!) who is a fire-breather and the first of her kind in centuries. Due to this, she is very important to her tribe, and while she loves being a draki and can't think of being anything else, she just wants to be a normal draki girl. When she does something that is against the rules, she and her family are forced to move to the human world to escape punishment. While at school she sees Will, the draki hunter who saved her life a week before.

I loved Will. He hated being a draki hunter. It was interesting to learn more about Will's character. He has such an interesting back story. Jacinda and him both come from families that expect them to be and act a certain way, but all they want is to live their lives the way they want too.

My main issue with Firelight was not being able to imagine what the draki looked liked. I wanted more descriptions!

Overall, Firelight was a very interesting and fascinating read. I am looking forward to see where Jordan takes us next! 

In My Mailbox (35) - ALA Edition

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. 

Last weekend I went to my first ever book convention. It was a little overwhelming, but overall I had a great time. I got a lot of awesome books, some I was hoping to get, and others I just discovered. I plan on reading and reviewing every single one of them. It's too much to list them all, but here is a picture of most of them. 

Sorry the picture is a little dark, I didn't have the energy to move my books to find a better place to take the photo.

I also got some other books this week as well:

~Review~

Fallen in Love - Lauren Kate (via netgalley)

Shooting Stars - Allison Rushby (via netgalley)

~Bought~

Chopsticks - Jessica Anthony & Rodrigo Corral

Lost Voices - Sarah Porter 

What did you get in your mailbox? Leave me your link in the comments section, I'd love to check it out!