Review: Crossing the Line by Katie McGarry

Crossing the Line

(Pushing the Limits # 1.5)

By: Katie McGarry

Pub. Date: April 1, 2013

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 67

Source: Bought

Katie McGarry captivated readers with her “riveting, emotional” Young Adult debut, Pushing the Limits. In this gripping novella, she tells the story of Lila and Lincoln, who discover that sometimes it’s worth crossing the line for love…

Lila McCormick, Echo's best friend from Pushing the Limits, first met Lincoln Turner when tragedy struck both their lives. But she never expected their surprise encounter would lead to two years of exchanging letters—or that she’d fall for the boy she’s only seen once. Their relationship is a secret, but Lila feels closer to Lincoln than anyone else. Until she finds out that he lied to her about the one thing she depended on him for the most.

Hurting Lila is the last thing Lincoln wanted. For two years, her letters have been the only thing getting him through the day. Admitting his feelings would cross a line he’s never dared breach before. But Lincoln will do whatever it takes to fix his mistakes, earn Lila’s forgiveness—and finally win a chance to be with the girl he loves.

When Lila and Lincoln meet at Echo's brother funeral they promised to write to each other and that is exactly what they did for the past 2 years. They know everything about each other, and they shared secrets that they would never dare tell anyone else. Everything changes when Lila finds out Lincoln lied to her. Lincoln will do anything to get her to forgive him, including driving 10 hours to see her.

Katie McGarry writes amazing, realistic characters with amazing connections to each other. Echo and Noah, Beth and Ryan, and now Lila and Lincoln! I loved these two together. I loved the trust they had for each other, their sweetness and their friendship. You wouldn't think that in 70 pages, McGarry will be able to write such realistic and fleshed out characters, but that is exactly what she did. I really felt like I knew Lila and Lincoln just from this novella.

In the beginning of each chapter, we get a snippet of the letters they sent to each other. You could tell that they weren't just pen pals. They were so much more, and I love that we got a glimpse of their journey together through these letters.  

Even if you aren't a fan of novellas, I think this one is worth it. It will definitely get you excited for what McGarry comes up with next! 

Cover Reveal: One Tiny Lie by K.A. Tucker

Last December I had the pleasure of reading a fantastic book called Ten Tiny Breaths and today I am excited to reveal the cover for the second book, One Tiny Lie!

One Tiny Lie

(Ten Tiny Breaths # 2)

K.A. Tucker

Pub. Date: June 11, 2013

Publisher: Atria Books

Livie has always been the stable one of the two Cleary sisters, handling her parents' tragic death and Kacey's self-destructive phase with strength and maturity. But underneath that exterior is a little girl hanging onto the last words her father ever spoke to her. “Make me proud,” he had said. She promised she would...and she’s done her best over the past seven years with every choice, with every word, with every action.

Livie walks into Princeton with a solid plan, and she’s dead set on delivering on it: Rock her classes, set herself up for medical school, and meet a good, respectable guy that she’s going to someday marry. What isn’t part of her plan are Jell-O shots, a lovable, party animal roommate she can’t say ‘no’ to, and Ashton, the gorgeous captain of the men’s rowing team. Definitely him. He’s an arrogant ass who makes Livie’s usually non-existent temper flare and everything she doesn’t want in a guy. Worse, he’s best friends and roommates with Connor, who happens to fits Livie’s criteria perfectly. So why does she keep thinking about Ashton?

As Livie finds herself facing mediocre grades, career aspirations she no longer thinks she can handle, and feelings for Ashton that she shouldn’t have, she’s forced to let go of her last promise to her father and, with it, the only identity that she knows.

Preorder Links:

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About the Author: 

Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

Links:

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Review: Everbound by Brodi Ashton

Everbound

(Everneath # 2)

By: Brodi Ashton

Pub. Date: January 22, 2013

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Pages: 368

Source: Bought

Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.

Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.

Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.

In this enthralling sequel to Everneath, Brodi Ashton tests the bonds of destiny and explores the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love.

What first drew me to this series was that it was based on Greek mythology. I am such a fan of these retellings and Everbound did not disappoint one bit! My only regret was that I had it sitting on my shelf for over a month before I decided to read it.

Everneath left off with Jack sacrificing himself to the tunnels to save Nikki and now Nikki will do everything she can to save him. I absolutely loved going to the Everneath with Nikki, Cole and Max and learning more about the mythology of this place. The connection between Nikki and Jack was so sweet. But the connection between Nikki and Cole was hot! As much as Nikki wants to deny it, there is definitely something there between the two of them. I loved learning more about Cole's background. We find out where he came from and how he became an Everliving. As soon as you think you have Cole figured out, he turns around and does something that you never saw coming. That boy definitely kept me guessing.

Nikki had some moments that made me just want to smack her. But she has been through a lot and the fact that she is willing to go back into the Everneath and risk her life to save the boy she loves makes her strong and selfless. Then there is Jack. Poor, sweet Jack. Every night he visits Nikki in her dreams. Some nights he knows who he is and who she is, and other nights all he knows is that he loves a girl that looks like her. It really was heartbreaking.

As far as cliffhangers go, this one was one of the best ones I have ever read. Everbound ends on a bang, and I am so excited for the third book in this exciting and original series! 

Review: Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan

Invisibility

By: Andrea Cremer and David Levithan

Pub. Date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: Philomel

Pages: 258

Source: ARC

Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth.

A book by BOTH Andrea Cremer and David Levithan.....EPIC WIN! I was so excited to receive a copy of this book and started it right away. Told in the duel perspective of both Stephen and Elizabeth, I really felt like I knew both of them really well. Stephen has been invisible his entire life. He doesn't know why, but even his mother couldn't see him. She died last year, and the only contact he has with his father is that the man pays his rent and bills. Stephen has always been alone, and he is used to the loneliness. He spends his days people watching in Central Park. Elizabeth just moved into his apartment complex with her mom and brother. One day, and my Stephen's total surprise, Liz sees him in the hallway, and obviously has no idea that no one else can. I loved the two of them together. Stephen is such a sweet and lonely person and it scared and excited him so much that someone was able to see him.

In all honesty, I had no idea where Invisibility was going to take me. I didn't really know what genre it was, or what to expect. All I knew was that two amazing and talented writers wrote it, and I had to read it! Despite that, I did very much enjoy Invisibility. The characters of Stephen and Liz were written nicely, but I think my favorite character was Laurie, Liz's younger brother. I love how open minded he was about the situation. I also love that he lived through a gay bashing, and was still so full of love and hope.

I believe Invisibility is a stand alone novel, and even though I was left with questions at the end, I am still very happy with how it ended. Invisibility is an original and different story then what I am used too. It comes highly recommended! 

Review: If I Should Die by Amy Plum

If I Should Die

(The Revenants # 3)

By: Amy Plum

Pub. Date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: Harper Teen

Pages: 405

Source: ARC

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

I was so excited to receive an ARC of If I Should Die that I actually did a little scream and dance when I received the package in the mail. Out of all the series I love, this is my absolute favorite. There is just something about this story, the characters, and the setting that I am absolutely in love with.

The third book picks up right where the second book, Until I Die left off. We don't exactly know what happened to Vincent. Is he dead? Was his bodied burned? Will he come back to Kate? Those questions are answered pretty quickly. Evil revenant Violette has taken Vincent's dead body and through an ancient ritual will burn his body and transfer his champion powers. This ritual will bound Vincent's spirit to Violette forever.

OMG! I spent the first half of the book stressed and the second half of the book scared and I loved every single minute of it! I had no idea how it was going to turn out. All I knew was that Kate could not lose another person that she loved, and Vincent could not spend the rest of eternity as a spirit alone and away from his family.

I loved learning more about the history of the revenants and learning more about the characters. Amy Plum is such a talented author, and I can not see what she comes up with next!  

Review: That Time I Joined the Circus by J.J. Howard

That Time I Joined the Circus

By: J.J. Howard

Pub. Date: April 1, 2013

Publisher: Point

Pages: 272

Source: Netgalley

Lexi Ryan just ran away to join the circus, but not on purpose.

A music-obsessed, slightly snarky New York City girl, Lexi is on her own. After making a huge mistake--and facing a terrible tragedy--Lexi has no choice but to track down her long-absent mother. Rumor has it that Lexi's mom is somewhere in Florida with a traveling circus.

When Lexi arrives at her new, three-ring reality, her mom isn't there . . . but her destiny might be. Surrounded by tigers, elephants, and trapeze artists, Lexi finds some surprising friends and an even more surprising chance at true love. She even lucks into a spot as the circus's fortune teller, reading tarot cards and making predictions.

But then Lexi's ex-best friend from home shows up, and suddenly it's Lexi's own future that's thrown into question.

With humor, wisdom, and a dazzlingly fresh voice, this debut reminds us of the magic of circus tents, city lights, first kisses, and the importance of an excellent playlist.

I really didn't know what to expect when I started this story, but I ended up absolutely loving it! It was such a refreshing read. In the same night, Lexi loses her best friend and her father. The lawyer in charge with her dad's will tells Lexi that her mother is somewhere in Florida, working at a circus. With no money and hardly no belongings, Lexi heads down there to find her mother. Turns out her mom is no longer working for the circus, but the owner gives her a job. In no time, Lexi is part of this circus family.

The story is told in the present time and in the past. We see Lexi's dad and her friends and we learn how everything fell apart. I loved watching Lexi become apart of the circus. She really helped everyone there. She had a few romantic interests as well, and I never knew which one was going to stick!

While That Time I Joined the Circus sounds like it is just a fun read, it is so much more. There are a lot of emotions in the story, and I found myself crying a few times. I felt so bad for Lexi and I just wanted her to be happy.

I really loved everything about this story. The chapter titles were so much fun and I loved the music lyrics before each chapter. I especially loved the characters. Every single one of them stood out for me. My favorite scene was the Christmas road trip! Seriously, everything about this book was amazing. I can not wait to buy a finished copy for my shelf and I highly recommend it! 

Review: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Unravel Me

(Shatter Me # 2)

By: Tahereh Mafi

Pub. Date: February 5, 2013

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages: 461

Source: Bought

tick

tick

tick

tick

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it's almost

time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

Shatter Me was a surprise favorite for me last year and I was so excited to finally get Unravel Me. The second installment left me with so many different emotions, and I loved every minute of it.

Juliette and Adam are now safe at Omega Point, but Juliette is more confused as ever. She knows Adam is hiding something, and she hopes someone will tell her what is going on. At the same time, she is told that she has to stop being a hermit, and she has to learn to trust the other people in this organization.

Poor Adam. My heart felt for him. He goes through a lot of pain in Unravel Me. We know snapshots about Adam's past and his family from the first book. But his story is brought to a whole new level in Unravel Me.

I've always been a big fan of Adam, but then Warner sweeps in and steals my heart. This man is full of pain and secrets. But if you thought Warner was bad in Shatter Me, then you obviously never met his father. That man is bat shit crazy and has fed Warner years of this psycho craziness.  No wonder Warner is the "bad guy".

A secret is revealed about Warner and Adam and I literally had to put the book down and yell "holy shit!". Actually this whole book contained "holy shit!" moments for me. I am so excited to read the next book, and I have no idea I how I will be able to wait a year to read it.

I also suggest reading Destroy Me, a short novella in Warner's POV. It is set between book 1 and 2 and gives the reader a lot of insight into Warner's character. There are some overlapping scenes from Destroy Me and Unravel Me and I found it interesting to read the same scene in both Warner's and Juliette's POV.

Pick up this series ASAP. You will not be disappointed!