Book Review: School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

Series: School Spirits #1

Genre: YA Paranormal 

Publication Date: May 14, 2013

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Format: eARC

Pages: 304

Source: Received for review from publisher on NetGalley

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?

Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance! (Summary from Goodreads.com)

I'll be honest, I had no frackin' idea what to expect going into this book. I really enjoyed Hawkins's Hex Hall series. Though the Brannicks actually made an appearance in Spell Bound, they didn't make an enormous one. Still, I got good vibes from Izzy, so I was incredibly curious what it would be like to see the world from her eyes. I really loved it. School Spirits has an entirely different feel than Hawkins's other series.   It stands on its own, that's fasho! The best way I can think to describe this book is as an adventure. It was a quick read, and a lot of fun!

Protagonist: 
Like I said, I was getting good vibes off of Izzy in Spell Bound, and, about two years later (in book time--in reality...a day later), I get to delve into her head and discover that my vibes were right on! Izzy is great. She's determined, persistent, and sort of socially awkward. It was certainly entertaining to watch a girl used to battling monsters be thrown in to high school, totally clueless how to go about it. I mean, she totally breaks a guy's nose on her first day.

Friendships: 
Despite that awkwardness, she makes friends right away. Anderson, Dex, and Romy are characters to love. They are the "outcasts" in their school. They started a ghost hunting club (named PMS), they don't dress like the others in high school, and people are rude to them. But they are so cool! They're supportive of one another, have hilarious banter, and they just don't give a crap what others think. Izzy may have befriended them for reasons that weren't entirely genuine, but she quickly cares about them and stands eagerly by their sides. The whole dynamic of their group is worthy of countless cheesy grins.

I've read in some reviews that people think it's a little unrealistic that Izzy moves to a new school and makes friends so quickly and captures the attention of one of the "popular" kids. I disagree. As a girl who has had her fair share of being the new kid, I know that it's not too hard to make friends the first day--especially if one is pretty, and especially if one immediately talks to the "outcasts."

Romance: 
There were a few potential romantic interests, but the romance was definitely more of a sub-plot than anything. It did not overwhelm the main story line or action. First there is Adam, who turns out to be a douchenozzle, which is okay because that makes room for Dex. Like, on the real here people, Dex is one of my fave YA boys. He's such an asthmatic goober! He's so funny. No joke, I highlighted my favorite quotes in the e-reader, and the majority were from him:

Satisfied, Dex went back to the salt. After a while, he moved to the foot of the grave, pouring it there.

"This is fun," he said. "Weird and disturbing and possibly illegal, but still fun."

“This is better than our regular PMS meetings,” Dex said once we had our food. “Those are sadly lacking in fries, I’ve found.” He reached past me for the ketchup. “And desecrating graves is a surprisingly fun bonding activity. I only defile the dead with my closest friends.” 

 “Bats live in caves,” I reminded him. “And where there are bats, there’s bat poop. Lots of it. Did you know there’s a cave in Mexico where they have a whole mountain made of guano?”

Dex leveled a fake-sultry gaze at me. “Are you coming on to me?” 

That is just the itsiest bitsiest fragment of all the quotes I loved. Another thing about Dex: he dresses like a total stud. Someone said he was kind of Magnus-y, and that is pretty spot-on. It's all peacoats and scarves for Dex!

However great Dex is, though, I still would have liked more Torin. Ya know, the man in the mirror. There's definitely something sizzlin' there, but it is not nearly as fleshed out as I would like. I actually like Torin a lot.

Plot: 
Okay, so no, this book does not have the most complex, unpredictable, original plot in the world. But who gives a spork? Hawkins is so good at delivering an entertaining read. Who needs something super complex when you have a severely bitchy ghost, a missing sister, and a dark warlock who lives inside a mirror, and a mom who is most definitely hiding something. The pacing is great, of course. It's so easy to just fly through this book.

But here's the thing. This is now a standalone. I think at one point it was supposed to be a series, but that is no longer the case. And it devastates me. No lie. COMPLETELY DEVASTATES. Because I loved this book soooooo much. I was looking forward to more Brannicks, more Torin, more Dex, I was looking forward to more Izzy being awesome. And now, not only do I not get that, but I also do not get to see how some major plot points get resolved. The obvious story was resolved, but what happened to Finley? Will a certain prophecy of Torin's come true? I will never know. It's not like majorly torturous, but I still hate it.

So basically...
Whereas a lot of paranormal books are exhausting nowadays, I thought this book was exciting, entertaining, and certainly a worthy read. I loved the characters and obviously the writing.There is a great big HOWEVER, though. If you think you'd be driven crazy by the loose ends, then this is a serious judgement call. But if you love the Hex Hall series and think you'd be okay with not knowing how every little thing turns out, I recommend this book. To me, it was worth it.

Book Review: The Bane by Keary Taylor

The Bane by Keary Taylor

Series: The Eden Trilogy #1

Genre: YA Apocalyptic

Publication Date: June 6, 2011

Publisher: Independently Published

Format: ebook

Pages: 352

Source: Received for review via Netgalley

Before the Evolution there was TorBane: technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter. It had the ability to grow new organs and limbs, to heal the world. Until it evolved out of control and spread like the common cold. The machine took over, the soul vanished, and the Bane were born. The Bane won't stop until every last person has been infected. With less than two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction.

Eve knows the stories of the Evolution, the time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. But she doesn't need memories to know this world is her reality. This is a world that is quickly losing its humanity, one Bane at a time.

Fighting to keep one of the last remaining human colonies alive, Eve finds herself torn between her dedication to the colony, and the discovery of love. There is Avian and West – one a soldier, one a keeper of secrets. And in the end, Eve will make a choice that will change the future of mankind.

The Bane is The Terminator meets The Walking Dead with a heart-twisting romance.

Previously published as Eden, due to reader demand it has been revamped and rereleased as The Bane: book one in The Eden Trilogy. (Summary from Goodreads.com)

I'll admit, I was definitely hesitant to read this book at first, despite the fact that I requested this on NetGalley. I know that the whole apocalypse angle is one that needs to be approached carefully. And naturally, I'm weary of independently published books--I'm never really sure what to expect. But the concept sounded interesting, so I jumped in. I really am glad I did. Taylor has created a great book with a non-stop plot and fleshed out characters.

Though she blacks out quite a lot, Eve is a pretty tough girl. Okay, really tough. And she's always eager to throw herself into dangerous situations (if she thinks it will be beneficial to those around her). I'm not saying she's perfect. There were quite a few things about her that annoyed me, but all in all, I enjoyed being inside of her head. I liked that alongside the boy dilemma, she faced a moral dilemma. She knew that trying to juggle 2 guys wasn't right and she told both of them there could be no fraternizing until she made a decision. Avian and West are both great guys, and I was legitimately unsure at times who she was going to pick. There were different things about both boys that made Eve like them and I wasn't sure which she actually loved. I was pleased with her decision.

I think everything in this story was really thought-out. The characters' histories, the plot, the Banes. It was definitely an interesting world and I loved seeing how different the people in other areas lived.

And what good would an apocalypse be without some action? I really only like action when it is written well. Otherwise, my eyes just kind of skim the words and my brain floats off to a faraway land of unicorns and daffodils. Taylor writes some pretty epic stuff. The kind of action that carries the weight of the world on its shoulder, the kind with tension and fear and blood. There were certainly no unicorns or daffodils in my head while reading this.

Basically, this is a book that I enjoyed and I think you will too--if you're not completely worn out by apocalyptic and dystopian books.

Book Review: A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty

A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty
Series: The Colors of Madeleine #1
Genre: YA Fantasy 
Publication Date: April 1, 2013
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Format: Digital Galley
Pages: 387
Source: Received for review from publisher via NetGalley

The first in a rousing, funny, genre-busting trilogy from bestseller Jaclyn Moriarty!

This is a tale of missing persons. Madeleine and her mother have run away from their former life, under mysterious circumstances, and settled in a rainy corner of Cambridge (in our world).

Elliot, on the other hand, is in search of his father, who disappeared on the night his uncle was found dead. The talk in the town of Bonfire (in the Kingdom of Cello) is that Elliot's dad may have killed his brother and run away with the Physics teacher. But Elliot refuses to believe it. And he is determined to find both his dad and the truth.

As Madeleine and Elliot move closer to unraveling their mysteries, they begin to exchange messages across worlds -- through an accidental gap that hasn't appeared in centuries. But even greater mysteries are unfolding on both sides of the gap: dangerous weather phenomena called "color storms;" a strange fascination with Isaac Newton; the myth of the "Butterfly Child," whose appearance could end the droughts of Cello; and some unexpected kisses...(Summary from Goodreads.com)

Okay, so...this book. There have been some good, some bad, some in between things said about this book. I went into this book utterly unsure. In all honesty, I'd advise people to go into this book with hesitancy, especially if you are not overly experienced in the fantasy genre (like me) and don't have patience to pick through the world building (like me). 

Let me just say, the first 120 pages or so were not a good experience for me. I was confused, bored, and failed to see a plot. I think the author was trying to get the worldbuilding and characterization out of the way, but by golly it could have been done better. There were parts of the worldbuilding I liked, like the little excerpts from the travel guide, or the newspaper from the Princesses. I think in the end, the Kingdom of Cello became more alive to me than Cambridge (which is our world). But really, I didn't feel connected to either of the worlds--or any of the characters. In the beginning it was worse. The dialogue was weird, their actions confused me. I guess there came a point where it all clicked and I began to understand them (though I think the writing sort of changed throughout and that's why it became less confusing), but I still couldn't connect to them. I was reading about their struggles and I was thinking, "Gee, I really hope they find a solution," but I was not immersed in their characters. I didn't really feel anything for them. Half the time, I didn't even know what they were feeling. 

Eventually the plot picked up too and became more clear, and more interesting. I think there was a lot of fluff building up to the guts in Cambridge. Like random, nonsensical conversations without relevance (which I think were for characterization purposes but really just annoyed me). I really did enjoy all that was going on in The Kingdom of Cello, like the Butterfly Child, the color attacks, the missing persons reports, the Twicklehams. There was more going on in Cello than in Cambridge and the book would have been entirely more interesting if the author matched the amount of eventfulness in Cambridge to the amount of eventfulness in Cello. To me, it felt like Moriarty needed to include the real world side because of the crack, but the plot wasn't as developed or interesting as it could have been. And, even though Cambridge is a whole other country than me, it didn't feel like it took place in our modern world (which is what made the pop-culture references seem out of place). 

To top it all off, the writing wasn't even the greatest. Sometimes I didn't really know what the author was trying to say, and I skimmed over some things, and there were random pop culture references thrown in. There were a lot of things that felt stilted, or awkward. However, I did enjoy all the facts. About Isaac Newton and colors. I found it interesting and there were quite a few insightful things mixed in with all of it that I made sure to commit to memory. 

This grew into something interesting, though not altogether entertaining. I don't think I'd recommend this to teenagers, especially the ones who aren't avid readers. It wasn't my favorite, but I think more mature teens and adults could find it a worthwhile read. I will definitely be reading the second one, because with the majority of characterization and worldbuilding out of the way, and hopefully more plot in the way, I'm thinking it could be real good. 

Book Review: Scarred by J.S. Cooper

Scarred by J.S. Cooper

Series: Scarred #1

Genre: NA Contemporary

Publication Date: March 1, 2013

Publisher: Independently Published

Format: ebook

Pages: 112

Source: Received for review from the author via NetGalley

Everyone in Jonesville thought that Bryce Evans had the perfect life in High School: he was the Mayor's son, the quarterback for the football team, the boyfriend of the head cheerleader and had a 4.1 GPA. His acceptance to Notre Dame came as no surprise but when he chose to enlist in the army instead everyone was shocked.

Lexi Jones was the quiet girl in school and kept to her small group of eccentric friends. She had no connection to any of the popular kids except for one incident on Prom Night when her path crossed with Bryce's.

When Bryce enlisted Lexi was the only one that wasn't disappointed and decided to send him anonymous letters as a way to feel connected to him. She stopped after a year because she felt there was nowhere for their relationship to go.

Fast-forward four years and Bryce is back in Jonesville and once again he and Lexi cross paths. Only he's no longer the seemingly perfect man and Lexi's no longer the quiet girl.

This time their relationship is quite different but both of them have secrets from the past and friends that threaten to ruin their chance at happiness together. (Summary from Goodreads.com)

When I saw this book on NetGalley, I immediately requested it because I'd been on the search for an NA book with a more mature romance (I guess one with more steam). Don't get me wrong, I ADORE YA, but sometimes I'm just in the mood for lots of kissing and less plot. And this book was exactly that. This review took me literally about three minutes to write and I posted it to my Goodreads account right after reading the book, unsure whether or not I was going to post it to my blog. But then I decided why not?

Basically, this was a quick read. Almost like reading a novella. It was sort of a fluffy read. For me, it was a good distraction read. There was good back story to the drama, though there weren't exactly overarching plot lines, ya know? Like, it was interesting and pretty well thought-out, but not an incredible amount of depth.

Because this book was quick and sort of fluffy, I wasn't worried about connecting to the characters. I was reading it more for entertainment than a soul-deep connection. I enjoyed reading about the characters for the most part, though, and I was rooting for them to get their happily ever afters. I'll admit that at times the characters seemed a bit too young. It felt like I was reading about 15 year olds, not people in their early-twenties.

This story could have benefited tremendously from a professional editor. I mean, the writing wasn't awful or anything, but there were some grammatical errors and some places where the writing could have simply used more.

I'm curious enough to see where the next book is headed, because if nothing else, this story line is interesting. If you're looking for something quick and distracting, if you don't care that the writing or the plot or the characters aren't completely mind-blowing, then I say go ahead and read this. I don't feel like it was a waste of time or anything. But if you're looking for the next Book Of Your Soul, I'd recommend saving this for later.

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

That Time I Joined the Circus by J.J. Howard
Series: Standalone
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: April 1, 2013
Publisher: Point
Format: Digital ARC
Pages: 272
Source: Received from the publisher for review, via 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. (Summary from Goodreads.com)

 My thought process: A YA circus book? Heck yezzzz! Romance, tarot cards. Man this is going to rock the pickles off of me! In reality, this book is pretty good, but not nearly as dazzling as I'd hoped it would be. Basically, this book was sheer potential and lackadaisical execution.

I had a hard time connecting to any of the characters. I may have liked them while I was reading, but all of them left me the minute I exited out of Adobe Reader. Lexi (Xandra, X, Lex) isn't awful to read about, but she sure isn't winning a Best Protagonist award anytime soon. She is a bit too angsty for my tastes: a penchant for fainting, crying, making things more dramatic than necessary. There were other characters, such as Eli, Jamie, Liska, and Lina, who I could have easily been charmed by but turned out to be sort of a let down because I could never really get a good enough feel for them. I guess Liska ended up being my favorite in this book, with her studious habits.

The writing was pretty mediocre most of the time. There was a large amount of telling, rather than showing. And through out the book I was like: Wait, what? You love him? When the frack did that happen? Or: When in tarnations did you guys become friends? It was like things just happened and I didn't understand when or how. Sometimes I wondered if the author was going to go a certain direction then changed her mind, not bothering to smooth over the abrupt jag in the story (not a twist in the plot--a jag in the entire story). And the romance? Miles and miles from being beautiful and heart pounding. I did enjoy the plot, for the most part, even though there were some things that were a little unbelievable (Okay, so my mom isn't actually at this circus, so I guess Ill just join it myself; What do you know, after a few hours of practice, I'm good enough to drive on the highway; Oh, look here! My mom really coincidentally shows up somewhere with a perfect explanation for everything she's done wrong. Even though I "hate" her and am still reluctant to accept her back into my good graces, we patch things up in one conversation.)

My initial response to this book after reading it: "Wasn't perfect, but it kind of made my heart happy, so that's good." I honestly can't remember what about it "made my heart happy." I do know that this was a quick read, though, and interesting enough for me to want to see it through to the end. I don't think I could really recommend this, because it was simply lacking in too many areas.

Book Review: The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

Series: Standalone
Genre: YA contemporary
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Walker & Compnay
Format: eARC
Pages: 397
Source: NetGalley

Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy have been best friends their whole lives. And they've always agreed on one goal: to get out of tiny Paris, Texas, and see the world. The school's foreign exchange program seems like the perfect escape: Piper will go to the original Paris; Mei will go to China; Cassidy will go to Australia; and Izzy, unable to afford the program, will stay at home. To add spice to their semester away, and to stay connected to their best friends, the girls start The International Kissing Club, a Facebook page where they can anonymously update one another and brag about all the amazing guys they're meeting. After all, these girls are traveling abroad: amazing guys abound at every turn! But sometimes fun, flirty vacation flings turn into more serious romances, and sometimes you don't return from abroad the same person you were. Will the girls' relationships-and their friendships-be able to survive? (Goodreads.com)

Goodreads - Amazon - B&N - Indiebound - Book Depo

Upon hearing the premise for The International Kissing Club, I was extremely intrigued. A book focused on kissing? Yes, please! As far as contemps go, I thought it had a pretty unique little twist to it and I was really happy to get the opportunity to read it. However, the novel didn't contain that certain spark that I wanted it to.

The story begins with a prologue from Piper's perspective. I'm not a fan of prologues, so I probably would have liked it a lot more if it was just chapter one, but the prologue did help me easily sympathize with Piper. I mean, being humiliated in front of the entire town by having to kiss a pig? Not a particularly ideal situation. The prologue also helped readers grasp just how far Germaine, Evil Popular Girl, is willing to take her and Piper's feud. Maybe it's because of the prologue that I felt for Piper the most, and that out of all four girls, I was rooting the hardest for her.

As for the other girls...I liked them, but I didn't really connect with them to a full extent. Each one of them was strong, independent, and good for some laughs. But like I said above, Piper was my favorite of the girls. Out of the boys, Lucas, Cassidy's love interest, was definitely my favorite, because he was the only one where I saw how great he was, rather than being told. Well, that's not true. It was obvious how great a guy Guiran, Mei's love interest, was, but he fell a little flat to me. Piper and Izzy both went on and on about how sweet and hott their guys were, but I couldn't really see it or feel it.

The way the perspective alternated between Piper, Cassidy, Izzy, and Mei wasn't particularly annoying or bothersome, because it was all very necessary, but it definitely made it difficult for me to fall for all of the characters and connect to them. In the beginning I also kept getting their background stories confused and I'd have problems following along with who is saying and doing what, but once I learned about the girls it was a lot easier.

I didn't like the way this novel ended. I know that some authors like to keep the ending open in order for the readers to make inferences about what happens, and that's fine. I didn't want an epilogue twenty years in the future, but I felt the ending of The International Kissing Club was unsatisfying. None of the major conflicts were really resolved. And I also didn't expect everybody to live la-dee-da-da happily ever after perfect lives, but it's like by the end, the girls were in the same position they started - only worse because they're friendship is being tested and some of their hearts have been broken.

Aside from those things, though, I did enjoy the novel. It was really cute and great for a good laugh! The writing was clear and sweet and snarky and I absolutely adored reading the posts on the IKC facebook page between chapters! The dialogue between the girls is hilarious because they don't take any crap from each other.

My favorite part of this story, though, was the power of friendship. Every girl craves the kind of friendship that these girls have, and some have even found it themselves. It's the kind of thing that makes my heart happy, as lame as that sounds.

In My Mailbox (15) - Stolen Books Edition

STOLEN BOOKS EDITION

Let me begin by telling you a little story. Me and my dad live in a mother-in-law suite which is like a mini apartment below a house. That means we share a mailbox with the people who own the house. Well, I just started babysitting after school so instead of checking the mail before them right after I get off of the bus, I've been riding the bus to my cousins' house and by the time I get home, the mail is already checked by them. Well, I knew there were quite a few books I was supposed to get this week and I kept getting frustrated when they WOULDN'T GET HERE. I was also supposed to get a package from my siblings as a Christmas present. And that hadn't come either. Well, I figured out the people that own the house have been taking my mail and returning it to the sender due to the "wrong address." We're moving tomorrow, but I am SO MAD. Sosososo mad. Not only for me, but for the people who have had to pay to send books to me only to have them sent back. I'd feel horrible asking them to send them to my new address because it is EXPENSIVE to send books. And I had so many that I was looking forward to! Anyway, I obviously don't have any physical books this week, but the NetGalley books I got I am superlyduperly excited for :) Clicking the titles will take you to the book's Goodreads page.

Partials by Dan Wells

OMGOMGOMG I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS. Everything about this book looks and sounds amazing! I died when I saw it on NetGalley.

Jersey Angel by Beth Ann Bauman

This sounds like a really good contemp :)

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

This book sounds sooooo good, and I loveloveloved Robin's Frozen. Her writing is just fabulous and I am really excited to read this. I actually got denied the first time I requested it, but then, having absolutely no shame, I requested again and got approved.

In My Mailbox (14)

I kind of had a slow week. I was expecting quite a few things in the mail, but for some reason they didn't come. Hopefully they will all be here on Monday! :) All titles link to Goodreads.

I won all of these books from 365 Days of Reading

Vesper by Jeff Sampson

I've heard some good things about this one. It looks like a pretty quick read, too.

Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley

I haven;t really heard or seen anything about this book, but it sounds really interesting.

Between by Jessica Warman

I've been wanting to read this one sice before it was released. I'm excited! :D

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

I don't think I've ever read a book about mermaids, and this is a book I've had my eye on for a while. I was really excited to be able to get it.

Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

This book releases January 17, 2012. I haven't heard much about this yet, but the cover is really eye-catching!

The Edumacation of Jay Baker by Jay Clark

This book looks really funny and sounds like it will be a very entertaining read! It releases January 31, 2012.

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

I'm pretty sure this is a retelling of Robin Hood, and though I am not actually all that familiar with Robin Hood, I still think it looks really good. I love how fierce and simple the cover is. This book releases on Febuary 14, 2012.

Thirst by Claire Farrell

I've never even heard of this, but I liked the cover and decided to take a look at it and it sounds really interesting. And I get carried away with free ebooks, even if I'll probably never read them.

Crossroads by Mary Ting

I've seen really good things about this, so I'm excited to give it a try.

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

I feel like everyone under the ickin sun has read this except me. I've heard really good things about this, and I read one og Beth's other books, so I know the writing will be fantastic.

The Soulkeepers by G.P. Ching

I've also heard good things about this one and the newest installmentin the series just had a gorgeous cover reveal.

In My Mailbox (9) - The No Review Edition

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren!

THE NO REVIEW EDITION

 I didn't post my IMM last week because I went back to All-Region with my choir! It was really fun, but also super exhausting and I got sick afterwards and missed 2 days of school. But, in those past 2 weeks, I didn't get a single book for review (besides NetGalley). I got requests, but none that I accepted :O I'm not complaining, I have enough books as it is! Okay, without further ado.

The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook - Signed and personalized. Won from Princess Bookie during her Contest Craze.

Stealing Bases by Keri Mikulski - Signed and personalized. Won from Princess Bookie during her Contest Craze.

Head Games by Keri Mikulski - Signed and Personalized. Won from Princess Bookie during her Contest Craze.

Don't Let Me Go by J.H. Trumble - Borrowed from Brent at The Naughty Book Kitties for ARC tour. Already read it. It is sooooo mucho fabulous. One of my new favorites of 2011. Review coming soon.

Dark Secrets 1 by Elizabeth Chandler - Borrowed from one of my besties :) It's funny because she's always asking to borrow my books!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - Purchased on All-Region trip. I can't even describe how excited I am to read this. I mean, I've wanted to read it for a while, but HD and Melina are always gushing about it so I decided I need to get a copy! It's so purrrrrdy!

These came with the books I won from Princess Bookie.

2 Stealing Bases bookmarks, with cute little charms you can't see.

An Unraveling Isobel postcard, which is a book I desperately want to read!

And another Eileen Cook bookmark that has Getting Revenge on Lauren Cook on one side, and What Would Emma Do? on the other.

The Deserter by Peadar O. Guilin - From NetGalley. I saw the word "cannibal" and had to get it.

Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Claire - eARC from NetGalley

Nice Shot, Cupid by Kate McMullan - From NetGalley. I love the myth of Cupid and Psyche, and I thought this one looked super cute!

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi - eARC from Netgalley. Do I even need to say how excited I am for this?

The Predicteds by Christine Seifert - From NetGalley. I absolutely adore this cover!

Everneath by Brodi Ashton - eARC from NetGalley. So excited!!!