Synchronized Reading: May 2013

Friday, May 31, 2013

May 2013 Wrap Up/June 2013 TBR

Hey Everyone :)

I'm here with my May wrap up with all the books I read in May (mostly review books) and my June tbr!
I did pretty good sticking with my tbr for May! I'm proud lol
IF you've read any of these, tell me what you thought of them :)

May Wrap Up

Uprising by Jessica Therrien - for review/from author - review - 3.5 stars

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler - edelweiss - review - 4 stars

Iced by Karen Marie Moning - library/audio - review - 4.5 stars

Flicker and Burn by T. M. Goeglein - for review/author - review - 4.5 stars

Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer - netgalley - review - 4.5 stars

Enchantment by Nikki Jefford - for review/blog tour - review - 4 stars

A Brother's Honor by Brenda Jackson - netgalley - review - 4.5 stars

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead - edelweiss - (review to come) - DNF

Spartan Frost by Jennifer Estep - netgalley - (review to come) - 4 stars

Imaginable by J. Meyers - for review/author - (review to come) - 4 stars

June TBR

The Dark Shore, Phoenix, The Siren's Secret and Dancing with the Devil are review books :)

I hope I can stick with my list!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

The Beast in Him by Shelly Laurenston

The Beast in Him
(Pride, #2)
by Shelly Laurenston
Released |April 1st 2008 by Brava|
Edition |eBook|
Add to Goodreads

Some things are so worth waiting for. Like the moment when Jessica Ward "accidentally" bumps into Bobby Ray Smith and shows him just how far she's come since high school. Back then, Jess's gangly limbs and bruised heart turn to jelly any time Smitty's "all the better to ravish you with" body came near her. So, some things haven't changed. Except now Jess is a success on her own terms. And she can enjoy a romp-or twenty-with a big, bad wolf and walk away. Easy.
The sexy, polished CEO who hires Smitty's security firm might be a million miles from the loveable geek he knew, but her kiss, her touch, is every bit as hot as he imagined. Jess was never the kind to ask for help, and she doesn't want it now, not even with someone targeting her Pack. But Smitty's not going to turn tail and run. Not before proving that their sheet-scorching animal lust is only the start of something even wilder…

I really enjoy this series by Shelly Laurenston. In this installment we get to experience the relationship between Bobby Ray and Jessica. We were introduced to Bobby Ray briefly in book 1 and Jessica was an entirely new characters so I was glad to see how the two would connect. I must say that I loved this book! The relationship and the entertainment kept me thoroughly entertained the entire time.

Wishlist Wednesday (38): Endless Knight by Kresley Cole

Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.
Hosted by: Pen to Paper

Endless Knight
(Arcana, #2)
by Kresley Cole
Releases |October 1st 2013 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers|
Add to Goodreads

In the second book of the Arcana Chronicles Evie has now fully come into her powers as the tarot Empress. And Jackson was there to see it all. In the aftermath of killing Arthur, the tarot Alchemist, Evie realizes that a war is brewing between the other teens that, following the apocalypse, have been given powers and its kill or be killed.
Things get even more complicated when Evie meets Death, the mysterious, sexy Endless Knight. Somehow the Empress and Death share a romantic history - one that Evie can't remember, but Death can't forget. She is drawn to the Endless Knight, but is in love with Jack. Determined to discover why she's been granted these powers, Evie struggles to accept her place in a prophecy that will either save the world, or completely destroy it.

Why I'm Wishing...
I enjoyed the first book Poison Princess and thought it was a unique story. So I'm really curious about how the sequel will turn out. And do I smell a love triangle...WTF! Why?

Other Books in this Series

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday (21): Top Ten Sequels That Need Reading

Hosted by: the Broke and Bookish

This Week's Topic
This week was a freebie week, so I decide to get with...

My Top Ten Sequels That Need Reading

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Toxic by Jus Accardo

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill

Schools Out Forever by James Patterson

Monday, May 27, 2013

A Brother's Honor by Brenda Jackson

The Granger brothers left behind their family's Virginia estate—and the bad memories it holds—years ago. But their dying grandfather's request brings them home: to a failing business, a legacy of secrets and a deathbed promise to make things right.As the eldest brother, attorney Jace Granger is determined to take responsibility for Granger Aeronautics, his family's failing business. But the years of mismanagement seem impossible to untangle. As CEO, he hires a consultant to turn the company around. Smart, sexy Shana Bradford is the right person for the job—and the right woman to turn Jace's world upside down.
But the passion between them is jeopardized when old secrets begin to emerge. A woman from Jace's past suddenly reappears. And an explosive discovery changes everything Jace thinks he knows about his mother—and his father, who was convicted of her murder.
Jace Granger tried to leave his family history behind once before. But this time he needs to face the past…or risk losing his future.
Three brothers. One legacy. A lifetime of secrets.

It felt so good for me to back into the romance world! Brenda Jackson is one of my favorite romance authors and with this new series of hers, she did not disappoint. There were a lot of mysterious and emotional elements going on within this book and also, we got some entertainment and happiness :) I felt there was a great balance with the two. I devoured this book in two sittings and was so sad to see it end when I got to the final page! I can't wait for the next installment to uncover more of those secrets that were left uncovered!

Book Hauling It Up (55)

Hey Everyone,

Hope everyone has had a great week :)
Don't forget to leave your haul links!

For Review -Netgalley

Bought

Ebooks

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Flicker & Burn by T.M. Goeglein - Review and Guest Post

Sara Jane Rispoli is still searching for her missing family, but instead of fighting off a turncoat uncle and crooked cops, this time she finds herself on the run from creepy beings with red, pulsing eyes and pale white skin chasing her through the streets in ice cream trucks; they can only be described as Ice Cream Creatures. They're terrifying and hell bent on killing her, but they're also a link to her family, a clue to where they might be and who has them. While she battles these new pursuers, she's also discovering more about her own cold fury and more about the Chicago Outfit, how the past misdeeds--old murders and vendettas--might just be connected to her present and the disappearance of her family. But connecting the dots is tough and time-consuming and may finally be the undoing of her relationship with the handsome Max--who's now her boyfriend. But for his own safety, Sara Jane may have to end this relationship before it even really starts. Her pursuers who've shown her her mother's amputated finger and the head of the Chicago Outfit who's just whistled her in for a sit-down make a romance unthinkable. The only thing that matters is finding her family and keeping everyone she loves alive.

Man. Oh. Man! Like, where to start? Flicker and Burn was ACTION PACKED and I loved every single moment of all that extremeness! I could not wait to dive back into the mystery of Sara Jane's missing family, to the creepy ice cream creatures, and finally to the mysterious book of all the old Outfit's secrets. So many amazing things, good and bad, happened within within this installment that has me really anxious to see how everything will end in the final book! If you enjoyed the first book, then I really suggest you give the sequel a try :) It was awesome! And if you haven't started this series and like a good action packed mystery, then I would definitely recommend starting the series!

Wishlist Wednesday (37): Broken by CJ Lyons

Broken
by CJ Lyons
Released |November 5th 2013 by Brilliance Corporation|
Add to Goodreads

The only thing fifteen-year-old Scarlet Killian has ever wanted is a chance at a normal life. Diagnosed with a rare and untreatable heart condition, she has never taken the school bus. Or giggled with friends during lunch. Or spied on a crush out of the corner of her eye. So when her parents offer her three days to prove she can survive high school, Scarlet knows her time is now... or never. Scarlet can feel her heart beating out of control with every slammed locker and every sideways glance in the hallway. But this high school is far from normal. And finding out the truth might just kill Scarlet before her heart does.

Why I'm Wishing...
I ran across this one on Pinterest and that it look pretty interesting and the synopsis has me really curious as well to see how things will turn out.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Blog Tour: Enchantment by Nikki Jefford - Review + Excerpt

Gray returned from the dead, took on a duplicate, and now faces her biggest adventure yet.
Barcelona. Summer escape. Or so Graylee Perez thought until her old adversary, Adrian Montez, brings his magic show to Spain.
Gray seeks out a Spanish wizard to help banish Adrian from her life once and for all. Instead, she tumbles headfirst into a love spell with the arrogant warlock.
After Gray follows Adrian to Paris, she must face her true feelings and decide if Adrian’s worth fighting for.

In book 2, we were introduced to the duplicate Graylee Perez, and even though I didn't care for her too much because I felt she was stuck in the past, I'm glad to see her find her place and happiness in this final installment :) I felt like the original 'Lee' got her happy ending with Raj. So it was only right for Gray to find hers. This final installment in the Spellbound Trilogy was just as fast paced and entertaining as the other installments. But I am so sad to see this trilogy end, but all in all, it left me satisfied with no unanswered questions!

Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer

With power comes enemies. Lots of them.
Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He’s learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can’t seem to afford any allies.
He’s up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.
Then there’s Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She’s not hostile. She’s bold. Funny. Hot. But she’s got an agenda, too.
With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he’ll have to find someone he can trust…

I don't know how Brigid Kemmerer did it, but she really had me changing my feelings towards Hunter in this book. Hunter was my least favorite person of this series and I never understand why he was always up in the mix with the Merrick brothers, but I'm glad my perception of him change and I finally got to understand and listen to his story. Once again, the author added another great installment in the elemental series :) Her writing style is amazing and it never fails to captivate me. There was so much action and emotions that went on in this story that I couldn't believe! I definitely recommend this series :)

Book Hauling It Up (54)

Hey Everyone :)

I hope everyone has had a great week!
I got a couple books this week that I'm really excited to get to.
Don't forget to leave your haul links.
I'd love to check them out :)

For Review - Edelweiss

This was a shock since Edelweiss loves denying me lol

now i need to hit my library up for book 1 :)

Library - Audio

I actually got this last week, but forgot about it.

Ebooks

Of Silver and Beasts and Lash were pretty cheap.

So I'm really curious to see what these are about.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Iced by Karen Marie Moning

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning comes the first book in her hotly anticipated new urban paranormal trilogy, set in the world of her blockbuster Fever series.
The year is 1 AWC—After the Wall Crash. The Fae are free and hunting us. It’s a war zone out there, and no two days are alike. I’m Dani O’Malley, the chaos-filled streets of Dublin are my home, and there’s no place I’d rather be.
Dani “Mega” O’Malley plays by her own set of rules—and in a world overrun by Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive. Possessing rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than equipped for the task. In fact, she’s one of the rare humans who can defend themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium, her greatest gifts have turned into serious liabilities.
Dani’s ex–best friend, MacKayla Lane, wants her dead, the terrifying Unseelie princes have put a price on her head, and Inspector Jayne, the head of the police force, is after her sword and will stop at nothing to get it. What’s more, people are being mysteriously frozen to death all over the city, encased on the spot in sub-zero, icy tableaux.
When Dublin’s most seductive nightclub gets blanketed in hoarfrost, Dani finds herself at the mercy of Ryodan, the club’s ruthless, immortal owner. He needs her quick wit and exceptional skill to figure out what’s freezing Fae and humans dead in their tracks—and Ryodan will do anything to ensure her compliance.
Dodging bullets, fangs, and fists, Dani must strike treacherous bargains and make desperate alliances to save her beloved Dublin—before everything and everyone in it gets iced.

Like seriously! How awesome could this book get?! I loved every single moment of it. Well not EVERY moment. There was, you know, the one I've been ranting about that I could have done without. I loved being back in the world of the fae that Moning has created. There was TONS of action and drama and entertainment going on throughout this book that kept me completely engrossed. I LOVED reading from Dani's POV and thought it was a nice change within the series, even though I missed Barrons and Mac!

Book Blitz: Plastic Hearts by Lisa De Jong

Plastic Hearts
(Hearts, #1)
by Lisa De Jong
Released |February 27th 2013|
Genre |New Adult Contemporary|
Add to Goodreads

My life has always been safe. I like it that way. I grew up in a fake society where plastic hearts rule. If our hearts are made of plastic, they can never be broken. My parents have expectations and I do everything I can to meet them, even if it means giving up on my own dreams.
Now, all I want is to be free to make my own choices.
Dane Wright is everything I have been warned to stay away from. We met one night while I was with my perfect, parent-approved boyfriend and I haven’t stopped thinking about him. I don’t want to like him. I am doing everything I can to ignore his pull, but my heart seems to want what it cannot have, what it has never had.
Can he measure up? He may think I am too good for him, but maybe he is too good for me.
Life is a series of choices and I have never been able to make my own. Until one day, when my heart decides to make a choice for me.
Recommended for mature readers due to sexual content and language

Author Bio

Lisa De Jong is a wife, mother and full-time number cruncher who lives in the Midwest. Her writing journey involved insane amounts of coffee and many nights of very little sleep but she wouldn't change a thing. She also enjoys reading, football and music.

Author Links

Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Excerpt

"Do you want some company?" My skin tingled when I heard his voice. He had to be stalking me; there was no other explanation for this much coincidence.
I pinched my eyebrows together as I looked back at him. "I doubt you have any reason to walk to the Med Center."
"I do if that’s where you are heading to,” he shrugged with his hands in his pockets. He was looking at me with those eyes again and I felt myself melting under them.

Wishlist Wednesday (36): Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Allegiant
(Divergent, #3)
by Veronica Roth
Releases |October 22nd 2013 by HarperCollins Children's Books|
Add to Goodreads

One choice will define you.
What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?
The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth’s #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

Why I'm Wishing...
OMG, I CAN'T WAIT! I just can't wait to see how everything wraps up :) I'm definitely going to miss this series when it ends though. I highly enjoyed both the first and the second book in the series, so I really excited to see how this ends.

Other Books in this Series

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

When all signs point to heartbreak, can love still be a rule of the road? A poignant and romantic novel from the author of Bittersweet and Twenty Boy Summer.
Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.
Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?
Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?
Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

This is my first Sarah Ockler book and I really enjoyed it! I will definitely have to check out more of the author's work. The Book of Broken Hearts was filled with a great amount of romance, but there was more to the story than that. I loved the emotions that were incorporated into the story between Jude and her father. Jude is the youngest of four and is spending the summer with her father, who is suffering from early onset Alzheimer's, to rebuild up her father's old motorcycle, Valentina. But wait, the person they hire to do the rebuilding is none other than Emilio Vargas. The youngest of the Vargas brothers that Jude and her sisters swore never talk to or become involve with at all cost! This book was filled with so much entertainment, heartbreak, and romance all wrapped up in one! Thanks so much to Edelweiss for a review copy of The Book of Broken Hearts. All thoughts are my honest opinion.

Uprising by Jessica Therrien

Elyse has done everything she can to protect her friends from The Council's reach. As long as they believe she's dead, she has time to rest and train for war. And war is inevitable.
When Kara arrives with the news that Anna and Chloe have been captured, Elyse is faced with the realization that no one is safe until The Council is stopped and Christoph is destroyed. She doesn't need a prophecy to tell her to lead an army. Christoph has done the one thing that ensures she'll fight to the death. He's threatened the people she loves.
It will take more than the words of an oracle to help them fight against the most powerful Descendant alive. To break The Council's oppression and rise up against a plot so many years in the making, Elyse will need to get dangerously close to her enemy. So close, in fact, she may not survive.

Uprising is a sequel that I've been really excited to check out and to see how everything would continue on. I really enjoyed the first book and was really happy to receive and eARC of Uprising (Thanks Jessica!) and to be back into the world of the Descendants. I love Greek Mythology and books that incorporate it within the story and I think the author does a fantastic job with her take on it. I really like how each Descendant has a different 'gift' from the god they're from. And so many awesome and shocking twists happened throughout the book that left me wanting more, but I did have one issue with the book, which made the rating drop. But overall, I really enjoyed the story and can't wait to find out what happens next!

Book Hauling It Up (53)

Hey Everyone,

Hope everyone has had another wonderful week :)
Thanks for stopping by if you have!
And don't forget to leave the link to your haul!
I would love to check them out!

For Review

from the author

from author/publisher, but I thought I was getting an arc!

Library

Both are going back...

The lady who does Level 2 was annoying and the one for Dualed talking was TOO slow.

Like, whey are you talking so sssslllllloooooowwww!

Ebooks

Kindle Freebies

I'm really confused as to whether or not I need to read Ember since I read the original YA version not the NA.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Cover Love (15)

Hey everyone,
I am here to show you all the new covers I have seen recently.
They might not be new to you, but they're new to me :)
Some are pretty awesome!
Any faves?!

OMG! I can't wait for Allegiant and Obsession!

Dying for Champion as well! And I really like the cover for Endless :)

Thursday, May 9, 2013

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

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!

I was super excited to get my hands on this book. I really enjoyed the Hex Hall trilogy and was really curious to see how the spin off would turn out. This book is not completely what I expected. I thought maybe we would see the world of Hex Hall (the school) again, but we didn't! And I actually kind of liked that about the book. You get a new set of characters, besides the main, and a completely different environment. I thought this was a pretty great start to the spin off series and I can't wait to continue on :) Thanks so much to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of School Spirits. All thoughts are my honest opinion.

Wishlist Wednesday (35): The Liberator by Victoria Scott

The Liberator
(Dante Walker, #2)
by Victoria Scott
Released |August 27th 2013 by Entangled Teen|
Add to Goodreads

Bad boy, meet bad girl.
Dante has a shiny new cuff wrapped around his ankle, and he doesn't like that mess one bit. His new accessory comes straight from Big Guy himself and marks the former demon as a liberator. Despite his gritty past and bad boy ways, Dante Walker has been granted a second chance.
When Dante is given his first mission as a liberator to save the soul of seventeen-year-old Aspen, he knows he’s got this. But Aspen reminds him of the rebellious life he used to live and is making it difficult to resist sinful temptations. Though Dante is committed to living clean for his girlfriend Charlie, this dude’s been a playboy for far too long…and old demons die hard.
With Charlie becoming the girl she was never able to be pre-makeover and Aspen showing him how delicious it feels to embrace his inner beast, Dante will have to go somewhere he never thought he’d return to in order to accomplish the impossible: save the girl he’s been assigned to, and keep the girl he loves.

Why I'm Wishing...
I want this asap lol And I really enjoyed the first book. I would really like to be back in the head of Dante! New girl in the picture? Blah! Hope there a triangle isn't going to spring up. That would suck...

Other Books in this Series

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Guest Post & Excerpt - Enchantment by Nikki Jefford + Giveaway (Int)

Enchantment
(Spellbound, #3)
by Nikki Jefford
Released |April 6th 2013 by Nikki Jefford|
Add to Goodreads

Barcelona. Summer escape. Or so Graylee Perez thought until her old adversary, Adrian Montez, brings his magic show to Spain.
Gray seeks out a Spanish wizard to help banish Adrian from her life once and for all. Instead, she tumbles headfirst into a love spell with the arrogant warlock.
After Gray follows Adrian to Paris, she must face her true feelings and decide if Adrian’s worth fighting for.

Guest Post

Staying True to Character

Sometimes I want to make my characters say or do things that are out of character for them. For the most part it’s a synchronized effort, but once in a while the character fights the direction I try to take them.
This happened with Adrian Montez on his flight from Barcelona to Paris. I felt like he should be sulking on the ride home after having his heart crushed yet again by Graylee Perez. I wanted him to wallow the whole way back. Thing is, Adrian doesn’t sulk. Oh no, he hits on the stewardess.
He was so insistent; I had no choice but to go with it.

Adrian rattled the ice in his glass and polished off the last of the drink. When the cart came around he ordered another. He smiled at the stewardess as she prepared the drink from the aisle. She wore her hair down. He liked that. Adrian’s eyes traveled up her lean nylon-clad legs, from her black pumps to the edge of the itchy-looking navy skirt. She looked like the sort of chick who’d wear a garter underneath.

The stewardess was all woman, not a mere girl. Much better suited to Adrian . . . at least for one night.

Domination by Jon S. Lewis

THEIR GOAL IS SIMPLE: TOTAL DOMINATION.
With six arms and jaws that can snap a man in two, the warmongering race of aliens known as the Thule has conquered every planet they’ve attacked.
And now their invasion of Earth has begun.
Humanity’s only hope springs from a mysterious Thule legend about a Betrayer, who they believe will rise up and destroy their people. The American government tried to manufacture their own Betrayer by injecting children with Thule blood but time after time the experiment failed . . . until Colt McAlister.
A decade later, Colt is a 16-year-old cadet at the CHAOS Military Academy where he’s training to defend mankind. But he’s afraid that the alien blood may be turning him into a Thule—and he’s beginning to suspect that fulfilling his role as the Betrayer may cost him everything.
Experience a cosmic battle filled with high-tech gear, gateways to other planets, and ultimate stakes. Not everyone will survive. But heroes will rise up and step into their destiny in this earth-shaking conclusion to the C.H.A.O.S trilogy.

With this being the final installment in the C.H.A.O.S trilogy I was really excited going into it to see how things would end. I really enjoyed the first two installments, both being filled with tons of action and made things so exciting. I found that I enjoyed Domination, but it was a tad disappointing in some aspects. If things were more exciting, I think I would have enjoyed the story a lot more than I did. I must say that I forgot some details from book 2 since it's been so long of it's release, but I liked that this book does some reviewing from the past books. It helped to refresh my memory. I received an eARC from Netgalley. All thoughts are my honest opinion!

Book Hauling It Up (52)

Hey Everyone :)

I hope everyone has had a great week!
Don't forget to leave links to your haul.
I really need to quit requesting books on Netgalley lol

For Review - Netgalley

I really enjoyed her Riley Jenson series, so I'm curious to check this one out.

Library

Bought

Friday, May 3, 2013

Inferno by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Inferno
(Chronicles of Nick, #4)
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Released |April 9th 2013 by St. Martin's Griffin|
Edition |Hardcover, 464 pages|
Add to Goodreads

The heat is on, and a new threat to humanity has risen…
Nick has his driver’s license and he’s not afraid to use it. But turning sixteen isn’t what he thought it would be. While other boys his age are worried about prom dates and applying for college, Nick is neck deep in enemies out to stop him from living another day. No longer sure if he can trust anyone, his only ally seems to be the one person he’s been told will ultimately kill him.
But life spent serving the undead is anything except ordinary. And those out to get him have summoned an ancient force so powerful even the gods fear it. As Nick learns to command and control the elements, the one he must master in order to combat his latest foe is the one most likely to destroy him. As the old proverb goes, fire knows nothing of mercy, and if Nick is to survive this latest round, he will have to sacrifice a part of himself. However, the best sacrifice is seldom the sanest move. Sometimes it’s the one that leaves your enemies confused, and you even more so.
And sometimes, you have to trust your enemy to save your friends. But what do you do when that enemy is you?

This series has been great so far and I find the series entertaining and action packed. But, this installment was not the best. It was lacking in a lot of places, which was really disappointing for me. I found that I did enjoy it, but I felt as though certain elements were missing. Was the book action packed? Yes, but not as much as the others. The action is what I really look forward to in this series. It was there in places, but I felt like it was either too rushed or could have been developed better.

The Last Academy by Anne Applegate

Curtis Sittenfeld's PREP meets THE SIXTH SENSE in this spine-tingling, unforgettable debut.
Camden Fisher arrives at boarding school haunted by a falling-out with her best friend back home. But the manicured grounds of Lethe Academy are like nothing Cam has ever known. There are gorgeous, preppy boys wielding tennis rackets, and circles of girls with secrets to spare. Only . . . something is not quite right. One of Cam's new friends mysteriously disappears, but the teachers don't seem too concerned. Cam wakes up to strangers in her room, who then melt into the night. She is suddenly plagued by odd memories, and senses there might be something dark and terrible brewing. But what? The answer will leave Cam--and readers--stunned and breathless, in this thrilling debut novel.

The last Academy was a book that had me really curious to know what it was about. I love academy books, so I felt that I needed to give this one a try. This book was nothing like I expected. I actually didn't really know what to expect, but what I got was definitely not it. As I was reading the book, I didn't really understand what the book was truly about. Nothing significant was happening and it left me confused. It seemed like your average typical high school story. So to some it up, this book was kind of a let down for me. Nothing interesting happened until the last few chapters of the book, which was the very end. If the entire book had been like the last few chapters, I would have enjoyed it, but they weren't.