Synchronized Reading: March 2014

Monday, March 31, 2014

Addicted to You by Krista and Becca Ritchie

Addicted to You
(Addicted, #1)
by Krista and Becca Ritchie
Released |August 22nd 2013 by K.B. Ritchie|
Edition |Ebook|
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She’s addicted to sex. He’s addicted to booze…the only way out is rock bottom.
No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.
Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.
But as they sink beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling harder to their destructive relationship and wonder if a life together, for real, is better than a lie. Strangers and family begin to infiltrate their guarded lives, and with new challenges, they realize they may not just be addicted to alcohol and sex.
Their real vice may be each other.

Addicted to you is what I would consider to be my first true feel of the New Adult genre. And to be honest, it just felt like I was reading a romance except with younger characters. But anyways, I liked Addicted to You. The drama in this book was very interesting. This is the second book that I have read that deals with a female being a sex addict. This book was pretty hard to read in some ways because both of the characters are struggling with being an addict, we're dealing with a sex addict and an alcoholic. For them to be so young, they're struggling with something so serious. I liked that the book wasn't some mushy romance. The characters were in love, but that love was painful. The entire time I was reading the book I was hoping that things would start to magically get better for them because of everything they were going through, but in this story, that didn't happen. But that is what made the story so realistic!

Book Hauling It Up (90)

Hey everyone,

I hope all of you have had a wonderful week! I started my final class this semester and I'm excited an anxious at the same time. I mean, it's my last class and then I FINALLY get my bachelor's degree :) I feel like I've been in school forever! But anyways, I hope your weekend goes amazing!

For Review

I received a surprise package in the mail and I'm really excited :) I can't wait to read both Wings and embers and Ash. Scan sounds pretty interesting as well.

Bought

YAY! I pulled an all nighter reading this and I freaking loved it :) Couldn't put it down!

Thursday, March 27, 2014

The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.
This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.
Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.
But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.

The Here and Now was a book that took me awhile to get into. I've never read a book that deals with time travel before, so I was curious about this one when I first found out about it. I wanted to check it out, but unfortunately this book did not do it for me. I felt as though a lot of things were lacking and a lot of things, sometimes, just didn't make sense to me. I didn't connect with the two main characters. I didn't really like Prenna at all. She did a lot of reckless things throughout the book and I found it to be annoying. Ethan wouldn't have been so bad, but I didn't feel a connection to him either. I wanted to like Ethan because I gave up on Prenna after awhile, but I will say that I like him more.

I was extremely disappointed because this was my first 'official' travel book and I've been wanting to check out a book like this for quite some time. My issue is there wasn't much about the actual time traveling except that there was a shimmer in the air and she appear by a pond or lake or something like that. Did she step into a machine or was it a portal? How was it created? After awhile I found myself skimming through paragraphs just to make it to the end to see what would happen. The ending wasn't exciting and to be honest it was kind of bland. I did finish the book pretty quickly though. It was probably because of the skimming, but I was curious to know what started the virus and how things would end. So that was pretty interesting. I did find some parts of the book to be interesting, but not enough to make me rate the book higher.Overall, the book was okay at times, but I had too many issues with it.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday (12): Kiss Kill Vanish

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is

Kiss Kill Vanish

by Jessica Martinez

Releases |October 7th 2014 by Katherine Tegen Books|
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Valentina Cruz no longer exists.
One moment, she was wrapped in Emilio’s arms, melting into his kiss. The next, she was witnessing the unthinkable: a murder in cold blood, ordered by her father and carried out by her boyfriend. When Emilio pulled the trigger, Valentina disappeared. She made a split-second decision to shed her identity and flee her life of privilege, leaving the glittering parties and sultry nightlife of Miami far behind.
She doesn’t know how to explain to herself what she saw. All she knows now is that nothing she believed about her family, her heart, or Emilio’s love, was real.
She can change her name and deny her past, but Valentina can’t run from the truth. The lines between right and wrong, and trust and betrayal, will be blurred beyond recognition as she untangles the deceptions of the two men she once loved and races to find her own truth.

Why I'm Waiting...

I love a mystery and this one definitely caught my interest. I'm excited to see what this is all about :)

Monday, March 24, 2014

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May did. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more; though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating new friendships, falling in love for the first time, learning to live with her splintering family. And, finally, about the abuse she suffered while May was supposed to be looking out for her. Only then, once Laurel has written down the truth about what happened to herself, can she truly begin to accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was; lovely and amazing and deeply flawed; can she begin to discover her own path.

Love Letters to the Dead had me intrigued ever since I first found out about it. I loved the whole concept of it because I've never read a book before that was written in letter form. I found the whole thing interesting. This was a sad book, but it was still very good at the same time. I did have a couple issues, but it wasn't because of the story. I thought the writing had an amazing flow to it and it was sort of captivating in a way. I've just never read anything like it. Also, the characters were very realistic. I could understand and relate to each and everyone of them. There were also so many different types of issues that was touched in this book and that made me appreciate it so much more. I'd definitely recommend this. It was good and I'm glad I got the opportunity to read it!

Book Hauling It Up (89)

Hey everyone,

I hope you all have had a great week in general and in books :) I've done quite a bit of reading this week and I'm really excited about that. If you live in the US or CA, there are still 3 days left to enter the giveaway for a hard copy of The Program by Suzanne Young. Look in the top right hand corner in my right sidebar for the link.

Don't forget to leave your links to your hauls if you have one!

For Review - Netgalley

I've been in the mood for romances lately because I've been reading a lot of YA so when I saw this on Netgalley I had to get it because I read the book with the first brother awhile ago and really enjoyed the story. I hope this one dives more into the mystery of their mother's death!

Bought

I'm currently reading Ricochet and I'm enjoying it so far. I swear I now love Ryke :) I can't wait to get to his book which releases soon. I started Ricochet immediately after finishing Addicted To You and I ended up getting the rest of the books that are available. I plan to fly through the books (hopefully)!

I've been really curious about Control so I had to get it as well.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Bite Me by Shelly Laurenston

Livy Kowalski has no time for idiots. When you shapeshift into a honey badger, getting through life’s irritants is a finely honed skill. Until she gets stuck housing her nutso cousin and dealing with her dad’s untimely and unexplained demise.
That’s where Vic Barinov comes in—or his house does. Vic can’t step outside without coming back to find Livy devouring his honey stash and getting the TV remote sticky. It gets his animal instincts all riled up. But he’ll have to woo her at high speed: all hell is breaking loose, and Livy is leading the charge…

Being back in the work of the Pride series is always awesome and I always look forward to reading each and every book. I've enjoyed them all! And this one did not disappoint. Well, I was hoping for Livy and Reece, but Livy and Vic was absolutely fine :) Like all the other book in the series, Bite Me did not fail at the entertainment. I had many 'laugh out loud' (literally) moments and was entertained throughout the entire book. This book was action packed and full of fantastic romance. I always seems to enjoy the romance in this book because they're feisty, but sweet. It's never boring! If you like shifter books and are looking for something entertaining with action and romance, I definitely recommend this series :)

Waiting on Wednesday (11): Trial by Fire

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is

Trial by Fire

(The Worldwalker Trilogy, #1)

by Josephine Angelini

Releases |September 2nd 2014 by Feiwel &Friends|

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Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.
This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.
Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.
Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.
But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

Why I'm Waiting...

I'm definitely excited to check out this book because I enjoyed the other trilogy that the author has written. I've very curious about this next book that the author has coming and books that involve witches always intrigues me.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Cover Love (27)

This post is where I show you guys all the recent cover reveals that I've seen within the last few days, weeks, or month :) I've seen so many, but I'll share with you a few! I find the cover reveals on Pinterest :)

If you have any favorites, I'd love to know which ones! Or if you're excited for one of them, I'd love to that as well :)

City of Eternal Night | Party Games | Black Ice | Renagade | Zomburbia

Silverblind | Mortal Gods | Mortal Danger | Crashland | Reborn

I definitely want to rad Black Ice! I enjoyed the Hush Hush series and want to see what the author has in store next :)

Death Date | The Darkest Part of the Forest | The Fear Trials | Milayna | Stone Cold Touch

Made For You | Perfected | Golden Son | Famous Last Words | Don't Let Go

I definitely want to read Stone Cold Touch and I'm curious about a few others.

Jackaby | Winter Falls | Trial by Fire | The Girl Who Never Was

Collide | Pieces of Olivia | Symbiont | Carnival of Lies

Trial by Fire is one I really want to read and there are a few series here that I want to start

Monday, March 17, 2014

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.
Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.
Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.
For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

Panic was a fast paced read for me and I at times I enjoyed the story. So I'll start with the pros. I was intrigued with the idea behind the book. I was interested in finding out what games would be played and how they'd go about doing it and that's what kept me wanting to know more as I was reading. The games were dangerous, but they also kept me intrigued because I wanted to what would happen next and if any of the characters would drop out of them. The book was also action packed. There was always something going on with one of the characters, whether it was apart of the games or their personal lives. Each of the characters had their own issues that they were working through and that was pretty interesting as well.

Book Hauling It Up (88)

Hey everyone,

I hope you've had a fantastic week. I put myself on my own little personal readathon and I've gotten so much reading done over the past two weeks :) I also got quite a few books that I'm really excited about. Don't forget to leave a link to your haul if you have one. I'd love to stop by!

For Review

The Forever Song - Netgalley - I already read it and really enjoyed it!

BZRK Apocalypse - Edelweiss and Netgalley - I requested it on Netgalley, but then saw that it was a download now on Edelweiss. Then I got accepted on Netgalley lol So I have it from both places.

Bought

I went to Books A Million and They had some great books at bargain price and I went a little crazy.

All the books were $4 except the program which was $3. I got two copies of the Program because, I mean, it was only $3.

If you live in the US or CA you can enter here for a chance to win a copy of The Program!

Defiance, Shadow and Bone, Easy, The Program, The Calling

Ebooks

Addicted to You was recommended to me by Siiri from Little Pieces of Imagination for a NA read. So thanks Siiri! I can't wait to read it :)

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.
Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.
The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

Fire and Flood was an interesting book. Going into it, I really didn't know what to expect because I hadn't seen any review on it at all. But to start off, this was a fast paced read for. I read it within a day and half and I haven't had a quick read like that in awhile. I started the story and never really wanted to put it down. The entire concept of the Brimstone Bleed had me intrigued and wanted to know more and more about it. You have all these people competing against each other for one thing, and that's to win the cure to save a dying family member. Each contender has someone back at home that desperately needs the cure. This was a good read and I'd definitely recommend it to those who like survival and battle type books.

Waiting on Wednesday (10): Stone Cold Touch

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is

Stone Cold Touch

(The Dark Elements, #2)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Releases |October 28th 2014 by Harlequin Teen|

Add to Goodreads

Every touch has its price
Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.
But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

Why I'm Waiting...

I enjoyed the first book in this new series by JLA and I'm really excited and curious to see how the sequel will be. And also that love triangle. I hate them, but my curiosity on this one is killing me.

Other Books in the Series

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Giveaway: The Program by Suzanne Young

Hey Everyone :)

So I was at books a million yesterday and they had a ton of books at bargain price and The Program was one of them. I got myself a copy because it was $3 and I decided to get one for one of you lucky winners! Why not right? You can't beat getting a book for $3 :) And book two will be releasing in April so it's the perfect time to have a giveaway for it.

The Program by Suzanne Young (Goodreads)

There will be one winner and this giveaway is open to the USA and Canada only!

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.
Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.
Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

I always try to have enough options for entries to give a better chance of winning!

The winner will be contacted through email and will most likely receive a tweet informing them of the win.

Killer Frost by Jennifer Estep

I’ve battled the Reapers of Chaos before–and survived. But this time I have a Bad, Bad Feeling it’s going to be a fight to the death … most likely mine.
Yeah, I’ve got my psychometry magic, my talking sword, Vic–and even the most dangerous Spartan on campus at my side, in Logan freaking Quinn, but I’m no match for Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos. I may be Nike’s Champion, but at heart, I’m still just Gwen Frost, that weird Gypsy girl everyone at school loves to gossip about.
Then someone I love is put in more danger than ever before, and something inside me snaps. This time, Loki and his Reapers are going down for good … or I am.

I have been into this series from the very first book and now at the end of book six I am really sad to see the series end. Killer Frost was a fast paced ride just like all the other books in the series and as a final book, it did not disappoint! I enjoyed Killer Frost and was happy to reconnect with the characters one last time and be to be in the world of the mythos academy. As a whole, this series was easy for me to dive into. I love mythology and even though I didn't know anything about Norse mythology, I still managed to enjoy the series. I'd definitely recommend this series if you're looking for something light, fun, and fast paced. The romance of the book is pretty good as well. I've really enjoyed it! But anyways, on to the review :)

Locked by Eva Morgan

When eighteen-year-old Irene Adler meets her new neighbor, the gorgeous, brilliant, and arrogant Sherlock Holmes, she never expects him to be the one to make her feel like life is worth living again. Ever since her sister's death, she's been addicted to risk-taking as a way to deal with her depression, and Sherlock quickly becomes the biggest risk she's ever taken.
Locked is the story of a broken girl and the genius who gives her life back to her. It's the story of a witty asshole who's never known love, and the girl who shows him what love means. It's the story of an unexpected connection, two people who save each other, and the importance of seeing the goodness underneath.

Locked turned out to be a complete surprise for me! I didn't know what to expect going into this book. All I knew about it was that it was a take on Sherlock Holmes. Now I don't know much about Sherlock Holmes besides the solving of mysteries, so I honestly didn't really know much going into the story. I saw a movie once, but I can't remember anything about it...Okay so that's kind of irrelevant, but anyways :) This book was action packed and full of fun mysteries to solve. I haven't been this excited about a book in quite sometime. I could not put the book down! I flew the Locked in a day and was sad when the book ended because I wanted more. I would definitely recommend this book if you like fun reads and mysteries. I'd also recommend this book to those who like sarcastic characters.

Waiting On Wednesday (9): Black Ice

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is

Black Ice

by Becca Fitzpatrick

Releases |October 7th 2014 by Simon & Schuster|

Add to Goodreads

Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late.
Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.
In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.
But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?
BLACK ICE is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…

Why I'm Waiting...

I enjoyed the Hush Hush series and would like to see what Fitzpatrick has in store next. I'm definitely curious!

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday (25): Top Ten Popular Authors I've Never Read

Hosted by: the Broke and Bookish

This Week's Topic: Top Ten Popular Authors I've Never Read

I don't know if all of these authors are considered 'popular'.
(In No Particular Order!)

1. John Green - I've read Will Grayson, Will Gray but I haven't read a book that was just written by him. I have TFiOS, Paper Towns, and Looking For Alaska on my shelf and haven't read any of them.

2. Stephanie Perkins

3. Colleen Hoover

4. Patricia Briggs - I've been wanting to read her books for quite a few years now

5. Stephen King

6. Jennifer Echols

7. Patrick Ness - I have the Knife of Never Letting Go, but have yet read it.

8. J.R.R Tolkien - haven't seen any of the books or movies

9. George R.R. Martin

10. Scott Westerfield

I know I've forgotten some authors, but these are the ones off the top of my head.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Book Blitz: Summer Demons by Mia Hoddell

Summer Demons
by Mia Hoddell

Genre: YA Romance
Release Date: 26th February 2014
Length: Novella

Jenna Shaw ran away to escape her past. In fact, she jumped on a plane and flew to Portugal to try and forget it. However, it turns out leaving everything behind isn’t as easy as it sounds.
She thought she could move on and break free of her fears—that if she had some space the pain would stop. But as memories resurface due to an ill-timed joke, the past crashes into her present once more and she didn’t see it coming.

Jenna’s plans for normality are derailed by the charismatic Ethan Brooks. She sees him as an annoyance; he sees her as a challenge. But as he tries every trick known to him to impress her, they only serve to push her further away. He’s never faced this problem before and Ethan has to work harder than he ever has if he wants to win over and help his mysterious girl.

Download in now for FREE!

Only free 1st and 2nd of March

Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Add to Goodreads

Book Hauling It Up (87)

Hey everyone,

I hope everyone has had a great week and I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. February went by so fast to me. I'm hoping that I get more reading done for March, but we'll see how it goes.
Don't forget to leave a link to your haul if you have one! I'd love to see yours as well :)

For Review - Netgalley