New YA Releases this Week - July 25th

Beautiful Beings by Kailin Gow

An ethereal exclusive boarding school with unearthly beautiful students...

Lux, a rebel girl, who has been seeing demons and angels since she was two...
Asher, the bad boy on a motorcycle who sketches angels...
Brax Kingsley who instantly captures Lux's eyes when she moves into the neighborhood...
And the Hatchett twins whose parents were murdered, leaving them a ridiculous fortune...
All brought together...all part of the puzzle behind the Beautiful Beings.
A fantasy fiction based on mythology and inspired by the author's experience at age 19.


Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.



But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.


So much for normal.



 
 
Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Every flame begins with a spark.



Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm

You can see my review for Wildefire here.  It was amazing!!!

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

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


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alex Van Helsing: Voice of the Undead by Jason Henderson

Now that Alex is in the know about the deadly vampires that live—and hunt—around his boarding school, everything is different. Putting his talents to use, Alex is training with the Polidorium to become a vampire hunter, just like his Van Helsing ancestors. Sure, he’s only fourteen, but c’mon: This runs in his blood.

But Alex is wondering if he’ll live long enough to succeed. His archnemesis Elle, a vampire whose youthful appearance and blond hair disguise a rage that’s directed at him, is out to get him before a powerful leader called Ultravox arrives on the scene. Ultravox specializes in assassinations, but who is he targeting? As he dodges Elle’s attacks, Alex is on a mission to uncover Ultravox’s deadly plan before his friends and his school become collateral damage. There’s no time to report back; innocent lives hang in the balance, and it’s on Alex to act now—or else.





Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright

Carlos Duarte knows that he's fabulous. He's got a better sense of style than half the fashionistas in New York City, and he can definitely apply makeup like nobody's business. He may only be in high school, but when he lands the job of his dreams--makeup artist at the FeatureFace counter in Macy's--he's sure that he's finally on his way to great things.

But the makeup artist world is competitive and cutthroat, and for Carlos to reach his dreams, he'll have to believe in himself more than ever.

The Babysitter Murders by Janet Ruth Young

Everyone has weird thoughts sometimes. But for seventeen-year-old Dani Solomon, strange thoughts have taken over her life. She loves Alex, the little boy she babysits, more than anything. But one day, she has a vision of murdering him that's so gruesome, she can't get it out of her mind. In fact, Dani's convinced that she really will kill Alex. She confesses the thoughts to keep him safe, setting off a media frenzy that makes "Dani Death" the target of an extremist vigilante group.



Through the help of an uncoventional psychiatrist, Dani begins to heal her broken mind. But will it be too late? The people of her community want justice . . . and Dani's learning that some thoughts are better left unsaid.






And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky

Keek is not having a good summer. She and her boyfriend have just had their Worst Fight Ever (on the subject of her virginity, nonetheless), she’s been betrayed by a best friend, her parents are splitting up, and her mother is on the other side of the country tending to Keek’s newborn cousin, who may or may not make it home from the hospital. Oh, and Keek’s holed up at her grandmother’s technology-barren house with an abysmal case of the chicken pox. In Keek’s words, “Sofa king annoying.”



With her world collapsing around her, Keek’s only solace comes from rereading Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar and typing on an old electric typewriter. Keek—whose snappy narrative voice is darkly humorous and hysterically blunt—must ultimately decide for herself which relationships to salvage, which to set free, and what it means to fall in love.



Touch of Frost  (Mythos Academy #1) by Jennifer Estep

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.


But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .






Summer Storm by Kristina Dunker

A sunny summer's day at the lake turns awry when Kerstin's cousin Ginie disappears. Just a short while ago, the two of them had been sunbathing by the water's edge with Kerstin's friends Steffi, Rüdiger, and Jonas, but now Kerstin and the others are scurrying about in the pouring rain looking for Ginie.



Finally, the police are alerted and the nervous tension mounts. Although they have been close friends for many years, rather than being supportive they start blaming and accusing each other. Gradually, disturbing stories begin to surface, things Kerstin had no idea about, and finally Steffi says out loud what everyone has been thinking all along: is it possible that Rüdiger, who seems so reserved, has done something to Ginie? At first Kerstin refuses to believe it, but all the evidence points to him as the culprit. And although Rüdiger is shocked that of all people his closest friends should suspect him of such an awful thing, he does nothing to clarify the situation.


Meanwhile, as Kerstin has discovered that there are a few skeletons in the closet of her supposedly happy family, she feels that she must speak to Rüdiger on his own...



I hope that y'all are able to find something that you have been waiting for!  I see quite a few that I have been wanting to read:)  I'd love to hear your comments on what you choose, so feel free to let me know what you pick out of all these fabulous releases! 

Review: ARC of Sacrifice (Crave #2) by Laura Burns and Melinda Metz

Title: Sacrifice (Crave #2)
Authors: Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz
Release Date: September 20th 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Source: ARC egalley from Simon & Schuster
Kindle edition: not lendable

My review for Crave can be found HERE


Goodreads Description:

Gabriel and Shay are convinced that they can make their relationship work. Knowing that Shay is half-vampire, Gabriel thinks that his coven will embrace her as one of their own, but instead they view her as an abomination, a thing that doesn’t belong in either world. And they want her dead. Now Gabriel must make the ultimate decision - watch his love be killed by his coven or defy the people closest to him, the people he has spent centuries with to save her.



Sacrifice starts where Crave left off.  Gabriel had brought Shay to his family and they don't welcome her into the family at all.  They see her as an abomination.  In his family's minds, they shouldn't exist and with Gabriel bringing Shay, that posed a threat of humans finding out about their existence. 

Shay is immediately taken in as a prisoner.  Being half-vampire, Shay won't survive in there without Gabriel's vampire blood.  She's weak and her hands are tied up.  Millie, Gabriel's sister vampire, comes in and unties her hands and then leaves to grab Shay a bottle of water.  While Millie is away, Shay finds her cell phone in her pocket and dials her best friend, Olivia.  She can't tell Olivia where she is or who she's with because she doesn't want to expose the vampires - not to mention that no one would believe her anyway and if they did come to rescue her, they might end up getting killed.  Little does she know, her cell phone is being tracked by Martin and he is gonna show up and cause trouble very soon.

As soon as I saw Sacrifice in my email, I knew right then that I was abandoning all my current reads to start Sacrifice.  I have been dying to read the sequel for almost a year.  Let me say this- I was not disappointed.

I love the way the authors switch between the viewpoints of Shay and Gabriel.  It makes it so much easier to understand what they are really feeling and what they are experiencing while they are apart from each other.  When they finally have the chance to be together, Shay finds out Gabriel's secret and leaves him.  The alternate views help the reader to really understand what is going through her thoughts and why she does what she does.  I, personally, don't agree with her decision though. I would have stayed with him after I found out the truth and would have forgave him instantly. 

The twists and turns throughout the story are unexpected.  I kept finding myself saying "What? You can't be serious!" and "Really?" every time something new came up.  You have to expect the unexpected in this story.

This is the type of book that you read in one day.  The action never stops and flows easily throughout the entire story. I was like a moth to a flame when it came to this book.  I picked it up at every free minute I had. I even stayed up till almost 2am to finish it, knowing I had to get up at 6am.  It was totally worth it!  I love this series.  I can't say enough great things about it.  Not only are the covers striking, but the plots are amazing, the emotions are intense, and the characters are inspirational.  Sacrifice doesn't leave us on a major cliffhanger so we're not left with questions at the end, but it was left with a possible opening for a third book.  If there is, I can't wait to read it!

GIVEAWAY! ARC of Hades by Alexandra Adornetto + Possible extra books

How would you like to read an ARC of Hades before it's released?  Well, one lucky winner is gonna get the chance.  But- that isn't all!  I am also gonna add books to the giveaway as we gain followers.  So here is how it works: 


I will start off with the ARC of Hades.  If we get to 140 followers, I will add an extra book to the giveaway.  For every 20 followers after that, I will add another book and so on until the deadline.  Extra books will be of my choosing.*

So, the rules are simple:


1.  You must follow Guilty Pleasures Reviews to enter. (this one is super easy!)
2.  You can enter only once. (extra entries can be earned closer towards the end of the month for more chances to win- but for now it is just one)
3.  This contest is open to the U.S. only ( I don't personally know how to ship out of  the U.S. and probably can't afford it)  Sorry!  If you are from another country and have an address that you can use here in the U.S. or someone who will ship for you- well, that is ok too. 
4.  After the winner is contacted,  he/she will have 48 hours to send me their address. (that is 2 whole days- surely that will be enough time)
5.  A winner will be chosen via random.org


Contest ends August 12th at 11:59pm (eastern time) so get your form filled out.

Just fill out the form located Here to enter

* The extra books will be of my choosing and they will be related to the YA genre. They may or may not be new,  some or all may be ARC's  (examples include and ARC of Linger by Maggie Stiefavater, ARC of Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade)

I am not responsible for lost items during shipping.

It is up to y'all on how many books are given away.  This will be based on how well you can spread the word. (Tweet it... Blog it... tell your friends) 

Good luck!! 

New YA Releases this Week - July 11th

I just wanted to let y'all know about some of the new releases that come out this week.  There are so many amazing titles coming out that I was having trouble keeping track of them all.  Well, this is my list and I hope that you find something that you were waiting for!

Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

 

Someone's been a very bad zombie.

Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steroids are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate!

She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town. . . and stay hormonally human.
 

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

 

The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stiefvater

then.

When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their love moved from a curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives.

now.


That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is the wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be killed in one final, spectacular hunt.


forever.


Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment - a moment of death or life, farewell or forever.


Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore 

Amy Goodnight's family is far from normal. She comes from a line of witches, but tries her best to stay far outside the family business. Her summer gig? Ranch-sitting for her aunt with her wacky but beautiful sister. Only the Goodnight Ranch is even less normal than it normally is. Bodies are being discovered, a ghost is on the prowl, and everywhere she turns, the hot neighbor cowboy is in her face.

Starstruck by Cyn Balog

  Gwendolyn "Dough" X doesn't think she has much going for her—she carries a few extra pounds, her family struggles with their small bakery in a town full of millionaires, and the other kids at her New Jersey high school don't seem to know that she exists. Thank the stars for her longtime boyfriend, Philip P. Wishman—or "Wish." He moved away to California three years ago, when they were 13, but then professed his love for her via e-mail, and he's been her long-distance BF ever since.

At the beginning of her junior year, though, Wish e-mails that he's moving back to Jersey. Great, right? Well, except that Dough has gained about 70 pounds since the last time Wish saw her, while Wish—according to his Facebook photos—has morphed into a blonde god. Convinced that she'll be headed for Dumpsville the minute Wish lays eyes on her, Dough delays their meeting as long as she possibly can.

But when she sees Wish at school, something amazing happens. He looks at Dough like she's just as gorgeous as he is. But Wish is acting a little weird, obsessed with the sun and freaked out by rain. And the creepy new guy working at the bakery, Christian, is convinced that there's more to Wish's good looks than just healthy eating and lots of sun. He tells Dough that a mark on Wish's neck marks him as a member of the Luminati—an ancient cult of astrologers who can manipulate the stars to improve their lives. Is Wish and Dough's love meant to be—or are they star-crossed?

Undercurrent: A Siren Novel by Tricia Rayburn

 After losing her sister and finding out who- or what- she really is, Vanessa returns home for her senior year. Everyone at Hawthorne Prep has questions about her tragic summer, but knowing who to open up to is impossible. As she walks the halls without Justine for the very first time, Vanessa has more to worry about than just making a new life for herself.

Because the sirens are out for revenge. To protect herself and the ones she loves, Vanessa must call on powers she believes she has but does not know how to use. To learn, she'll have to seek help from the only person who truly knows her. But first, she must admit the truth about her real identity.

Wildcat Fireflies: A Meridian Novel (Fensestra #2)  by Amber Kizer

Meridian Sozu is a Fenestra—the half-human, half-angel link between the living and the dead. She has the dark responsibility of helping souls transition safely into the afterlife. If people die without the help of a Fenestra, their souls are left vulnerable to be stolen by the Aternocti

Having recently lost her beloved Auntie—the woman who showed her what it meant to be a Fenestra—Meridian has hit the road with Tens, her love and sworn protector, in hopes of finding another Fenestra. Their search leads them to Indiana, where Juliet, a responsible and loving teenager, works tirelessly in the nursing home where she and several other foster kids are housed. Surrounded by death, Juliet struggles to make a loving home for the younger kids, and to protect them from the violent whims of their foster mother. But she is struggling against forces she can't understand . . . and even as she feels a pull toward the dying, their sickness seems to infect her, weighing her down. . . .

Will Meri and Tens find Juliet in time to save her from a life of misery and illness? And will Meri and Tens' own romance weather the storms of new discoveries
 
Dragon's Oath (House of Night Novellas, #1) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
 
The first in an enthralling new mini-series of novellas from the #1 bestselling authors of the House of Night, Dragon's Oath tells the story behind the House of Night s formidable fencing instructor the love that will transform him, and the promise that will haunt him.

With almost 12 million books in print, the House of Night is an international publishing phenomenon that shows no sign of stopping! Now, for the first time, the Cast duo will share the back stories of some of the House of Night's most crucial and mysterious characters. And it all begins with Dragon s Oath. Before Zoey is Marked and arrives at the House of Night before she rises in power to confront utter darkness, and the House of Night is divided there's Dragon, and the dark choice that won t let him go.

Long before he's a professor at the House of Night with Zoey and the gang, in the early 19th century, Bryan Lankford is a troublesome, yet talented human teen. He thinks he can get away with anything until his father, a British nobleman, has finally had enough, and banishes him to America. When Bryan is Marked on the docks and given the choice between the London House of Night and the dragon-prowed ship to America, he chooses the Dragon and a new fate.


In 1830's St. Louis, the Gateway to the West, Dragon Lankford becomes a Sword Master, and soon realizes there are dangerous challenges and beautiful perks. Like Anastasia, the captivating young Professor of Spells and Rituals at the Tower Grove House of Night, who really should have nothing to do with a fledgling But when a dark power threatens, Dragon is caught in its focus. Though his uncanny fighting skills make him a powerful fledgling, is he strong enough to ward off this new darkness, while protecting Anastasia as well? Will his choices save her or destroy them all?

Once Every Never by Leslie Livingston

Clarinet Reid is a pretty typical teenager. On the surface. She’s smart, but a bit of slacker; outgoing, but just a little insecure; not exactly a mischief-maker… but trouble tends to find her wherever she goes. Also? She unwittingly carries a centuries-old Druid Blood Curse running through her veins.

Now, with a single thoughtless act, what started off as the Summer Vacation in Dullsville suddenly spirals into a deadly race to find a stolen artifact, avert an explosive catastrophe, save a Celtic warrior princess, right a dreadful wrong that happened centuries before Clare was even born, and if there’s still time—literally—maybe even get a date.


This is the kind of adventure that happens to a girl once every… never.

Dreams of Significant Girls by Cristina Garcia

Brought together each summer at a boarding school in Switzerland, three girls learn a lot more than just French and European culture. Shirin, an Iranian princess; Ingrid, a German-Canadian eccentric; and Vivien, a Cuban-Jewish New Yorker culinary phenom, are thrown into each other's lives when they become roommates.

This is a story of 3 paths slowly beginning to cross and merge as they spend the year apart, but the summers together. Through navigating the social-cultural shoals of the school, developing their adolescence, and learning the confusing and conflicting legacies of their families' past, Shirin, Ingrid, and Vivien form an unbreakable bond.


This story takes readers on a journey into the lives of very different girls and the bonds that keep them friends.

Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt

On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Sebastian dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction--and one night, into a passionate kiss.



The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Sebastian, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think...


There are so many to choose from.  Feel free to leave me a comment and let me know what you picked up:)   Happy Reading!!

Review: Shimmerspell (book 1) & Limerick (book 2) by Kimberly Spencer

Title: Shimmerspell - A Faerie Tale Girl Novella
Author: Kimberly Spencer
Release Date: April 8th 2011
Publisher: Enchanted Apple Publishing
Source: ebook copies from the author (Thanks Kimberly!!)
Kindle edition is now free on Amazon.


Goodreads Description:

When sixteen-year-old Jensen Meadows finds herself caught in the middle of an ancient faerie war, she soon learns that faeries aren't made of sparkly goodness. They're vicious. And worse, they're after her. With the help of Liam Casey, she delves into their world to find her missing sister and begins to suspect that her whole life has been nothing more than a faerie tale.


But maybe some truths should never be revealed...

My Thoughts on Shimmerspell:

Jensen's life is one big lie and she's about to learn the truth.

Jensen moves around a lot going from school to school since her sister, Lauren, is a con artist and also the one that is responsible for taking care of her.  They are constantly on the move so they don't get caught.  When Jensen makes friends with Zoe at her new school, she realizes that she doesn't want to leave when Lauren tells her that it's time to pack up and move again.  While at school, Jensen is trying to break into a classmate's locker and she starts feeling dizzy and starts seeing things in a whole new way.  She sees Liam, the hottest guy in her school, standing next to her but with her new sight, she notices that he has wings.  Jensen has no idea what is going on, who or what she really is, and that her life is about to change forever.  No one is who they claim to be and she has to figure out who she can trust or she could end up a dead girl walking.

This was a quick read for me.  I, at times, get a bit bored while reading short stories cause they tend to be rushed and leave out a lot of details, but this one had my attention the entire time.  I didn't feel like I was missing parts of the story or what was going on and I like that about Kimberly's writing.  I was never bored reading this story for it was fast paced, and something was always going on. 

The characters are really unique also.  We are introduced to a siren, banshees, elves, leprechauns, and merpeople.  The writing flowed easily while we the readers get a vivid picture in our heads of what's happening from Kimberly's descriptive wording.

When we think of faeries, most of us think of something that is cute and sweet like Tinkerbell.  Well, Kimberly shows us that faeries aren't at all like the cute little pixies we've come to know growing up, but mean and horrible creatures.

So overall, I totally recommend this book.  Once you start it, you'll be pulled into Jensen's mind and when it's over, you'll be begging for the sequel right away.  My only complaint is that I'd have liked a little more romance between Jensen and Liam, so I am hoping that progresses in the books to follow.  It's a unique twist on faeries with a bunch of betrayal, light humor, and even romance.  The twists at the end will leave you wanting more.

4 Stars

Title: Limerick: A Faerie Tale Girl Novella #2

Author: Kimberly Spencer

Release Date: June 30th 2011

Kindle edition is only .99

Goodreads Description:

Jensen hoped she’d never need Shimmerspell again, but now someone is stalking her, someone who claims to be the Lady of the Lake. To make matters worse, witches and dragons have come out to play. And Jensen must figure out how to harness her power and accept her destiny before she ends up losing everyone she loves.

My Thoughts on Limerick:

Limerick continues with Jensen, Zoe, Liam and others from the first title.  Jensen finds out more about herself and her friends.  She and Liam are together until she catches him with his ex, Shelby, and it devastates her.  We are introduced to dragons in the second installment and Jensen's secret is revealed to Zoe when she can't control her glamour and her faerie side shows who she really is.  How will Zoe react when she finds out and what will Jensen do when Zoe reveals a secret about herself?  

Limerick is just as good as Shimmerspell is.  I really dislike writing reviews on sequels cause I am always afraid that I might ruin something for someone, so I am just gonna say that it was really good also.   I like when Jensen is trying to control her new powers and starts using water to do it.  Zoe seems like a really great friend for Jensen too.  I love that she is there for Jensen when Lauren is no where to be found and she has to live with Dermott.  I dislike that he won't let her and Liam see each other though.  What gives him the right to finally come into her life and tell her that she can't see Liam.  That just seems to complicate things further for Jensen.  Her dad may be a wizard, but he was gone for 16 years of her life and I don't think that he should have a say on all the things going on in Jensen's life.  I really liked Luca, the dragon boy.  He always seemed to show up just at the right time to help Jensen. 

There is even more action and secrets revealed in the sequel so you won't be bored of this book.  Still plenty of romance, betrayal and even some dragon slaying and spell casting.  You can't go wrong with that.  Head over to Amazon or your favorite ebook seller and pick up a copy.  It is so worth it and I think that you'll agree with me that Kimberly Spencer is a new author to watch out for.  She is creative and her stories come to life as you read them.

4 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

My Pick This Week:

Title: Bad Taste in Boys

Author: Carrie Harris

Release Date: July 12th 2011

Goodreads Description:

Someone's been a very bad zombie.

Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steroids are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate!

She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town. . . and stay hormonally human.

I was first drawn to this because of the cover.  I really love the cover and how it looks a bit like a frost on her lips and you have no idea just by looking at the cover that it's about zombies.  It sounds really good.  I've only read a couple zombie books and so I am looking forward to this one since I wasn't too fond of the others. I am a vampire and werewolf kind of girl.   I really want to like zombie books too and so I'm hoping that this one will change my opinion on zombies.   

Feel free to comment cause I love them and read every single one of them. I'd also love to see what you are waiting for...Leave me a link for yours so I can check it out.



Don't be afraid to follow either, cause I will gladly return the favor. Just let me know if you are a new follower in your comment;)  

ARC Review: Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Title: Wildefire
Author: Karsten Knight
Release Date: July 26th 2011
Source: ARC
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Kindle Lendable: No

Goodreads Description:

Every flame begins with a spark.


Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.
 
My Thoughts:
 
I have been eagerly anticipating Wildefire for awhile now and when I was given the chance to read the ARC, I greedily grabbed at the chance.  I came into Wildefire with high expectations, not only because of the synopsis, but because the author, Karsten Knight, and his personality.  I was hoping that his personality would reflect into his story telling ability.
 
I was drawn in from the first page of Ash's story and am still left wanting more, even though I'm finished.
 
The story is original and well written.  Karsten was able to write the scenes so descriptively that I was able to picture the scenes in my mind as if I was actually there.  His personality really shines through to his characters' personalities.  Ash and her friends had me laughing, cringing, and even tearing up and covering my mouth as it was open in an "Oh no! How could that happen?" kind of moment. 
 
My favorite part was the ending.  I never saw it coming and it blew me away after I went back to the pages to see who that character was again.  I don't want to give anything away, but just make sure that you pay attention to all the characters named that way you don't have to go searching at the end saying "Wait, who was that again?" just like I did. 
 
At first, I just thought that Eve, Ash's sister, was a character who was just misunderstood and was only trying to be there for Ash when she was needed.  That just maybe things got a bit out of hand in the beginning, but while continuing their story, I realized she is just a cruel, psychotic girl who obviously needs to be dealt with properly before anyone else gets hurt.
 
The whole idea of Polynesian Gods and Goddesses is what drew me to continue reading.  It's a topic that I've never encountered before when choosing a book, so I wasn't positive whether I would enjoy it as much as I hoped to and if I would start reading and get lost in the adventures the characters were being put through.  Wildefire surpassed my expectations and now I will be eagerly awaiting the sequel, along with everyone else, I'm sure.  How can we not, with a cliffhanger like that?
 
I love when a story also contains romance.  Ash and Colt's romance isn't the "love at first sight" type of romance.  It feels a bit more real since they take their time getting to know each other and becoming friends first, then continue into a light romance.
 
So overall, I really enjoyed Wildefire.  It did have a bit of cussing and violence that might be inappropriate for the younger generation of teens, but as a whole, it's an adventure suitable for anyone mid teens and older.  I would have appreciated a  little more romance throughout the book since there wasn't as much as I like, but was still fulfilled with the remainder of the story and wasn't really even considering the lack of romance due to the other events that were going on.  The humorous banter between Ash and her friends had me laughing out loud.  The creatures that Karsten created had me cringing in fear for Ash and her friends, especially when we are first introduced to the Cloak.
 
Wildefire was a breath of fresh air  and was pure awesomeness that will leave you begging for more.  So if you are ready for a refreshing change instead of the paranormal that you usually read, pick this up because it is a fantastic read full of twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat till the end.  With Karsten's unique storyline and cast of characters,  I guarantee that you'll love it too! Karsten is a hot new author to watch out for and I will definitely be reading more of his work as it becomes available.
 
4.75 Stars