Hex Blog Tour: Review of Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale by Ramona Wray

Title: Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale
Author: Ramona Wray
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pages: 242
Source: Copy provided by author in the Hex Blog Tour organized by Ashley at What's Your Story?

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Summary:

Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life.

So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out — and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they’ve met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed.

My Thoughts:
I just adore the cover for Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale! The light, pink cover is so cute, but in a way, it's misleading because the story within is more darker than you would ever think at one glance. It's a win-win situation though because the cover immediately draws you in and you're left with content that digs a bit deeper, offering a great mix of magic and romance!

Just when I thought I had everything figured out, Ramona Wray threw in surprises and new revelations that left me completely second-guessing myself and anxious to learn what would happen next! Ryder and Lucian are both so secretive and obviously hiding an important part of their pasts, but I could never fully tell which boy actually had dark intentions when it came to Lily. It definitely helped build up the suspense and added to the fun because it further complicated matters even more! 

However, the development in the romance left me feeling a little skeptical at times. The novel focused more on the love triangle aspect at times and for me, Lily fell too hard for the boys, particularly Ryder, too quickly. I think I would have liked to see Lily keep her wits about her more carefully when she had suspicions that one of the boys was trying to mean her harm. Ryder and Lucian were two different handsome boys with their own morals, but some of the believability that they could be attracted to Lily at the same time seemingly all of a sudden was lost on me. After awhile though, I stopped thinking about it as much and just went with everything!

Overall, I really came to enjoy Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale! It was different than what I was initially expecting it to be, but this only kept me on toes even more. Lilly was a great heroine and despite being a witch, she's very much your average teen! She had a funny personality that always shined, even when she was finding herself in the midst of trouble, and the lengths she would go to help friends and family left me wishing I could reach into the pages and give her a pat on the back in support. If you're looking for a combination of romance, mystery, and magic in a story that will keep you entertained, Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale would be a great choice.

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Title: What Happened to Goodbye
Author: Sarah Dessen
Release Date: May 10, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Pages: 402
Source: Bought

Overall: 4 Stars

Summary:

Since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move - four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, Mclean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, Mclean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself - whoever that is. Perhaps her neighbor Dave, an academic superstar trying to be just a regular guy, can help her find out. Combining Sarah Dessen's trademark graceful writing, great characters, and compelling storytelling, What Happened to Goodbye is irresistible reading. 

My Thoughts:
Opening the pages of What Happened to Goodbye was like finding myself reacquainted with an old friend! It has been such a long wait for Sarah Dessen's latest novel, so the anticipation may have been high. Once again, she tells the story of a teenage girl trying to figure out her own identity as she still longs for her old life while trying to deal with her less than perfect new one.

I was really quick to become sympathetic for Mclean. In the past few years, she has moved constantly with her father, helping to support him as the pair try to outrun a past that always threatens to catch up with them. Her relationship with her mother has been strained ever since her parents divorced, and Mclean still can't find it within herself to forgive her Mom after her betrayal that tore their family apart in a very public way. Since then, Mclean has taken on a new persona during each move, trying to discovery who she really is... only she's not really sure about anything anymore. 

Dave was cute and sweet, but he didn't exactly leave me swooning on the spot. It was more fun for me to see Mclean and Dave build up their friendship and influence one another in positive ways. Mclean's other new friends, while perhaps less developed, added a touch more realism and helped to round out the story more.

Sarah Dessen's novels always have a distinct touch to them and each time I read a novel by her, I fall in love with her beautiful writing all over again. There's a certain soothing quality to them that I can never quite put my finger on. I didn't think What Happened to Goodbye really offered anything new though because you can still see the similarities, or at least common elements, that are also used in her previous novels... but I think I can accept that. It's the execution of the plot that draws me in and Sarah Dessen has always done a wonderful job in accomplishing that.

What Happened to Goodbye may not be a favourite of mine by Sarah Dessen, but I still really enjoyed the story. Except for an appearance of a couple characters from Along for the Ride, nothing really came as a surprise in the novel but I don't think I would have expected anything less! In a contemporary novel filled with friendship, family, romance and learning life lessons, Sarah Dessen has offered a novel that will be sure to satisfy her fans.

In My Mailbox (33)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week. 

I have lots of thanks to give in this post but without further ado, here's what I got the past two weeks...

Received:

• ARC of Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston
• ARC of Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski
• ARC of A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young
• Stacey Jay's The Locket / Juliet Immortal Swag
• Dystopian Tour Swag

Thanks so much to Penguin Canada (and Lesley Livingston!) as well as HarperCollins Canada for sending me these novels for review!

On Twitter, Stacey Jay asked if anyone would like some extra swag she still had and was so kind to mail me some! Thanks so much! I also received swag thanks to HarperCollins Canada when I attended one of the stops for the Dystopian Tour in Ontario. I was already so happy just getting the chance to meet Veronica Roth and Lauren Oliver, but the swag bag was a cool surprise afterwards! 

Won:

• ARC of Beauty Queens by Libba Bray 
• Class of 2K11 Swag

Thank you to Elizabeth Scott for sending me Beauty Queens after I won a giveaway on her blog! If you've never read a novel by Elizabeth Scott, why not? She's one of my favourite contemporary authors and her latest novel Between Here and Forever was just released earlier in the week! (I would have bought it this week too but the bookstore I went to didn't have a good copy, so I'm hoping the next time I go to one that I'll see a copy in better condition because I'm picky that way...) As well, thanks to Kiki Hamilton for sending me some bookmarks after I won them through the Class of 2K11 blog! 

Bought:

• Hard Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires #4) by Chloe Neill

I've been impatient in waiting get my hands on a copy of this novel because the Chicagoland Vampire series is one of my favourites but Chapters/Indigo was really late in getting them in stores in Toronto and the GTA. It was a long extra two weeks of waiting to finally buy it, and after tearing through it in a night, I'm desperate to read the next one!

What about YOU? Any new reads/finds this week?  

And as always... Happy Reading! 

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Title: Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6)
Author: Richelle Mead
Release Date: December 6, 2010 (hardcover)
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 594
Source: Bought

Overall: 5 Stars

Summary:
*Contains spoilers if you haven't read the previous novel in the series, Spirit Bound.* 

Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules.

She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir’s Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir Princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardian to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose- for a crime she didn’t even commit. She’s in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She’ll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose’s life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back… and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your life is about saving others, who will save you?  

My Thoughts:
You know how you shouldn't judge a book by its cover? Well, that saying should definitely apply to the Vampire Academy series. None of the covers are particularly spectacular but I must say that the one for Last Sacrifice is my least favourite. I thought it was a joke when I first saw it... not that the covers are really important in this case because this series is just so popular that it wouldn't really stop too many people anymore from reading the novel. The amazing story Richelle Mead has created within definitely makes up for it in any case!

I thought Richelle Mead did a wonderful job wrapping up the Vampire Academy series! There has always been tons of action and suspense to expect, and while there was more political maneuvering in this novel, it still left me anxious to find out what would happen next. There weren't too many surprises with the ending since I kind of figured it couldn't end without some happiness and a sense of relief for the characters, but the only exception was trying to solve the mystery of Queen Tatiana's murder. I had absolutely no clue until the answer was right in front of my eyes, after which point, I was left stunned and speechless! 

I have been Team Adrian since the moment we met him in book two and I've never wavered in my support of him, no matter if he ended with Rose or not. I just don't think I've ever been able to get over the 7-year difference between Rose and Dimitri, and how he was her teacher and all that, not matter how kind he was, how well he could fight or how his personality was so in tune with Rose's a lot of times. No, sadly, Dimitri and I have never truly connected but I absolutely adore Adrian! I had a feeling who Rose would inevitably decide her heart belonged to though and I could understand her choice completely without feeling too bitter. 

While I'm sad to say goodbye to Rose and Lissa's story of friendship and the endless trouble they always seemed to find themselves in... I think after six novels, it was time to see an end. I've been a fan from the very beginning and I would have hated to see the storyline stretched to its very limits. So for me, I did think it was a fitting conclusion. And I'm perfectly happy knowing that we have the spin-off series to look forward to beginning this August with the release of Bloodlines and the return of some characters! Should be exciting, right?

Waiting on Wednesday (47) - Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: September 5, 2011
Publisher: Poppy

Summary (from Chapters/Indigo):

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

I loved Kody Keplinger's debut novel The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) last year (my review here!), so it goes without saying that I'm really looking forward to her sophomore novel! It sounds like a fresh contemporary novel that will be sure to bring out some laughs and teen angst all in one package. Can't wait!

Spotted! Cover of Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

The cover for Clockwork Prince, the second novel in the Infernal Devices trilogy, by Cassandra Clare was revealed this morning on Mundie Moms! They're also giving away some of the limited edition Clockwork Prince t-shirts and chapter samplers that were handed out at BEA, so you'll definitely want to head to their blog to enter!

 Release Date: December 6, 2011

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Summary (from Goodreads):

*May contain spoilers if you haven't read Clockwork Angel.*

In Clockwork Prince, with Mortmain vanished and the clock counting down on how long Charlotte can keep control of the Institute away from Benedict Lightwood, Will, Jem and Tessa must dig into Mortmain’s past to predict what he will do in the future, But secrets about Mortmain aren’t all they find buried — Tessa begins to uncover the truth about her own birth, and the ghosts of Will’s past return to haunt him. As Tessa grows closer to Jem, and Will is driven further toward the brink of madness by jealousy and guilt, will they discover the truth in time to halt the next phase of Mortmain’s evil plan?

I love love LOVE this cover! I thought the one for Clockwork Angel was absolutely gorgeous but the cover for Clockwork Prince is equally stunning. Jem looks so dashing in his period costume suit and you can just tell straight away that when we all finally have a copy in person, it's going to have that shiny effect again. I'm so excited for this book! 

Dystopian Tour 2011: Lauren Oliver and Veronica Roth Signing in Toronto!

Last Tuesday evening (May 17), I was able to attend one of the three stops on the Dystopian Tour in which Canadian fans got to meet Veronica Roth and Lauren Oliver while they were in Ontario promoting their novels, Divergent and Delirium, respectively.

I arrived at Indigo Yorkdale in Toronto a few hours early and found that there was already a very short line forming. Honey from Sniff Books, Not Drugs was there and she was so incredibly nice! I'd met her briefly before when Kelley Armstrong had a book signing at Indigo Yorkdale and it was so great to see her again! She had saved me spot so getting the chance to talk to a fellow bookworm made the long wait pass by so much quicker! As more time passed by, more people arrived to wait in line for the event including GeekGirl from Geek Girl's Book Blog whom I had first met when Lisa McMann had been in town awhile ago. It was so nice seeing her again as well!!

The event began at 7:00 p.m. and by that point, there was quite the turn out of fans waiting for the event to begin. I was able to get a seat at the front row, which was a first for me! The way the event took place was a little bit different than what I was used to but that didn't stop the loud applause when Lauren Oliver and Veronica Roth were greeted to the stage! The event was moderated by Ajay Fry, one of the hosts of InnerSPACE on the Space Channel, who asked the two authors various questions while a cameraman recorded the event. I'll admit, I wasn't processing their answers too much because I was too busy sitting in shock thinking to myself, "OH MY GOSH! I'M SO CLOSE TO LAUREN OLIVER AND VERONICA ROTH. PLEASE DON'T LET ME PASS OUT FROM BEING SO EXCITED!"

There were a few things that stuck in my mind though and the questions Ajay Fry asked ranged from writing habits, their own views on the dystopian genre, and the inspirations behind their successful novels. Lauren Oliver compared love with diseases, saying there were many symptoms they both had in common. She also thought that, in many ways, high school was like having your very own dystopian experience. When asked if she would ever receive a cure for love like those in Delirium, she answered that it would depend on the situation because there have been times where she's had her heart broken or lost loved ones, and it's during those times she would have agreed that receiving a cure would be best. I'm sure we all feel that way sometimes too!

Veronica Roth told us she first got the idea for Divergent when she was studying in school. She thought of a person launching themselves off a roof and wondered why a person would do such a thing. She also spoke about how the novel is much about facing your fears and that she had originally started writing the story from a male perspective! When asked which faction she would choose, she first replied that her test result would probably be Abnegation but that in the end, she'd have to choose Dauntless. She also thought that a good book makes you think about what came before and what comes after!

When Ajay Fry finished asking questions, it was time for the audience to ask a few! The subject of ebooks came up, and both authors didn't have a problem with them as long as the story was somehow told. Lauren thought it could be written on some sort of a projection screen and it would still be all good! She tended to read ebooks more often, but if she really liked a novel, she would buy the actual copy. She also thought that, perhaps, in the future as things became more technology driven, that more special editions of novels would be released with special lettering and extras like that. Veronica liked ebooks but she much preferred the traditional feel of a book in her hands where she could flip through the pages. Someone in the audience also asked if any of the authors had tattoos becase in Divergent, those who belong in Dauntless tend to have several of them. Veronica doesn't have any tattoos but Lauren does! She said she had around 12 of them give or take, and that they were mostly names of certain people or phrases with meaning to her.

Soon enough, it was time for the book signing! They were both so nice and sweet when I went up front and handed them my books to get signed!! Lauren thought it was cute how I say "zed" instead of "zee" for spelling my full name because, I guess, in the U.S. they say "zee." So, of course, I had to ask Lauren and Veronica if they'd noticed other differences since they'd come of Canada! "Eh" and "about" were more noticeable as well, which I didn't find too surprising, but it was still funny to me! After I thanked them and said goodbye, I was handed a swag bag from someone working for HarperCollins Canada just for coming out to the Dystopian Tour which was so cool!

I was going to leave soon right after, but my Mom had told me to go look out the window to check out how bad the traffic was on Highway 401 while she sat for couple more minutes. I was just returning on my way back when someone suddenly shouted out my name which sure startled me! Zahida ("A Canadian Girl" as she goes by online more often ) from Musings of a YA Reader waved me over from where she was waiting in line after recognizing me from past pictures and it was so nice to meet her for the first time! We easily started chatting together and I guess we'd been talking for so long that my Mom came over since I'd kind of forgotten I was supposed to go back and tell her about how traffic was. Oops! After we talked some more, it was time to head off home while Zahida waited a bit longer to get her books signed.

It was such a fun night getting not only the chance to meet up with some fellow book bloggers, but also having the opportunity to meet two young authors I really admire! Thanks so much to Lauren Oliver and Veronica Roth for coming to Canada to meet some of your Canadian fans and hopefully, you'll return once again someday! And lots of thanks as well to Indigo Yorkdale and HarperCollins Canada for organizing and hosting the awesome event!!

*****

You can find my review Lauren Oliver's Delirium here or for Veronica Roth's Divergent here. If you haven't read either of these dystopian novels yet for some reason, I highly recommend you check them both out because you won't be disappointed!

Here are some other recaps from more Canadian bloggers you can read too! If I see more summaries of the Dystopian Tour stops in Ontario pop up, I'll be sure to add them below:

• Zahida's recap of the Indigo Yorkdale event on her blog at Musings of a YA Reader (She's giving away a signed copy of Delirium too!)
• Mel's recap of the recap of the Indigo Yorkdale event on her blog at He Followed Me Home... Can I Keep Him? (I just missed meeting her! *sad face*)
• Jackie's recap of the Indigo Yorkdale event on her blog at My Ever Expanding Library
• Ashley's recap of the Chapters Barrie event on her blog at That's Life...
• Christie's recap of the Chapters Brampton event at A & C Book Junkies 
• Erika's recap of the Chapters Brampton event on her blog The One A Day Y.A. Project
• Jen's recap of the Chapters Brampton event on her blog at Lost in the Library

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

Title: Blood Magic (The Blood Journals #1)
Author: Tessa Gratton
Release Date: May 24, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 416
Source: ARC provided by publisher through Bookurious

Overall: 4 Stars

Summary: 

This page-turning debut novel will entice fans who like their paranormal romances dark and disturbing. It's a natural next-read for fans of Stephenie Meyer, Carrie Jones, and Becca Fitzpatrick. But instead of mythical creatures, blood magic has everything to do with primal human desires like power, wealth, and immortality. Everywhere Silla Kennicott turns she sees blood. She can't stop thinking about her parents alleged murder-suicide. She is consumed by a book filled with spells that arrives mysteriously in the mail. The spells share one common ingredient: blood, and Silla is more than willing to cast a few. What's a little spilled blood if she can uncover the truth? And then there's Nick—the new guy at school who makes her pulse race. He has a few secrets of his own and is all too familiar with the lure of blood magic. Drawn together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick must find out who else in their small Missouri town knows their secret and will do anything to take the book and magic from Silla.  

My Thoughts:
Blood Magic has cast its very own spell on me! Following Silla and Nick's foray into the dangerous world of blood magic, Tessa Gratton has weaved a dark and alluring tale that will be sure to enthrall you from start to finish!

I really did love Tessa Gratton's writing style... and the dual perspectives between Nick and Silla along with old journal entries were just an added bonus that were brought to the table. Tessa Gratton's prose is almost poetic and lyrical at times with the way she integrates allusions into the story, and at others, she's very straight-forward and direct to the point she's making.

The relationship between Nick and Silla seemed to evolve rather quickly, with their feelings for each other strengthening quite soon, but I was able to overcome this fact for the most part. Because we get inside the minds of both characters, it's easy to see how these two teens can feel a close connection right away with their complicated pasts and their shared interest in learning more about blood magic. My heart ached for the misfortune that had befallen on Silla... and Nick's past, while a little better, wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows either. They were both in need of help and through supporting each other, they could heal some of the pain to become stronger individuals. 

As I was reading, there were times when I was staring so hard at the words before me that I thought I'd burn a hole right through the pages! Sure, I thought the pacing was rather slow sometimes, but there were also moments where I was completely gripped by the intensity of the events. This is a novel not for the faint of heart. Blood is spilled many times (from as simple as a drop!) due to the nature of this form of magic and with Tessa Gratton's descriptions, you'll easily be able to conjure images of the events to mind. Sometimes, it felt like I should be even shuddering but instead, I was left with this odd, deep fascination for the thrill and power of blood magic, and the sacrifices it entailed.

And the lead up to the ending? It was heart-pounding and thrilling in a way that kept me constantly on my toes trying to guess the outcome! There were quite a few twists and turns that left me surprised and wide-eyed, that's for sure!

Tessa Gratton's debut novel is suspenseful and addictive in so many ways! Without a doubt, I shall be eagerly looking forward to The Blood Keeper, a companion novel to Blood Magic, which will be released next year! With a very original storyline, Blood Magic will easily stand out amongst novels in the paranormal genre!

Waiting on Wednesday (46) - Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: August 9, 2011
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Summary (from Goodreads):

"These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume."
—Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The most tragic love story in history...

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

I'm really excited for Juliet Immortal, the first in a new two-part series by Stacey Jay! I loved her Megan Berry novels and her more recent release, The Locket, so I'm definitely eager to see how Stacey will put her own spin on Romeo and Juliet! It really looks like we're in for a special treat, right? And isn't that cover just gorgeous with Juliet's red dress and the waves crashing around her?

Haven by Kristi Cook

Title: Haven (Haven #1)
Author: Kristi Cook
Release Date: February 22, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 416
Source: Bought

Overall: 4 Stars

Summary:

Violet McKenna isn’t a normal girl with normal teenage issues; she has more to contend with than most people could handle. Violet thought she was just crazy when she had a vivid vision of her dad’s murder. Her life started falling apart when her premonition came true. She’s had flashes of other events too. The problem was nobody believed her until she found a new school: Winterhaven.

At Winterhaven, Violet finally feels like she belongs. She quickly finds a close group friends and discovers that they too have psychic ‘gifts’—as do all the students at Winterhaven. But as soon as she feels settled she discovers the most intriguing and alluring boy she has ever met, and things quickly go awry. As the attraction between them grows, intense visions of the boy’s death start to haunt her. In her premonitions the secret he is unwilling to share begins to reveal itself. And to Violet's horror, she learns that their destinies are intertwined in a critical--and deadly--way. 

My Thoughts:
I've been looking forward to reading Haven for awhile now and was so glad to see that it met most of my expectations! The writing was so easy to immerse myself into that I lost track of time... and before I knew it, I was already halfway finished the novel!

I really did love the beautiful setting described for Winterhaven! There were times when I had to remind myself that it was still a boarding school set in modern day New York, yet the way the faculty address their students with such formal grace left me feeling like I was in another era. The intrigue of learning more about Violet's visions and the kindness of her new friends who take her under their wing further propelled me along to see what would happen next.

For the most part, I did become a victim of the "Aidan effect" but there were times when I found the romance between himself and Violet rather frustrating. Aidan is gorgeous, brooding and so utterly mysterious that you're eagerly flipping the pages to see what he's obviously trying to hide... but his hot and cold behaviour was kind of a turn off at times. I thought more tension and development in the romance between Aidan and Violet would have provided more of an impact to give it a swoon-worthy edge instead of what felt like instant feelings at first sight. 

Did I think Haven offered anything new to the genre? No, not necessarily... yet, there is something I can't quite put my finger on that made the novel irresistible! Kristi Cook does a wonderful job laying down the foundations and giving you the background mechanics so you're not confused about this world she has envisioned. It's with these careful explanations that you discover more about the psychic gifts of the students and staff along with the limitations and responsibility that comes along with having them. 

I'm just going to add one more thing now. There is a twist in the novel regarding a certain character which afterwards really helps to push the storyline forward. And I think for some readers, it's a discovery with the potential to leave mixed feelings as to the direction the novel will be taking because of it. But, of course, I'm leaving it to you to find out what it is!

Kristi Cook's debut novel will surely appeal to those in need of their latest paranormal fix with some romance thrown in as well! The novel doesn't really end on a cliffhanger note, yet there are still questions to be answered... so I'll be definitely looking forward to hopefully learning them in the second novel!

Meg Cabot Signing in Toronto and Giveaway!

Last Thursday evening (May 12), I was fortunate enough to attend Meg Cabot's signing at Chapters Queensway when she came to Toronto to help promote her latest novel Abandon! This was the only Canadian stop in Meg Cabot's tour so I think the two hour drive to get to the event was well worth it in order to have the chance to meet her!

I arrived at Chapters Queensway about two hours early, grabbing a seat, but the wait didn't seem all too long! I can get rather shy and quiet, but the ladies by me were talking about Veronica Roth's Divergent and how amazing it was, so I sort of jumped into the conversation. My neighbour beside me was still reading Abandon but she was so nice and friendly too! 

Not too long later, a DJ came by and started up some music, and Cammy, who tweets for @indigogreenroom, got the crowd laughing easily. They also had some cute bags on them as prizes to give away! There were a couple ways you could win them like through a dance-off or just for tweeting them, but they had a few rounds of Jeopardy-style questions where if you knew the answer, you had to go up front and give it. I can't believe I'm saying this but I was one of the winners! The question had to do with what real life place inspired the setting of Abandon (answer: Key West), so I ran like my life depended on it steadily made my way to the stage before anyone could get there sooner! If you'd like to know what was inside, you can check out my recent IMM post!

Soon enough, it was 7 p.m. and Meg Cabot was on stage, welcomed by much applause and cheers! She didn't do a reading, but instead did a little introduction of what Abandon is about and how it's the first in a new trilogy, centering around a re-imagining of the Greek myth of Persephone. Meg also talked about what inspired her to write Abandon and that when she was in high school, she used to doodle in her calculus notebook with sketches of Persephone. She kept those books and used them to help her write Abandon. She might not have gotten great grades, but at least we get to read her fabulous stories now, right?

Afterwards, she took some audience questions! Meg talked about her writing habits, inspired those writers hoping to one day be published to not give up on their dreams, and spoke about her previous successful series' like The Princess Diaries. She said that the series was actually based on the fact that her mom had been dating one of her teachers and how one of her characters, Lilly, is based on a friend who has no idea about this fact! Meg was so friendly and warm to everyone!

Before I knew it, it was time for the book signing! As a cool extra treat, everyone getting a book signed by Meg Cabot got their picture taken and a photo printed right at the store! I've already tucked it away into my photo album. (Anyways, sorry about the weird look to my picture. It came out blurry so that was the best I could do to get it sharpened more. It's still proof I met her though, right? lol)

Thanks so much to Meg Cabot for coming out to meet some of your Canadian fans and please come back soon! And thanks to Chapters Queensway and Scholastic Canada for hosting such a wonderful event!

*****

Have you read Abandon yet? You can read my thoughts on the novel here! 

And I did mention there would be a giveaway, right? I'll be giving away ONE SIGNED COPY OF ABANDON! To enter this giveaway, you must be a FOLLOWER and it will be open INTERNATIONALLY. However, if you're a fellow Canuck, you'll be getting a couple extra entries because it was Meg's only stop in Canada this time around! The last day to enter will be JUNE 6, 2011 after which point I'll choose a winner using a random number generator. I will send an email to the winner for their mailing address and they'll have 48 hours give or take to respond back.

To enter, PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM and you'll be all set to go! Good luck! 

-GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED-

-> Winner has been announced! <-  

In My Mailbox (32)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week. 

This week I got...

Received for Review:

• Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari 
• ARC of Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Thanks so much to Scholastic Canada and to Jennifer Echols who sent me her upcoming novel to review! She's among my favourite contemporary authors so I've been really looking forward to Love Story! And if you haven't read a novel by her yet, what are you still waiting for? 

Won:

• ARC of The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch
• Gretchen McNeil's Possess Swag

Thank you to Gretchen McNeil who sent me some swag, a bookmark and a couple temporary tattoos, when I was one of the winners for her recent giveaway on her blog! 

And thanks to Chapters Queensway and Scholastic Canada for this cool prize I won which included an ARC, a pretty Abandon sticker and a Chapters/Indigo gift card, at the recent Meg Cabot signing! I would have posted my recap of the Meg Cabot signing already but then Blogger decided to go all crazy on everyone so I couldn't write it. I shall have more details on what happened during the event soon and there may just be a giveaway involved too!

Bought:

• Cyberabad Days by Ian McDonald
• Die for Me (Revenants #1) by Amy Plum 
• What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen 

I've been really looking forward to Die for Me for awhile so I can't wait to begin reading it. I bought Cyberabad Days because it's the last required reading novel I needed to get for a science fiction summer half-course I'm taking which will be beginning soon.

I waited two years for Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride to be released in paperback but I just don't think I can wait that long again. So even though What Happened to Goodbye is hardcover and doesn't match the rest of my books, at least I won't feel like I'm missing out while everyone gets to read and fall in love with it!

What about YOU? Any new reads/finds this week?

And as always... Happy Reading!

Lexie by Audrey Couloumbis

Title: Lexie
Author: Audrey Couloumbis
Illustrator: Julia Denos
Release Date: May 24, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 208
Source: Copy received from publisher

Overall: 3 Stars

Summary:

Ten-year-old Lexie used to love going to the shore. For as long as she can remember, she's spent every summer there with her parents, eating hamburgers, swimming in the ocean, and combing the beach for treasure. This summer is going to be different though. Lexie's Mom and Daddy are divorced, and for the first time Mom won't be there. To make matters worse, Daddy has a surprise—his new girlfriend, Vicky, and her two sons are coming to stay with them for a week! Now Lexie has to share her house with perky Vicky, Vicky's moody teenage son Ben, and messy three-year-old Harris. The little beach house just doesn't seem big enough for so many people. Is there still room for Lexie?

In a voice that's sharp, funny, and sincere, Newbery Honor-winning author Audrey Couloumbis tells the story of a girl discovering that if you pay attention, sometimes you can find treasure in the most unlikely places.  

My Thoughts:
I don't usually read too many middle grade novels anymore, but when I found myself with a copy of Lexie in my hands, I jumped on the chance to read a story about a young girl who's summer plans with her father lead to unexpected surprises.

Lexie was a great, young protagonist who immediately grew on me right away. Her parents have recently divorced and it's her first summer vacation away from her mother at her father's beach house. She's an avid reader (yay!), so she's already planned her summer books to bring along and hopes to have some fun combing the beach with her Dad. And when you learn that she's not going to get some alone time after all, and that her Dad has decided to invite his girlfriend and her own two children along without saying a word to her... your heart does a little flip and plummet like Lexie's.

You can quickly understand her point of view and why she's less than thrilled to be sharing her Dad with people that are practically strangers to her. Her hurt feelings and her Dad's clueless behaviour to the situation will have your heart reaching out to her. And perhaps because she's only ten, she does lack the bitterness that might have been expected from a character in a YA novel and is willing to at least make the best of the situation. This is a week for Lexie where she'll find more hidden treasures than the ones simply found on a beach... just maybe, she'll come to form new friendships and learn that family can be found in different forms.  

It was a quick read for me but I enjoyed reading every single page of this story nonetheless! It's a cute, summer novel that I think younger readers will find most delightful but there's also some important messages you can take away after reading the novel as well!

Thanks so much to Random House Canada for sending me this copy!

Book Trailer! - Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly (for real this time!)

Around mid-April, I mistakenly posted the trailer spotlighting Willow, one of the main characters in L.A. Weatherly's upcoming novel Angel Burn, thinking it was the full trailer... well, the official version is finally out for your viewing pleasure now! And seeing as I've already posted the Willow teaser trailer, I thought I'd also include the Alex teaser trailer below as well. Enjoy!

And while we're on the topic of Angel Burn, my friend Cathy over at The Crazy Bookworm did an author interview with L.A. Weatherly just yesterday on her blog so if you love learning more about the authors behind the books, be sure to head on over and check it out!

Release Date: May 24, 2011
Publisher: Candlewick Press

Summary:

Willow knows she’s different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into the future and know people’s dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow than Willow herself. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces, and that he’s one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil. In the first book in an action-packed, romantic trilogy, L.A. Weatherly sends readers on a thrill-ride of a road trip - and depicts the human race at the brink of a future as catastrophic as it is deceptively beautiful.

They’re out for your soul . . . and they don’t have heaven in mind.

Alex Teaser Trailer:

Official Angel Burn Trailer: 

Waiting on Wednesday (45) - A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: June 21, 2011
Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Summary (from Chapters/Indigo):

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be forgotten.

Charlotte's best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she's cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what's really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become—her mark on this earth, her very existence—is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny—no matter how dark the consequences?

I've only read The Naughty List by Suzanne Young so far but oh my, it looks like she's taking quite the departure from that series with her latest upcoming novel, A Need So Beautiful! It's Suzanne Young's first foray into the paranormal genre and it definitely sounds like a novel not to be missed!! Charlotte is going to have to make some very difficult decisions... And as for the cover, isn't it so light and pretty? 

Jane Jones: Worst. Vampire. Ever. by Caissie St. Onge

Title: Jane Jones: Worst. Vampire. Ever.
Author: Caissie St. Onge
Release Date: May 10, 2011 (paperback)
Publisher: Ember
Pages: 240
Source: ARC provided by publisher

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Summary:

For Jane Jones, being a vampire is nothing like you read about in books. In fact, it kind of sucks. She's not beautiful, she's not rich, and she doesn't "sparkle." She's just an average, slightly nerdy girl from an ordinary suburban family (who happens to be vampires.) Jane's from the wrong side of the tracks (not to mention stuck in the world's longest awkward phase), so she doesn't fit in with the cool vampire kids at school or with the humans kids. To top it all off, she's battling an overprotective mom, a clique of high school mean girls (the kind who really do have fangs), and the most embarrassing allergy in the history of the undead, she's blood intolerant. So no one's more surprised than Jane when for the first time in her life, things start to heat up (as much as they can for a walking corpse, anyway) with not one, but two boys. Eli's a geeky, but cute real-live boy in her history class, and Timothy is a beautiful, brooding bloodsucker, who might just hold the key to a possible "cure" for vampirism. Facing an eternity of high school pressure, fumbling first dates, or a mere lifetime together with Timothy, what's a 90-something year-old teen vampire to do?

Fans of the Vladmir Tod Chronicles, You are So Undead to Me, and Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side will feast on this deliciously readable, smart, and fantastically funny debut.

My Thoughts:
I essentially took one look at the cover, flipped to the back of the novel to read the plot description and then instantly started reading it! I know dystopian is steadily taking over as the next big thing, but I still can't resist vampire novels... especially when it looks like I'll be getting some laughs in as well!

Contrary to popular belief, vampirism is not all that it's cracked up to be. Sure, there are rich, beautiful and powerful vampires out there but Jane Jones and her family are anything but. Her caring mother is overprotective at times; her father spends his days working at a factory struggling to earn enough money because he's never at the same job long enough to get a promotion; and her younger brother is much more smarter than his human age would ever tell.

As for Jane, herself? The title of "worst vampire ever" would definitely be a fitting description but her bubbling, fun personality should definitely count for something! Jane is extremely allergic to blood except one super rare type that's really expensive, so she can only drink minimal amounts at a time. She's always in a weak state, works harder than most in her school work, and definitely deserves a pat on the back in comfort for some of the embarrassing situations she finds herself in. Even though she's several decades old, she still very much acts and thinks like a human teenage girl!

The actual storyline and some of the characters, especially the two romantic interests Eli and Timothy, aren't as well-developed as I might have normally liked but instead of lingering too much on those thoughts... I kind of just went with it. It's not a novel to be taken too seriously, so I felt it was okay to sort of nod along and accept things as they came by. Timothy fits under the usual handsome, brooding and protective vampire category while Eli is so awkward at times, it's adorable! It was fun to see two polar opposite boys suddenly developing feelings for our dear old Jane.

Caissie St. Onge's debut novel offers a comedic take on the vampire genre in ways that will leave you uncontrollably smiling and rolling your eyes at the silliness! It's a fun read that will pass the time quickly and one that you'll easily find entertaining!

Thanks so much to Random House Canada for sending me this review copy!

Spring Blog Carnival Giveaway WINNER!

It was my first time participating in a giveaway hop and it was fun! I'll definitely have to try and take part in another one of these hops in the future because it was cool to discover some new blogs to follow!

Anyways, I'm sure you want to know who won an ARC of Carol Lynch Williams' novel Miles From Ordinary, right? Random.org has spoken and the winner of the giveaway is... *drumroll*

Hannah @ Paperback Treasures 

Thanks so much to everyone who entered and congratulations to the lucky winner! There were 235 individuals who entered the giveaway which was just crazy awesome!

In My Mailbox (31)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week. 

This week I got...

Received for Review:

• ARC of Blood Red Road (Dustlands #1) by Moira Young 
• Facing Fire by KC Dyer
• ARC of Jane Jones: Worst. Vampire. Ever. by Caissie St. Onge
• Lexie by Audrey Couloumbis
• Welcome to Bordertown edited Ellen Kushner and Holly Black
• ARC of Wildefire by Karsten Knight

I'd like to extend lots of warm thanks to Random House Canada and Simon & Schuster Canada! They sure kept my mailbox unusually busy this week! 

Bought:

• Abandon (Abandon Trilogy #1) by Meg Cabot
• Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth
• Illusions (Wings #3) by Aprilynne Pike
• So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

I've already read and reviewed both Abandon and Divergent, but I bought the finished copies this week especially in anticipation of their book signings in Toronto soon! (More details can be found on those upcoming book signings in my May summary post of YA events in Canada.) 

I've been looking forward to the third installment in the Wings series too so I just had to buy it while I was at the bookstore as well. My sister really wanted Susane Colasanti's latest novel so the book is hers but we read each other's books...

What about YOU? Any new reads/finds this week?

And as always... Happy Reading!

The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter

Title: The Goddess Test (Goddess Test #1)
Author: Aimée Carter  
Release Date: April 19, 2011 (paperback)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 304
Source: Bought

Overall: 3 Stars

Summary:

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess. 

My Thoughts:
I've been so excited to read The Goddess Test for awhile now, eager to discover how Aimée Carter's debut would put a modern spin on Greek mythology! There has been quite the buzz for this novel and I've seen it popping up in so many places with reviews that sing its praises to boot... but while I was reading, I was saddened when I realized I wasn't feeling the same way. 

It's only recently that I've read a few reviews that told another story and I'm so glad I heard those thoughts because with their forewarning, the disappointment was slightly lessened. I altered my expectations of the novel but still, it kind of hurts that a novel I really wanted to fall in love with didn't quite make the mark... even if overall, I did still enjoy reading the novel. 

The first half of the novel was slow for me but that might have been partly due to my impatience. Aimée Carter sets up the necessary basics, explaining the myth of Persephone, giving you clues as to the identity of Henry, and building the relationship between Kate and her mother. That last part was integral to the story because it was important to see just how much Kate loved her ailing mother and how she would be willing to do anything to save her. As someone who's quite familiar with the myth of Persephone though, my eyes sort of glazed over Kate and her friends' investigative queries regarding it. I'm sure if you don't know too much about Greek mythology, then you probably really appreciated the background information, but for me, I was just ready to move onto the tests! 

Other than Kate's close relationship with her mother, I couldn't really relate with her at first. At times, her actions seemed to good to be true. Closer to the beginning of the novel, someone performs a horrible prank on her yet she easily forgave them with no hard feelings afterwords. The justification offered just didn't seem to be enough for me. Anyways, I'm sure you've realized Kate's a self-sacrificing character, always believing in the best of people and putting the feelings of others before her own. I'll point out though that Kate did gradually warm up to me and she made some tough, thoughtful decisions later on that made me respect her so much more!

I liked Henry... but I wouldn't really go too much further at this point just yet. He's supposed to be Hades, God of the Underworld, but for some reason, he just lacked this spark and charismatic persona that could make me really fall for him. I mean, he's really kindhearted when he shows his personality and would do anything to make Kate happy, so I should have fallen for him right away, but I just didn't feel the chemistry this time around. He acts sort of distant and it really wasn't until near the end of the novel that he finally broke out of his shell.

I won't say much about the actual tests except that they'll probably take you by surprise. I was thinking there would be more complexity to them but instead, I couldn't help but think how ironic they were. If you know anything about the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology, then I'm sure you'll also understand why it was kind of funny to see simple tests based on character when they're supposed to be less than stellar themselves.

Anyways, I'm still feeling conflicted about The Goddess Test because on the whole, I really did enjoy the story and liked it enough that I didn't want to put the book down, but in the end... I guess I was hoping for more. The characters and plot fell just a little flat this time around but the second half really picked up for me! Kate's safety came into more jeopardy which added a bit of excitement and Henry finally opened up enough to allow for some wonderful moments between himself and Kate. Aimée Carter's interpretation of Greek mythology and the way she's incorporated them in a very much modern story does still offer a lot of fun... and I'm sure some of you will be kept on your toes trying to uncover the mystery of figuring out who is the villain!

I will be absolutely checking out the second novel, Goddess Interrupted, next year because I have a hopeful feeling that it will be better than the first one. Like I said previously, The Goddess Test really began to hit a stride after awhile... so if it can maintain that pace in the second novel, then I'm sure it will be an awesome read!