E-ARC Review: Pieces of Truth (Pieces of Lies # 2)

E-ARC Review: Pieces of Truth (Pieces of Lies # 2)

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 AM in 4-star, Angela Richardson, E-ARC, Pieces of Lies, review, romance,

Author: Angela Richardson

Release date: May 15th 2013

Publisher: Self-published

Purchase: Amazon  

Add to your library: Goodreads

In the sequel to Pieces of Lies, we follow Norah and Clint to New York, the playground for the Lappell and Big Joe. 

From the outside, everything looks great for Norah and Clint. They have a new apartment, new jobs, a new life. Everything looks perfect... or is it?

Leaving Morewell was a big step for the couple, but for Norah, she moved with the knowledge that there could be more secrets Clint could be keeping, more deception that could bring her whole world crashing down. She took the step knowing the truth would be lurking in the shadows, waiting for her to find it. Will the truth find Norah or will she find the truth? In this story, relationships will be tested, old feelings will surface, secrets will be revealed and emotions will run high. By the end, Norah will have chosen her love, but at what price? (via Goodreads)

Where do I even begin with? I still cannot think straight after that mind-blowing, heart-breaking epilogue. I won't even give a hint as to what that epilogue is all about. Better read it, you know.

When I received Angela's e-mail, I was so hyped! She wasn't kidding when she told me this is a bit different. I know Angela can pull off another surprise. But the surprises this one has is so shocking in a way. Maybe I knew all along that, that CAN happen but then I'm giving that character the benefit of the doubt. BUT NOOOO. Yes, I'm so heart-broken right now.

But you guys, this is naughtier than Pieces of Lies. Like seriously. I think, no, I believe this is actually the first New Adult novel that got me to read parts like that. Very descriptive. And very... I don't know. Not really my type. But it's not the novel's fault. I just really feel like I'm invading the couple's privacy! So I just skimmed those parts because there were still sweet feelings included.

The suspense had me guessing all the time. It wasn't until the latter part of the novel that I had my own concrete guess and that was really hard because I didn't know the characters I should trust. It's just hard. Even if this is just a novel, I have to keep my guard on or else I'd be hurt! Honestly, even if I had my guard on, I'm still hurt about what happened. I'm that affected!

I don't know how to review this without giving a hint as to what happened! I'm keeping my mouth shut. I swear. To everyone who loved Pieces of Lies, I give you my word that you'll enjoy Norah's quest into finding who really deserves her love, her tug-of-war drama with all the lies that have been built around her, her impulsiveness about her decisions and her passion for art.

Just a quick warning, don't be deceived okay? Maybe you think knowing the truth will set you free, but most of the time, it won't. It will just actually eat you alive making you wish that you'd just settled for the lies.

Many thanks to Angela Richardson for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review! I actually don't think this will be the last book for this series. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

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Pieces of Truth is LIVE

Pieces of Truth is LIVE

Posted by Nina L. on 6:00 PM in Angela Richardson, Pieces of Lies,

Yey! Y'all! Pieces of Truth by Angela Richardson is LIVE. I'm a little late for saying this. But it's LIVE. So BUY NOW. 

Pieces of Truth by Angela Richardson

My review will be up by tomorrow!

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"Waiting On" Wednesday (5)

"Waiting On" Wednesday (5)

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 AM in Trish Doller, WoW, YA,

  "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

   My "eagerly anticipating" book this week is...

Where the Star still Shine

by Trish Doller

Publication Date: September 24th 2013

Add to your library: Goodreads

Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility.

Trish Doller writes incredibly real teens, and this searing story of love, betrayal, and how not to lose your mind will resonate with readers who want their stories gritty and utterly true. (via Goodreads)

I absolutely fell in love with Trish Doller's debut novel, Something Like Normal. I'm sure this one will not disappoint! There's just something about Trish Doller's writing, you know. Four months to goo! Uggh. 

What are you eagerly anticipating this week? Link below! :)

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Cover Reveal: 1816 Candles

Cover Reveal: 1816 Candles

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 PM in Amanda Brice, cover reveal, romance,

 

Title: 1816 Candles

Author: Amanda Brice

Genre: Time Travel Romance

Age Group: Young Adult

Cover Designer: Keith Draws

Expected release date: September 2013

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

  

  High school senior Lauren is attending a costume ball at Old Town Alexandria’s famous Gadsby’s Tavern. But when she gets bored by the repetitious historical dances, she goes off to explore in the building and something odd catches her eye. Is it a woman? When Lauren follows the mysterious person and picks up a snow globe in the room she’s led to, she somehow ends up in 1816, experiencing the actual events of the “Legend of the Female Stranger” she’s heard her whole life growing up. Now Lauren has to solve the mystery of this ghost, find her way back home…and deal with her own emotions when she falls in love with a guy who lived 200 years before her.     

  About the Author  

 As a little girl, Amanda Brice dreamed of being either a ballerina or the author of a mystery series featuring a cool crime-solving chick named Nancy Flew, but her father urged her to “do something practical,” so she went to law school and spent her days writing briefs and pleadings instead of fiction. But dance and writing have remained a part of her life. Amanda was a member of the ballroom dance team at Duke University, and continues this interest by her obsession with Dancing with the Stars, so it was only natural for her to set a teen mystery series at a dance school. Amanda is the President of Washington Romance Writers, and is a two-time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart® Award. She blogs once a month or so with the Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood. She is also a popular conference presenter, speaking on basic copyright and trademark law for writers. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys dancing, reading, cooking, traveling, and obsessing over whether Duke will beat Carolina in basketball. Go Devils!   

Website | Facebook

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E-ARC Review: Insomnia

E-ARC Review: Insomnia

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 AM in 4-star, E-ARC, J. R. Johansson, paranormal, review, The Night Walkers,

Author: J.R. Johansson

Release date: June 8th 2013

Publisher: Flux Books 
Series: The Night Walkers # 1

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Add to your library: Goodreads

It’s been four years since I slept, and I suspect it is killing me.

Instead of sleeping, Parker Chipp enters the dream of the last person he’s had eye contact with. He spends his nights crushed by other people’s fear and pain, by their disturbing secrets—and Parker can never have dreams of his own. The severe exhaustion is crippling him. If nothing changes, Parker could soon be facing psychosis and even death.

Then he meets Mia. Her dreams, calm and beautifully uncomplicated, allow him blissful rest that is utterly addictive. Parker starts going to bizarre lengths to catch Mia’s eye every day. Everyone at school thinks he’s gone over the edge, even his best friend. And when Mia is threatened by a true stalker, everyone thinks it’s Parker.

Suffering blackouts, Parker begins to wonder if he is turning into someone dangerous. What if the monster stalking Mia is him after all? (via Goodreads)

Insomnia's synopsis didn't fail to sum up what the story is all about. The simple paranormal feel I thought I'd have turned out to be a little understatement. This gave me creeps in a lot of ways. The cover. The synopsis. And of course, the story itself especially the dreams that Parker had.

Parker doesn't really sleep. It's bad enough to have insomnia but to actually watch other people's dream is actually a little torture. That's why Parker is so different and as far as I'm concerned, I haven't encountered a book that just have the same or sort of the same idea. If I'm missing something then please tell me!

I was just wondering why Parker haven't passed out yet. I sound morbid but if he doesn't get enough sleep, his body will actually give up eventually. We're talking of four years being him in other people's dreams. It's quite long already. So how come he hasn't passed out even once? It also bothers me that being in the era of technology, he didn't even for once tried to search for his condition or capability in the internet. I mean, anyone searches anything in the internet right? He wasn't really that great and smart of a main character here.

I had guessed who Mia's stalker was. But there was this something in here that made me doubt my guess. That's one of the most disturbing things that happened to Parker. And I'm sure to know more of it through the next installment.

Adding to Parker's not so greatness is the feeling I have that there'll be a love triangle set out in the 2nd book. If this comes out as true, I'd be damned! I hate love triangles.

Insomnia is a good 1st installment for the The Night Walkers series. I enjoyed the suspense and the thrill. I can't conclude things since this is just the first book. I'm ought to know more of Parker's capability.

(Many thanks to Flux Books for allowing me to read this through NetGalley.)

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Excerpt and Giveaway: Plastic Hearts

Excerpt and Giveaway: Plastic Hearts

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 AM in Giveaway, Lisa De Jong, Plastic Hearts, romance,

Author: Lisa De Jong

Release date: February 27th 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Series: Hearts, #1
Event organized by: Xpresso Book Tours 

Purchase: Amazon  

Add to your library: Goodreads

My life has always been safe. I like it that way. I grew up in a fake society where plastic hearts rule. If our hearts are made of plastic, they can never be broken. My parents have expectations and I do everything I can to meet them, even if it means giving up on my own dreams. 

Now, all I want is to be free to make my own choices.

Dane Wright is everything I have been warned to stay away from. We met one night while I was with my perfect, parent-approved boyfriend and I haven’t stopped thinking about him. I don’t want to like him. I am doing everything I can to ignore his pull, but my heart seems to want what it cannot have, what it has never had.

Can he measure up? He may think I am too good for him, but maybe he is too good for me. 

Life is a series of choices and I have never been able to make my own. Until one day, when my heart decides to make a choice for me.Recommended for mature readers due to sexual content and language.

Excerpt

"Do you want some company?" My skin tingled when I heard his voice. He had to be stalking me; there was no other explanation for this much coincidence.

I pinched my eyebrows together as I looked back at him. "I doubt you have an reason to walk to the Med Center."

"I do if that’s where you are heading to,” he shrugged with his hands in his pockets. He was looking at me with those eyes again and I felt myself melting under them.

"Don’t you have anyone else to stalk?” I asked, letting out an exasperated sigh. I was beginning to think I would never get away from Dane. He was popping up everywhere in my life and it was wearing on me. He was disrupting my quiet existence and I was fighting between annoyance and excitement.

"You’re the only one I want to stalk,” he said, grinning from ear to ear and leaving me lightheaded. Okay, so maybe a small part of me enjoyed the attention he was giving me.

“So, I’m your victim of the month?” I asked.

“No, you’re actually my first victim. I usually don’t have to try so hard,” he said, shrugging his shoulders.

“Yeah? Well, you can try all you want; this is all you’re getting,” I said, picking up the pace. A part of me wanted him to try harder and another part was telling me to run. Right now the later was winning, but if he kept this up it might not stay that way.

“Hey, Alex?” “Yeah.”

“I won’t have to try for long. I guarantee it.” He looked at me with fire in his eyes and emphasized the last three words by letting them roll off his tongue slowly. I felt warmth spread through my entire body. This guy was really something else.

About the Author

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

Author Social Media Links:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads 

Giveaway:

(1) eBook copy of Plastic Hearts. Open Internationally. Winner has 48 hours to reply to the notification e-mail. If reply is not received, another winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Feature and Follow # 3

Feature and Follow # 3

Posted by Nina L. on 1:05 PM in Feature and Follow,

Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read! :)

Q: Happy Mother's Day! Who is your favorite Mom from fiction?

First off, Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there. My favorite fictional Mom is no other than... Mrs. Weasley! Well, you know why. She's totally A-mazing.

So who's your favorite ficitional Mom? Link below and I'll follow you. Please do follow me via Bloglovin or through e-mail since GFC is soon going off. 

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"Waiting On" Wednesday (4)

"Waiting On" Wednesday (4)

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 AM in WoW,

  "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

   My "eagerly anticipating" book this week is...

Boy Nobody

by Allen Zadoff

Publication Date: June 11th 2013

Add to your library: Goodreads

Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school, in a new town, under a new name, makes few friends and doesn't stay long. Just long enough for someone in his new friend's family to die -- of "natural causes." Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, and moves on to the next target. 

When his own parents died of not-so-natural causes at the age of eleven, Boy Nobody found himself under the control of The Program, a shadowy government organization that uses brainwashed kids as counter-espionage operatives. But somewhere, deep inside Boy Nobody, is somebody: the boy he once was, the boy who wants normal things (like a real home, his parents back), a boy who wants out. And he just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program's next mission. (via Goodreads)

I've always been amazed of what assassins do. Okay, I know it's bad enough to kill someone. But to read something about it is such a guilty pleasure, isn't it? And this definitely reminds me of Celaena from the Throne of Glass. I'm curious as to how Boy Nobody will kick ass as an assassin. 

What are you eagerly anticipating this week? Link below! :)

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Excerpt and Giveaway: Wide Awake by Shelly Crane

Excerpt and Giveaway: Wide Awake by Shelly Crane

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 AM in Giveaway, romance, Shelly Crane,

Author: Shelly Crane

Release date: March 23rd 2013
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group: Young Adult
Event organized by: AToMR Tours 

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords  

Add to your library: Goodreads

A girl.

A coma.

A life she can't remember.

When Emma Walker wakes up in the hospital with no knowledge of how she got there, she learns that she's been in a coma for six months. Strangers show up and claim to be her parents, but she can't remember them. She can't remember anyone. Not her friends, not even her boyfriend. Even though she can't remember, everyone wants her to just pick up where she left off, but what she learns about the 'old her' makes her start to wish she'd never woken up. Her boyfriend breaks up with the new girl he's dating to be with her, her parents want her to start planning for college, her friends want their leader back, and her physical therapist with the hazel eyes keeps his distance to save his position at the hospital.

Will she ever feel like she recognizes the girl in the mirror?

Excerpt

"Hey, girl." I looked back at him while Mason took his wasted brother's shoes off. "You dating my big brother, or what? 'Cause he'll just ruin you, you know. He doesn't care about anyone but himself." I stared at him. Mason have just saved his ungrateful behind and this was how he repaid him?

He let his head fall back to the bed and Mason tossed a blanket over him. He guided me away from his room with a hand on the small of my back. I couldn't believe this was what Mason's life was like. All he did was take care of other people.

We retreated back to the shop. "The sad thing?" he asked as soon as he shut the door and sighed, pulling me by my hips. "He'll be gone by morning."

About the Author

YA author from a small town in Georgia and loves everything about the south. She is wife to a fantastical husband and stay at home mom to two boisterous and mischievous boys who keep her on her toes. They currently reside in everywhere USA as they happily travel all over with her husband's job. She loves to spend time with her family, binge on candy corn, go out to eat at new restaurants, buy paperbacks at little bookstores, site see in the new areas they travel to, listen to music everywhere and also LOVES to read.

Her own books happen by accident and she revels in the writing and imagination process. She doesn't go anywhere without her notepad for fear of an idea creeping up and not being able to write it down immediately, even in the middle of the night, where her best ideas are born.

Author Social Media Links:

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Giveaway:

(1) eBook copy of WIDE AWAKE. Winner will be sent a Smashwords coupon code. Open International. Winner has 48 hours to reply to the notification e-mail. If reply is not received, another winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Feature and Follow # 2

Feature and Follow # 2

Posted by Nina L. on 12:20 PM in Feature and Follow,

Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read! :)

Hey everyone! I'm definitely new in this blog hop. It's already Monday in here but it's better late than never! Besides, I love the Question!

Q: Give us a sneak! What are you reading? Tell us about a fun or fail scene in your current read.

Okay. Now, that's tricky. I just finished reading and I'm just about to start with a new one this afternoon. Pfft. Loser me. :(

So how about you? What are you reading? Link below and I'll follow you. Please do follow me via Bloglovin or through e-mail since GFC is soon going off. 

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Review: This Girl

Review: This Girl

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 AM in 5-star, Colleen Hoover, contemporary, cry-worthy, NA, realistic, review, romance,

Author: Colleen Hoover

Release date: April 30th 2013

Publisher: Atria Books 

Purchase: Amazon  

Add to your library: Goodreads

Layken and Will’s love has managed to withstand the toughest of circumstances and the young lovers, now married, are beginning to feel safe and secure in their union. As much as Layken relishes their new life together, she finds herself wanting to know everything there is to know about her husband, even though Will makes it clear he prefers to keep the painful memories of the past where they belong. Still, he can’t resist his wife’s pleas and so he begins to untangle his side of the story, revealing for the first time his most intimate feelings and thoughts, retelling both the good and bad moments, and sharing a few shocking confessions of his own from the time when they first met.

In This Girl, Will tells the story of their complicated relationship from hispoint of view. Their future rests on how well they deal with the past in this final installment of the beloved Slammed series. (via Goodreads)

Can you ever possibly love a book more than you thought you would? I fell in love with Slammed in an instant. It's the same with Point of Retreat. That's why I was afraid that I won't feel the same with This Girl because it seemed like it's just Slammed in Will's POV. Hell, no. That's not even half of it. Sure, there were parts that were told through Will's POV. The good thing about it? It made me understand him more. Of course, love him more.

Slammed was the first novel that got me into the New Adult age group. But you know what, scratch off that age group labeling. Whether you're into NA or not, this is absolutely worth your time. It's not just a story about love. It's a story about life in all aspects. Heck, even about death. It's a story that will make you realize a lot of things.

Then there's the poem. I love Slammed because of the slams of course. And even if some of the slams here are also present in Slammed, it still made me cry. It's that awesome. I've always been a firm believer how words are so powerful but after finishing off this novel, it made me believe in that more. Have you actually thought how words are so powerful?

Don't think that I just love this novel because of the story. No, that's not just it. Colleen Hoover is such a talented writer. She's written this and her novels like she has known all along what the readers will feel. The connection I have with the characters are so strong and I'm sure to miss them.

Words aren't enough for me to describe how much I love this novel and the series as a whole. I've cried. But the happy tears.

Here are some of the best lines ever:

"I'm not staring because of the fact that she's attractive, which she is. It's that look in her eyes. The depth. I want to know what she's thinking."

"I can't remember feeling this way since . .  well, ever. It's new. It's scary. It's exciting. It's nerve-racking. It's calming. It's every single emotion I've ever felt balled up into an intense urge to grab hold of her and never let go."

"Love and have, despite their polar opposites, are both feelings that are induced by passion. I can handle that." 

See? I swear my life on this. You gotta read this novel. Well, of course start with Slammed. It won't disappoint.

And oh, that epilogue was a killer. What are you waiting for? Read. This. Now. Or. Start. With. Slammed. Now.

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Review: Hex Hall

Review: Hex Hall

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 PM in 4-star, fantasy, Rachel Hawkins, YA,

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Release date: March 2nd 2010

Publisher: Hyperion Books Children

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository  

Add to your library: Goodreads

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her. (via Goodreads)

I'm not one for cliches. But Hex Hall is such an exception. It was written beautifully that you wouldn't mind even if there were cliches. Yes, that kind of exception.

I've always been drawn to witches, wizards or anything alike. It's my favorite next to faeries. I don't know why but I'm fascinated with all the "magic" stuff they're into. I was sure Hex Hall won't disappoint me seeing the ratings in Goodreads! And it sure didn't. Just by the prologue, Sophie got me already. She is funny as hell. It was so hilarious. She has this sense of humor I bet anyone would fall for.

It wasn't that hard to get lost in the world of Sophie. True, there are cliches. But they weren't hindrances for me to enjoy this book. Even if I wasn't expecting anything big, I really liked it. I still felt that magic all the time. And even if Sophie suck ( BIG TIME ) at being a witch, she was strong and eager to learn. Although I have to say Sophie doesn't have any big action scene here. She was just on the teach-me-how-to-be-a-witch phase anyway. Maybe we'll see how much power she got on the next book. Or not?

The twists in here are not much of a surprise to me. As I said, cliches! But still, I enjoyed it. Though they're not the shocking-kind of twists, they're still entertaining and right just for the book. You'll get good guesses as to what those twists are while the story goes on. It's like Hawkins is giving us hints so we can figure it out on our own.

The characters were good. I liked Sophie the best of course! She really is funny. Though I have to say I hate how naive she can be. Like seriously. She follows this or that. She was really that inexperienced. But that's the thing about Sophie, she grew up little by little. I was able to definitely see her improvement as the story goes on. Of course, I liked Archer but that guy broke my heart. I'm looking out for Cam now. He seems so mysterious and that's attractive in a way.

That ending threw me away. It makes me want to read the next book immediately!

If you're up for some light but funny and hilarious read, then Hex Hall is for you. Disregard the cliches because I'd bet you'll enjoy this as well. Go, read this now! You'll be laughing in no time.

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"Waiting on" Wednesday (3)

"Waiting on" Wednesday (3)

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 AM in Jenny Han, magical, Siobhan Vivian, WoW, YA,

  "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

   My "eagerly anticipating" book this week is...

Fire with Fire

by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Publication Date: September 3rd 2013

Add to your library: Goodreads

Lillia, Kat, and Mary had the perfect plan. Work together in secret to take down the people who wronged them. But things didn’t exactly go the way they’d hoped at the Homecoming Dance.

Not even close.

For now, it looks like they got away with it. All they have to do is move on and pick up the pieces, forget there ever was a pact. But it’s not easy, not when Reeve is still a total jerk and Rennie’s meaner than she ever was before.

And then there’s sweet little Mary…she knows there’s something seriously wrong with her. If she can’t control her anger, she’s sure that someone will get hurt even worse than Reeve was. Mary understands now that it’s not just that Reeve bullied her—it’s that he made her love him.

Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, burn for a burn. A broken heart for a broken heart. The girls are up to the task. They’ll make Reeve fall in love with Lillia and then they will crush him. It’s the only way he’ll learn.
It seems once a fire is lit, the only thing you can do is let it burn... (via Goodreads)

I really enjoyed Burn for Burn last year. Can't wait to know what these three girls will be doing! Especially Mary!!! I know she's something... 

What are you eagerly anticipating this week? Link below! :)

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Feature and Follow #1

Feature and Follow #1

Posted by Nina L. on 2:21 PM in Feature and Follow,

Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read! :)

Hey everyone! I'm definitely new in this blog hop. It's already Monday in here but it's better late than never! Besides, I love the Question!

Q: Is there a song that reminds you of a book? Or vice versa? What is the song & the book?

Uhuh! Coldplay's The Scientist always make me remember Delirium by Lauren Oliver. I don't really know why but it does! Every time!

Here's the song!

How about you? What song reminds you of a book or vice versa? Link up and I'll follow you! :)

And if you have an account on bloglovin, please follow me there. The link is on the right side. GFC is going off soon! So it's better to be sure. ;)

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E-ARC Review: Crush. Candy. Corpse.

E-ARC Review: Crush. Candy. Corpse.

Posted by Nina L. on 1:00 PM in 2-star, E-ARC, galley, realistic, review, Sylvia McNicoll, YA,

Author: Sylvia McNicoll

Release date: February 17th 2012

Publisher: James Lorimer & Company

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository  

Add to your library: Goodreads

Paradise Manor is depressing - the smells are bad and the residents are old. Sunny would much rather be doing her volunteer hours at Salon Teo, but her teacher won't let her. Who says volunteering at a hair salon doesn't benefit the community?

But working with the Alzheimer's patients has a surprising effect on Sunny. Along with Cole, the grandson of one of the residents, she begins to see that the residents don't have much more choice about their lives than she does: what they eat, how they are treated by staff, even what they watch on television. So Sunny does what she can to make the residents happy - even if she has to sometimes break the rules to do it.

But when tragedy strikes at Paradise, Sunny's left to make the decision about whether or not to honor a promise that Cole made to his grandmother about her life and her death. (via Goodreads)

It took me awhile before I got the hang of the story. Maybe because I was waiting in the hospital that day or maybe because the start didn't have that much of an impact to me. It actually started out unique. I think too unique for me that I didn't get it all too well. 

It started out in the courtroom. See? Unique right? But the organization of the scenes confused me. A lot. There are parts in the book wherein an entry of Sunny's journal is inserted. So it's like, courtroom, journal, courtroom, journal, etc. The entries in the journal were directed to Mr. Brooks. He was the teacher who actually forced Sunny to volunteer at Paradise Manor. The thing is, that journal itself made a lot of confusing thoughts for me. I don't know if it was my comprehension level or the book was just confusing. Either way, it was so confusing that I don't even know what's in the journal and not anymore. Placing a journal in a book sounds so good. Though I think it could have been executed in a better way. Without confusions.

There's Sunny. She had this volunteer work at Paradise Manor for her school requirement. Obviously, she was forced to do it. She met Cole and his grandmother in the Manor. She met a lot of oldies. A lot of staff hated her. Why? She doesn't follow rules. I hate her for that. Those rules weren't even for her. It was for the old people. So why can't she just follow them right? And I know she doesn't even want to volunteer. It was just for her school requirement. I read on thinking that she'll love the old people since she was close to her grandma before. She did, of course. But that, my friends, was the part where she lost me. I didn't feel as if she really felt concern for the old people. Sure, she was kind to them, did good things for them. But was that enough? I just didn't find that sincerity in her voice. And to think that this was written in the 1st person POV makes me sick. I felt like I was reading from a 3rd person POV. That's how much I didn't connect to her. There's also her boyfriend issue. Goodness, how can she lead on Cole when she has a boyfriend? If you're thinking that I hate her, I don't. Really. But her choices do suck. It's just so frustrating, okay. And here's the thing, I can forgive for her stupidity if she has a life that is sucking her up. But she doesn't. Maybe she has issues. But those weren't much of a big deal in the story. The story was so much focused on the case, in the courtroom. So I guess that's why I wasn't able to connect to her and understand her.

The thing that led Sunny to that courtroom concerns Cole and his grandma. You'll figure it out immediately when you read this. I just don't want to say it here. What happened was so freaking shallow. I'm sorry. But I think there are worse problems that can happen than that. It was pure accident. And I don't even know why there was a case against Sunny. Seriously? It was so unbelievable. I know Sylvia did some research but I didn't find it so convincing. 

Another thing is, there are a lot of issues that were introduced in this book that I find it so dragging already. Sure, the case is the main concern. But there are little problems that seemed so unimportant. They weren't discussed or even explained a little more. And there's the ending. It was so so so not what I expected. I know what's gonna happen to the case. But the last part of the ending itself made me think about what the moral of this story is. 

I read this because I have a soft spot for people with Alzheimer's. But because there are more issues I have with this book, I didn't get to enjoy the read anymore. I can't even think that the focus was Alzheimer's disease. I felt like the story took a lot of turns but didn't make it back. 

Despite all my rant, I'm giving this two stars. It was okay. Neither liked nor disliked. Still, I just thought the story could have been executed in a better way. The premise was so good anyway.

Of course, I'm not discouraging you to read this. Maybe this isn't just for me. But I do hope you'll give this a chance!

(Many thanks to James Lorimer & Company for allowing me to read this through NetGalley.)

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