Review: Be Careful What You Wish For by Alexandra Potter

Name of book: Be Careful What You Wish For
Author: Alexandra Potter
Publication: January 2nd 2006 by Hodder & Stoughton
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Owned

Heather Hamilton is always wishing for things. Not just big stuff - like world peace, or that Brad Pitt wants her as his next leading lady - but little, everyday wishes made without thinking. With her luck, she knows they'll never come true...
Until one day she buys some heather from a gypsy. Suddenly the bad hair days stop. A handsome American answers her ad for a housemate. She starts seeing James - The Perfect Man who sends her flowers, excels in the bedroom, and isn't afraid to say "I love you".
But are these wishes-come-true a blessing or a curse? Does getting what you want make you happy? And is there such a thing as too much foreplay?

-- My Rating --

3/5 Oscars: Liked it...

-- My Thoughts --

     I have read only one book of Alexandra Potter's and although it is not a favorite of mine, I still enjoyed the quiet insecurity of the main character and the flow of the story.This book fell short for me in a couple of ways but it was amazing in others.
     Heather is definitely not the luckiest girl in the world, but she loves to make lists of wishes, even if none of them come true. But when one day, a gypsy woman gives her some lucky heather, suddenly, everything she wanted and wished for starts coming true. But what a girl wants is not always what a girl needs. Will Heather find love midst her wishes?
     I loved the idea of the lucky heather and the wishes coming true. It was like a fairy tale and Heather's wishes are believable, but not realistic. I would have the same wishes if i knew they would come true! Anyways, Heather's character is one that I loved. Her clumsiness, quick wit, and sarcasm were relate-able. The romance was a huge part of the book and i liked it, but I didn't really BELIEVE that Heather and the guy were really in love. Maybe it happened too fast. 
     Something else that bothered me in this book was that I didn't really connect with some of Heather's decisions. But I don't blame this on the author, it was just that Heather has passes her twenties and i am still in my teen years, so it was maybe some age thing.  I loved passing the time reading this book and it won't be my last Alexandra Potter book, definitely try this out. Romance fans will love it!

Review: This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Name of book: This Is Not A Test
Author: Courtney Summers
Publication: June 19th 2012 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: Owned

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually wantto live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

-- My Rating --

3/5 Oscars: Liked it...

-- My Thoughts --

     I have read Courtney Summers' Cracked Up to Be and I was not happy with it. It was a little too cliché and confusing. But happily, this was much better and I have to admit that Courtney is much better in the paranormal and suspense genres than in the good ol' contemporary.
     Sloane's life was one living hell with her father, but when a dangerous flu spreads and people get all crazy and cannibal-ic, she tries to find ways to die. But being with five other teenagers in a locked-up high school who would do anything to survive, doesn't really give her much choice but to play along.
     I dove into this book expecting it to be horrific, gruesome and full of zombie-lore. While I got my share of zombie-lore, it was too little for my liking. But the lack in the plot-development was paid for by the uniqueness of the main character. Sloane is such a broken character and it was hard not to root for her. Although she made stupid decisions, the lack of anyone who cared about her in her life made up for it, somehow. I believed her motivations and her crave for love was sweet.
     Why I didn't give five stars? Well, first, there was not much action in this book, all they did was sit around and wait for the zombies to barge in and kill them. Second, most of the characters, except Sloane, were somehow poorly developed. They added charisma to the story and they had significance but I failed to sympathize with any of them. All in all, I am glad that I read this book and it was definitely unique, since I have not read anything like it before!

Review: The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

Title: The Nightmare Affair (The Arkwell Academy #1)
Author: Mindee Arnett
Publication: March 5th 2013 by Tor Teen
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Source: Provided by the kind publisher...
Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.

Literally.

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.

Then Eli’s dream comes true.

Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.

-- My Rating --

4/5 Oscars: Really Liked It...

-- My Thoughts --

     The Nightmare Affair has been getting a lot of buzz from the blogging world, and since I am such a fan of fantasy, I knew I would love this. Sarcasm. Action. Romance. This book has it all.
     Dusty has been overshadowed by her mum's bad reputation all the time. Now, that she has discovered that she is a Nightmare, feeding on people's dreams has become her job. It's normal enough for a supernatural being, up until one night, she feeds on the gorgeous human, Eli. But nothing goes on as planned. Caught up in a whirlwind of action and romance, Dusty has to choose sides to save all the supernatural beings and whom her heart truly desires.
     I have to say that the concept of Nightmares was refreshing. There have been many research on where nightmares come from but the direction Mindee Arnett took surprised me and I totally liked it. She knew how to capture the teenage angst in Dusty's character. Dusty is a character you will like, root for, then adore. I adored her every move.
     For those who hate love triangles, you have been warned. I am not a huge fan myself, but the one in this book was executed perfectly, and I loved both guys so much that I didn't know who to choose until the end. Then, it became crystal clear. The twists and turns in this book are plenty, although some are predictable, others left me gasping and wondering what just happened.
     The action in this book is nonstop. It is exhilarating and heart-racing. The sarcasm and the load of characters are amazing. Mindee Arnett has created a stunning debut, this book has lots of potential! And to say, I am dying to read more of this world, would be an understatement.

---

“Geez,” I said, looking back at Selene. “Is being at the top of the social food chain like a universal birthright or something?” She grimaced. “I think there’s a national registry. It’s online at eat- crap- dot- com.”

---

If sarcasm were butter, you could’ve spread him over toast.

---

“But why?” I knew his answer already, but I thought I would rather avoid all negative situations from here on out instead. Maybe I should become a nun.

---

Review: Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick

 Name of book: Drowning Instinct
Author: Ilsa J. Bick
Publication: February 1st 2012 by Lerner Publishing Group
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: Owned
Goodreads

There are stories where the girl gets her prince, and they live happily ever after. (This is not one of those stories.)

Jenna Lord’s first sixteen years were not exactly a fairytale. Her father is a controlling psycho and her mother is a drunk. She used to count on her older brother—until he shipped off to Afghanistan. And then, of course, there was the time she almost died in a fire. 

There are stories where the monster gets the girl, and we all shed tears for his innocent victim. (This is not one of those stories either.)

Mitch Anderson is many things: A dedicated teacher and coach. A caring husband. A man with a certain... magnetism. 

And there are stories where it’s hard to be sure who’s a prince and who’s a monster, who is a victim and who should live happily ever after. (These are the most interesting stories of all.)

Drowning Instinct is a novel of pain, deception, desperation, and love against the odds—and the rules.

-- My Rating --

5/5 Oscars: Loved it...

-- My Thoughts --

     WOW! It is such a pleasant surprise when a book turns out to be much, much better than your expectations! I knew , from the very beginning, that this book would be dark, scary dark. This book was one of those books that remind me why I started reading in the first place.

---

Each me was different from the other and yet the same, like the angles of a triangle or the facets of a diamond.

---

     Jenna Lord is not your typical girl. She has had a hard past, a psycho dad, a drunken mum, and a brother who left for Iraq. Her life is a constant hell, until she meets her enigmatic teacher, Mr. Anderson.
     I cannot say more about this book, my experience with it was fabulous, and I am afraid that if I say too much, it will ruin your experience. Jenna is one of the most broken characters I have ever read about. She is so broken that it's tangible, I felt for her and I felt what she was going through. Her decision-making skills were equal to zero. I would never do what she did, but all I wanted was to give her a HUGE hug and show her the right way. There was nobody in her life who really cared for her, and all who did care, were taken away somehow.
     Then comes Mr. Anderson. He is captivating, enigmatic, and scary sexy. A devoted husband, a great teacher and much more. He is the man you KNOW you should not fall for but you do anyway. He is much older than Jenna and their relationship is taboo, but they can't stay away. And it's a rule, when two broken people are together, happiness will stay as far away as possible.

---

There are those individuals who die for a cause, and we say they have made the ultimate sacrifice. We call them martyrs, and we never doubt their sincerity.

Yet many others search their entire lives for something—or someone—worth dying for and this is very different. These are the lonely and the desperate, fearful that their lives have no meaning. They yearn for the bullet, if only someone else will pull the trigger.

---

     This story is raw, and dark. So dark that you DO NOT want to continue but you do anyway, since you want to know the ending. Don't expect to be happy after you read this book. Because you won't. This will leave you crying (weeping, actually), or cursing, or just wanting to jump off a cliff.

     This book is one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. And Ms. Ilsa will always be one of my top-favorite authors. I am afraid that even if I recommend this to anyone who is willing to read, it would still not do this book justice.

---

I’m beating around the bush. I know I am. I don’t want to tell this story, Bob, and you know why? Because this is a fairy tale with teeth and claws, and here’s what completely sucks: you’re going to want black and white, Bob, right and wrong. I’m not sure I can give that to you. That’s the problem with the truth. Sometimes the truth is ambiguous, or a really bad cliché.

But this is the truth, Bob: I’m a liar.

I am lucky, a liar, a good girl, a princess, a thief—and a killer.

And my reality—my story—begins with Mr. Anderson.

---

Review: Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper

Name of book: Grasping at Eternity (The Kindrily #1)
Author: Karen Amanda Hooper
Publication: May 25th 2012 by Starry Sky Publishing
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Source: Borrowed
Goodreads

Leave it to Maryah Woodsen to break the one rule that will screw up eternity: Never erase your memories. 

Before entering this life, Maryah did the unthinkable—she erased. Now, at seventeen years old, she’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they are perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she's supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life.

Nathan is convinced his family’s plan to spark Maryah's memory is hopeless, but his love for her is undying. After spending (and remembering) so many lifetimes together, being around an empty version of his soulmate is heart shattering. He hates acting like a stalker, but has no choice because the evil outcast who murdered Maryah in their last lifetime is still after her. 

While Maryah’s hunter inches closer, she and Nathan make assumptions and hide secrets that rip them further apart. Maryah has to believe in the magic within her, Nathan must have faith in the power of their love, and both need to grasp onto the truth before they lose each other forever—and discover just how lonely eternity can be. 

X-MEN meets MY NAME IS MEMORY in Karen Amanda Hooper’s latest young adult release.

-- My Rating --

4.5 / 5 Oscars: Loved it...

-- My Thoughts --

     Ok, so I read the anthology, Furthermore (my review here) and one of the stories really caught my eye. It was somewhat of a prequel to this novel, so I had to get my hands on the novel, of course. 

      Maryah is just a normal seventeen-year-old girl. But when tragedy strikes, and she is sent to live with a godmother she never knew about, her life becomes as far from normal as possible. Strangely, this huge family are more familiar with her than she knows. And one of the boys, Nathaniel, is the guy from her dreams, literally...

     This book is pure unique. I have ever read anything about kindrily-ies, but they are very fascinating. The family Maryah lives with are souls that are able to retain memories from their past lives when they are given new bodies. The little twists and turns in this book left me breathless, but the tension, and the build-up felt really good and thought-out. GRASPING AT ETERNITY was one hell of a romantic ride!

     The characters are superb. Each one of them are unique, Nathaniel, Maryan, Mickey, Fate, Harmony, River... Every single one of them stuck with me and their uniqueness is unforgettable. The end wrapped things up nicely but left room for new developments. I am not overly obsessed but I am definitely interested to read the second book, TAKING BACK FOREVER...

Review: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Name of book: Safe Haven
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publication: September 14th 2010 by Grand Central Publishing 
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Thriller
Source: Borrowed
Goodreads

Love hurts. There is nothing as painful as heartbreak. But in order to learn to love again, you must learn to trust again. 

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

-- My Rating --

3/5 Oscars: Liked it...

-- My Thoughts --

      I love Nicholas Sparks. He is one of the authors that I will always keep an eye out for. Yes, some of his books are great. Some are not so great. But, it's a fact, that's he's one of the most talented authors out there. He always brings something new to the field, and this book did not disappoint.

     Katie is off into a new town. Away from her violent past. And she has made some rules: Never form attachments, never get too close, and never leave traces of her old life. But when she meets her outspoken neighbor, Jo, and the  guy who runs the supermarket, Alex, and his two little kids, all the rules are thrown out of the window. Will Katie survive or will another disaster strike?

     This book is very different from Nicholas Sparks' other novels, halfway through, it becomes more of a thriller than a contemporary romance. The suspense, the thrill, the on-edge-of-your-toes moments are all you get from this book. And I liked it. But there is something in the end of the book, and in the end of The Best of Me, too. Nicholas Sparks has added something new to his endings and I don't really like it. His books were amazing the way they were, and I wonder if he believes in what he added himself. You have to read to find out what I am talking about.

      Of course, I don't have to say more, I would always recommend Nicholas Sparks' books to anyone. They are all different shades of amazing and unique.

Review: Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza

Name of book: Mila 2.0 (Mila 2.0 #1)
Author: Debra Driza
Publication: March 12th 2013 by Katherine Tegen Books
Genre: Science Fiction, YA
Source: Provided by the kind publisher...
Goodreads

Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past—that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Mila 2.0 is Debra Driza’s bold debut and the first book in a Bourne Identity-style trilogy that combines heart-pounding action with a riveting exploration of what it really means to be human. Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila for who she is and what she longs to be—and a cliffhanger ending will leave them breathlessly awaiting the sequel.

-- My Rating --

4/5 Oscars: Really liked it...

-- My Thoughts --

     When a book gets a lot of mixed buzz from the blogging world, I am nervous about read it. And such was the case with this book. I didn't put too much expectations into this one because of all the almost-negative reviews, but I liked it much more than I thought I would.

      Mila feels just like the average teenage girl, but she is far from it. An android made in a top-secret lab for top-secret purposes is what she is. Now, she is on the run. From those who made her. And from the reality that is ready to engulf her.

     This book was not deep. But it did touch a sensitive subject "Is humanity determined by our actions or by what we are made of?". All the negative reviews of Mila 2.0 were discouraging  but I really liked this. Mila is very easy to relate to, she is deeply loyal, a little whiny at times, but you can't blame her. Most of the secondary characters were two dimensional but some stuck out, like Hunter and Lucas and Mila's mum.

    Raw, teenage romance dominated this book and it was kind and sweet, which is refreshing. This series has a lot of potential, so fantasy lovers and science fiction lover should give this a try! You won't regret it!

Review: Conspiracies by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill

Name of book: Conspiracies (Shadow Grail #2)
Author(s): Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
Publication: July 5th 2011 by Tor Teen
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Source: Purchased

The second book in the Shadow Grail series by the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling authors Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill

Spirit and her friends Burke, Loch, Muirin, and Addie have managed to defeat the evil force that has been killing students at Oakhurst Academy for the past forty years—or so they think. When a series of magical attacks disrupts the school, Doctor Ambrosius calls upon alumnus Mark Rider to secure the campus—and start training the students for war. The only student without magic, Spirit doesn’t trust Mark or his methods. She knows that Oakhurst isn’t safe. And if Spirit and her friends want to live long enough to graduate, they have to find out what is really going on—before it’s too late.

-- My Rating --

4.5 / 5 Oscars: Really liked it...

-- My Thoughts --

     I love co-authored books. It is always fun to figure out which author wrote which part. But sometimes, like this book, the writing is so in harmony that you can never figure it out. Which points to the authors' unique writing style.

Minor spoilers if you have not read Legacies (my review here)...

     Spirit White has survived the Wild Hunt with her friends. But the enemies of Oakhurst academy have much more in mind. Suddenly,students are being taken away again. There is a cold, raw fear circling through the academy whenever all the students are in the same room. New teachers arrive and insure them that they will bring safety. Her friends are slipping further away and her heart is torn between Loch and Burke. What will happen in Spirit's not-so-perfect life? Find out when you read this imaginative, captivating novel, Conspiracies...

     I loved this. Legacies was a very adventurous and mysterious read, this was even more so. Many new things happen in the creepy academy and we see a whole new side to the characters. Spirit's struggles are believable. she is cautious, curious, and she doesn't fit in. Easy to relate to. The pack of secondary characters are well though-out and very easy to relate to, too. The love interests are both great, sweet guys. I couldn't pick a side, until....

     There are some huge twists in this book that you will definitely not expect. Every time I tried to go with the flow, another twist was thrown in, and I was swept off my feet again. Conspiracies will not bore you! Not even one page will pass without something important and valuable that adds to the story. I cannot wait to read the third book! Recommended to everyone who likes some fantasy!

Review: Everybody Has Everything by Katrina Onstad

Name of book: Everybody has Everything
Author: Katrina Onstad
Publication: May 29th 2012 by Emblem Editions
Genre: Contemporary
Source: Provided by the kind publisher...
Goodreads

Combining a pitch-perfect, whip-smart dissection of contemporary urban life with a fresh and perceptive examination of our individual and collective ambivalence towards parenthood, Katrina Onstad's Everbody Has Everything balances tragedy and comedy with verve and flair, and is destined to be one of Canada's most talked-about novels of 2012.
 
What happens when the tidy, prosperous life of an urban couple is turned inside out by a tragedy with unexpected consequences? After a car crash leaves their friend Marcus dead and his wife Sarah in a coma, Ana and James are shocked to discover that they have become the legal guardians of a 2½-year-old, Finn. Finn's crash-landing in their lives throws into high relief deeply rooted, and sometimes long-hidden, truths about themselves, both individually and as a couple. Several chaotic, poignant, and life-changing weeks as a most unusual family give rise to an often unasked question: Can everyone be a parent?

-- My Rating --

3/5 Oscars: Liked it...

-- My Thoughts --

     The book and the author were new to me, here. But these books always appeal to me. These slow and realistic contemporary reads. This one had its ups and downs
     Ana and James really wanted a child. They wanted to be parents. In the end, it took them one hour to be one. When Finn arrives to their house, their lives are changed forever. Will they be able to hold on or will a tragedy-ic split be their future? 
     Interesting, right? Well, that was my first impression. I liked the idea and how it went. The beginning of the novel was too slow for me. I found my mind drifting away to other books that I could read. Which is bad. Then towards the 50th page, it got a little better.
     I couldn't connect with the characters. Maybe it was due to the age limit. Since they are in their thirties and I am in my teenage years. I also couldn't sympathize with them. Maybe if some older audience would read this book, they would like it better.
     This book was enjoyable, really, up until the ending. I hate these kind of unresolved, unsatisfying endings. When I turned the last page, I was like "What??? This is the ENDING?" I couldn't get it, which ruined the read for me. Anyway, don't take me word for it. Read a couple of other reviews and read a sample, then decide if you wanna read it or not.

Review: Mad About Undead You by Carl Plumer

Name of book: Mad About Undead You: A Zombie Apocalypse Love Story
Author: Carl Plumer
Genre: Paranormal
Source: Provided by the kind author...

Imagine you are in the middle of a zombie apocalypse

Imagine fighting for your life, running for your life. Because, one day, you will be. Just like Cathren and Donovan.

Cathren Whitney is half-human, half-zombie. She can’t be harmed or killed by zombies, no matter how many zombies attack her.

Yet she can rip the undead to shreds as if tearing paper. With her lover Donovan Codell at her side, Cathren seeks to put the world right again.

But zombies are the least of her problems

She must avoid a sinister corporation called ATELIC bent on her destruction, as well as the cryogenically-frozen “heads from hell” that ATELIC has let loose on Earth. Can San Francisco be saved? Can love conquer the undead? Will Cathren and Donovan find freedom, safety, and true love?

- My Rating --

3/5 Oscars: liked it....

-- My Thoughts --

      I didn't put too many expectations into this book, but since it was about zombies, I couldn't say no to reviewing it. And I have to be honest, so I am sorry for hurting anyone in this review. This book was just an average one for me.
     Don and Cathren didn't suspect anything would happen on such a normal day. But suddenly, the streets are full of people who are rotting away and missing body parts and craving brains. The source responsible for all this, a huge company, is trying to reassure the public. Cathren is changing, into something entirely new. It's the apocalypse, and it seems like everywhere they go, something will always get in the way of Don and Cathren's safety. Will love find a place in their hearts? Or will the deadly water turn them into what they fear?
     This book was intriguing, I have to give it that. The source of the zombies is believable and it made me think that it might actually happen, which was incredibly scary. The one thing that irked me in this book was the characters. They were so indifferent. The world is collapsing and people are dying and Cathren is putting on makeup? Seriously? All this is happening in the world right now and Don wants to bang her? COME ON! 
     Another thing that I didn't like was the plot. At the beginning, it was fast-paced, scary and intriguing, but then things started crumbling down. Like, Cathren and Don would run from one danger, after a paragraph of happiness, something else comes out. The whole book is like that. A danger after a danger, that towards the end, it becomes boring. How can danger become boring? I didn't like all the drama and the almost unbelievable bunch of villains out there.
     This book had ups and downs. Yes, it seems like I didn't like it at all. But I did, maybe the bad things were more than the good, it was still enjoyable. Nonetheless, I wish I had read something else. I am so sorry but that is just it.

Review: The Paparazzi Project by Kristina Springer

Name of book: The Paparazzi Project
Author:  Kristina Springer
Publication: December 15th 2012
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Provided by the kind author...
Goodreads

Livvie Peterson thought taking Interpersonal Communications her junior year would be an easy A. But when the first assignment is given, her world flips upside down. Here’s the deal: the class is assigned a six-week project and is split into three groups— Paparazzi, Tabloid, and Celebrities. The Paparazzi follow around the Celebrities taking pictures and grabbing any kind of quotes they can. The Celebrities try to navigate being tailed on a daily basis. And the Tabloid receives all the information collected by the Paparazzi and decides what makes the weekly summary report. Sounds harmless…and it’s all just pretend anyway, right?

Livvie is assigned as Paparazzi and when she is matched up with the über-cute Chas Montgomery as her Tabloid boss she’s pretty sure things couldn’t get much better. Livvie’s uncanny ability to capture the Celebrities in compromising photos matched with Chas’s skill of exaggerating captions and editing the photos make them an unstoppable team. And the long hours working side by side with Chas aren’t a bad bonus.

Livvie simultaneously launches an anonymous blog, leaking the class’ photos and stories on the Internet. Her rising follower number quickly becomes addicting and she possibly spills too much information online. Once she finds her own celebrity will she be able to give it back? And will Chas be gone before she ever has the chance to find out?

-- My Rating --

3.5 / 5 Oscars: Liked it...

-- My Thoughts --

     I have never heard of the author before, but when she approached me for a review, I accepted. Since the plot is really promising even though the cover is not exactly flattering. I loved many aspects of this book and it will not be my last from the author, for sure...

     Livvie is just your average teenage girl. The one who avoids attention and prefers to stay off the high school radar. But when, in one of her classes, an intriguing assignment comes up. Livvie is thrilled to be part of the paparazzi group. The class is divided into three parts: The Celebrities (the ones who should get used to being followed), The Tabloids (the ones whom the paparazzi bring photos to), and The Paparazzi (the ones who stalk the celebrities). 

     Having to work with the cute, charming Chas as a tabloid is definitely fun. But when reality and acts mix and a simple project turns into chaos  what should you do? Find out more in this awesome high school tale, The Paparazzi Project...

     The first thing that captured me in this book was the idea of the assignment. Because, in my school, we are only 8 students in class. The SAME 8 students share the same classes, and our number is too small to 

do these kinds of assignments so it was intriguing to read about it. The characters were nothing special but that did not bother me.

     The little romance between Livvie and Chas was cute, teenage crushes and I liked that. I am kinda tired of the I-would-die-without-you, deep-within-the-heart romances in other books. What I didn't like though, was Livvie's choices. They were stupid and I cannot give much away without giving spoilers so you gotta read it for yourself.

     This book was enjoyable and realistic. But it had its bad moments, which fortunately, were not many. You gotta read this book for yourself to find out if it is indeed, your cup of dark chocolate  (or coffee, or tea, whatever you fancy)

ARC Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Name of book: Dare You To (Pushing The Limits #2)
Author: Katie McGarry
Publication: May 28th 2013 by Harlequin Teen
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Provided by the kind publisher...
Goodreads

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

-- My Rating --

4.5 Oscars: Really liked it...

-- My Thoughts --

      When I read the first book in this series, Pushing the Limits (my review here). I fell in love with Katie's absolutely enchanting characters and I couldn't let them go. I knew this book would be about a different set of characters but I was equally enchanted.

     Beth is not a bad girl. No. She has just had a bad life and that is the only way to let go. But when she gets moved back to her old town and reunited with her only relative besides her mother, she is not happy. And when she meets the captivating jock boy, Ryan, she knows that she should not let down her guard. Ryan's had a complicated life, too, but in a different way. And he knows well not to let Beth ruin his future. Sparks fly. But will a love built on pain survive the challenges it will face?

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Winning feels great. Awesome. Drives me higher than anything else in the world. The twisting and pressure that I so often feel - gone. Winning leaves my muscles loose, makes me lift my head higher, and damn if it doesn't bring on a smile. "You may not want it, but you need it." - Ryan

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     Again, I absolutely fell in love with Katie's characters. There is something different about them. They are broken, but they still hold so much hope that it's refreshing. I knew reading from Beth's perspective would be unique and it was. I don't have anything in common with Beth, but I felt WITH her and FOR her. Ryan is an amazing guy. Almost too perfect to be true, as Beth says, and she is right. But he is real to Beth and to watch them grow so much as characters was exhilarating to witness.

     I loved the little scenes we got of Noah and Echo (the main characters in Pushing The Limits). I missed them so much, and I gotta say that I prefer Beth over Echo, and Noah over Ryan.  But I KNOW that Beth and Noah, or Ryan and Echo, or Beth and Isaiah would have never worked out. It's so strange but Katie knows exactly how to pair off her characters so that they are perfect for each other. Two faces of a coin, they say.

     Even before I finished this book, I knew who the third book would be about. It seemed like the most obvious choice, since Isaiah still has to tell his story. CRASH INTO YOU looks amazing and I cannot wait for Miss Katie to write it! I know I won't be disappointed from one of my favorite authors of all time!

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A silver of hope sneaks past my walls and I slam every opening shut. Emotion is evil. People who make me feel are worse. I take comfort in the stone inside of me, If I don't feel. I don't hurt. - Beth

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It's an innocent kiss at first. Soft lips meeting; a gentle pressure that creates a slow burn. The type of kiss you give to someone that means something. This isn't the type of kiss to be wasted on me. - Beth

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Review: Everyday by David Levithan

Name of book: Everyday
Author: David Levithan
Publication: August 28th 2012 by Knopf Books for Young Readers 
Genre: YA Contemporary (I think...)
Source: Won @TheAussieZombie
Goodreads

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

-- My Rating --

4.5 / 5 Oscars: Really liked it

-- My Thoughts --

     I admit that I didn't read this book on purpose. I knew it would be great, so I put so many expectations into it, because of everything I heard of David Levithan and his amazing writing style. I feared that I would be let down. Well, let me just say that you can count me as one of David Levithan's die-hard fans!

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It's so much easier when we're talking about things that are real. We don't have to remind ourselves what the point is, because we're right there in it...

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     A, wakes up in a different body everyday. He has to keep his interactions to a minimum and never get too close to anyone, because he will leave the next day. So, he can't do any life-changing decisions. But when, one day, he gets into Justin's body, and meets Justin's girlfriend, Rhiannon, he knows that he has fallen in love. Head over heels in love, and he wants to spend EVERYDAY with her. But is that possible?

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I am close enough to see that her eyes are blue. I am close enough now to see that nobody ever gets close enough to see how blue her eyes are...

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     I can't begin to describe the loveliness and uniqueness of this book. The idea is so different from anything I have ever read, and David Levithan's writing style is... Well, I wish I was him, so I could be the one who wrote so many amazing books. His writing style is captivating and inspirational, I underlined so many amazing quotes from the book. Every page was something new.

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We all contain mysteries, especially when seen from the inside...

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     His characters are superb. A falls in love with Rhiannon over one meeting, in one day, you might think this is rushed, or insta-love, but it's not. A is different, he doesn't know what love is, or what it means to BE in love. He was amazing, and I will always refer to him as HE, since he is one of the most amazing boys I have ever read about, even if he woke up as a girl, somedays. Rhiannon is a like-able character and she is very believable. I would have done the same things if I was her, she wasn't easily convinced and she was lovely.

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I am not blinded by the past or motivated by the future. I focus on the present, because that is where I am destined to live...

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     I didn't expect the ending, at all. But I was pleasantly surprised. And I cried my eyes out in the end. You should have seen what David Levithan did to me, I was a mess. But I loved it. I CANNOT wait to read more of his books. I am IN love. Go, buy this, now!