Source: Borrowed from a friend

Publication date: May 29, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series: Book #1 in the Darkness Before Dawn trilogy

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads.com: This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters….

I’ve held off on writing this review for awhile mainly because it was such a “meh” book for me I had a hard time thinking about what to write about it.  I don’t know if it suffered in comparison because I had just finished Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins which I absolutely adored and anything read after it paled in comparison.  It was by no means a horrible book but nothing that reached out and made me go “Wow, that was awesome!”.

Dawn came across as a pretty bland character to me.  Yes, I felt bad for her because she lost her parents and had all this responsibility shoved onto her but also I couldn’t believe some of the stupid choices she makes just because she wanted to feel a little rebellious.  Her boyfriend Michael also did not do it for me in that he is supposed to be this stellar guy but he comes across as this macho man who is mostly concerned with being the alpha dog.  Even when he’s supposed to come across as worried for Dawn and being protective it doesn’t strike me so much that he wants to protect her because he loves her but rather to prove he’s hero material.

Victor was probably the only character that really grabbed me.  I loved the contrast between he and his father and also hearing about his history of living as a vampire, the friends he’s made and the people he is trying to protect.  My heart broke when he introduces Dawn to a vampire family that he is trying to help and tells her their story.

The villain is pretty easy to guess and it did frustrate me that most of the characters even had an inkling of what was going on or that something was wrong.  The part that ruined the book for me and almost tempted me to give this a lower rating was literally the last few sentences in the book.  We are hearing the thoughts going through Dawn’s head and they royally pissed me off.  I couldn’t believe after everything that just happened those were the thoughts she was having and that instead of accepting the consequences of her own choices she was villainizing someone else.

In the end I am doubtful I will read book 2 unless I hear some great things about it that redeems my faith in Dawn and shows that the characters show a little more originality.

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event, hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  I just recently found out about this one and it sounds really interesting.

My pick for this week is Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout due out August 2012.

I finished Obsidian yesterday in one day and someone hose me down because that book was smoking hot!!  I cannot wait to see what happens between Daemon and Katy next.

Summary from Goodreads.com: Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarre connection. I’ve sworn him off even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But against all common sense, I’m falling for him. Hard.

Our relationship issues aren’t out biggest problem…

The Department of Defense is here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we’re linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And when a new boy shows up a school with a secret of his own, things get complicated fast. I need to choose between my own instincts and Daemon’s.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. Daemon’s never going to stop searching until gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies.

Source: Received for review

Publication date: March 20, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series: Book #4 in The Secret Circle Series

I give this book 2 out of 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads.com: Keep your enemies close. . . . 

For the first time since moving to New Salem, Cassie Blake feels normal. She’s dating her soul mate Adam and making new friends in town. But between the secret coven of witches she belongs to and the incredible power she holds within her, Cassie is leading a far from ordinary life. When tragedy strikes the Circle, Cassie realizes being extraordinary can be a curse. 

The Circle is being hunted by an unknown enemy—and anyone could be the next victim. As they struggle to protect themselves, alliances are formed and relationships are tested. No one knows who to trust or who to fear. Will Cassie be able to save the Circle . . . and herself? Or will her choices break it apart forever?

I cannot believe how disappointed I was with this book.  I am a huge fan of the original Secret Circle trilogy and while I haven’t been keeping up to date with the TV series the few episodes I’ve seen have diverged enough from the books to not overly suffer from comparisons.  I went into this book not realizing that it was ghost written so I can’t even blame my disappointment on judging the book more harshly because LJ Smith did not actually write it.

At first it seems to pick up not long after the last book ended which was nice as I worried they might change it to match the TV series.  As I continued to read my heart sank.  First off was Diana’s character. In the original series she was such a goody two shoes that it was hard to believe that someone could be THAT good and kind hearted.  In The Divide she comes across as snobby, judgmental and even petty at times.  Then as if that were not bad enough Adam has gone from this stand up, unbelievably mature teenager to a little hornball!  I mean seriously, all he wants to do is make out and grope Cassie even more there are obviously much more important things they should be doing.  It’s always been a pet peeve of mine when people can be chased by killers, in the middle of a war, etc. but still have to take a moment to make out with someone or have some mad sex before continuing to escape death or stop some madman.  It was like someone gave Adam a shot of pure hormones that reminded him he was a teenage guy and sex is all that should be on his mind.  Nick on the other hand is portrayed as the more mature and understanding guy, which since I was a huge Nick fan it was nice to see, but still was rather out of character.

And then OMG, don’t even get me started on Cassie!! She showed no character growth since all of the events with Black John occurred and seeing the damage her insecurity and inability to trust her friends caused before.  She repeats all her past mistakes but compounds them with even dumber mistakes like deciding “oh, my mom is keeping secrets from me so I’m going to be petty and keep things from her out of spite even though it probably would be a good idea to talk it over with her.”  And then to constantly have the circle, other than Faye, tell her it’s all ok, there’s nothing to apologize for had me wanting to slap them all.  Of course she should be apologizing for her stupidity!!  Wake up folks!  I was especially aggravated with how she kept prodding Nick about how she misses spending time with him and their close friendship but continues to make out with Adam pretty much in his face.  Talk about rubbing salt in a wound.

The story line itself was predictable as you could tell right off who the bad guys were going to be.  I really wish they had come up with some more original ideas of who the villains were and why they would target the circle.  The only thing that kept this from being a 1 star book was the fact that I did enjoy how Nick’s character was portrayed.  Sadly, despite my adoration of the original series I doubt I will continue reading the new books.

Source: Received for review

Publication date: May 3, 2012

Publisher: Orchard Books

Series: Book #1 in the Slated series

I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads.com: Kyla’s memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.

She’s been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance – as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?

After reading that synopsis how can you not want to read this book right?!  It sounded awesome and right up my alley so you can imagine how excited I was to receive a copy to review.  I have to admit that it did start off a little rough.  The first chapter or so felt very jagged in the writing style which I believe is meant to enforce the feeling of confusion Kyla is feeling as she is preparing to be “released” into the regular population after being Slated.  Once I got past the first few chapters the story definitely picked up.

My favorite part of the book was trying to figure out who were the characters that were really on Kyla’s side or who was hiding their true motives.  Kyla’s mom was one of my favorite characters.  She is compared to a dragon and does initially come off as the biggest PIA (as a nice way of putting it) but as the story goes on we get to see that there is more to her actions than meets the eye.  The complexity of her character and each revelation Kyla experiences in regards to her mom just made me enjoy her all the more.  Kyla’s dad is another mystery that I can’t wait to find out more about and I can’t wait to see whose side Kyla’s doctor ends up being.  It is hard to tell if she really is on Kyla’s side, is one of the bad guys or just someone so driven by scientific curiosity that she’s not truly good or bad.

The only character I did not really care for was Ben.  He was of course the love interest that is expected in almost every YA book these days.  He’s the cute guy who is nice to everyone and that everyone loves but he fell a little flat for me.  I get that the discoveries of what is really going on and the ability to really think for himself for the first time can be mind blowing but his erratic behavior did not flow well.  At one point he makes a very dramatic decision about the supposed terrorists that seemed to almost come out of nowhere.  I was never clear why he went from one extreme to the other even when a more sensible option was available.

Still the story itself took some interesting turns, both expected and unexpected, and the ending leaves you wondering where this new twist is going to take readers in the next book.

Find Teri Online:

Twitter | Teri’s website |  Facebook | Slated on Goodreads

Source: Received for review

Publication date: May 8, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series: Book #2 in the Revenants series

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads.com: Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

It’s funny how when I think about this book in general I would say I really liked it and it was hard to put down but when I get into the details there were quite a few things that bugged me.  Still I loved Die For Me, the first book in the series, and this one was just as enjoyable.

Kate and Vincent are still going strong and deeply in love despite all the complications in their relationship.  The main hiccup is Vincent’s promise to try and not die while he is together with Kate.  This makes him hesitate when he sees someone in trouble and makes Kate feel guilty about if this might mean some innocent person might die because of Vincent’s promise to her.  Of course, this dilemma starts leading towards problems between the two as they each try to find a solution that is more satisfactory.  This leads to one of my issues with the story.  I don’t get why Vincent and Kate have to be so secretive instead of telling each other what they are doing.  Vincent’s argument that he doesn’t want to upset Kate doesn’t make sense as obviously not knowing is already making her upset and Kate even admits keeping secrets from Vincent about what she’s doing doesn’t make sense.  Yet this doesn’t stop her from doing so and then the secrets just leads towards more problems.

My other minor issue with the story is the villain is so obvious and the characters are so oblivious to who the villain is that I wanted to scream at times.  None of them are dumb people and yet they could not seem to see obvious things occurring right in front of their noses.

Still the book is an interesting read as we get more history about the Revenants, how they are related to the Numa and we meet some new characters.  Favorites like Jules and Kate’s sister Georgia are still very present and add some extra fun to the story.  Jules is just sexiness personified and I love his easy going personality.  Georgia is one of my favorite characters.  She’s fun and can be flighty at times but she’s also clever and extremely loyal to Kate.  The observations she makes are quite accurate and yet at times they are disregarded because some of the others view her as somewhat air headed.  I’m happy with how much she shined in this story and really proved she is more than just a pretty, bubbly and vapid big sister.

As for the ending I don’t want to expose any spoilers but let’s just say it will leave you hanging at the edge of your seat!  I definitely cannot wait for the third book, If I Should Die, to come out.

Find Amy online:

Her website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Angela from Reading Angel, Candace from Candace’s Book Blog, and Lori from Pure Imagination are throwing the second annual Spring Blog Carnival. Booths are basically specific challenges and giveaways.  Each blogger that hosts a booth will have a fun challenge that you can complete to win prizes.

I’m hosting the Rising Stars Booth!

2012 has already seen some awesome new books from debut authors.  I’ll be giving away copies of two of my favorites so far this year:

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

and

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

All you have to do is leave me a comment with what 2012 debut author book are you most looking forward to and your contact information.  The winner just may get an additional surprise along with their prize (hint, hint)

Open to US Residents only (sorry money’s tight)

Ends May 13, 2012

Visit some of the other booths

I signed up for Trish’s challenge to actually do the pins you pin on Pinterest (How many times can I mention pin in a sentence?!)  If you love Pinterest you should check out this challenge. See my sign up post here.

Anyway, here is my week 1 update that was dominated by some yummy cooking trials:

Waffles

I’ve tried a bunch of different recipes but this was the first one the family actually said was a keeper.  I did some of the modifications suggested in the comments so be sure to check out the notes I added to the pin.

Personal Apple Pie

I love apple pie but not the hand cramps I get from peeling and coring bunches of apples.  I loved that I could peel and cut one apple and get 7-8 personal sized “apple pies”.  They were yummy, easy and quick. I was surprised just 15 minutes had the apples nice and soft.

Hamburger Buns

When the husband offered to make hamburgers for dinner instead of me cooking I jumped on the offer and then realized we had no hamburger buns.  I did a quick search and found these buns that really were quick and easy to make.  Really yummy and I think they would work well as a sandwich roll with cold cuts.

Source: Received for review

Publication date: March 27, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin

Series: Book 4 in the Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads.com: He never saw her coming…

Spencer Lark already knows too many secrets about Arizona Storm, including the nightmare she survived and her resulting trust issues. But in order to expose a smuggling ring—and continue avenging his own tragic past—the bounty hunter reluctantly agrees to make Arizona a decoy. Yet nothing has equipped him for her hypnotic blend of fragility and bravery, or for the protective instincts she stirs in him.

Arizona wants to reclaim her life, which means acting as bait to lure the enemy into a trap. Sure it’s dangerous, especially with a partner as distractingly appealing as Spencer. But as their plan—and their chemistry—shifts into high gear, Arizona may discover there’s an even greater risk in surrendering her heart to a hero…

Every time I finish one of Lori Foster’s books in the Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series I can’t believe it was just as good as the previous book.  I don’t know many authors who have this many hits in a row without missing a stride.  So when I was asked if I would like to participate in the blog tour/scavenger hunt for A Perfect Storm I eagerly said yes!

We first met Spender Lark and Arizona Storm in Savor the Danger and I know I was certainly eager to hear more about their backgrounds and how their relationship would develop.

Despite her past traumatic experiences Arizona is still an amazingly strong woman who has learned how to defend herself and has channeled her fear and anger into hunting down human trafficking rings.  She is also extremely smart and practical knowing when she needs backup so she turns to Spencer for help in her latest mission.  As expected there are fireworks sparking between Arizona and Spencer and the sexual tension is so thick you could practically feel it leaping off the pages at you.

I loved Spencer’s character and he is cut from the same mould as the previous heroes-Dare, Trace and Jackson.  He’s fiercely protective of Arizona but also accepting of who she is and the fact that she is just as capable as he is when it comes down to hunting down these human predators.

We see more of Dare, Trace, Jackson and my favorite Chris!, Dare’s friend and go to guy, in this book which is just the icing on the top of the cake.  The story is the perfect blend of action, humor and of course romance and is quite possibly my favorite book in the series.

If you have not started this series yet you really should!

Scavenger Hunt

I’m happy to be part of this awesome tour and scavenger hunt that between March 26 and May 5th will reveal the first chapter of A Perfect Storm excerpt by excerpt across a number of blogs! Go to BookTrib for the full schedule with links to all the blogs

Read the latest excerpt…

She took a step back, then another. Arms loose, bare feet braced apart, she prepared to fight.

After everything that had happened to him in the past three years, his heart should have been encased in ice. Until Arizona, it had been.

Now, around her, everything felt as raw as a fresh, hot wound.

“You trust me,” he pointed out.

She shook her head. “I don’t trust anyone.”

Slowly he stood and took a step toward her. “Yes, you do. You don’t want to, and I understand that. I really do. But that’s no way to live and you know it.”

Stop by http://www.thereviewstew.com/ for the last piece of chapter 1.

Giveaway

Thanks to BookTrib I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader.  All you have to do is leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you.  Open to US and Canada residents.  Ends May 18, 2012.

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event, hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  I just recently found out about this one and it sounds really interesting.

My pick for this week is Burning Blue by Paul Griffin due out October 2012.

Summary from Goodreads.com: When Nicole Castro, the most beautiful girl in her wealthy New Jersey high school, is splashed with acid on the left side of her perfect face, the whole world takes notice. But quiet loner Jay Nazarro does more than that—he decides to find out who did it. Jay understands how it feels to be treated like a freak, and he also has a secret: He’s a brilliant hacker. But the deeper he digs, the more danger he’s in—and the more he falls for Nicole. Too bad everyone is turning into a suspect, including Nicole herself.

Find Emily  online here:

About the Author:

Emily White lives in NY, wedged between two of the Great Lakes and a few feet of snow and ice. She’s spent most of her life running away from the cold, and even spent a year in Iraq, but now contents herself with writing her characters into warm, exotic places in faraway galaxies. When not tapping away at her computer keys, she can be found reading, reading, and reading some more. And when she’s not doing that, she’s usually playing video games with her husband, peek-a-boo with her kids, or walking through her garden, wondering why the bugs insist on eating all her vegetables.

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Elemental a bunch of blogs have gotten together to give away a $100 Amazon gc.  Just use the rafflecopter below to enter. Elemental is available in stores now!

a Rafflecopter giveaway