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Review: How to Meet Boys by Catherine Clark

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: How to Meet Boys by Catherine ClarkHow to Meet Boys by Catherine Clark
Published by HarperTeen on May 6, 2014
Pages: 320
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
two-half-stars

Find out what happens when you fall for your best friend's worst enemy in this timeless and hilarious story of a forbidden first love and forever friendship.

Lucy can't wait to spend the summer at the lake with her best friend, Mikayla. But when Jackson, the boy she's been avoiding ever since he rejected her, reappears in her life, Lucy wonders if this summer to remember is one she'd rather forget.

Mikayla's never had much luck talking to boys, but when she (literally) runs into the cutest guy she's ever seen, and sparks fly, she thinks things might be looking up...until she realizes the adorable stranger is the same boy who broke her best friend's heart.

As things begin to heat up between Mikayla and the one guy she should avoid, will Lucy be able to keep her cool or will the girls' perfect summer turn into one hot mess?

Catherine Clark, the author of beach-read favorites Maine Squeeze and Love and Other Things I'm Bad At, has once again crafted a hilarious and spot-on portrayal of what it's really like to be a teenager. Readers will love this irreverent coming-of-age story…and will be breathlessly turning the pages to find out what happens next.

I had some MAJOR ups and downs with this book. Anyone who follows me on Twitter knows I came VERY close to DNFing. Just 7 pages in, and I was ready to throw in the towel. The writing was choppy and flat, I felt detached from the story and the characters and when it came to “show don’t tell,” Clark did a lot more “tell” and not enough “show.”

This book had a lot of silliness to it. There was SO MUCH miscommunication with the characters, or no communication at all. There was also a lot of over-reacting and drama queen crap, especially from Lucy. I mean.. sweetie, you tried kissing him in 8th grade… You were 13 and even YOU admitted you were a “little kid” in 8th grade. Did you really think he wanted to kiss you back then?? And did you ever get his side of the story? And you really held a grudge for three years? Just… sigh.

There were also a lot of easy, convenient scenarios throughout the book. Like one girl ran into the guy in chapter one, then the other girl ran into him – literally – in chapter two. Uh… Really? And, speaking of the girls – Lucy and Mikayla – I coulnd’t stand either one of them. They both claimed to be shy and terrible when it came to speaking with guys (Mikayla especially). They both claimed they wanted to break out of their shells over the summer. But some of their actions did not scream “shy” or “scared to talk to boys.” Some of what they did was just plain.. Well, bitchy, for lack of a kinder term. One scenario, in particular, that involved Mikayla.. I wanted to slap her, but I can’t explain it because, you know, spoilers.

Lucy was so ridiculous, I can’t even deal with her. Aside from the things I mentioned in the second paragraph of this review (all of which pertained to Lucy), she also decided that getting rejected for that kiss meant she couldn’t trust anyone and she would never again take a risk. Uh…. I don’t even have words to explain what I think about that.

Mikayla was pretty bitchy (again, sorry for the language, but that’s the term that fits her best), but I definitely liked her more than Lucy and I felt bad for her, especially near the middle/end. The way Lucy treats her is unforgivable and the things she almost sacrifices to appease her best friend… It broke my heart a bit.

I actually loved Jackson, despite all the trash talk, and I think he was the best part of this book. I thought he and Mikayla were adorable together, especially. Another character I loved was Ava. She was 100% the voice of reason. She was so reasonable, if she were on The Walking Dead, they’d kill her off for being the reasonable one (Well, they did it to two of the Voice of Reason characters on the show already, so… Apt comparison). I also adored Henry, though we didn’t see enough of him. And I guess I liked Gus, though I didn’t connect with him and Lucy the way I did with Mikayla and Jackson.

The saddest part of all? This book definitely had potential. There was something about it that pulled me in and prevented me from DNFing. But it just fell completely flat. It sucks, too, because I’ve been looking forward to reading it and I feel totally let down.

Overall, I don’t think I have any desire to read any other books by Catherine Clark. I also would not recommend this book, unfortunately. Maybe get it from the library first? Or wait for an eBook sale? It had potential and I’m sad it didn’t live up to my expectations.

two-half-stars

Cover Reveal: Divinity by Michelle L. Johnson

Hey everyone! I’m so incredibly excited to be a part of the cover reveal for Divinity by Michelle L. Johnson (Spence City, September 23, 2014). It’s a gorgeous cover!

Are you ready for it???

Are you sure?

It’s gorgeous!

Okay, ready?

….
..
..
….
..

Here it is!

Divinity Cover

(Cover designed by Regina Wamba at Mae I Design)

Amazing, right?? Here’s the official synopsis for Divinity:

When Julia climbs into a flaming car to save a trapped child, she’s left wondering why either of them survived. Then she learns that her father is the Archangel Gabriel, and that she is half human, half Archangel.

With guidance from Michael, the most powerful Archangel, Julia sets out to discover her own history and explore her angelic powers. But her journey is cut short when an evil force, invisible to human and angel alike, tears her world apart.

Now Julia must fight through her despair, harness her newfound gifts, and risk her very soul to stop the A’nwel and protect the family she never knew she had.

What she doesn’t know is that Archangels have secrets too.

Find Michelle Online:

Website | Twitter

Giveaway: ARC of How to Meet Boys by Catherine Clark

Hey everyone! I realized that it has been awhile since I did a giveaway on here – I tend to do a LOT of giveaways on Twitter. So, I decided it was time to do one on here again!

Up for grabs, I have an ARC of How to Meet Boys by Catherine Clark (HarperTeen, May 6, 2014). Here’s the cover and synopsis:

How to Meet Boys
Find out what happens when you fall for your best friend’s worst enemy in this timeless and hilarious story of a forbidden first love and forever friendship.

Lucy can’t wait to spend the summer at the lake with her best friend, Mikayla. But when Jackson, the boy she’s been avoiding ever since he rejected her, reappears in her life, Lucy wonders if this summer to remember is one she’d rather forget.

Mikayla’s never had much luck talking to boys, but when she (literally) runs into the cutest guy she’s ever seen, and sparks fly, she thinks things might be looking up…until she realizes the adorable stranger is the same boy who broke her best friend’s heart.

As things begin to heat up between Mikayla and the one guy she should avoid, will Lucy be able to keep her cool or will the girls’ perfect summer turn into one hot mess?

Catherine Clark, the author of beach-read favorites Maine Squeeze and Love and Other Things I’m Bad At, has once again crafted a hilarious and spot-on portrayal of what it’s really like to be a teenager. Readers will love this irreverent coming-of-age story…and will be breathlessly turning the pages to find out what happens next.

So here’s the deal:

-Giveaway is US Only (Apologies to my International followers!).

-ONE US winner will receive an ARC of How to Meet Boys

-You must be 13 or older to enter my giveaways OR have your parents’ permission.

-No cheating! If you do, I will know and you will lose. I WILL check the Rafflecopters to see if you actually did what you entered for.

-I will contact the winner after the giveaway is over. If said winner does not reply to me within 48 hours, I will pick a new winner.

-I am not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items. Sorry, but I can’t re-send things.

-I reserve the right to change any rules as I see fit for each individual giveaway; I’m a fun person, not all giveaways will be the same.

*The above giveaway rules were borrowed and modified from Jessica @ Just a Book Lover.

With that being said, I wish you luck! May the odds be ever in your favor!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: House of Ivy & Sorrow by Natalie Whipple

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: House of Ivy & Sorrow by Natalie WhippleHouse of Ivy & Sorrow by Natalie Whipple
Published by HarperTeen on April 15, 2014
Pages: 352
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Josephine Hemlock has spent the last 10 years hiding from the Curse that killed her mother. But when a mysterious man arrives at her ivy-covered, magic-fortified home, it’s clear her mother’s killer has finally come to destroy the rest of the Hemlock bloodline. Before Jo can even think about fighting back, she must figure out who she’s fighting in the first place. The more truth Jo uncovers, the deeper she falls into witchcraft darker than she ever imagined. Trapped and running out of time, she begins to wonder if the very Curse that killed her mother is the only way to save everyone she loves.

House of Ivy & Sorrow blew me away! It was fast-paced, dark and intriguing. It was darker than any witch book I’ve ever read, with fascinating takes on witchcraft. I devoured it – literally, every time I sat down to read it, I read huge chunks of it at a time (60-100 pages per hour) – and for me, that’s fast!

Josephine was an amazing character. She was smart, resourceful and always conscious of the consequences of magic. She didn’t stand by, waiting for others to save her; she did what she had to to ensure her survival, as well as to protect her loved ones. Her friends, Kat and Gwen, were amazing, as well. They were more like sisters than friends and that played a significant role in the end of the book. Their sisterhood reminded me so much of the television show Charmed and that made me love it even more!

I loved Winn so, so much. He and Josephine were absolutely adorable. There were so many ups and downs with their storyline, though, I had a few moments where I was ready to sob like a baby. But I’m definitely pleased with how things ended for them. And though I was Team Winn throughout most of the book, I did seriously love Levi. If this was part of a series, I could see him being the second love interest in a love triangle and then I’d root for him all the way until the end!

As I mentioned before, I loved Whipple’s take on magic and witchcraft and the idea of light versus dark and control versus consumption. The idea that all magic is evil, that it all requires a sacrifice and it all has consequences, was completely fascinating. In almost every book about witches and magic that I’ve ever read, there’s always good magic versus evil magic and good magic never seems to have consequences. So I really loved that and this was definitely a darker story because of that.

I loved the “power of the name” concept. I’ve seen this a lot in Faerie books, where knowing a person’s “true name” means you hold power over them. This was briefly touched on in this book and I found it interesting. I wish there had been more follow-through with this, though. We really didn’t find out what the consequence was for the name being revealed to the enemy. Another thing I found fascinating was the fact that Hemlock Witches only have girls and men can’t hold magic. This, like the sisterhood between Josephine, Kat and Gwen, reminded me a lot of Charmed. It’s such a fascinating idea and the way Whipple played off that and twisted it into the plot was amazing.

Overall, House of Ivy & Sorrow exceeded my expectations. I’ve been fascinated with it for months, ever since I first heard about it. I love witch stories and the cover caught my eye. After reading the book, I can safely say it is in my top five for favorite witch books. This was also my first Natalie Whipple book (I have Transparent on my TBR!) and I can say with 100% certainty that I’ll be reading everything she writes from now on. I HIGHLY recommend this book!

five-stars

Cover Reveal: The Night House by Rachel Tafoya

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

The Night House by Rachel Tafoya

presented by Month9Books!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

TNH_Final

Bianca St. Germain works at a Night House, a place where vampires like the aristocratic Jeremiah Archer, pay to feed on humans, and she doesn’t much care what others think of her. The money is good, and at least there, she’s safe. Bianca also doesn’t care that the Night House is killing her. All she cares about is: nauth, the highly addictive poison in vampire bites that brings a euphoria like no drug ever could.

But when Bianca meets James, a reclusive empath who feels everything she does, for the first time, she considers a life outside of the Night House and a someone worth living for. But Jeremiah has decided to keep Bianca for himself; he won’t allow her to walk away.

As she allows her feelings for James to grow, she struggles to contain nauth’s strong hold on her life. If they are to have a future, James must make her see what she’s worth, what she means to him, before Jeremiah and nauth claim her for good.

add to goodreadsTitle: THE NIGHT HOUSE
Publication date: December 9, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Rachel Tafoya

Chapter-by-Chapter-header---About-the-Author

Rachel Tafoya

Rachel Tafoya studied creative writing while at Solebury School and was published in their student run literary magazine, SLAM. She attended a writing program for teens at both Susquehanna University and Denison University, and the Experimental Writing for Teens class and Novels for Young Writers program, both run by NY Times bestselling author, Jonathan Maberry. Rachel is the daughter crime author Dennis Tafoya.

Connect with the Author: Tumbler | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Chapter-by-Chapter-header---Giveaway

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

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Review: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris

Review: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel HarrisMy Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris
Series: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century #1
Published by Entangled Teen on September 18, 2012
Pages: 260
Format: Paperback
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

I’ve had My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century (MSSSC) sitting on my TBR since August 2013 when I was lucky enough to score an eARC of A Tale of Two Centuries (ATOTC), the sequel. I had heard that ATOTC was more of a companion and could be read on its own, so I read ATOTC and then planned on reading MSSSC soon after – Well, it’s not exactly “soon after,” but I DID finally read it and man, oh man – Rachel Harris has done it again! A gorgeous story, amazing characters and a swoon-worthy guy, all set within the breathtaking back-drop of sixteenth century Renaissance Italy.

I loved Cat almost from the beginning. At first, I even thought I liked her more than Alessandra (from ATOTC). In the end, I still like Alessandra more (sorry, Cat!) but Cat was an amazing character. She was strong-willed and defiant, the exact opposite of what a sixteenth century girl should be. But when she’s thrown into the past, she has no choice but to do what she can to fit in and not draw attention to herself. Along the way, she has some lessons to learn.

I loved, loved, loved seeing Alessandra in her own time-period, considering that in ATOTC, we *Spoiler alert* almost exclusively see her in the twenty-first century. She was the same kind-hearted, generous person, if even more modest and demure in MSSSC than she was in ATOTC (since she has yet to come out of her shell). She embraces Cat from the start and even believes and trusts her later on, when Cat confides her in.

Lorenzo!! We met at last, Lorenzo. I can see what everyone was swooning over now! And wow… Let me just say, wow! Rachel Harris sure knows how to write swoon-worthy hotties! Lorenzo, Lucas, Austin, Jason and Cane = all swoon-worthy! However…. Don’t hate me Lorenzo fangirls, but I think I like Lucas better! *Hides from the egg-throwers and mob with pitchforks* HEAR ME OUT! Because I read ATOTC first, I met Lucas first. I fell head over heels for him and I saw how things ended for him and Cat. So though I LOVED Lorenzo, I do like Lucas more and I like Lucas and Cat together more! I just do! *Nods firmly*

I knew who Lucia was almost immediately. I loved, loved Aunt Francesca – she was so kind and loving, something Cat definitely needed. I adored Cirpriano – he was the over-protective big brother where both Alessandra and Cat were concerned.

Now, I think I’ve mentioned this before. But I want to say that Rachel Harris renewed my faith in time-travel stories. Before I read ATOTC (and now MSSSC), I read a HORRIBLE book with time travel. It was pre-blogging, but if I were to rate it as a blogger now, it would probably have been 2 stars, if not lower. After that book, I swore off reading time-travel books because I was just too scared to. Well.. Clearly Rachel Harris fixed that problem! She does such an incredible job, I can’t help but love everything she writes. Her characters are amazing and lovable and her plots are intriguing. I also wasn’t a fan of romance until I started reading her books. So, yeah, that all says a lot!

Overall, once again, Rachel Harris wrote a gorgeous, fun, amazing tale of time travel, love and self-discovery. She is one of my favorite authors – one of my auto-read authors. I highly recommend her books. If you haven’t read them, definitely check them out ASAP! You won’t be disappointed, I promise!

four-stars

Review: The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Here and Now by Ann BrasharesThe Here and Now by Ann Brashares
Published by Delacorte Press on April 8, 2014
Pages: 288
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
three-stars

An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.

From Ann Brashares, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, The Here and Now is thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking—and a must-read novel of the year.

The Here and Now left me feeling more conflicted than any other book I’ve ever read. That probably sounds like a giant exaggeration, but it’s not. While the writing was bland and stiff and I didn’t like the main character, Prenna, I loved the plot and the terrifying future that felt like an all too-real possibility. Not to mention the fact that, though it was a short read (clocking in at 242 pages), I couldn’t put it down and finished it in six hours – a record for me. I can’t remember the last time I finished a book that fast.

I didn’t like or connect with Prenna for about 90% of the book. I don’t have a specific reason why, and I didn’t hate her by any means. But I can’t think of one single thing she did that made me like her, feel for her, worry about her, etc. She was a bland person who always skated along – either she was following along with her “community” to stay out of trouble, or she was following along with what “Ben” wanted her to do in order to stay alive. She wasn’t really pro-active about anything.

But then, near the end of the book, she did several things that finally made her come alive. The first time she did something that stood out, I was impressed and thought maybe I’d grow to like her. And then the second time? She did something so awesome, my whole opinion about her changed. Though I doubt I’d like her any better if I were to re-read the book, knowing what I know now, I do feel like I would understand her better, at the very least. And I absolutely feel she went through some major character growth from the beginning to the end.

I don’t know how I feel about Ethan, honestly. He had a few great lines and he was kind of adorable, too. I think the relationship he had with Prenna moved a little bit too fast, though. It wasn’t exactly insta-love, but there was something about it that just felt too… quick. Too much, too soon. I also didn’t really like them together and I didn’t buy the chemistry between them. And then the ending… Well, that still broke my heart a little bit. But I understand why it happened.

I had a theory about who “Ben” was almost immediately upon being introduced to him. It was completely obvious and that took some of the fun out of it, but I was really excited when I got the confirmation that I was right. Also, there was one huge twist that I DIDN’T see coming, so that countered the fact that I figured out the twist with “Ben” so early on. I also liked Katherine, though we didn’t learn too much about her. Prenna’s mother was intriguing too, but I can’t explain why without a spoiler.

Though the future Prenna grew up in was horrifying, I also found it fascinating – especially some of the technology and science we learned about. Some of it seemed insane and silly, but some of it also sounded so plausible, like it could actually happen at some point in the near future – and I emphasize the word “near.”

As I mentioned earlier, despite all the negatives about this one, I finished it in six hours. I started it at 9pm and finished it at 3am. I pretty much couldn’t put it down. Though I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as I hoping, I found myself fascinated by the story, desperate to see how things played out. For the most part, I’m satisfied with how it ended, though I wouldn’t have minded an epilogue, showing the future Prenna came from and whether or not it had changed for better or worse. I’m pretty sure this was a stand-alone, though, and if it is, it definitely wrapped up nicely. Almost everything was explained, so I don’t feel like I have a million unanswered questions – but there was just enough left unanswered that my mind is free to wander and wonder a bit.

Overall, The Here and Now was an interesting read. I’m not sorry I read it, though I wouldn’t re-read it and I don’t think I’d go out of my way to recommend it. But I do think people should give it a chance – what I didn’t like, others might love. Do I think this should be a series? No, not really. Would I read a sequel? Possibly, depending on the plot. Am I satisfied enough with where it ended, if it IS a stand-alone? Absolutely.

three-stars

Cover Reveal: Call Me Grim by Elizabeth Holloway

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Call Me Grim by Elizabeth Holloway

presented by Month9Books!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Call Me Grim

The truck should have turned Libbi Piper into a Libbi Pancake — and it would have, too, if Aaron hadn’t shown up and saved her life. The problem? Aaron’s the local Grim Reaper… and he only saved Libbi’s life because he needs someone to take over his job. Now, Libbi has two days to choose between dying like she was supposed to, or living a lonely life as Death Incarnate. Talk about a rock and a hard place.

And the choice goes from hard to sucktastic when her best friend shows up marked: condemned as a future murderer. Libbi could have an extra week to stop the murder and fix the mark… but only if she accepts Aaron’s job as Reaper, trapping herself in her crappy town forever, invisible and inaudible to everyone except the newly dead. But, if she refuses? Her best friend is headed straight for Hell.

add to goodreads

Title: CALL ME GRIM
Publication date: November 11, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Elizabeth Holloway

Chapter-by-Chapter-header---About-the-Author

Elizabeth Holloway

Elizabeth Holloway is a registered nurse living in Southern Pennsylvania with her two teen children, Bam-bam the dog, and Tinkerbell the cat. CALL ME GRIM is her first novel.

 

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Review: Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Review: Dorothy Must Die by Danielle PaigeDorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
Series: Dorothy Must Die #1
Published by HarperTeen on April 1, 2014
Pages: 452
Format: Hardcover
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
three-half-stars

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened?

Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

While Dorothy Must Die was a fascinating, deliciously dark take on The Wizard of Oz, it fell short of the hype that surrounded it. I had such high hopes for this book and I definitely felt disappointed.

When I read, I’m very character-driven and I didn’t connect with or care about any of the characters. The ones I DID like, we didn’t learn enough about. And the ones I wanted to learn more about? They ended up dead – Well, most of them, anyway.

Of all the characters, the one I wanted to connect the most with was Amy. And I didn’t connect with her at all. I didn’t care what happened to her, I didn’t care how she felt or what she was going through. She just didn’t spark any interest and I was disappointed that I didn’t connect with or care for her. Honestly, I kind of wish the book had been told in at least one other person’s POV, because I got bored seeing things through her eyes only.

Of all things, I would have loved to learn more about Dorothy. She’s the villain of the story. We know she needs to die. But WHY? How did she get to be the way she is? How did she go from sweet farm girl to vindictive princess? They say the best villain is one we can sympathize with and feel bad for. But we didn’t learn enough about Dorothy to feel bad for her. I would have loved more background and, again, some chapters from her POV.

I loved Indigo, Pete, Nox and Jellia. I can’t say much about any of them without spoilers. But needless to say, I’m not happy with so many things that happened..

Nox was the “love interest” and I say it like that because.. Well, I just wasn’t feeling the romance. There was nothing there. At all. And there was “sort of” a love triangle with Pete but… Well… Yeah, that was a big let-down.

There were a LOT of characters. I know some people said that, if you’ve read ALL the Wizard of Oz books, not just the first and original, you’ll meet characters in Dorothy Must Die that you’ll recognize. But for those who haven’t read all of the original classic series? It felt like character overload. The book felt stretched thin with so many characters.

I’ve heard Dorothy Must Die is a part of a trilogy. I spoke with one friend who felt it could have been a stand-alone. I agree, but I also think it could be a duology. To me, this book felt like it had “Second Book Syndrome.” For those who don’t know, “Second Book Syndrome” is the second book in a trilogy and it almost ALWAYS falls short of expectations. It also always just feels like a bridge between the first book and the epic third book. So… What does this mean? Dorothy Must Die felt like filler – like everything we learn is just meant to get us into book two, into the meat of the story. It does nothing but set things up. About 80% of the book just dragged. Yeah, things happened. But… it dragged. It definitely didn’t need to be 400+ pages.

Overall I loved the plot and concept. I loved the dark, twisted version of Oz. It was creepy and wonderfully re-imagined. But I just didn’t connect with any of the characters and it dragged too much. I’m still VERY excited for book two because, like I said in the last paragraph, it felt like Dorothy Must Die was settings things up for book two and I have a feeling the real heart of the story and all the action will occur in book two. So I’m definitely excited to see what happens next – I’m just disappointed that Dorothy Must Die didn’t live up to the hype and my own expectations.

three-half-stars

Cover Reveal: Camp Forget-Me-Not by JK Rock

Hey everyone! I’m so incredibly excited to be a part of the cover reveal for Camp Forget-Me-Not by JK Rock (Spencer Hill Contemporary, October 7, 2014). It’s a gorgeous cover!

Are you ready for it???

Are you sure?

It’s gorgeous!

Okay, ready?

….
..
..
….
..

Here it is!

CampForgetMeNot_FinalCover_2014

Amazing, right?? Here’s the official synopsis for Camp Forget-Me-Not:

Playing it safe and fitting in may have rocketed Kayla West into the “In” crowd at Camp Juniper Point, but it’s left her lonely. The only person she’s ever been herself with was her former best friend, Nick, an outsider that pushed her to join the most popular girls cabin two years ago. Too bad being a Diva meant pressure to break up with Nick. Of course, Kayla had her reasons, but Nick can never know the real one.

She always thought she’d forget him one day and move on. Until he returns to camp a super-hot Olympian snowboarder. Now, every girl wants him and Nick seems determined to show her what a mistake she made. Or at least, she thought that’s what he wanted. But when Nick starts sending her private notes–just like he used to–she wonders what kind of game he’s playing. Nick’s attention is making it tougher to stay in the background and play in safe, forcing Kayla to make a decision–stay on the sidelines and get overlooked? Or take a chance on trusting Nick and, maybe… herself.

~*~*~

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