Anna Dress in Blood

Author: Kendare Blake
Goodreads Rating: 4.02
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pages: 316
Reviewed by: Nicole

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story...
Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.
So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2)

Author: Tahereh Mafi
Goodreads Rating: 4.44
Pages: 465
Format: ARC from NYCC12

tick, tick, tick, tick, tickit's almosttime for war.
Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.
She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.
Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.
In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

Through The Ever Night (Under The Never Sky #2)

Author: Veronica Rossi
Goodreads Rating: 4.44 
Pages: 352
Format: Signed ARC from NYCC12

It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.
Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?
In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

The Innocents

Author: Lili Peloquin
Goodreads Rating: 3.51
My Rating: 3.75 Stars
Pages: 288
Reviewed by: Nicole

Nothing ever came between sisters Alice and Charlie.Friends didn't.Boys couldn't.Their family falling apart never would.Until they got to Serenity Point."The Innocents" is the first in a new series of young adult novels that weave a saga of nail-biting drama, breathless romance, and gothic mystery.

Book Blogger Love-a-thon Welcome!

Hey Everyone! Today I'm participating in the Book Bloggers Love-a-thon hosted by Alexa from Alexa Loves Books and Katelyn from Kate's Tales of Books and Bands. And today I got to interview a different Caitlyn from Caitlyn Reads who is a fairly new blogger. So check out my blog post about Books and Blogging with Caitlyn.

What is your biggest reading pet peeve?

I only have a few reading related pet peeves, but the ones I do have are ones that really, REALLY bother me. Not giving a book a shot is one of them. And I don't mean not finishing a book because it's bad (I do that). I mean not finishing a book simply because you're too lazy. I know people who do this ALL THE TIME, and it drives me insane. And then they claim, after reading only the first two pages or so, that the book is too boring. HA! No. Sorry, I don't think it's the book that's at fault here.
And then, to make it worse, those same people have the nerve to ask me for book reccomendations or to borrow one of my books after they dissed some of my favorite books.

What made you want to start blogging?

I love talking about books (I could go on FOREVER), but I needed someone to talk to, so I decided to create a book blog, where I could share my obsessi--I mean, hobby.

When did you discover your love of reading?

I didn't love reading until around fourth or fifth grade, when I first read Harry Potter. Before that, I wasn't a fan of reading, so Harry Potter pretty much changed my life for the better.

What is one element in a book that drives you crazy?

I'll fly with almost anything, as long as the author makes it believable. I could even be fine with instalove, as long as the author finds a way to make the romance convincing. (But that's hardly ever the case. There's only one time I remember not being bugged by instalove, and that's because the author provided an explanation for it.)

Do you re-read books?

I wish I had time to re-read books, but there are just so many which I haven't read yet. There's a zillion books coming out, and I have a bazillion books to catch up on. (The ba- totally makes it worth more than just the 'zillion'.)

Hardcover or Paperback?

Paperbacks are lighter, and therefore easier to read, but I like hardcover better because it looks nicer, and it's not as fragile.

Ebook or Physical Copy?

I like that ebooks are cheaper, but I prefer physical books because I can have them displayed on my shelf, and I think having to read from electronics is a bit annoying.



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Hysteria

Author: Megan Miranda
Goodreads Rating: 3.84
Pages: 336
Format: E-ARC from Netgalley

Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian.
She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past. But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets.
Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead.
As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.
In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.

No Mark Upon Her

Author: Deborah Crombie
Goodreads Rating: 4.10
Pages: 369
Format: Finished copy for a blog  tour

New York Times bestselling author Deborah Crombie makes her mark with this absorbing, finely hued tale of suspense--a deeply atmospheric and twisting mystery full of deadly secrets, salacious lies, and unexpected betrayals involving the mysterious drowning of a Met detective--an accomplished rower--on the Thames.

When a K9 search-and-rescue team discovers a woman's body tangled up with debris in the river, Scotland Yard superintendent Duncan Kincaid finds himself heading an investigation fraught with complications. The victim, Rebecca Meredith, was a talented but difficult woman with many admirers--and just as many enemies. An Olympic contender on the verge of a controversial comeback, she was also a high-ranking detective with the Met--a fact that raises a host of political and ethical issues in an already sensitive case.

To further complicate the situation, a separate investigation, led by Detective Inspector Gemma James, Kincaid's wife, soon reveals a disturbing--and possibly related--series of crimes, widening the field of suspects. But when someone tries to kill the search-and-rescue team member who found Rebecca's body, the case becomes even more complex and dangerous, involving powerful interests with tentacles that reach deep into the heart of the Met itself.

Surrounded by enemies with friendly faces, pressured to find answers quickly while protecting the Yard at all costs, his career and reputation on the line, Kincaid must race to catch the killer before more innocent lives are lost--including his own.

YA Paranormal Hop Giveaway!

 Hey Dudes! So I've got a ton of books that I want to pass on to happy readers so that they can enjoy them. In an effort to make sure that the most people can be reached and get their pretty hands on these books, I've decided to do a giveaway hop with I am a Reader, Not a Writer and YA Between the Lines.

I am featuring a giveaway for (Potentially) two books. We have:

I say potentially two books, because I'll throw in Arise in the event that I hit 500 followers. I think we can manage that, yeah guys? Don't forget that I also have the Bloggers Love Giveaway Running from February 23-25, so go double your chances to win!

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Stung

Author: Bethany Wiggins
Goodreads Rating: 4.61
Pages: 304
Format: E-ARC from Netgalley

There is no cure for being stung.
Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered—her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right hand—a black oval with five marks on either side—that she doesn’t remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. She’s right.
Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded while a select few live protected inside a fortress-like wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.
Now Fiona has awakened branded, alone—and on the wrong side of the wall.

Touch of Death

Author: Kelly Hashway
Goodreads Rating: 4.09
Pages: 235
Format: ARC

Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.
After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.
Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

The Nightmare Affair

Author: Mindee Arnett
Goodreads Rating: 4.31
Pages: 367
Format: E-ARC from Netgalley

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.

The Nightmare Affair Playlist and Author Interview

 

So I've been looking forward to The Nightmare Affair since I found out that it existed, because it sounded awesome. Then I found out that Shane over at Itching for Books was going to be holding a tour for it, and so I had to stalk it out to get on it. Then I got lucky and now here I am telling you all about. 

Mindee is a really awesome person and for the last few months we've talked back and forth about the book and how excited I was for it, and in the end how much I wound up loving it. I got lucky and got to do both and Author interview and an Author playlist for The Nightmare Affair which gives us a look into the making of a a little but more about the characters.

The Interview

How did you get the idea for The Nightmare Affair?

From the Story Gods, of course. All I had to do was sacrifice a chicken on the full moon and then do a special dance around my computer three times.

Kidding. I would never be able to kill a chicken. One look at its poor little eyes and I would fold. This makes me a walking contradiction because I have no problem eating chickens. But so it goes.

Anyway, back to the point here. Really, the idea just came to me one day while I was researching mythical monsters for a short story. A couple of Wikipedia searches later and the idea arrived: girl who is actually a Nightmare gets caught dream-feeding on a boy she likes who is dreaming about a murder that comes true.

How did you pick and choose the magic elements included?

All the magic in the story rose organically out of the telling. The premise itself automatically required the presence of magic. I mean, how else could a person wander around someone else dreams, right? Every time something in the story required magic, I put it through a series of tests: how does the magic work? Why does it work? Why does this type of character have that ability, and so on.

The non-story essential magical elements arose more out of my desire to have fun with the story and especially the environment. I figured what’s the point of having a magical school if strange and surprising (and funny, I hope) things don’t randomly happen.

Where did the title come from?

Well, I knew that the title “Nightmare” wouldn’t be enough. Too bland, and it also didn’t strike the right tone. The book is pretty fun and whimsical, and I wanted a title to reflect that so I started brainstorming. I looked at titles of murder mysteries and capers, and the word “affair” appears in several of them, such as The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Thomas Crown Affair or The Eyre Affair. The moment I realized Affair and Nightmare rhyme in the same way as the latter, that was all she wrote. Also, The Nightmare Affair shares some similarity with The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, in terms of wacky content, which made me like the title even more. Fortunately, my publisher liked it, too.

Were there any scenes or characters that didn’t make it into the final version that you wish had?

Not a single scene got caught during revisions/edit. On the contrary, more scenes were added in. I’m discovering that all my writing leans this way; my first draft is always shorter than the final.

What was your favorite scene to write?

I love the dream sequences in the book, especially the later ones when “exciting and significant things” happen in terms of plot. I also loved writing the climax. For me, there was a lot of payoff in that scene.

How many books do you think it would take to tell Dusty’s story?

My dream/hope/wish/entreaty to the Story Gods is to get at least four books in order to finish Dusty’s story. Four would be nice, although five might work even better. Right now, I’m on contract for three books. So I guess the answer is, if the first one does well then I might get a chance of writing that fourth book. If not, I’ll have to see what I can do in three. A little scary and potentially depressing, but true.

When did you get the idea for TNA?

A good year before I actually started to write it. I got the idea in spring of 2009, but I didn’t start the official first draft until fall 2010. I finished that first draft February 2011, spent some time revising it, and the book sold to Tor July 2011.

Who inspired your writing style?

My writing “style” is really an accumulation of years of reading and writing. So I can’t to point to any single writer who inspired it. I can, however, pinpoint the inspiration for the “tone” of The Nightmare Affair. I consider myself a very tonal writer, in the sense that I start off a book hoping to capture a certain feel. For TNA the feel I wanted to capture was inspired by the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. These books are fun and a bit slapstick, but the earliest ones are also pretty dark and scary with a good solid mystery to keep you reading. I wanted something similar, only with lots of magic.

What is one book you wish you had written?

Anything by Laini Taylor. Seriously, I just adore her. I want to channel her soul and steal all of her awesomeness. Kidding, definitely kidding. But only because (1) such a thing really isn’t possible, not to mention evil, and (2) it would mean that I wouldn’t get to enjoy reading her stuff anymore, and I would never cheat myself out of the experience. Alas, a book is never the same for the writer as the reader.

What is your favorite book? Who is your favorite author?

Harry Potter all the way, and yes I’m referring to all of them. It’s really just one long, epic, wonderful story. I guess this makes J.K. Rowling my favorite author by default, and I’m cool with that. Some of my other current favorites are Laini Taylor (duh), Maggie Stiefvater, Libba Bray, and Kendare Blake. Oh, and Stephen King, of course. I’ve always loved him.

The Playlist

Note from Mindee: There’s so much I want to say about the songs I’ve selected for this list, but I’ve got to hold back for fear of major spoilers. But basically, all of these songs do one of two things; they either capture the feel of a particular character or a particular scene. 

So given that information, I'm going to keep my comments to a minimum and let the music speak for itself. 

1. “No Light, No Light” – Florence + The Machine

This song reminds me of Dusty, especially how she is at the beginning of the novel, a little a lost in the dark, so to speak.

2. “Say You Will” – Mona

This song reminds me of a character named Paul. I’m not going to say much about him, other than that he’s a student at Arkwell. One interesting side note about this band, however, is that the lead singer, Nick Brown, is someone I grew up with. He’s super talented, and everybody should keep an eye out for him and Mona.

3. “Below My Feet” – Mumford & Sons

I love this song so much, words can’t even explain. It’s utterly beautiful, and I consider it a little like Dusty’s prayer for herself. She goes through a lot of crazy things, and this song captures her way of trying to stay grounded and to rise above it all.

4. “Lullaby” – OneRepublic

This song reminds me of both Dusty and Eli. They have a complicated relationship in the book, and they spend a good deal of time “dreaming” together. What better way to capture that feeling than with a lullaby?

5. “Leave My Body” – Florence + The Machine

This is the theme song of Dusty’s best friend, Selene. The attitude in this song really fits her.

6. “King and Lionheart” – Of Monsters and Men

Again, this one makes me think about Dusty and Eli. It’s also a beautiful song with a dreamlike quality to it.

7. “Hellhound on My Trail” – Robert Johnson

So this one is just a little tongue-and-cheek, as anyone who reads the story will come to understand, but it is one of my all time favorite songs, a real blues classic.

8. “Mind Eraser” – The Black Keys

This song reminds me of a particular character and a particular scene, neither of which I can mention directly. But if you’re thinking it’s a little bit creepy and scary, then you get the idea.

9. “Stand” – Fly Leaf

This song reminds me of Dusty. Maybe not how she is, but certainly how she wants to be.

10. “Awake and Alive” – Skillet

Dusty and Eli again.

11. “I Will Wait” – Mumford & Sons

This is my theme song for Eli, although it might not be one he would chose for himself. I adore this song so much. So romantic and swoon-worthy. If Eli were to ever start a band, I imagine that he would sound a bit like this.

12. “I Seen” – Mona

Another kickass Mona song, and a fitting dénouement to the playlist. The attitude in this song reminds me of Dusty, Eli, and Selene, and their collective attitude.  

I hope that everyone enjoyed this post about The Nightmare Affair!

Prodigy (Legend #2)

Author: Marie Lu
Goodreads Rating: 4.46
Pages: 371
Format: ARC from BEA12

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—-June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.
It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.
But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

Cinders & Sapphires

Author: Leila Rasheed
Goodreads Rating: 3.09
Pages: 388
Format: ARC from the Publisher

One house, two worlds...
Rose Cliffe has never met a young lady like her new mistress. Clever, rich, and beautiful, Ada Averley treats Rose as an equal. And Rose could use a friend. Especially now that she, at barely sixteen, has risen to the position of ladies’ maid. Rose knows she should be grateful to have a place at a house like Somerton. Still, she can’t help but wonder what her life might have been had she been born a lady, like Ada.
For the first time in a decade, the Averleys have returned to Somerton, their majestic ancestral estate. But terrible scandal has followed Ada’s beloved father all the way from India. Now Ada finds herself torn between her own happiness and her family’s honor. Only she has the power to restore the Averley name—but it would mean giving up her one true love . . . someone she could never persuade her father to accept.
Sumptuous and enticing, the first novel in the At Somerton series introduces two worlds, utterly different yet entangled, where ruthless ambition, forbidden attraction, and unspoken dreams are hidden behind dutiful smiles and glittering jewels. All those secrets are waiting . . . at Somerton.

Override (Glitch #2)

Author: Heather Anastasiu
Goodreads Rating: 4.55
Pages: 320
Format: E-ARC from Netgalley

Zoe is free. She has escaped the enslavement of the Community, disconnected from the hardware that had controlled her every thought and emotion, and evaded capture by the Chancellor intent on killing her. She is finally free, but she is far from safe.
Zoe and Adrien hide themselves from detection at the Foundation, an academy that trains teen glitchers to fight in the Resistance movement. Together, Zoe and her new team of superhuman fighters must risk their lives to rescue other glitchers and humans from the Chancellor's control. Challenges abound at every turn, and Adrien, who has become silent, distant, and tormented by his visions of the future, only adds to the growing certainty of defeat. But worst of all, as Zoe's team fights against impossible odds, distrust and betrayal leads to the terrible discovery that their greatest threat could already be lurking behind the safe walls of the Foundation.
Full of high-adrenaline action and shocking twists, Heather Anastasiu's Override is an exciting continuation of this popular young adult trilogy.

Just One Day

Author: Gayle Forman
Goodreads Rating: 4.28
Pages: 358
Format: ARC

A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay
When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.
Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon!

Pivot Point

Author: Kasie West
Goodreads Rating: 4.38
 Pages: 352
Format: ARC

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.