Cover Reveal x 8 : Ohmygoodness Edition!!

I have a gazillion covers I recently stumbled upon and this is what my face looks like right now:

O_O

How about you? :')

______

Sever (The Chemical Garden #3)

By Lauren DeStefano

Release Date: February 12, 2013

Goodreads

What if you knew exactly when you would die? In the not-too-distant future, genetic engineering has turned every newborn into a ticking time bomb — males only live to age 25 and females only live to age 20.

In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out. When 16-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by "the Gatherers" to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Rhine has only one purpose after she has been married to her new husband, Linden: to escape and find her twin brother.>

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant to whom she is dangerously attracted, Rhine is desperate to learn the truth and protect those closest to her. But, as her sister wife Cecily keeps insisting, her role may be much bigger than that.

In the first two books of the Chemical Garden trilogy, Wither and Fever, Rhine struggles to escape the mansion and then to navigate the brutal world outside. Now in Sever, the third and final book, Rhine uncovers some shattering truths about the past that her parents never had the chance to tell her and the alarming implications regarding her own genes. She may be the one who can save the human race.

MY THOUGHTS: The first cover will always be my favourite, but that doesn't stop my excitement for this one! I love how the cover model looks so much... happier and healthier more confident than the first two. She looks like she's glowing, and I hope that reflects how Rhine will feel in this book! *prays for HEA* :)

______

Perfect Scoundrels (Heist Society #3)

By Ally Carter

Due Date: February 5, 2013

Goodreads

Kat is a girl who is used to getting—or stealing—everything she wants. But telling the truth to the boy she likes? Now that's a cat of a different color.

When Kat's on-again off-again boyfriend, Hale, suddenly inherits his family's billion dollar company, Kat gets a tip-off that the will is a fake. Trapped between a rock and a hard place, how can she tell Hale that he might be living a lie?

Critics and fans alike have fallen for Heist Society (no conning necessary). With more mystery, non-stop action, romance and humor, this third novel in the hit series is just as irresistible.

MY THOUGHTS: I have this epic love for everything that Ally Carter writes (since her Gallagher Girls series was probably one of the first that made me love reading in sixth grade), and this is just making me giddy with excitement! Who doesn't want more W.W. Hale the Fifth? :')

Plus: He's on the cover!!!!

______

Everbound (Everneath #2)
By Brodi Ashton
Release Date: January 22, 2012
Goodreads

Two months ago, the Tunnels of the underworld came for Nikki Beckett. That night, Nikki's boyfriend, Jack, made the ultimate sacrifice. All Nikki wants is to save Jack before it's too late. All Cole wants is to find his queen - and he thinks Nikki is the one. Both determined, both desperate, Nikki and Cole form a tense alliance, leading them on a dangerous journey to The Heart of The Everneath.

MY THOUGHTS:  Everneath was one of my fave reads of the entire year (Jack Caputooooooo ♥), and after being completely crushed by the ending, I'm definitely going to be first in line to buy this book!

______

The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3)

By Richelle Mead

Release Date: February 12, 2013

Goodreads

No summary available.

MY THOUGHTS: I don't know about you, but the ending of The Golden Lily was absolute TORTURE for me! I was so upset for Adrian because I think he deserves a HEA more than anyone else after what he's been through. :(

This cover is pretty cool, although I'm wondering where Sydney's golden lily is LOL... x)

______

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2)
By Veronica Rossi
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Goodreads

No summary available.

MY THOUGHTS: Rooooooooooooooooar! Is that not reason enough to want to read this book? I loved Aria and I loved Perry, but Roar will always be my favourite. And Veronica Rossi will always be epic at creating originality! :)

______

Lullaby (Watersong #2)
By Amanda Hocking
Release Date: November 27, 2012
Goodreads

No summary available.

MY THOUGHTS: I just read and reviewed Wake (you can find my review HERE), and it was such a sweet take on the siren lore. Plus, I'm a pretty big Amanda Hocking fan, so I'm sure I'll read anything she writes!

And don't you think that she always has the prettiest covers? Go St. Martin's Press! 

______

Boundless (Unearthly #3) 
By Cynthia Hand
Release Date: January 22, 2013
Goodreads

No summary available.

MY THOUGHTS: Tucker Avery + Christian Prescott = Team Tucktian!!! The romance in this series has been dubbed one of the best love triangles in history, and I have to agree! I was all for Tucker in the first book, but in the second book, Christian stole my heart. I'm just rooting for Clara's HEA in this final one and hoping I don't cry too much! :')

______

Breaking Point (Article 5 #2)
By Kristen Simmons
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Goodreads

No summary available.

MY THOUGHTS: Oh my gooooooooooooooooooooooooooodness. How can you possibly look at that cover and not thing "epic"?? I loved Article 5 and I'm almost a hundred percent sure that I'll be loving this one too! :)

______

If there isn't a single book in that entire list of epicness that you want to read, then I need to do some serious re-adjusting to your TBR pile! I think that these are ALL automatic buys for me, and I don't do that very often! ;)

ALSO: Canada Day is this Sunday (July 1st)! That means fireworks and barbeque and swimming and a tradition of staying under the sun for as much of the day as possible. No matter where you are in the world, I hope you guys have a wonderful Canada Day! :) ♥

What book are you looking forward to most? 

-Mimi

Review: Tiger Lily

Book: Tiger Lily
Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson
Series: N/A
Release Date: July 3, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 292
Source: HarperCollins Canada (Thank you so much!)
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon CA | The Book Depository | Chapters
Stars: 4/5

Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair. . . .

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.

Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything--her family, her future--to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

From the "New York Times" bestselling author of "Peaches" comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS: 

"Let me tell you something straight off. This is a love story, but not like any you've heard. The boy and girl are far from innocent.  Dear lives are lost. And good doesn't win. In some places, there is something ultimately good about endings. In Neverland, that is not the case..." -Tinker Bell

I grew up loving Disney's version of Peter Pan, wishing I could move to Neverland and never grow old. But this book only makes me love it infinitely MORE!   

This book is told, not from Tiger Lily's point of view, but Tinker Bell's which is actually SO brilliant! Not only is the empathic little faerie able to know Tiger Lily's thoughts, but she gets a glimpse into other people's too. We get to share Tinker Bell's admiration for Tiger Lily's undeniable courage. And we also get to know her motives, the reasons for little Tink's actions and jealousy, and suddenly everything makes so much more sense.  

Going into this book, I didn't care much for Tiger Lily. I knew her as the girl who loved Peter and nothing more. But Jodi Lynn Anderson made me care and ache and want to know more about this crow-feathered girl! By the end, I wanted to cry when it was over. I did cry — so much! As much as I love Wendy, part of me wished she wouldn't show up so Peter and Tiger Lily could get a HEA. But my powers of compulsion can only go so far. :')

Behind the scenes, Tiger Lily has a horrible life. She's arranged to marry the awful Giant and everyone is scared of her. That's why she craves those nightly escapades with Peter, who is wonderful and sweet in every way. With him, there's adventure and life and promise. He's so different from the boy I thought I knew — Less innocent? More fierce? — but this side of him is just as beautiful. ♥ 

My only complaint is that this book starts off slow and carries a similar pace throughout. Until Tiger Lily meets Peter, I was never completely pulled under and even then some parts felt dragged on. But the ending, the beauty, and the heartache makes up for it!

Tiger Lily is raw and beautiful and heartbreaking and sad. It took my heart, squeezed it into a tiny little ball, then let it fly. Because if you've seen Peter's story, then you know how Tiger Lily's end — and it doesn't end well. But I promise that her story is well worth the read! 

BUY or BORROW?: If you want to pledge your love to Peter Pan or are even just a little bit curious about the girl with the crow feather in her hair, then you have to buy this book! :) 

-Mimi

School's Out Giveaway!!

Hi, everyone!

I can't believe it's summer break already, but I CAN believe how relieved I am! No more early mornings, no more homework, and definitely no more exams... Even though I still have so much planned for the summer — including a job, trips to the cottage, and many different friends' sweet sixteen parties — I think I'll still have more time to blog than during the school year! :)

So, to celebrate, I decided to post a School's Out Giveaway!

The Rules:

1. There will be one winner. 
2. Giveaway ends on July 20, 2012 @ 12:01 a.m.
3. Be a follower (through GFC or RSS).
4. Be 13 or older.
5. Live anywhere that The Book Depository ships to (which is basically everywhere!)
6. Fill out the Rafflecopter form.

The Prize: 

One winner will get to choose any one book of his/her choice from the list of anticipated summer releases below. And trust me, there are A LOT of amazing books coming out this summer! But if you would like another book that releases around this time instead, I could definitely substitute that in as long as it's under $20 (USD). :)

(Covers link to Goodreads.)

OR: Any other summer release book of your choice under $20 (USD).

______

Just enter through the Rafflecopter widget below: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

______

And that's everything! I'm so excited to be able to have the summer off. If you're school-free like me, I can't wait to see what you're up to next with your new free time! But if you're working through the summer anyways (also like me), I'm still hoping to see a ton of you while I cheer from the sidelines ;)

Enjoy the beautiful beach weather, guys! ♥ (And to those of you on the other side of the hemisphere — because I won't forget my lovable Aussies and such ever again — have a brrrrrrrilliant winter!)

These adorable pictures are courtesy of chibird! TYSM, Jackie :)

-Mimi

Review: Wake

Book: Wake
Author: Amanda Hocking
Series: Watersong #1
Release Date: August 7, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 320
Source: Raincoast Books (Thank you so much!)
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon CA | The Book Depository | Chapters
Stars: 3.5/5

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs.  She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door.  He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back.  Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever.  She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove.  They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different. 

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price.  And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS: 

I've only read two-thirds of the Trylle Trilogy so far, but that has already been enough to make me fall in love with Amanda Hocking's books! Her creatures? They're always beautifully captivating, and that's no different in this first book for her brand new Watersong series!  

Right off the bat, my favourite thing about this book is the sister relationship between Gemma and Harper. As a girl with her own adoring big sis, I couldn't help but smile at the accuracy — especially about how different they are! Harper is practical, straightforward, and a little overprotective of her little sister; Gemma is carefree, openhearted, and in love with swimming. They're polar opposites, yet their perspectives create a fun dynamic that really works. 

There are two sets of romances in this book — one for each sister — and both are love-triangle-free and undeniably sweet! ♥ But while Gemma's relationship with the boy next door, Alex, is too adorable for words, my favourite is of Harper and Daniel's. They meet on hilariously embarrassing terms and continue on a little tense, until Daniel manages to break the safe-playing girl out of her shell. I kept giggling into my hand, it was that fun!  

But as adorable as this book is, I kept feeling like it was missing something. The characters are sweet but lack a little depth; the siren lore is cool but nothing mind-blowingly original; and it's very predictable. I never had any problem setting it down before finishing, which is trouble for a girl who's used to one-sit reads!  

With a sweet factor that breaks the scale and a sisterly bond that will warm your heart, Wake is a fantastic start to a bound-to-be great series! I wasn't as captivated with it was I was with her other books, but Amanda Hocking is still an author to watch out for. :)  

BUY or BORROW?: Flaws aside, I still think this book is definitely worth picking up (and certainly buy-worthy enough with that cover)!  

-Mimi

Showcase Sunday #4

Sunday Showcase is a cool new meme created by Vicky @ Book, Biscuits, and Tea! It's a great new way for bloggers to showcase the books they've gotten in the past week, and I'm excited to take part. :)

______

FOR REVIEW: 

Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent

Read this. Loved this. And holy wow, I never stop getting awed about how Rachel Vincent is a genius!! If you missed my interview with Tod and Nash on Friday, you can find that HERE. I just love this series SO much, and wowie zowie... Please buy this book! :')

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Squeeeeeeeeeee! You don't know how excited I am to have managed to get my hands on a copy of this! Not only is the cover gorgeous, but Alice + zombies - the "wonder" in "wonderland" = absolutely awesome! Will be starting this one after my final exams!!

Dark Star by Bethany Frenette

I wanted to read this book ever since I heard it was about superheroes (and I watched The Avengers movie), so to have this gorgeous copy in my hands is like a dream come true! :)

What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton

I've heard this one is really sweet for a contemporary, so I couldn't help but be curious! It's about a girl who has one of those blacked out nights that I'm pretty sure a lot of people are familiar with. And I really like the cover!

BORROWED: 

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Social Suicide by Gemma Halliday

Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker

The Selection by Keira Cass

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

WON: 

Wrecked by Anna Davies

I won this from the AMAZING girls over at Bewitched Bookworms! I love their blog so much — you must, must, must go follow them if you aren't already! The book came with a waterproof e-reader case, which I thought was kinda funny since I don't have an e-reader LOL. But I'm passing it off to my cousin, who does, so she can read at the beach :)

BOUGHT:

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

I finished this one a few days ago and loved it like crazy! It's definitely one of my favourite contemporaries of all time and an absolute must read!  It's not a review book, but I'm going to desperately try to fit it into my review schedule for this month anyways :)

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead 

ADRIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN. That is all I have to say. :') 

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock 

This is one of my fave books of the year and my absolute fave werewolf book of all time. I would recommend it to anyone who likes werewolves, mysteries, awesomeness, or reading! ;) 

______

And that's all I got for this week! Thanks so much to Harlequin Canada, Hachette Book Group Canada, and Bewitched Bookworms for the wonderful books!

I've been trying to hold back on requests and buying for the past few weeks since I have exams right now, but after two more on Monday and an interview on Tuesday, I'm home free for the summer!! *cheers* Then I'll be able to blog without worrying about homework and tests and getting up early in the morning. :')

I'm sorry about the whacky exam schedule, but everything will hopefully be back to normal after Tuesday! :) Thanks so much for putting up with me (and my constant reminders LOL — you're probably sick of hearing about them)! ♥
 

WHAT BOOKS DID YOU GET THIS WEEK? 

-Mimi

Before I Wake Blog Tour: Character Interview + Giveaways!

HELLO, ALL OF YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE! :) ♥

I don't think I can even tell you how excited I am to be a part of the blog tour for Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent, hosted by the amazing Kismet Book Tours! The Soul Screamers series is one of my all-time favourites (a lot because I'm in love with sarcastic reaper-boy Tod, but also because Rachel knows how to write an amazing world), and this book? SO. DARN. EXCITED!

Soooo, without further ado... I would like to introduce you to two of the most realistically well-written brothers around: Tod and Nash Hudson! One is a bean sidhe and the other is an undead reaper. Great mix, huh? ;)


(May contain minor spoilers from previous books.)

______

Meet the Brothers, Tod and Nash

Mimi: Hi, guys! I seriously can't be any more excited to be able to have you here today!! Because everyone deserves to know how awesome you are, can you introduce yourselves? :)

Nash: I'm Nash. This is my brother, Tod. He’s dead, but that doesn't stop him from taking whatever he wants, whenever he wants it, even though he shouldn't still be in the world. Also, he kills people for a living. Make of that what you will.

Tod: I don't murder people. I'm a grim reaper, not an assassin. I reap the souls of those scheduled to die. And I stick to that schedule, the vast majority of the time. My record is practically spotless. Practically.

Mimi: *whispers to audience* Nash is kind of harboring a grudge at his brother right now, if you can't tell... *back to the boys* Would you be embarrassed to admit to your human friends that you're bean sidhes (banshees)?

Nash: Everyone who matters already knows.

Tod: I'm never embarrassed. But most people have no idea I exist, so that question doesn't really apply to me.

Mimi: I guess that's true! (Does that mean all of us readers matter, since we know?? Yay! I mean, focus, Mimi. Next question.) How would you describe Kaylee?

Nash: Ex. Lost. Liar. Pain.

Tod: Kaylee is everything that matters most. *turns to Nash* It’s not fair to blame her for what happened.

Nash: Totally fair to blame you, though, right?

Tod: Oh. You meant… *frowns* I thought you were talking about that other thing that happened… I was going to blame fate and the forces of evil, but whatever.

Mimi: *to audience again* Correction: Nash is harboring a grudge on everyone right now — but it's totally justified, and I love him anyways! *back to the boys again* Just wondering: If you figured out you had only one day left to live, what would you spend it doing? (You know, assuming you were still alive, Tod. :P)

Nash: Making amends.

Tod: Changing fate.

Mimi: I'd eat cookies, but I like your ideas better. :') Do you have anything you've always wanted to confess to each other?

Nash: I'm sorry I couldn't save our dad. I tried. If you'd been there, I'm sure you could have made Mom cooperate. Also, since we’re opening up, I feel like I should confess that you're a huge pain in the ass. 

Tod: I have a couple of things I should tell Nash, but none anyone else needs to hear. Except that he's a huge pain in the ass. Must run in the family.

Mimi: I totally beg to differ! (But maybe that's just because I have a major crush on you both, so let's skim over that haha...) Tod, do you like your job as a reaper? What are some pros, cons, or random quirks you think we should know?

Tod: You already know more about me than you should. However, in the spirit of this deep personal invasion... I hate my job, but I've recently come to love the spare time it gives me. Now that I have use for spare time.

Nash: *growls*

Mimi: Kaylee is so lucky!! *blushes wildly* If it's any compensation, Tod's also a pizza delivery guy on top of reaping souls so I think that counts for something. ;) But Nash, what would you say to being a reaper like your brother?

Nash: No. Hell no. Not for anything the world. When my time to die comes, I won’t hang around just to make everyone else miserable.

Tod: *looks away*

Mimi: Aww. *heart breaks* So much of what you guys have been through happened after you met Kaylee. Do you ever regret meeting her?

Nash: Never.

Tod: Never.

Mimi: I'm  glad. :) If you could go on a dream vacation anywhere in the world with any one person you know, where would it be, who would it be with, and why?

Nash: I hear Betty Ford has nice beds. It’s Sabine’s turn to visit me in an institution…

Tod: I’d go with Kaylee. The place doesn’t matter. No one would see us anyway.

Mimi: Is there anything you'd want to change about being a bean sidhe?

Nash: Everything. Being a male bean sidhe sucks. You can make people do whatever you want them to do, but then people hate you for it and you wind up hating yourself even more.

Tod: But you can save people’s lives.

Nash: Not without ending someone else’s. Whose bright idea was it to put that kind of decision in the hands of a teenager?

Tod: *thinks* He’s right. That sucks.

Mimi: Let's say that your awesome lives are (finally) being turned into a movie! Which actor/model/random guy off the street would you choose to play you? :)

Nash: I don’t care.

Tod: It doesn’t seem fair to saddle some poor guy with that kind of responsibility. I mean, imagine the blow to his ego when he fails to capture all of this on screen?

Mimi: Agreed, Tod! That's a lot of pressure on the pour guy. My friends are pining for Max Irons as Nash, but we've all agreed that it's impossible to cast you. x) Pretending that some brilliant author is documenting your crazy life adventures in a 7-book series, what would your pitch be to convince people to read it?

Nash: The first four books are awesome. After that, the story changes direction and it goes down hill.

Tod: Kaylee’s in it.

Mimi: Did I mention that there's a small grudge between brothers? :') 

AND SOME THIS OR THAT QUESTIONS:

Mimi: Summer or winter?

Nash: Summer.

Tod: Spring.

Mimi: Blue eyes or brown eyes?

Nash: Blue.

Tod: Blue.

Mimi: Books or movies?

Nash: Movies.

Tod: Both.

Mimi: Bean sidhe or reaper?

Nash: Human.

Tod: Both.

______

Even when one brother is not-so-happy with the other at the moment, I really, truly, and honestly have given my heart to these boys from book one! ♥ Everything that Rachel Vincent has put them through just breaks my heart. You will love them too, guaranteed! :)

______

Giveaways

There are two giveaways for today! The first giveaway is a daily one for the chance to win a copy of Before I Wake (in all its gorgeous pink glory). To enter, all you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter form below. It's open to US/Canadian residents only. (Sorry, international followers!) You can see the full contest rules here. 

http://www.rafflecopter.com">a Rafflecopter giveaway

Grand Prize

The second giveaway is for a grand prize of a GORGEOUS pink iPod nano engraved with "Soul Screamers"! The Grand Prize winner is chosen from all of the daily entries, so you can enter at all of the other tour stops as well for more chances to win! :)

______

About

About Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent:

Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Indiebound

I died on a Thursday — killed by a monster intent on stealing my soul.

The good news? He didn't get it.

The bad news? Turns out not even death will get you out of high school...

Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking life is much harder than Kaylee Cavanaugh expected. After weeks spent "recovering," she's back in school, fighting to stay visible to the human world, struggling to fit in with her friends and planning time alone with her new reaper boyfriend. But to earn her keep in the human world, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls, and when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won't keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn't just gambling with her own life....

About Rachel Vincent

Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, YouTube

A resident of San Antonio, Rachel Vincent has a BA in English and an overactive imagination, and consistently finds the latter to be more practical. She shares her workspace with two black cats (Kaci and Nyx) and her # 1 fan. Rachel is older than she looks-seriously-and younger than she feels, but remains convinced that for every day she spends writing, one more day will be added to her lifespan.

______

 

You can follow the rest of the tour below or on the Kismet Book Touring Website:

Monday, June 11th- Fiktshun 

Wednesday, June 13th - Harlequin Paranormal Blog 

Friday, June 15th- All Things Urban Fantasy 

Monday, June 18th - I'm Just Sitting Here and Read 

Tuesday, June 19th Book Birthday - Book Soulmates 

Wednesday, June 20th - Late Bloomer Online 

Friday, June 22nd - Mimi Valentine (YOU ARE HERE ♥)

Monday, June 25th - Tynga's Reviews 

Wednesday, June 27th - The Page Turners 

Friday, June 29th- A Cupcake and A Latte

______

TA DA! *jazz hands* Are you not as crazy excited to read Before I Wake as I am?? (If your answer is no, then that must only mean that you haven't started this series yet, in which I have to ask: Why not? Here's a link to the full series HERE.) If it's anything like the previous book, If I Die (which is my favourite) then we're all in for a major ride!

(I love Rachel's books for the pure reason that she's never afraid to put her characters through hell and back. It makes me grow so much closer to them! ♥)

So what do you think: Would you rather be a bean sidhe or a reaper? :)

-Mimi

Waiting on Wednesday: Such a Rush

Time for another amazing Wednesday! ♥ :)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by the awesome Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating! This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Series: N/A
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon CA | The Book Depository

A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.

High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever.    

But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business — until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers — and the consequences could be deadly.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

Three of Mimi's Deep Dark Secrets: 

1. Mimi loves books about brothers. It's probably not healthy to love them both and it's probably not good, but she can't help but be attracted to boys with the same last name! ♥
2. Mimi has always wanted to fly like a bird! She used to be terrified of airplane rides, but now she really likes them. And the food. And the strange pillows. And the roller coaster sensation. And the excuse to chew gum like a madman.
3. Mimi succumbs to peer pressure easily. With all of her friends gushing about this book like CRAZY, how could she be able to resist???

And those are three reasons why I really, really want to read Such a Rush!! ;)

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU WAITING FOR? 

-Mimi

P.S. My first exam is tomorrow (!!!) and I'm so nervous! Hopefully it will be okay? :')

Epic Review: Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross!

Book: Kill Me Softly
Author: Sarah Cross
Series: N/A (Mimi is working to change this!!)
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: 331
Source: bookstore
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon CA | The Book Depository | Chapters
Stars: 5 (million kajillion billion trillion!)/5

Mirabelle's past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents' tragic deaths to her guardians' half-truths about why she can't return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.

In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who's a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.

But fairy tales aren't pretty things, and they don't always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy tale curses of their own... brothers who share a dark secret. And she'll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS:
 

**MY FAVOURITE BOOK OF 2012!**

Warning: This will not be your average review. I loved it too much for that.

Kill Me Softly is Brilliant with a capital B, Adorable with a capital A, and PERFECTION in all caps! It's easily my favourite book of the entire year. I loved it so much that, when I went back to skim a few passages to write this review, I ended up re-reading the entire book! Let me just show you what my copy looks like right now: 

I never, ever put sticky notes in a book — I just never have the time! (Being a blogger and all.) That's how you know that I have to love a book to EPIC proportions to want to take the time to go back, re-read it, and mark up my copy like this. ♥

So instead of attempting to be professional about this (in which I would fail), I'm going to list Five Epic Reasons why Kill Me Softly deserves to be read by everyone! :)

1. The World

This is not your average fairytale re-telling, and it doesn't deal with your average Disney fairytales either. It's based on the original Grimm fairytales, where Cinderella's stepsisters cut off parts of their feet to fit into the glass slipper, and happily ever afters are uncommon things. 

In Beau Rivage, the people are cursed with a fairytale. They know their fate before it happens. Some are meant to fall into an enchanted sleep; some are cursed to cough up jewels; others are forced to do unspeakable fairytale things. It's addicting and enchanting and utterly enthralling. It's the most original portrayal of fairytales that this fairytale-loving girl has read in a long time! :)

2. The Breathtaking Storyline

Kill Me Softly starts with Mira running away from the home of her godmothers to find her parents's grave in Beau Rivage. All on her own, she meets two brothers: One snarky bad boy who all but harasses her into leaving (Blue), and one kind and sweet boy who offers her a place to stay (Felix). Of course she's going to trust the nicer one.

But first impressions mean nothing in Beau Rivage. 

Everything is unbelievable and believable at the exact same time. Unbelievable because some things are so bizarre, so out-of-this-world, so how-did-she-come-up-with-this worthy that it blows your mind... yet believable because Sarah Cross writes it in a way that makes you think, "Oh yeah. Having a kiss that kills? It happens every day in Beau Rivage!" 

There are so many things I didn't expect... and so many things to love! ♥

3. Mirabelle Lively & Co.

Mirabelle — also known as Mira and fantastic girl extraordinaire — is not your average fairytale heroine. She's stubborn and determined and can hold her own in a game of knee-slapping snark. Mira brought smiles to my face and an ache to my heart. I loved her so much!

I know some people were having problems with some decisions she makes, but I thought it was all in her character that made her real. With all the circumstances surrounding her sheltered past and everyone around her unable to tell her what was going on, her frustration was completely justified and her aching was palpable.

     "At home," she began haltingly, "when my godmothers were gone, I used to pretend that my parents were there. I'd imagine them doing normal things, like cooking, or watching old movies with me, or asking what I did at school. I guess because... I felt less lonely that way. I could pretend there wasn't a hole in me. But when I'm with you, I don't need them. I want what's real." (page 143)

And I love love LOVED all of the other cursed characters too! They argue like crazy, but their banter is hilarious and their friendship is genuine. Freddie was a personal favourite. Even though his fairytale role was to be Mira's awakening prince, he was never really a love interest. But he was too adorable and sweet and innocent to not be loved! Birds followed him around for a reason, you know. ;) 

4. The Writing

Reading Sarah Cross's writing is like a dream. It's beautiful; it's fluent; it's picturesque; it's, quite honestly, like finding my home all over again! Just when I thought that first person narratives were starting to become my favourite, she pulls me back with this gorgeous third person prose that steals my breath away. I've never read a book with so many quote-worthy passages in my life.

Beautiful P-E-R-F-E-C-T-I-O-N, that's what it is!

5. Blue Valentine ♥

Yes, Blue deserves his own whole point!

My mom thinks I'm crazy for wanting a house with a blue garage and purple shingles, so I can't imagine what she'd say if I wanted to marry a boy with blue HAIR. (But I do, I absolutely do!)  

Cursed with a horrible fate, Blue Valentine uses his snarkiness and attitude to keep people at an arm's length. He seems like your average I'm-a-jackass-to-protect-you sort of guy, but he's not. He's so much MORE, and there are certain times when you see how vulnerable he is, how much he loves Mira, how much his curse is killing him, and it just about rips your heart out. 

He has so many hilarious one-liners or quotes that show off how sweet a bad boy he is, but I want to show you a quote that reveals his other side, his heartbreaking side: 

     "You know, I don't usually know the girls he likes. Not like this. I look the other way most of the time. But I met you first. I knew you first. I wanted you first." (Blue to Mira about his brother Felix, page 208)

With Kill Me Softly being my favourite book of the year, Blue is easily my favourite book boy! ♥

In Conclusion...

Maybe this is my weakness for fairytales talking; maybe it's my soft spot for gorgeous writing, brilliant ideas, breathtaking romances, and boys who rip my heart out. Or maybe this is Sarah Cross's brilliance shoving itself in my face that makes me declare this one of my favourite books of all time!  

Read-worthy, buy-worthy, and totally swoon-worthy, Kill Me Softly is a bundle of creativity that surpasses authors like Cassandra Clare for me! It's hilarious, and brilliant, and adorable, and heartbreaking, and totally and completely beautiful in a way that hardly exists in YA. It's exactly the kind of book I've been looking for my whole life! 

In case you can't tell, I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH — and until Sarah Cross writes a sequel, I don't think another book will be topping it anytime soon!

BUY or BORROW?: This entire review was basically an answer to this question: BUY THIS BOOK. It's not breaking my semi-coherent-book-review streak for nothing! ;)  

-Mimi

Review: Spark

Book: Spark
Author: Amy Kathleen Ryan
Series: Sky Chasers #2
Release Date: July 17, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 309
Source: Raincoast Books (Thank you so much!)
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon CA | The Book Depository | Chapters
Stars: 4.5/5

Waverly and Kieran are finally reunited on the Empyrean. Kieran has led the boys safely up to this point, and now that the girls are back, their mission seems slightly less impossible: to chase down the New Horizon, and save their parents from the enemy ship. But nothing is truly as it seems…Kieran’s leadership methods have raised Seth’s hackles— and Waverly’s suspicions. Is this really her fiancé? The handsome, loving boy she was torn from just a short time before? More and more, she finds her thoughts aligned with Seth’s. But if Seth is Kieran’s Enemy No. 1, what does that make her?

In one night, a strange explosion rocks the Empyrean—shooting them off course and delaying their pursuit of the New Horizon—and Seth is mysteriously released from the brig. Seth is the most obvious suspect for the explosion, and Waverly the most obvious suspect for releasing him. As the tension reaches a boiling point, will Seth be able to find the true culprit before Kieran locks them both away—or worse? Will Waverly follow her heart, even if it puts lives at risk? With the balance of power precarious and the clock ticking, every decision counts… every step brings them closer to a new beginning, or a sudden end...

(summary taken from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS:  

After not really loving Glow earlier this year, I went into the sequel with zero expectations. I started it thinking I'd be able to fit in a few chapters here and there, that I could put it down if I wanted to. But I was completely wrong!  

Spark was amazing from beginning to heart-stopping end! It picks up right where Glow left off, with all of the kids stuck on the spaceship alone, trying to reunite with their parents who were captive on another ship.There's a little bit of deception, a lot of secrets, and enough mistrust to last a lifetime. It all makes everything on the Empyrean even more intense.  

I was so invested in this story that I found myself yelling out loud. When bad things happened, I curled up in a ball and prayed for the best. And when Kieran did something ridiculous, I imagined hitting him over the head with a stick. Repeatedly.  

(Seth was my favourite character, so everything Kieran did to him just made me so angry!)  

My heart ached for Waverly. Everyone wrongly blamed her for abandoning their parents, even though none of them would've made it out alive if she hadn't done what she did. She had to live with everyone's hatred and guilt everyday, but she still stayed strong and more clear-minded.. She was fifteen like I am, but I could never imagine being as strong as her!  

Actually, the whole cast continued to blow my mind. Over and over again, I reminded myself that they were just kids — that the oldest on the space ship was sixteen years old, and yet somehow they were surviving. They were intelligent and sneaky when they need to be, yet despite their brilliance, it was easy to see how real they were as kids. It was all believable.

With an intensely unpredictable storyline and characters I couldn't stop rooting for, Spark was an amazing installment to the series that sure sets the bar high for the next! :) 

BUY or BORROW?: I would recommend this book whether you liked Glow or not! It was absolutely worth the sleepless night I got from wrongly believing it wouldn't be that addicting! ;)

-Mimi

My Top Six Books of 2012 (so far)!

Hi, everyone! :)

I know it's not the end of the year yet, but I just wanted to show you my Top Six Books of 2012 so far because I know that it's going to be impossible to choose a bare minimum by the end of the entire year! (Have you noticed how many amazing books have been coming out? I had a hard time narrowing it down, and we're only halfway done!) So here they are:

_____

My Top Six Books of 2012 (so far)

(Click on titles for links to Goodreads.)

1. Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

Mini-summary: (fairytale re-telling) Mirabelle Lively runs away from her godmothers' home to her birthplace to discover her secret past. But in Beau Rivage, curses are real and magic is dangerous, and Mira is about to discover that everyone living there is not what they seem...

Why I love it: This is my absolute FAVOURITE book of all time (just like Blue is my favourite book boy of all time)! And I mean that it used always to be so hard for me to choose one, but reading this book made it  easy because it tops everything else. I know that a lot of people have mixed feelings about it, but it's just so creative and beautiful and heartbreaking and brilliant that I can't help but think of it every time I close my eyes. If you haven't read Kill Me Softly yet, please do! :)

2. Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Mini-summary: (werewolf paranormal romance/mystery) Lupine syndrome is on the rise across the country. When Mackenzie's best friend Amy is murdered by a werewolf, a mystery unravels that shows her a side of the story that's more complicated and amazing than Mac ever could've imagined.

Why I love it: Werewolves + mystery + awesome main character + a swoon-tastic romance = one amazing worthy-of-being-on-this-list read! This book was addictive to the Nancy Drew wannabe in me, but it will also appeal to anyone who loves werewolves or at least knows how to admire a heroine who can tell it like it is. And Kathleen's also a Canadian author, which is like the icing on the cake! ;)

3. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Mini-summary: (high fantasy) The once-great nation of Ravka is torn in two by a mysterious Shadow Fold that harbors flesh-eating monsters and an impenetrable darkness. But Alina Starkov might be the key to ending that, if only she can figure out who to trust and what to believe in a world that strives on secrets.

Why I love it: I'm sure you guys have at least heard of this once book before (if not, you can read my 5-star review HERE), and I promise that every bit of praise about it is absolutely true because this is my favourite high fantasy book to date... and it's overall one of the best books of the entire year! The world, the characters, the secrets, the romance... *fans self* So good!

4. Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Mini-summary: (Greek mythology re-telling) Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned — to her old life, her family, her friends — before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

Why I love it: For one thing, Greek mythology re-tellings are almost always made of awesome and this book is no exception! And for another thing, this book just broke my heart over and over again. Nikki is one of those characters you want to wrap up in a blanket and cry with, and Jack and Cole... *seals heart in an envelope and sends it off to them* Two of my favourite book boys ever!

5. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Mini-summary: (angel book) Clara Gardner is part angel, part wholly confused teenage girl with a purpose — which she as an angel was put on Earth to accomplish — she can't understand. But as Clara begins to learn more about a growing battle between White Wings and Dark Wings, she must face the terrifying visions that foresee the death of someone she loves.

Why I love it: I cried like a baby while I read this book. I was a blubbering mess, clinging to tissues, wondering how one author could create a cast and a story so heartbreakingly beautiful that it could affect me that much. It's by far the best angel book I've ever read, and while it may not have been the most fast-paced, it certainly sets up the stage nicely for the final installment in the trilogy! :)

6. Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe

Mini-summary: (paranormal romance/steampunk/totally awesome) It’s the year 2040, and sixteen-year-old Dez Harkly is one of the last of her kind — part of a nearly extinct race of shape-shifters descended from guardians to the Egyptian pharaohs. As the enemies start to invade Haven Falls, Dez's world crumbles when she discovers secrets that will change the way she sees things and the way her friends will see her.  

Why I love it: Gosh, this is just one of those books you don't expect to be anything more than average but end up being SO SO GOOD. This is one of the most original, bad-ass, perfectly fast-paced without skimming over the epic world-building, and completely addicting books I've ever read! I loved Dez as a kick-butt heroine, and I loved the originality and awesomeness of the world. More books should be like this one! Please take notes, other authors ;)

______

And these are 6 of my personal favourites of the year! Each and every single one of them is a book I finished in one sitting, became completely addicted to, and developed that bookish syndrome for where my fingers itch to pick it up again every time I pass it on my bookshelf. In short: They're AMAZING and ADDICTIVE and kind of PERFECT. Buy-worthy? Absolutely!

My list is probably so different from most of yours since I realize I picked a bunch of underdog-ish books, But I recommend them all wholeheartedly! I own a copy of every single one of my shelf, and just talking about them to you makes me want to re-read them all over again.

Since there are still months to go, here are some future releases that I anticipate will be added to my favourites list when I get the chance to read them, or future favourites as I like to call them! :)

(Click on covers for links to Goodreads.)

What are some of YOUR current or future favourites? :)

-Mimi