Review: All I Need by Susane Colasanti

All I Need
by Susane Colasanti

Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Release Date: May 21st, 2013
Source: Publisher

Goodreads

Amazon

Skye wants to meet the boy who will change her life forever. Seth feels their instant connection the second he sees her. When Seth starts talking to Skye at the last beach party of the summer, it’s obvious to both of them that this is something real. But when Seth leaves for college before they exchange contact info, Skye wonders if he felt the same way she did—and if she will ever see him again. Even if they find their way back to each other, can they make a long-distance relationship work despite trust issues, ex drama, and some serious background differences?

Review

Sometimes there are light-reads and then there are super, super light-reads. Like so light that I wonder if the plot crept past my gaze. All I Need was only 200 pages, and in that span, Skye and Seth's story jumps about two years. They meet once at a beach in the summer and try to find each other again. I like a good fluffy beach read, but this was almost too fluffy.

The plot didn't keep my interest because it felt "been there, done that" and I could see the ending from a mile away. Seth is poor. Skye is wealthy. He doesn't feel as though she'll accept him because he can't buy her fancy things, and that literally is the gist of everything. Maybe I'm a "true love" cynic. Maybe I don't believe in soul mates or love at first sight. You pretty much have to believe in the entire sappy package in order to enjoy this.

Something New from Addicted to You: Giveaway, extra ARC sign-ups and more!

Every Friday we'll be updating you, throwing out some teasers, and hopefully creating agonizing suspense for our upcoming NA contemporary Addicted to You. Of course, for those of you who may be overloaded on Addicted to You promotion, feel free to skip our Friday posts :)
What's after the jump, you ask? 
1) Addicted to You Giveaway on Goodreads   2) Want an ARC to review the book and haven't received one yet? Contact us! 3) Get Addicted Promo Tour starts on Monday :) 4) Grab a Button if you want to and haven't already!

Review and Giveaway: You Are Mine by Janeal Falor

You Are Mine
by Janeal Falor

Series: Mine #1 
Release Date: May 6th, 2013
Source: Author

Goodreads

Amazon

Serena knows a few simple things. She will always be owned by a warlock. She will never have freedom. She will always do what her warlock wishes, regardless of how inane, frivolous, or cruel it is. And if she doesn’t follow the rules, she will be tarnished. Spelled to be bald, inked, and barren for the rest of her life—worth less than the shadow she casts.

Then her ownership is won by a barbarian from another country. With the uncertainty that comes from belonging to a new warlock, Serena questions if being tarnished is really worse than being owned by a barbarian, and tempts fate by breaking the rules. When he looks the other way instead of punishing her, she discovers a new world. The more she ventures into the forbidden, the more she learns of love and a freedom just out of reach. Serena longs for both. But in a society where women are only ever property, hoping for more could be deadly.

Review

There is a fail proof test to see how much you enjoy a novel. 1) You don't look at the page count, and if you do, it's because you don't want the book to end. 2) You put down the book and constantly think about it. You have to pick it back up to see what happens next. You are Mine fit both categories for me and was quickly shelved on my favorites list when I finished it.

Going into the book, I thought it would be a light-read about warlocks who "own" witches and use them like one would a "familiar" for their magical powers, not too dark. I was surprised to find something completely different. Falor wrote a high concept fantasy world where Serena knows nothing except the country she lives in. That country has extreme laws against females--to go as far as sacrifice, physical abuse, magical punishments (hexes), and ownership. They are the property of warlocks, and that's literally been beaten into the women's heads. They follow the Women's Canon, a guidebook that dictates what they must do and what they must not do--like the appropriate clothing to wear and to obey their Master. In this country, there's also a multi-wives law that is threatening to be passed by the Chancellor and other counsil members.

Waiting on Wednesday: The 100 by Kass Morgan

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases that readers are eagerly anticipating

The 100

by Kass Morgan

Series: The Hundred #1

Publisher:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 

Release Date: September 3rd, 2013

Goodreads

Amazon

In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... before it's too late.

Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again.

Why I'm Waiting...

Review: Die for Me by Amy Plum

Die for Me
by Amy Plum

Series: Revenants #1
Publisher: HarperTeen 
Release Date: May 10th, 2011
Source: Bought

Goodreads

Amazon

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

Review

I started this series way late. Honestly, I had no interest in reading it. Ever. But then I received an ARC for the third book in the series, and I thought, why not? Even though the release date for that has passed quite quickly, I still plan on finishing the series. Was this one good enough to merit another shot? Probably not. Am I reallly, really excited about the sequel? Not entirely. But I am little curious about the plot to give it a go.

I read this one a couple months past. I though I would like it more after some reflection. That didn't happen. In fact, I remember very little as time passed. This seems to be one of those paranormal books that fit the most overused trope "girl doesn't know boy is paranormal, girl discovers he's paranormal, girl needs to be saved from bad guy" bit. Twilight did it first. After that, it seems to be less and less entertaining.

YA Book Exchange Giveaway [8]

It's that time again! YA Book Exchange has reached almost 1,600 books for trade! If you haven't checked it out, you can see all the amazing books up for trade HERE! There is also a Goodreads page as a place for questions and forum.

Continue reading to enter the giveaway!

Stacking the Shelves [44]

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews featuring books added to our shelves and sharing our excitement for them.

Only two books this week! Which is pretty good considering by TBR pile is out of control. I'm struggling with either reading for fun or reading for review...and I know which one will probably win out. Obligation! Anyway, there's a dystopian and a steampunk in my haul -- very exciting! Continue reading to check 'em out!

Something New from Addicted to You: Teaser Poster #2, Blog Tour Sign-Ups for ARCs and more

Every Friday we'll be updating you, throwing out some teasers, and hopefully creating agonizing suspense for our upcoming NA contemporary Addicted to You. Of course, for those of you who may be overloaded on Addicted to You promotion, feel free to skip our Friday posts :)
What's after the jump, you ask? 
1) Addicted to You Blog Tour Sign-Up information. (this is for reviews and ARCs)  2) Promo Tour Schedule (this is the promo tour without reviews before the Blog Tour)  3) A NEW TEASER POSTER! This one has a whole new teaser-like quote on it!  4) Grab a Button if you want to and haven't already ;) Totally optional! 

Review: Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

Insignia
by S.J. Kincaid

Series: Insignia #1
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: July 10th, 2012
Source: Bought

Goodreads

Amazon

More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom’s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible.

Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone’s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he’s offered the incredible—a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom’s instincts for combat will be put to the test, and if he passes, he’ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War Three. Finally, he’ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom’s always wanted—friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters—but what will it cost him?

Review

A blogger friend (Lili @ Lili's Reflections) recommended Insignia after calling it one of her favorites of the year. I figured it had to be good if it was worthy of a title like that. So I went in expecting a lot, and I came out completely stunned. Kincaid can build one hell of a science-fiction world.

Tom is good at video games, and in a world where most things take place virtually, his talents catch the attention of the military. They employ young people to train and fight in simulations against warring countries like China and Russia. Honestly, there's so much layered to the plot that even trying to describe it would prove ineffective and futile. For instance, no one dies in these battles. They're all simulations and robots and spaceships on another planet. There's a lot of political strategy intertwined. Companies sponsor the young soldiers, and playing the political game is half the battle. It's also something Tom is not very good at.

Waiting on Wednesday: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufmen & Megan Spooner

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases that readers are eagerly anticipating

These Broken Stars

by Amie Kaufman & Megan Spooner

Series: Starbound #1

Publisher: Disney Hyperion 

Release Date: December 10th, 2013

Goodreads

Amazon

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. 

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. 

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

Why I'm Waiting...