Early Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Series: Red Queen #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 10th 2015
Links: Ebook • Hardcover • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Graceling meets The Selection in debut novelist Victoria Aveyard’s sweeping tale of seventeen-year-old Mare, a common girl whose once-latent magical power draws her into the dangerous intrigue of the king’s palace. Will her power save her or condemn her?

Mare Barrow’s world is divided by blood—those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.

To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard—a growing Red rebellion—even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.

WOW!!! I loved this book!

So Red Queen has been getting a lot of hype, and it is very well deserved! I practically devoured this book – it did take me a while to get into it, but once I hit that groove, I couldn’t put it down.

I haven’t read fantasy books in a long while, but reading Red Queen reminded me of all the reasons I love the genre (and that I should get back to reading it some more). Victoria Aveyard has created a fresh, unique world that meshes magic and politics and has created an epic tale I highly enjoyed. This is definitely a book you don’t want to miss!

In a world where the rich and powerful are magic users are called Silvers and the poor and non-magic users are called Reds, Mare Barrow is part of the latter group. She and her family are of the lower class, constantly taken advantage of by the Silvers. Mare wants to be able to support her family, but all she’s good at is picking pockets. With the day of her conscription to the army looming before her, she tries to find a way out of it, and somehow winds up saved as a servant to the royal house. And just when there couldn’t be more surprises, Mare discovers that she herself has magic powers, even though as a Red, she should have been fully incapable of having any powers.

From now until the end of your days, you must lie. Your life depends on it, little lightning girl.

What ensues is a game of life-or-death for Mare, as she struggles to keep herself alive among the powerful and corrupted Silvers. She uses her newfound position to help a rebel cause, the Scarlet Guard, to try and create a better world for the Reds. In between learning to enhance her power, a budding romance with a Silver prince, and enemies who want to kill her, Mare has to find a way to stay alive in a world where anyone can betray anyone.

I struggled in the beginning of this book. There was just too much information too fast, but once I got the hang of it, I was quickly swept away by the world, the writing, and the characters. I was hooked onto the story – it’s an unputdownable, heart-pounding read! Victoria Aveyard wrote a fantastic debut. I am eagerly awaiting the next book!

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: Red Queen series

#0.5 ~ Queen Song: Ebook • Goodreads (Sept. 1, 2015)
#1 ~ Red Queen: Ebook • Hardcover • Audible • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Steel Scars: Ebook • Goodreads (Jan. 5, 2016)
#2 ~ Glass Sword: Ebook • Hardcover • Goodreads (Feb. 9, 2016)

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10Jan2015

Joint Review: Never Never by Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher

Posted in 4.5 hearts, 5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Never Never by Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher
Series: Never Never #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 8th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Best friends since they could walk. In love since the age of fourteen.

Complete strangers since this morning.

He’ll do anything to remember. She’ll do anything to forget.

HOLY MACKERAL!!!! WHAT did I just read!?!?

So I got this book because 1) it’s Colleen Hoover, 2) it’s Colleen Hoover, and 3) it’s Colleen Hoover. I fucking love that woman and everything she writes. I could honestly read anything she puts out and love it, and Never Never is no exception. It’s completely different from the other books she’s written and has a completely different feel. Never Never is darker, edgier, more mysterious, and more suspenseful than anything she’s written before and this book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

I’ve never read anything from Tarryn Fisher, but if her books are anything like Never Never, I’m going to read them asap. I mean, hello, she wrote this:

How odd to be made of flesh, balanced on bone, and filled with a soul you’ve never met.

Tarryn Fisher’s writing is genius! Her and Colleen Hoover’s writing flowed perfectly together, yet each of their writing styles was distinct and unique. The story they’ve woven is also genius – I’m not sure what goes on in these authors heads to have created the mindfuck that is Never Never, but I’m seriously glad they wrote this book. This is the kind of book that is everything I never knew I wanted or needed, and these authors wrote it flawlessly.

I’m not going to say much about the plot, because I highly recommend going into this blind. The blurb doesn’t tell you much, and that’s exactly the way it should be. All I will say is that even though it’s highly suspenseful and heart-pounding and you’re literally going “What the fuck is going on” the entire time, at its heart, Never Never is a love story – a love story that’s captivating and heartwrenching. I fell in love with the Charlie and Silas. Especially Silas. The two of them together are a hot mess and yet they’re perfect for each other.

I adored Silas (like, can he exist in real life?).

“You think you can make me like you again?”
I look over at her and give my head the slightest shake. “No. I’m gonna make you fall in love with me again.”

My heart was just gone at what he said there, because he totally stole it and owned it from then on. Sigh.

In actuality, we don’t really know anything about these characters since they themselves are “complete strangers” to each other, but somehow Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher were able to write them in a way that makes them lovable and relatable. I never wanted to stop reading about Charlie or Silas.

I can’t give a perfect 5 hearts because dang it – I just needed MORE! Shirley and I were discussing last night about the possibilities of what could happen next (after that ~~amazingly horrid~~ ending), and we came to the conclusion that we have no effing clue. At the end, I was left with more answers than questions, which usually annoys me, but I’m willing to forgive because I totally expect the other books in the series to blow me away just as much as, if not more than, Never Never did.

HOW DO I EVEN START.

Wow. WOW WOW WOW. Alright let me first say that I am in love with Silas. He is cute, artistic, caring, athletic and such a sweetie. Second. OH. MY. GOD. COLLEN HOOVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you.

This book was…mind-blowing to say the least. I love how Tarryn Fisher and Colleen Hoover tied in this, supernatural sort of world with the “normal” world of high school. I love how as I was reading it, I was as clueless as the characters were and as they were slowly discovering themselves, I was also being introduced to them at the same time. I love that Silas and Charlie are MADE FOR EACH OTHER AND SHOULD ALWAYS BE TOGETHER AND NEVER BREAK UP. Love, love, love.

I could imagine thinking up of a plot like this but as it continued further down the line and I reached the end…HOW CAN ANYONE THINK OF THIS?! I can 500% think of a story where the characters lose their memories, but…the ending. HOW. How do you possibly move on from that point and think of a reason for what was happening?! I’m sorry I had to rant about that so if you want to empathize, read the book 🙂

5 hearts for you, Colleen Hoover (& Tarryn Fisher)! As always.

NOTE: Soooo for those who are wondering when Never Never #2 will be releasing, rejoice! The authors have announced that part 2 of the series will be releasing May 17, 2015!!!

Reading Order: Never Never series

#1 ~ Never Never: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Never Never: Part 2: Lacey’s Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Never Never: Part 3: Goodreads (Jan. 26, 2016)

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9Dec2014

Joint Review: Breaking the Rules by Katie McGarry

Posted in 5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Breaking the Rules Katie McGarry
Series: Pushing the Limits #1.5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: December 8th 2014
Purchase: Ebook

A summer road trip changes everything in this unforgettable new tale from acclaimed author Katie McGarry.

For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so… different. It means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot, smart, soul-battered guy who’s never judged her. Echo and Noah share everything — except the one thing Echo’s just not ready for.

But when the source of Echo’s constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants — even as foster kid Noah’s search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves.

Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah’s more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he’d be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn… seriously epic.

Oh god, OH GOD!! Katie McGarry, I truly believe there isn’t a book you could write that I wouldn’t love. I would read every single book you publish. But the fact THIS book is about Noah and Echo? I couldn’t be happier! I fell SO. HARD. for Noah and Echo when I first read Pushing the Limits. PTL is still one of my all-time FAVORITE books ever. It was the first book to make me ugly cry, and that’s saying something, because I’m the type of reader who NEVER cries. So getting another book about Noah and Echo was like a dream come true!

Breaking the Rules begins near the end of the road trip Echo and Noah took at the end of Pushing the Limits. They’ve graduated high school, Echo is selling her paintings, Noah is making money at his job, so things are different and… better. Right? Well, as much as I wished Echo and Noah a happy ever after at the end of Pushing the Limits, these two characters still have a way to go.

Noah and I are heading back home, and the nightmares I thought I was running from lurk behind every corner and coffee shop in America. In less than a month, Noah and I will start college, and I’ll have a roommate in the dorms and new classes, and a ball of dread knots in my stomach. This summer was supposed to change me, and nothing has changed.

There are new challenges that Echo and Noah need to face: Echo has been having a hard time selling her art, she still has nightmares, and Noah is afraid that he can’t be the man he wants to be to support Echo. And when the past rears its head for the both of them, their relationship gets rocky. Though there are doubts about the future, there’s no doubt that Echo and Noah love each other with everything they have. Theirs is a romance that is meant to defy anything and anyone standing in its way.

I love her. More than I thought I was capable of, and I would sacrifice my life for her happiness.

I fell in love all over again with Noah and Echo’s heartwarming romance while reading Breaking the Rules. Who knew it was even possible to love Noah even more than I already did!? Seriously, I love this boy – no, this man – to death. Noah truly becomes the man he’s meant in Breaking the Rules, and I loved that Katie McGarry got to share this with her readers.

I couldn’t get enough of Noah and Echo. I honestly could read about them forever! My heart just overflows with love for these two characters who are so near and dear to my heart.

“I’m going to spend my whole life making you happy.”
“You better.”

If you’re a fan of Pushing the Limits, then you absolutely MUST read Breaking the Rules. It was an incredible experience reading about Noah and Echo again.

Oh my goodness Katie McGarry you have done it again. This series tore me to pieces each time and I’m also officially in love with all of the male characters in the stories. Noah definitely ranks in the top of my list and after reading the one that started it all, I had no idea that McGarry would come back and make me fall in love with him all over again.

Breaking the Rules still captures the unease that Echo and Noah have between each other but also how strong their love is, despite it being fresh and new. Their unease isn’t necessarily between themselves (ALTHOUGH IT ALSO IS), but it’s more that they’re still holding onto their past and letting it affect them.

I love that Isaiah and Beth made an appearance into the book because I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. They’re so real and it provides that little secret nudge to the readers who read the rest of the series. BY THE WAY, if you guys haven’t read their stories yet…what the heck are you waiting for???!!!

And with that, I leave you the recommendation that you READ. THIS. SERIES.

Reading Order: Pushing the Limits series

#1 ~ Pushing the Limits: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Goodreads
#1.1 ~ Crossing the Line: Ebook • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Breaking the Rules: Ebook • Goodreads
#2 ~ Dare You To: Lacey’s Review • Shirley’s Review • Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Crash into You: Lacey’s Review • Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Take Me On: Ebook • Hardcover • Goodreads

14Oct2014

Release Day Review: Sublime by Christina Lauren

Posted in 3 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Sublime by Christina Lauren
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: October 14th 2014
Purchase: Ebook • Hardcover
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

True love may mean certain death in a ghostly affair of risk and passion from New York Times bestselling duo Christina Lauren, authors of Beautiful Bastard. Tahereh Mafi, New York Times bestselling author of Shatter Me calls Sublime “a beautiful, haunting read.”

When Lucy walks out of a frozen forest, wearing only a silk dress and sandals, she isn’t sure how she got there. But when she sees Colin, she knows for sure that she’s here for him.

Colin has never been captivated by a girl the way he is by Lucy. With each passing day their lives intertwine, and even as Lucy begins to remember more of her life–and her death–neither of them is willing to give up what they have, no matter how impossible it is. And when Colin finds a way to physically be with Lucy, taking himself to the brink of death where his reality and Lucy’s overlap, the joy of being together for those brief stolen moments drowns out everything in the outside world. But some lines weren’t meant to be crossed…

I’m very… conflicted about this book. On one hand, it’s gorgeously written – Christina Lauren’s writing is poetic. It makes Sublime feel haunting and mysterious. But on the other… I was NOT a fan of the romance. Still, it’s a fascinating read, no doubt, but Sublime wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be. I wanted an epic ghost romance, but the romance fell flat. I mean, I knew that a story about a boy and a ghost girl couldn’t exactly end well, but I wanted something more substantial for the plot. For the most part, the writing was what kept me hooked.

“I think I’m here for you.”

Lucy is a ghost. She doesn’t realize she’s a ghost at first – she wakes up at a school with no memories, no idea who she is, and it’s only when she tries to interact with others and they ignore her, don’t see her, that she realizes something is off. But it turns out Lucy’s not invisible to everyone, because Colin can see her.

As if she can feel him staring, she turns, an involuntary smile lifting the corner of her mouth. Her dimple makes him think of giggled pleas, mischievous promises, and the taste of sugar on his tongue. Gunmetal eyes meet his, and the color is alive, churning like an angry ocean, pulling him in.
He lets himself drown.

Colin and Lucy have an instant connection with each other. They are drawn to each other and neither are hesitant about forming a relationship, even though they don’t understand what that connection is or why Lucy is there as a ghost. I was a bit skeptical about their insta-love, but I was rooting for them to find a way to be together. It was pretty innocent at first – boy and ghost girl fall in love, they want to be together, it seems like they’re meant to be together. It’s only when they actually TRY to be together, in the physical sense, that things started turning a bit dark, even sinister.

Lucy and Colin become slightly obsessed with one another. It didn’t bother me at first – I wanted them to find a way to be together, but there’s a point where you have to pause and think, exactly WHAT will you do to be together? Their relationship started turning unhealthy – Colin kept putting himself in harm’s way to be with Lucy. At this point, their romance was a bust for me. So I turned my focus on the why’s and how’s of the story. Why was Lucy there? What happened to her? How was she a ghost?

Every step of the way, I wasn’t sure what was going on, which was a good and bad thing. Sublime intrigued me to no end – I expected some answers, but all I got were more questions. None of my questions were answered, and I was really disappointed about that.

So yeah, the writing was what kept me reading. And I have to say, the writing was beautifully written, even though I didn’t exactly like the content. I liked HOW Sublime was written, not WHAT was written. Christina Lauren really have outdone themselves with the writing in Sublime – it’s hauntingly gorgeous and elegant.

The premise held a lot of potential but I’m sad to say Sublime was only an okay read for me. There were some aspects I loved, some aspects I hated. I expected a lot more than I got. The romance just did not sit right with me, so I wouldn’t recommend reading this for the romance. Mainly, you should try Sublime out for the writing.

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

14Jul2014

Blog Tour + Early Review & Giveaway: Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally

Posted in 5 hearts, Blog Tours, Giveaways, Reviews by Lacey

Click the banner to see other stops on the tour!

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally
Series: Hundred Oaks #5 (full reading order below)
Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication date: July 15th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Annie hates running. No matter how far she jogs, she can’t escape the guilt that if she hadn’t broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honor his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race.

But the training is even more grueling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she’s at war with her body, her mind—and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms…and sprint in the opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge than crossing the finish line.

“Breathe, Annie, Breathe is an emotional, heartfelt, and beautiful story about finding yourself after loss and learning to love. It gave me so many feels. Her best book yet.” — Jennifer Armentrout, New York Times bestselling author of Wait for You.

Purchase:
Amazon Kindle • Amazon Hardcover • B&N • Kobo • iTunes

Oh, my heart is still fluttering after reading this book! Without a doubt, Breathe, Annie, Breathe is my favorite of the Hundred Oaks series so far. Miranda Kenneally does YA contemporary romance so well, I already knew I would end up enjoying this latest book of series, but I just never expected to love it THIS much!

I was in the perfect mood for reading a sweet, heartfelt story, and Breathe, Annie, Breathe gave me all that and more. It’s a quick read, but it packs powerful emotions within its pages. I felt every emotion Annie felt–I laughed when she laughed, I ached when she ached, and I loved when she loved. This book is about loss, but it’s also about hope. It’s about trying to find your way through life, and Miranda Kenneally does an excellent job of conveying this in Annie’s journey.

A quarter mile more.
One foot after the other.
Breathe, Annie, breathe.

After the loss of her boyfriend and love of her life, Annie signs up for the Music City Marathon. Her boyfriend, Kyle, was training for it until he died, so Annie decides to honor him by running the race for him. She hires a trainer, and every practice is brutal–Annie has to practice running for miles and miles before she’s ever ready for a 26.2 mile marathon. But what I loved best about Annie is that even when she wants to give up, she doesn’t. She keeps on going. And I loved that fact that she hated running–because I can completely relate to that. I am awful at running, but reading about Annie and her perseverance made me want to pick up a pair of jogging shoes and go out running.

Annie is easily relatable–she’s lost her sense of direction in life, and doesn’t know how to move on from Kyle’s death. She’s about to attend college in the fall, but doesn’t know what to do. It’s like she’s going through the motions in her life, but running is the one thing that makes her feel alive. She meets new people, new friends, while training. We see Matt, from Things I Can’t Forget, who is her trainer. And Annie becomes especially close to Matt’s younger brother Jeremiah.

Jeremiah is a total sweetheart. He’s cute, funny, and cheers Annie on throughout the entire book. Jeremiah wholeheartedly believes in Annie and believes that she has what it takes to finish the marathon. He’s also peculiar in that Jeremiah’s an adrenaline junkie–he’s always looking to find a new challenge to feel a rush. I loved how supportive he is of Annie, and I loved the tension between them. Sparks fly between Annie and Jere–they’re so perfect with each other, for each other. Their banter is hilarious and their friendship is rock-solid.

“Aren’t you gonna run up front and try to win?” I ask.
“I’d rather run with you.”
“You want to come in 5,094th place?”
His mouth quirks into a smile. “I don’t care.”
“Jeremiah? You make me happy.”
“You make me happy too,” he says quietly.

I just can’t get enough of these two! They had me smiling for the entire book. They’re absolutely adorable together!

But Annie, understandably, holds back. She loved Kyle, and finding new love is a scary thing. I loved seeing them grow close to each other, to learn to lean on each other. They fall in love slowly, and my heart was bursting for them.

We get cameos of other characters from the other books in the series, which totally made me squeal!

Overall, I had the most wonderful time reading Breathe, Annie, Breathe. I never expected to love a book about running, but I do! I was cheering for Annie the whole way through. I loved seeing her grow, both as a runner and as a person. The whole book is so emotional, and Annie’s journey warmed my heart.

If you don’t put yourself out there, if you don’t take risks, you can’t truly feel.
And I’m ready to feel again.

I was honestly so sad to get to the end of this book–I never wanted it to end!

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: Hundred Oaks series

#1 ~ Catching Jordan: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Stealing Parker: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Things I Can’t Forget: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Racing Savannah: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Breathe, Annie, Breathe: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Jesse’s Girl: My Review • Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Goodreads
#7 ~ Defending Taylor: Shirley’s Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

Growing up in Tennessee, Miranda Kenneally dreamed of becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer (cliché!), or a UN interpreter. Instead she writes, and works for the State Department in Washington, D.C., where George W. Bush once used her shoulder as an armrest. Miranda loves Twitter, Star Trek and her husband.

Website • Goodreads • Facebook • Twitter

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3x Signed copy of Breathe, Annie, Breathe

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