Ten By Gretchen McNeil

Summary:

SHHHH!Don't spread the word!
Three-day weekend. House party.
White Rock House on Henry Island.
You do NOT want to miss it.

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?(Summary by Goodreads.com)


My Thoughts:

I was really surprised when this book caught my attention. I normally don't step out of my paranormal/romance genres, but when I read the summary for the book, I knew that I had to read it. 

Meg is one of my new favorite female literary characters. The whole plot is a snowball of emotions. She was one of the only people in the story to hold on to her sanity when everything hit the fan. It was because of her that the reader is able to make educated guesses about who was responsible for the madness, even if she was wrong. I admired that even when Minnie proves not to be a great friend, she still stands up for her. I wanted Minnie to realize how mean she was being. I understood she had mental problems, but I was really hoping she would not give into the hysteria. 

The DVD that initially starts the whole plot rolling was creepy. The whole time they were talking about putting it in and watching it, I was having "The Ring" flashbacks. But no matter how much I begged the characters not to, they watched the creepy thing that would be the beginning of their end. Every time someone died, it was like pieces of a puzzle. All of the foreshadowing and overlaying of things came out perfectly. Gretchen McNeil is a genius and I was very impressed on how no clues were left out or didn't make sense. Everything in this story has a place, and even the most mundane conversations should be remembered and not taken lightly.

If there is no chance or a sequel doesn't make sense, the worst thing an author can do is leave parts hanging or leaving things between some characters incomplete. Thankfully, McNeil doesn't do any of that. By the end of this book, you will have no doubts on those who survive and what they mean to each other. THere are no doubts who the "killer" was, and nothing is left hanging. Almost like the book is wrapped in this neat little bow, without having a cheesy ending or being way to rushed. 

In conclusion, Ten is basically literary perfection in the mystery genre. Best one I have ever read. If you haven't read it yet, you are missing out! 

My Rating: 5 Stars!

About this Author:

Singer. Writer. Clown.

Gretchen is repped by Ginger Clark of Curtis Brown. Her YA horror/paranormal POSSESS debuts withBalzer + Bray for HarperCollins, August 23, 2011. Her second novel, TEN – YA horror/suspense about ten teens trapped on a remote island with a serial killer – also with Balzer + Bray is tentatively scheduled for aFall 2012 release.

Gretchen is a former coloratura soprano, the voice of Mary on G4's Code Monkeys and she currently sings with the LA-based circus troupe Cirque Berzerk. She is a founding member of vlog group the YARebels where she can be seen as "Monday," and she is an active member of both The Enchanted Inkpot, a group blog of YA and middle grade fantasy writers, and The Apocalypsies, a group blog of 2012 children's debut authors.

You can find Gretchen on Twitter, Facebook, and on her blog. 

Feature and Follow #3

Question: What writing device or trick most irritates you when reading a book? For example, if an author employs an omnipotent narrator that is sometimes considered bad form.

Answer: Such a great question! One of the most annoying things that I hate in a book is repetition. Don't get me wrong, repetition to a point is at times needed and unavoidable, but sometimes it is taken too far. For example, in The Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window every other page seemed to describe the characters as purring. Okay for a description for a particular character, or okay for certain situations, but it seemed like every character was at some point described as purring when they talked. Got on my nerves. :)

I love learning new words, I mean studying for the SAT in high school was great for me, love the big words, but when it seems that an author has gone through the story and replaced phrases or words that would work better with bigger words that just do not let the story flow, it gets on my nerves. The fact the author has written a book proves they are smart, wish some didn't feel the need to continue to try to prove it. We love you already authors, no need to try and impress us more. :)

The biggest problem I find in writing though is when an author switches the point of view, and gives no indication that it has changed. Most authors will have a break in the page, or start a new chapter, but in some of these adult books I have been reading the point of view changes IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARAGRAPH!!!! One minute I'm in a female characters head, and then the next I'm confused until I reread a section and decide that the author has to have changed to a new character point of view for the section to make sense. I would prefer a little warning before going around and changing point of view. Please don't tell me I'm the only one that feels this way! :)

What about you? What gets on your nerves when reading a book?

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins Cover Reveal!!!

Publication Date:  April 30, 2013 from HarperTeen

Book Blurb:

Anna Whitt, daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a claim. She’d been naive about a lot of things. Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Book 3 of The Sweet Trilogy, Sweet Reckoning, is slated for spring/summer 2014.

Links:

Author's website

Wendy Higgins on Twitter

Character Kaidan Rowe on Twitter

Sweet Peril on Goodreads 

Preorder on Amazon

Preorder on Barnes & Noble

Preorder on The Book Depository

Author's Facebook

Sweet Evil's Facebook

Author Bio:

Wendy Higgins was born in Alaska, grew up an Army brat, and lived all over the United States before settling in the Washington, DC area. She attended George Mason University for her undergrad degree in creative writing, and Radford University for her masters in curriculum and instruction. Wendy taught 9th and 12th grade English in a rural school before becoming a mother and author. She now lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and son.Sweet Peril is her second novel.

Shadow of the Mark by Leigh Fallon Cover Reveal!!!

From Leigh Fallon: About the cover

I know, there's no mistaking it. This is definitely a Carrier Series  cover, but that was the intention. After the amazing reception to the  cover of Carrier of the Mark, HarperCollins wanted Shadow's cover to  be instantly recognizable. And it is, but the new darker color palette  reflects the darker tone that this installment brings, and the pink  and purple really make it pop. I love it and think HarperCollins have  done another amazing job. I hope you like it too.

Summary:
Life for Megan Rosenberg just got a lot more complicated.

While she evoked the air element, and her feelings for Adam
intensified, a web of lies, deceit, and betrayal has been spun around  her.  With the Order tightening its hold, and the
reinstatement of the Mark Knights, Megan has more questions than  answers as the
Marked Ones grow in strength.

New people arouse suspicion, the DeRises start behaving
strangely, and Megan begins to unravel a destiny shrouded in mystery.  It?s a destiny the Order has struggled to hide,
and a destiny someone from the past?far in the past, has already laid claim to.

Alliances will be made, and friends will be lost, as the
Order?s dark secrets are revealed by the very thing they sought to destroy.

Links
Pre-order on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Mark-Leigh-Fallon/dp/0062128000/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1350828346&sr=1-1&keywords=shadow+of+the+mark+by+leigh+fallon

My website
http://www.leighfallon.com

Giveaway!!!!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/388e392/"  rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Bio:

I started out life in South Africa. A year later
my parents moved home to Dublin, Ireland. When I was older and realized my
parents had moved me from exotic Durban, to sedate Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, I
was rightly ticked off.

Giving up lions for sheep, I grew up in the foothills of
the Dublin Mountains where I went to a convent school and had to contend with
uniforms, gabardines, and nuns. When not dodging the beady glare of  the Sisters
of Mercy, I was devouring every book I could get my hands on.

I traveled all over Europe while working in banking and
treasury, but I gave up my calculator in favor of a keyboard and haven?t
stopped writing since. My first book, Carrier of the Mark, was published by
HarperTeen in 2011.

Our home is in Cork in the south of Ireland, but we?re currently on loan
to Massachusetts in the US where I continue to write books about  magic, ghosts,
and romance, with a bit of Irish flavor.

Follow Friday #2

Feature & Follow is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee andAlison Can Read.

For details on how this meme works, please click on the image above.

This week's question:

 Q: When you step out of your USUAL genre what do you like to read? Best books in that genre?

If I decide to read a book, it usually has a healthy dose of some sort of relationship/romance in it. To me a book just isn't the same without a couple of the characters exploring that part of there feelings. On the rare occasion that I do step out of paranormal romance or romance, I will either read paranormal or mystery. I don't really know what books are best for paranormal or mystery, but I guess a good book that fits into the mystery category that I read recently was TEN. Great book that had me quickly flipping through the pages! One of the best I have read so far that fits into that genre. 

What do you guys read when you step outside the box?

Forbidden by Syrie James & Ryan James

Summary:
She should not exist.

He should not love her.

Claire Brennan has been attending Emerson Academy for two years now (the longest she and her mom have remained anywhere) and she's desperate to stay put for the rest of high school. So there's no way she's going to tell her mom about the psychic visions she's been having or the creepy warnings that she's in danger.

Alec MacKenzie is fed up with his duties to watch and, when necessary, eliminate the descendants of his angelic forefathers. He chose Emerson as the ideal hiding place where he could be normal for once. He hadn't factored Claire into his plans. . . .

Their love is forbidden, going against everything Alec has been taught to believe. But when the reason behind Claire's unusual powers is revealed and the threat to her life becomes clear, how far will Alec go to protect her?

My Thoughts:

This was a great book! I loved the dual point of views! I think without them, the story wouldn't have made as much sense, and you wouldn't have seen how much Alec really really loves Claire!

The only problem I have with the book is that it is not a series. So far there are no plans for another book by either of the authors. To me that is just sad. The book ends after a major twist in the plot and you are left with a startling revelation and the introduction of Claire's grandmother!!! What better way to set up for another book in a series! There are so many questions left unanswered and Alec has finally decided to stop running and stay with Claire! It would be great to see their relationship develop more. 

Claire's friends are so supportive in this book. I was surprised she tells them her secret, but then very glad she does. I don't think she would have survived without them.

All in all a good read, but it left me with questions that I may never get answered! :(

Rating: 4 Stars!

Deity Trailer and Apollyon Cover Reveal

Deity (The third book in the Covenant Series) Available in both print and digital version on Nov. 6, 2012

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Official Deity Book Trailer

http://youtu.be/RIqKBYMSTU8

Did you read an ARC of Deity and been dying to get your hands on Elixir, the novella told in Aiden’s POV and picks up right after the end of Deity? Well, you don’t have to wait any longer. The free novella is available now. DO NOT read Elixir if you have not read Deity. It will spoil Deity for you and not to mention, you will have no idea what is going on.

Elixir will be available in print. Kindle, and Nook formats on November 27, 2012.

Click HERE to read Elixir.

And we’re super excited to share the cover for the 4^th book in the Covenant Series, Apollyon, which is due out April 2013.

Check out Jennifer L. Armentrout on the following sites:
Facebook
Twitter
Official Website

Follow Friday #1

So happy that I found Feature and Follow! So welcome to my blog and my FIRST Feature and Follow!!!!!

Q: What Book do you think would make a great Halloween movie? Please explain in graphic detail of goriness...

A: I would say Anna Dressed in Blood. I have only just started reading it, but the cover alone should be enough to nominate it for a Halloween movie! I'm not usually one to read books that are slightly creepy, but everyone has such good things to say about it that I had to give it a chance. Here's hoping that it doesn't freak me out too much. :) 

"Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story."

      Anyone else have any other ideas? 

If you follow please leave a comment so I know to make sure that I follow you back! :)

Seduction and Snack by Tara Sivec

Summary:
Claire is a twenty-something, single mom that grudgingly helps her best friend sell sex toys while she attempts to make enough money to start her own business to give her foul-mouthed, but extremely loveable (when he's asleep) toddler a better life. 

When Carter, the one-night-stand from her past that changed her life forever, shows up in her hometown bar without any recollection of her besides her unique chocolate scent, Claire will make it a point that he remembers her this time. 

With Carter's undisguised shock at suddenly finding out he has a four-year-old son and Claire's panic that her stretch marks and slim to none bedroom experience will send the man of her dreams heading for the hills, the pair will do whatever they can to get their happily ever after. (Summary by Goodreads.com)

Warning: contains explicit sex, profanity and enough sarcasm to choke a horse.

My Thoughts:
Holy Cow! This book was, without a doubt, the funniest book I have ever had the pleasure to read! Tara Sivec's style of writing is completely different from other adult books out there. This book should be read when no one else is around you. You will burst out laughing, there is no controlling it. I made the mistake of reading it at work, and people thought I was crazy. :)

Claire, who does NOT want children, experiences every women's worst nightmare while in college. She is pregnant, and can not find the father of her child. Which is really bad because she really really liked him, not just the sex. 

I really liked the dual point of views. The only thing I would change would be some sort of warning at the begging of the chapter. The first chapter through Carter's point of view, I didn't know it was dual point of view and was confused for a page or two. Once you get that down though, you will fall in love with Carter! He has secretly spent all of these years wishing he could find the girl that smells like chocolate. The girl who's virginity he stole, forgetting to get her name before he passed out. :) He is unbelievable sweet! His best friend Drew, it a riot! The t-shirts were my favorite part. 

I was so happy when they find each other again! There is not much in the way of story development, but there really doesn't need to be. You will be too busy laughing your butt off to worry about anything else. 

Gavin......if I ever have a child like him I don't know what I will do with myself. I can't even put into words how much that child cracked me up in this book. He really stole the show in parts. 

Adults only!!!!!!!! Contains profanity, sex, alcohol, and a bunch of other adult like things. :)

Rating: 5 Stars!

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Summary:
Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction. (Summary by Goodreads.com)

My Thoughts:
The first thing that caught my attention was the cover for this book. I think that this is one of the best covers of the year. By far my favorite! I was pleasantly suprised with how original the story was. There are a lot of YA books out there about the elements, but Fallon goes above and beyond to really create her own world!

The only negative I heart about the book was the info dumping. I can see why that might bother some readers, but the scene where most of the information was located was completely necessary. It allowed Fallon to focus on other parts of the story and not just Megan spending 300 pages trying to figure out all of the information about the elements. So I considered it a major selling point of the book.

The relationship Megan has with her father made me smile. They have so much respect for one another and so much love, it was very touching!

The anticipation of the relationship between Megan and Adam kept me reading. I was hoping that I wouldn't be disappointed and I was glad when Adam was finally the one to take the leap and break the rules! It really got the rest of the story rolling. I was stunned by what the Order had to say about their relationship. I kept thinking no way no way no way! Adam and Megan belong together! I pray that in the following two books that they are not forced to separate because of some prophecy!!

The ending was fantastic! I was so happy that Megan was able to find her element and use it so breathtakingly!!!! 

This is a great start to what I hope will be an amazing series!!!! A must read!

Rating: 4.5 Stars!

Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moseley

Summary:
Amber Walker and her older brother, Jake, have an abusive father. One night her brother's best friend, Liam, sees her crying and climbs through her bedroom window to comfort her. That one action sparks a love/hate relationship that spans over the next eight years.

Liam is now a confident, flirty player who has never had a girlfriend before. Amber is still emotionally scarred from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. Together they make an unlikely pair.

Their relationship has always been a rocky one, but what happens when Amber starts to view her brother's best friend a little differently? And how will her brother, who has always been a little overprotective, react when he finds out that the pair are growing closer? Find out in The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window. (Summary by Goodreads.com)


My Thoughts:
This book made me laugh, cry, angry, and satisfied. Beautifully written!

Amber has had a lot handed to her in life. While she still has some problems stemming from the abuse her father inflicted upon her, she has grown up into a beautiful young women. She doesn't wallow in self pity, she goes out every day and lives her life to the best of her ability. The love she and her brother have for one another is inspiring. makes me wish I had a big brother that would stand up for me the way that Amber's stands up for her. I almost wished he would just take out their father after what he did to them! 

Liam is perfect! He is exactly the person Amber needs and the only one that can calm her down when she starts to have a panic attack. I love how they have been sleeping together since they were children. He stole my heart when I found out why he calls her  Angel instead of her name!!!!

This book is in constant motion once their father comes back to town. I was so nervous that something horrific was going to go down, instead their family grew and Amber got to grow as a person! I loved how she stood up for herself and her family in the end!

If you haven't gotten to read this yet, please do! You will not be disappointed!

Rating: 4.5 Stars!

Across the Hall N.M. Facile

Summary:
Sylvia O'Mara has spent the last four years trying to get over her high school sweetheart, who after breaking off their relationship left town without any reasons. With the help of her friends she has moved on and started dating a mysterious bad boy. She isn't happy, but she's content; until she meets the new neighbor.


Quinn Lobato has recently moved to Minneapolis to finish college close to his parents. His mother found the perfect apartment for him close to campus and assured him it has everything he needs. Quinn has had his own hurtful past and is looking forward to starting med school and a new life.

Little do they know that what they each need is waiting just across the hall. (Summary by Goodreads.com)

My Thoughts:
When I picked up this book, I was worried this was one of those quick college romances that always end abruptly and are always way too short. Thank god that wasn't the case with this book. This book really lets the story develop. As much as Sylvia tries to hide it, she is still heartbroken by her high school sweetheart Quinn, even though she hasn't seen him in years. Quinn is also heartbroken, but thinks that Sylvia moved on without him, because he didn't want to break her heart, he did what he did because he loved Sylvia more than anything.

YOu get to see the story through Sylvia and through Quinn. I think that really was one 
of the best parts of the book. I love dual point of views.

This book kept me on my toes, and Sylvia's friends had be cracking up in parts. Beautiful friendships. The guy Sylvia dates through part of the book is just creepy. I wanted to ask her what in the world was she thinking.

A good read for one of those rainy days!

Rating: 4 Stars! 

Because of Low by Abbi Glines

Summary:

In my debut novel, Breathe, Sadie may have fallen in love with the teen rock star, Jax Stone, but readers fell head over heels for Marcus Hardy. This is his story…

Marcus Hardy had hoped to enjoy a year away at college while he put the summer he’d rather forget behind him. But instead, he’s jerked right back to the coastal town of Sea Breeze, Alabama due to a family crisis. His dear ol' dad found himself a girlfriend only a few years older than Marcus. So now his sister needs help dealing with their mother who is mentally falling apart. The only bright spot to returning is the fascinating red head who sleeps over several times a week. The problem is she's sleeping in bed with his new roommate, Cage York. 

Willow “Low” Foster needs a place to live. Running to Cage’s apartment every time her sister kicks her out isn’t exactly a long term solution. Juggling her courses at the local community college and a part time job doesn’t produce excess income. But Cage has a new roommate and suddenly sleeping over at her best friend’s apartment isn’t such a bad thing. Not when she gets to see those sexy green eyes of Marcus Hardy’s twinkle when he smiles at her like he wants her there. 
Even though Cage seems a little territorial where Low is concerned, Marcus finds time to spend with Low without upsetting his roommate. Cage may use his small college baseball star persona to sleep with every hot female in his path but he’s still under the disillusion that when he’s through sowing his wild oats, he’s going to marry Low. Marcus intends to change that assumption for both Cage and Low. Until his carefully laid plans come crashing down with a revelation he never expected. He’ll have to choose between Low or his family. Because once the truth comes out.... there’s no other choice.

My Thoughts:

I had really high expectations for this book since I loved Breathe. I even love the third book in this series, but Because of Low fell short for me. The writing was great, and the story line up until the end was great. But the problem I had with this book was the main character Low. 

I sympathized with her early on. Her life was not easy, and I was glad she had someone like Cage to help her through things. I was even tickled pink when she and Marcus get together. They were really good together and made each other happy. The problem for me started when we reach the climax of the book. Marcus thinks he has been betrayed by Low, her family, and his dad and Low does nothing. Understandably Marcus storms out of the room. 

He is so hurt and confused and just needs some air to breathe. Instead of trying to show him that she was just as surprised as she was, Low does nothing. She complains of how Marcus left her too. Just like everyone one else but Marcus has left her. I wanted to scream at this point. I don't get why she felt like the victim here. I kept waiting for her to try and make things right with Marcus, but it took Marcus's father to get that ball rolling and for Marcus to discover the truth on his own. At that point it was even questionable if Low would agree to be with Marcus again. I felt that the misunderstanding got blown completely out of proportion and I did not like how Low handled the situation. 

Overall a good book, but I just could not get past my difficulties with the main character.

Rating: 3 Stars!

Breathe by Abbi Glines

Summary:

Sadie White's summer job isn't going to be on the beach life-guarding or working at rental booths like most kids her age. With her single mother's increasing pregnancy and refusal to work, Sadie has to take over her mother's job as a domestic servant for one of the wealthy summer families on a nearby island.

When the family arrives at their summer getaway, Sadie is surprised to learn that the owner of the house is Jax Stone, one of the hottest teen rockers in the world. If Sadie hadn't spent her life raising her mother and taking care of the house she might have been normal enough to be excited about working for a rock star.

Even though Sadie isn't impressed by Jax's fame, he is drawn to her. Everything about Sadie fascinates Jax but he fights his attraction. Relationships never work in his world and as badly as he wants Sadie, he believes she deserves more. By the end of the summer, Jax discovers he can't breathe without Sadie


My Thoughts:

Sadie is the type of character that puts a smile on my face every time I read this book. She has taken on more responsibility than a girl of her age should have to. Sadie's mom is basically worthless and pregnant to top it off. Sadie is dreading the birth. It's not that she isn't happy to have a sibling, I think it's more of the fact of money. They can barely afford the two of them since Sadie is the only one working and soon they will have a baby to take care of  and babies are expensive.

Sadie is a fighter. The first day on the job, they turn her away because they were expecting her mother to be working for them not a young women. She stands up for herself and is given a day to prove that she is indeed there to work and not because it is the house of Jax Stone!!!

When we first meet Jax, Sadie is purely professional while he thinks that she has snuck in with the summer help to sneak into his room or ask for his autograph. Much to his surprise, Sadie is just a regular girl who just wants to pay the bills, which immediately puts her on his radar. And try as he might, he just can't stay away from her. Sadie treats him like he is just a normal guy and not a rock star. The two agree to a summer relationship, but after the paparazzi expose where Jax is and his new girlfriend Sadie. I understood why Jax does what he does, but man did I want to smack him at the same time. Sadie was completely destroyed. She loved him so much and felt so lost.

After the baby was born, things get even worse for Sadie. Her mom won't get out of bed, so she has to take care of her brother, got to school, and go to work. Things quickly spiral out of control and before I knew it, we were on the verge of losing Sadie! Thankfully Jax redeemed himself in the end. I don't think Sadie would have survived without him being there!

Beautiful book! I wouldn't change a thing and it is definitely a book that you can not  down once you start reading!

Rating: 4.5 Stars!