Giveaway[INTL]: Kait's Favorite Books of 2012

I am so excited to share my top ten of the year with you guys! I read 101 books this year, one over my goal, so I decided to celebrate with an end of the year list and giveaway.

Just a quick ratings recap of my year:
5 stars: 46
4 stars: 47
3 stars: 4
2 stars: 3
1 star: 1

Wow. That's a lot of five star books. Over this year I have learned a lot about reviewing books, and I know my reviews have gotten much better. While I have read a lot of great books, looking back I think that maybe only 15 or 20 really deserve that fifth star. I think that I will be posting more 4 and 3 star reviews in 2013.

Now, what you have all been waiting for:
THE GIVEAWAY!

Two lucky winners[yes, TWO!] will get to choose any book from my favorites list! I couldn't limit this list to ten books, I felt like I was leaving out too many, so I ended up with 15.
Official Rules:
-Winners can choose any e-book format OR any book from this list that is available on Amazon or The Book Depository[not all are available in hard copy format]
-International winners can choose any book if it's available on The Book Depository & it ships to your country[make sure you check!]
-If TBD does not ship to your country an e-book can be chosen instead.
-If there is a book in a series the winner may choose ANY book in that series.

UPDATE:
The amazingly awesome Colleen Hoover has offered to send out a sign book if anyone picks her books from the list. This includes Slammed, Point of Retreat[the second book to Slammed], or Hopeless. That's right, a SIGNED copy. God, I love this woman. She's so generous and amazing.
My Favorite Books of 2012

15, 14, & 13.

Obsidian, Onyx, & Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout
-I fell in love with Daemon Black & I never looked back. Every installment of this series gets better and better. I can't wait to see what 2013 brings for the Luxen crew.

12.

Transcend by Christine Fonseca
-Christine Fonseca writes books that read like the most beautiful poetry. I loved every word of this haunting story.

11.

Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park
-Jessica Park is hilarious, witty, and all around awesome. She proves that in Flat-Out Love. I can't wait to read her next book!

10.

UnWholly by Neal Shusterman
-I was anxiously awaiting this book, for about four years[seriously!]. I was not disappointed when I finally got my hands on it.

9.

Every Day by David Levithan
-This was one of the most original novels I've ever read. I'm hoping for a sequel so that I can get back into this fictional world.

8.

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
-This was a game changer for me. It was the first e-book I read, my first indie author, and it brought me back to my love of contemporary novels. Who didn't love Travis Maddox in 2012!?

7 & 6.

Reason to Breathe & Barely Breathing by Rebecca Donovan
-This series blew me away. I read both books in one night and cried for hours. The ending of BB has me dying to read Out of Breath, which is due out summer 2013.

5.

The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski
-This book came out of nowhere. I didn't expect much from it, but it gave me so much. I haven't written my review yet, but you can count on reading it soon.

4.

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
-This was one of the most moving, utterly gorgeous books I've ever read. Every one and their mother was recommending it, and after reading it I understood why.

3.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
-I was terrified to read this book. Teens with cancer? No thanks. After fighting it for months I finally cracked the spine and I'm so glad I did. Hazel and Augustus will be two of my favorite YA characters forever.

2.

Slammed by Colleen Hoover
-This will forever be known as the year I fell in love with Colleen Hoover. There is a moment in life when something changes you, even a little bit. The moment, or book, for me this year was Slammed. I have been shouting about this book from every rooftop.

1.

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
-I can't explain how much I loved this book. I felt every emotion possible while reading it. I was excited, scared, happy, sad, mad, etc. The best part about this book was the twist. I never saw it coming, and that is so very hard to do. Colleen Hoover is an amazing writer and person, and I expect that she will be on my favorites list in 2013.


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Winner of The Coincidence of Callie and Kaydence Ebook!

BIG

TRISHA RAI  

for winning our quick giveaway!!!

 

The Vixens will be doing another giveaway soon!

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Dual Review: The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden

*****First ever YA Vixens DUAL REVIEW!!!***

AND a Giveaway!

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen

There are those who don’t get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved.

Luck was not on Callie’s side the day of her twelfth birthday when everything was stolen from her. After it’s all over, she locks up her feelings and vows never to tell anyone what happened. Six years later her painful past consumes her life and most days it’s a struggle just to breathe.

For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence was the only way to survive life. As long as he did what he was told, everything was okay. One night, after making a terrible mistake, it seems like his life might be over. Luck was on his side, though, when Callie coincidentally is in the right place at the right time and saves him.

Now he can’t stop thinking about the girl he saw at school, but never really knew. When he ends up at the same college as Callie, he does everything he can to try to get to know her. But Callie is reserved and closed off. The more he tries to be part of her life, the more he realizes Callie might need to be saved.
  
[(New Adult Contemporary)**Mature Content** Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language.]

So we decided, that since we both read this, that we would do a dual review, but instead of reviews... we're gonna do some questions in the form of reviews! We both have a seperate review for this book, as well on the Facebook page & Goodreads!

We've also decided......

One lucky winner will get:

Ebook copy of  The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden 

from YA Vixens!!!

 Review Questions:

1. In 5 words or less, describe Callie, Kayden, and Seth.

Kait:
Callie – shy, strong, resilient, beautiful
Kayden – deep, sexy, mysterious 
Seth – Hilarious, protective, trustworthy

Beth:
Callie - Broken, Troubled, Brave, Reckless
Kayden - Sexy, Disturbed, Charming, Determined, Addictive
Seth - Quirky, Adorable, Nurturing, Playful


2. What are your favorite quotes from The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden?

Kait:
“I just never wanted to throw them away. Even if they were broken, I still loved them.” - Callie

“I've never felt like this before, with anyone. It's against the rules of surviving.” - Kayden

“I don't know what you're being so cocky about girl,” he says. “Take away that push up bra, fake tan, dyed hair, and fancy clothes, and all you'd be is a slightly overweight girl with a really bad nose job.” - Seth being all protective <3

“In the existence of our lives, there is a single coincidence that brings us together and for a moment, our hearts beat as one.” - Callie

 Beth:

“In the existence of our lives, there is a single coincidence that brings us together and for a moment, our hearts beat as one.”

 “I can do pain. That’s the easy part of life. It’s everything else, happiness, laughter, love, that’s fucking complicated.” 

 “There is something about someone trusting you enough with their secrets that it makes it easier to trust them. It’s like they’re opening their heart and in return yours should open up to them, too.”


 3. What was your Favorite moment?

Kait: The challenge at the carnival.

Beth: There was so many moments that I could have chose to be my favorite, but I think the moment when Callie finally tells Kayden her darkest and deepest kept secret, would have to be my favorite.


4. Was there any one thing you didn't like?

Kait: Callie's inability to stand up for herself. I liked Callie, and hated what she went through, but I always have a hard time with characters who don't stand up for themselves.  

Beth: Hah! Besides the mega cliff hanger of doom!? I really hated what happened to both Callie and Kayden. I hate that Callie kept her secret to herself for so long, letting it basically ruin every relationship she could build with anyone. I would have liked to see Callie show more of her strengths, than being reckless... but that who Callie is. 



5. What do you hope happens in the second book[no spoilers!]?

Kait: I hope that Seth gets a man. And I hope that Kayden and Callie can help heal each other.

Beth: I hope to see a little more of Luke's story and to see Seth quirkier than ever with boy-toy in tote. I also hope to see Callie and Kayden working through and exploring  their darkness' with one another.


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Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Title: Hopeless
Author: Colleen Hoover
Pages: 391
Rating: 5 out of 5
From Goodreads:
Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

Recommended for readers 17+ due to sexual content, harsh language and heavy subject matter.
-------

Let me start off by saying this is NOT a YA novel. It's a +17 novel[As stated above in the blurb]. Colleen Hoover has said this herself, and I just want to be sure that I stress that this novel may not be appropriate for all our readers. Also, this review may contain a few bad words.

“The things that knock you down in life are tests, forcing you to make a choice between giving in and remaining on the ground or wiping the dirt off and standing up even taller than you did before you were knocked down.”

When you've read a book and it becomes one of your favorites you will probably expect a lot from that author in the future. That's how I feel about Colleen Hoover. I absolutely loved Slammed and Point of Retreat, so I had very high expectations for Hopeless. I was not let down. Hopeless was just as amazing as her previous books. What starts off as somewhat of a typical story, a new girl in a new school where most everyone is cruel to her meets a sexy boy with a lot going on inside, turned into a beautiful winding journey that is definitely not what it seems to be. I got so lost in the pages that I couldn't pull myself away.

It's very hard to write a review for this book without giving anything away, but I promise no spoilers.

I'm very hard to surprise. I usually see the twists before they're coming, or I have a pretty good sense of what will happen when I'm reading. I did not see the twists coming in this book. When one particular secret was revealed I yelled, “What the fuck!” in the break room at work. I was sitting there with a half ignored sandwich, mouth hanging open, in utter and complete shock. I'm sure most readers can agree that it's hard to pull off a great twist. Colleen has done it with Hopeless.

The characters were great. Sky is witty as hell, and I love that. Her ignorance to all things technology was hilarious, especially in an age where most every teen has a cell phone glued to their hands every waking minute. The thing I liked most about Sky was her strength and resilience. Much like the quote above[which is from Sky], she always gets back up when she's knocked down.

Breckin, who's name I am in love with, had me at “If it isn't the whore of Babylon.” He is the comic relief of the book. And a lot of times it is needed. I wanted him to be my very bestest gay Mormon friend.

Dean Holder... I feel like I need a million ellipses after his name, just so I can continue to dwell on my love for him. There is not enough time to list all the things that made him so damn special. But I am going to try. He's intense in the best fucking way. Like burn a hole through you with a look intense. He's a gentleman. Seriously, he is. He's funny. He's sexy. He has dimples[who doesn't love those?]. He's not afraid to say what he's feeling, and that's the sexiest thing of all.

“You can't get mad at a real ending. Some of them are ugly. It's the fake happily ever afters that should piss you off.”

Colleen made me laugh, cry, scream, go into shock, cry more, and live with her story. And I can honestly say that this is the best book I've read all year. Don't wait another moment to read it.

-Kait[Vixen1]

Waiting On Wednesday # 18

"Waiting on" Wednesday is  a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases in which we are eagerly awaiting.


Kait [Vixen 1]'s pick-
 I was so excited to see that there was going to be a book about Beth, the badass girl I loved in Pushing the Limits. I'm a little confused that it's not Isaiah, but I'm still looking forward to reading it.

Dare you to - Katie McGarry
"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....
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Beth [Vixen 2]'s pick -  
Good god this book sounds fantastic! This novel looks as if it takes you on a hell of a journey through your emotions.

 Panic -  Sharon M. Draper

Diamond knows not to get into a car with a stranger.

But what if the stranger is well-dressed and handsome? On his way to meet his wife and daughter? And casting a movie that very night—a movie in need of a star dancer? What then?

Then Diamond might make the wrong decision.

It’s a nightmare come true: Diamond Landers has been kidnapped. She was at the mall with a friend, alone for only a few brief minutes—and now she’s being held captive, forced to endure horrors beyond what she ever could have dreamed, while her family and friends experience their own torments and wait desperately for any bit of news.

From New York Times bestselling author Sharon Draper, this is a riveting exploration of power: how quickly we can lose it—and how we can take it back.

 What's your WoW this week?

 Leave us a link and we'll stop by! 

Top Ten Tuesday:

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's Top Ten: 

Freebie
We chose "Favorite Quotes" as our Freebie ;)

Just a quick note before we give your our Top Ten quotes.
MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!!

Beth [Vixen 2]
here's just a few of quotes that mean something to me ;) 
 
“We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.”
― Veronica Roth, Divergent 


“He would die in this room, buried alive by the weight of his life.”
― Christine Fonseca, Transcend

“Becoming fearless isn't the point. That's impossible. It's learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it.”
― Veronica Roth, Divergent 

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches 

  “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”
― Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn 

“I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once.”
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars 
 

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!

“To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow - this is a human offering that can border on miraculous.”
― Elizabeth Gilbert, Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage  

 

“It's what you choose to believe that makes you the person you are.”
― Karen Marie Moning, Darkfever

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
― Albert Einstein 

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Title: Forbidden
Author: Tabitha Suzuma
Pages: 454Rating: 5 out of 5
From Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives--and the way they understand each other so completely--has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.

----

There are people who will not like this book. And I completely understand. It's not an easy read. Nothing about this book is easy, fun, or lighthearted. This book is heavy. There isn't any laughter and you definitely aren't going to find a happy ever after. I cringed, and paced, and pulled my hair, and yelled, and had to pause multiple times while I was reading Forbidden. Then I cried. A lot.

Lochan and Maya are the oldest in a family of five. Their mother is a neglectful, self centered, alcohol who is barely around since their dad split years ago. Soon they realize that raising their brothers and sister has brought them closer than just siblings. They're best friends, and they're in love. Lochan and Maya try to fight off the feelings because they know it's wrong, but they can't control the need to be together.

Yes, this is a book about incest. Let's just get the dirty word out there now. But this is not some romanticised view of incest. This book shows the very harsh results of the relationship. I do not, in any way, agree with this kind of relationship, but it was very hard to not want Maya and Lochan to have a happy ending. After getting a glimpse into their terrible family life I wanted there to be some other option for them.

The question that loomed in my mind was the same question that Maya and Lochan asked themselves, and each other. If their situation was different would they have fallen in love? If they hadn't taken on the roles of mother and father would they have ever been more than just siblings?

I couldn't feel anything but absolute sadness and pity for all the children, including Lochan and Maya. I wasn't able to swoon or fall in love with Lochan. I did care for him, but I couldn't get past the hurt child inside. Maya will do anything for her brothers and sister, and I liked her quite a bit. I really hoped for a happy ending for them, but I knew there was no possible happy ending in this story.

I tried to get into this book with an open mind, and I thought I did. Then the first kiss scene happened. I was so disturbed I had to stop reading. I've never felt so voyeuristic while reading intimate scenes. I have two brothers, ages twenty-eight and seven. I think that this would be a much different read for someone who doesn't have any siblings.

Overall, I found the book to be very well written, emotional, and thought provoking. I don't know if I'll be rereading any time soon, but I will recommend it.

-Kait[Vixen1]

We All Fall Down - Katlyn Charlesworth

We All Fall Down - Katlyn Charlesworth
Interview and Review

♥♥♥♥

 
INTERVIEW:

Just a little about Katlyn:

"I'm sort of a walking contradiction... I'm a spinner of tales, but forever a reader; an old soul, but young at heart; a total romantic, but a horror movie guru; a roller-coaster fanatic, yet always lightheaded. I think dogs are better than cats and I am convinced my fish has a crush on Audrey Hepburn. I think laughter is the best medicine and kissing is the best calorie burner. I think handwritten letters are better than typed ones. I think winter is way too cold, summer is way too hot, and fall is for football. And I think life is a beautiful thing..."

-- Katlyn Charlesworth

Katlyn Charlesworth is a sixteen-year-old Ohio native, who is convinced she has a more southern frame of mind, and grew up writing short stories. She also participated as a weekly columnist, reporter, and editor in her high school’s newspaper publication. Her first novel, We All Fall Down, is historical fiction, as is her newly released second novel, A Thousand Deaths. She enjoys listening to country music and wishes her days occurred in the form of a real life musical. She is a total romantic, but could spend the entire day watching horror films. If she could, she would buy a million vintage typewriters to write her novels with, as long as there was a magical, and somewhat futuristic, ‘delete’ key added in (it’s mandatory). Katlyn is working on her next novel, while being in-and-out of hospitals, due to her two chronic illnesses, (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), and is still hoping for that real life musical number! She currently resides with her parents, younger brother, and four dogs in Colorado. She was a '2012 Goodreads Choice Awards' nominee for Best Historical Fiction, Best Fiction, Best Young Adult Fiction, and Best Goodreads Author.

1. What inspired you to start writing?

A: I'm not sure if I could pinpoint exactly what it was that made me want to be an author. I think it was a culmination of things, actually. I have always been a big reader and an excellent English student throughout my school years. Writing for people was something that I knew I wanted to spend time doing, from very early on. However, being a typical teenager, I had no time to write an entire novel. When I was diagnosed with my chronic illnesses, I found myself stuck with a lot of free time on my hands because I was at home or in hospitals. Rather than do nothing, I felt driven towards doing what I always said I would do, but just never had the time for--writing. That was when I wrote We All Fall Down. Publishing my story was completely spur of the moment! I don't think I ever thought it would be published or that I would even have the courage to put it out far enough for just a couple people to read, had I not been blessed with the time to do so. In my second novel, A Thousand Deaths, I dedicated the book to Fate. Had I not been attending a doctor's appointment, I never would have found the inspiration behind my tale. So overall, I suppose you could say that being diagnosed with two chronic illnesses is what inspired me to write. :)

2. If you have the chance to give one piece of advice to your readers, what would it be?

A: Sometimes a hardship can be a blessing in disguise. I always wished to have the opportunity to be an author, but I never imagined my wish would be granted in the form it has been. I have missed out on a lot because of my health conditions, but I have been so very blessed as well! I am a firm believer in Fate/Destiny. Things happen for a reason and although that reason may not be clear at times, there is a purpose for everything we face in life.

3. Who is your all time favorite author?

A: That is a very tough question! Jane Austen and F. Scott Fitzgerald are just a couple of my all time favorite authors. I have read and enjoyed plenty of novels, but there are a select few that I truly consider my favorites--in which case, I will re-read them over and over again. :) Austen and Fitzgerald's novels (like Pride & Prejudice and The Great Gatsby) fall into such a category.

4. What is your favorite animal?

A: Another difficult question! I am a big lover of all animals, but I simply adore tigers and jellyfish. An odd combination, huh? :)

5. What is one of your most cherished memories?

A: The day I got my proof copy of We All Fall Down in the mail, I was ecstatic! I had been waiting weeks for it to arrive and I was thrilled to see the brown package in the mail box, with my name on it. Before then, it never really hit me that my book was published and out there for the world to read. When I held that first copy in my hands, I think that was when I felt like a true author. It was an over-the-moon moment. :)

6. Is there any particular reason you chose the bubonic plague for a story?

A: I really try to choose events from history that are either little-known or have few literary options for readers to choose from. I discovered my story for We All Fall Down from the old nursery rhyme, which I also took my title from. After researching, it struck me that I had found an excellent topic for a novel. I had started plenty of books, but never finished a single one. They simply did not appeal to me the way that We All Fall Down had. Whether it was that haunting poem or the historical event, itself, I knew that I had found the right story to write about.

Are you currently working on any novels?

A: It seems that I am always working on new story ideas, these days! There are so many that find a way into my brain, so after much debate, I finally settled on one... or maybe two. ;)

I am in the research and early writing stage for my next novel, which is also historical fiction. I hope to have it completed sometime next year!

8. What is the number one on your bucket list?

A: I'm not sure. I have so many things I want to do in my life! But if I had to pick one, I think it would be to travel to India. I have always had an obsession with the country since I was little--its beautiful culture, music, and people--and it is a true desire of mine to travel there someday. Perhaps my future novel will take place in India? ;)

9. What do you never leave home without?

A: I always have to have a bottle of SmartWater and my salt shaker. Before everyone starts wondering if I am insane, let me explain. My health conditions require that I drink at least four liters of water a day (a lot more than the average human being) and take in a lot of sodium! So if you ever see me with my purse stuffed with a liter of water and a salt grinder--you now know why. ;)

10. Can you tell my readers where they can stalk you?

A: Absolutely!

Feel free to stalk me at any of these places:

Website: katlyncwrites.webs.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KatlynCharlesworth

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KatlynCWrites

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/KatlynC

I also encourage people to email me at katlyncwrites@gmail.com anytime! :)

I'd like to give a big Thank you to Katlyn Charlesworth for being super awesome and giving YA Vixens an interview! You're amazing! I hope you all enjoy! Oh, and Go read this story! ;) 
-Beth



REVIEW:
Over the summer I was very active as a "street team" member for Katlyn Charlesworth. In return for my participation, I wound up winning a signed copy of We All Fall Down! I will tell you. The second I received this book, I started to read it!

"Ring around the Rosie
Pocket full of Posie
Ashes, Ashes,
We all fall down!"
Do you know the meaning of this well known children's song? If you don't and would like to know what it means, and be drawn into a romance from the ages, this is the novel for you[Even if you do know]!

In 14th century Europe, the Bubonic Plague(Black Plague) hit hard. In Katlyn Charlesworth's debut Novel, she takes you on a journey through the hardship of love, life, and death. This is an excellent Romance/History novel. Katlyn blends historical references, the french language, romance, and tragedy together. For being so young when she wrote this novel, I consider her very talented and can't wait for her future novels. This novel will take you on an emotional journey through grief, love, and happiness.

The main character Jemma takes you into her personal thoughts, fears, and dreams. After her older sister tells her she's leaving, Jemma ends up struggling with her mother, taking over care of her younger siblings. All she wants is her freedom. After her sister is gone, she is told by her mother that she is going to have an arranged marriage. Jemma is FURIOUS! (Who wouldn't be). Enter Henry. Oh, Henry. I fell in love with you, just as Jemma did.

The only reason why I gave this 4 hearts, instead of 5 is because of the length. I would like to have seen the story extended. However, it was well thought out, transitioned amazingly, and was an absolutely beautiful read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like I said, my only quarrel with it was that I thought it was short.

-Beth [Vixen 2]

Long Lankin - Lindsey Barraclough

Long Lankin - Lindsey Barraclough

♥♥♥

 

"Said my lord to my lady, as he mounted his horse,
Beware of Long Lankin that lives in the moss.
Said my lord to my lady, as he rode away
Beware of Long Lankin, that lives in the hay.
Let the doors be all bolted and the windows all pinned,
Except one little window,
where Long Lankin crept in..."

I don't know where to start... I liked this book. The first few pages of this book will draw you in, I mean is that not creepy? I was intrigued just by the passage above. Although I'm not upset about it, I'm not ecstatic about it either. Not being from England, where this novel takes place.. was very difficult for me. I mean yes, I get it.. you're basing the book in England, so you should have the correct language. However, I felt like at times I needed an urban dictionary, because I just couldn't get past some of the slang. You can pretty much guess what the word means, but at times that was all I could think about... distracting me from reading.

This is one of the slowest paced books I have read. *Note* I did NOT say boring! I'm not using this as a criticism, to the Author either. The book was well written, albeit at times confusing to me. I think, that Lindsey could have toned it down a little on the details. Details are good, but an over excessive use of details just takes me away and distracts from the actual story.

Being a "horror" story, I wasn't scared during this, creeped out? Yeah.. kinda. Long Lankin can definitely be perceived as terrifying... if you're a bit younger and more easily influenced than I am, it could totally get a rise out of you. I will say there were a few disturbing scenes, as in all you can think is "OMG that's disgusting". Lindsey did a great job with the gruesome parts, making you feel like you're really seeing, hearing, smelling what is written on the pages.

Being Lindsey's first novel, I think she did an amazing job. I would definitely read another one of her books, may it be a follow up to Long Lankin or a stand alone. 

-Beth [Vixen 2]

Waiting On Wednesday #17

"Waiting on" Wednesday is  a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases in which we are eagerly awaiting.

Kait [Vixen 1]'s Pick - 
I'm completely hooked on this series and so excited that this book is going to be in Lena and Hana's POVs. I'm still pissed about that serious slap in the face at the end of Pandemonium, but I can't wait to see where the story goes.

Requiem - Lauren Oliver
Expected Publication: March 5th, 2013

 

Goodreads Blurb:

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor. Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

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Beth [Vixen 2]'s pick -
After reading the first installment in the Tempest series, I fell in love with Jackson and Holly! I'm excited to see where Julie takes them in this novel.

Vortex - Julie Cross

Expected Publication - January 15th 2013 

Goodreads Blurb:
 Julie Cross's Vortex is the thrilling second installment of the Tempest series, in which the world hangs in the balance as a lovelorn Jackson must choose who to save.
Jackson Meyer has thrown himself into his role as an agent for Tempest, the shadowy division of the CIA that handles all time-travel-related threats. Despite his heartbreak at losing the love of his life, Jackson has proved himself to be an excellent agent. However, after an accidental run in with Holly—the girl he altered history to save—Jackson is once again reminded of what he's lost. And when Eyewall, an opposing division of the CIA, emerges, Jackson and his fellow agents not only find themselves under attack, but Jackson begins to discover that the world around him has changed and someone knows about his erased relationship with Holly, putting both their lives at risk all over again.

 What's your WoW this week?

 Leave us a link and we'll stop by! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I read in 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's Top Ten: 

Books I Read In 2012

Beth's Top Ten:

 1.                                             2.
          

Lux Series - Jennifer L. Armentrout

3.

  

Stolen Night [Infinite Days Series] - Rebecca Maizel

4.                                             5.

           

Divergent Series - Veronica Roth

 6.                                           7.

          

Providence Series - Jamie Mcguire

8.

Tiger's Destiny [Tiger's Curse Series] - Colleen Houck

9.                                                 10.

                

Hereafter Series - Tara Hudson

***These are some of my all time favorite books. There was so many I could choose from, but to narrow it down is almost unfathomable! So here they are. Just to spotlight a few. I really wanted to add Opal to this list, but alas I don't have it yet! There were a few others I debated over... as well. I decided that instead of just doing the latest editions I read, because I read these in 2012, that I would stick to series that I read this past year. I hope you enjoy my list! Pictures are linked to their Goodreads page.*** 

-Beth [Vixen 2]  ;)

Kait's Top Ten:

*Please excuse the lack of list! Kait has been super duper busy with work!

 The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

 

 

I know she'd make me put that on the list, so Unfortunately due to the Merry Season, We've kind of been neglectful to the blog [cringes]. We're very sorry! I hope you all understand!!! It's a hectic time of year. I've been shopping for my son, [Spoiled rotten brat...] and Kait is completely wrapped up in work. [Her company doesn't pay her enough for what she does for them!]

 

 Anyways. That was my Top Ten list, what's yours!? Comment and one of us will be sure to stop by!