(ARC) YA Book Review: Once by Anna Carey

Release Date: 3 July 2012

Publisher:  Harper Collins
Format: eARC
Source: Edelweiss

Get a copy! Amazon| B&N

Goodreads description:

When you're being hunted, who can you trust?

For the first time since she escaped from her school many months ago, Eve can sleep soundly. She's living in Califia, a haven for women, protected from the terrifying fate that awaits orphaned girls in The New America.

But her safety came at a price: She was forced to abandon Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. When Eve gets word that Caleb is in trouble, she sets out into the wild again to rescue him, only to be captured and brought to the City of Sand, the capital of The New America.

Trapped inside the City walls, Eve uncovers a shocking secret about her past--and is forced to confront the harsh reality of her future. When she discovers Caleb is alive, Eve attempts to flee her prison so they can be together--but the consequences could be deadly. She must make a desperate choice to save the ones she loves . . . or risk losing Caleb forever.

My Thoughts...

(ARC) YA Book Review: Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Release Date: 1 October 2012

Publisher: Sourcbooks Fire
Format: ARC
Source: Around the World ARC Tours

Goodreads description:

After a scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won't turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys--a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far...especially when he starts flirting back.

My Thoughts...

YA Book Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Release Date: 27 March 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N

Goodreads description:

KATE WINTERS HAS WON IMMORTALITY.

BUT IF SHE WANTS A LIFE WITH HENRY IN THE UNDERWORLD, SHE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone.

My Thoughts...

YA Book Review: The Forgetting Curve by Angie Smibert

Release Date: 15 May 2012

Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N

Goodreads description:

Aiden Nomura likes to open doors—especially using his skills as a hacker—to see what’s hidden inside. He keeps pulling until one cracks open. Aiden exposes the flaw, and the universe—or someone else—will fix it. It’s like a game.

Until it isn’t.

When a TFC opens in Bern, Switzerland, where Aiden is attending boarding school, he knows things are changing. Shortly after, bombs go off within quiet, safe Bern. Then Aiden learns that his cousin Winter, back in the States, has had a mental breakdown. He returns to the US immediately. But back home in Hamilton, Winter’s mental state isn’t the only thing that’s different. The city is becoming even stricter, and an underground movement is growing. Aiden slowly cracks open doors in this new world. But behind those doors are things Aiden doesn’t want to see—things about his society, his city, even his own family. And this time Aiden may be the only one who can fix things... before someone else gets hurt.

My Thoughts...

YA Book Review: Surrender by Elana Johnson

**If you haven't read POSSESSION, might I suggest checking out that review instead? I've tried to keep this one as spoiler free as possible but it's difficult with sequels!** 

Release Date: 5 June 2012

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N
(I pre-ordered my copy & you should too!)

Goodreads description:

Forbidden love, intoxicating power, and the terror of control…

Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.

All of that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine’s got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can’t. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi’s boyfriend, Zenn. Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine’s father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. She’s even starting to suspect Vi’s secrets might involve Freedom’s newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque....

My Thoughts...

SSC - February giveaway!

The year is well underway now! I hope you've had a chance to check out one or more of the fantastic sequels that were released in January! I know I only got around to one (Hallowed by Cynthia Hand) and it was fabulous!  Don't forget that there's a link-up post where you can share your reviews for the challenge. It is a bi-monthly thing so use the same post for February reviews as you did for the January ones (or go link some posts if you haven't done so yet!)

February Sequel Releases:
*Books you can consider reading for the challenge!

• Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver
• A Touch Morbid (A Touch Mortal #2) by Leah Clifford
• The Wood Queen (The Iron Witch #2) by Karen Mahoney
• The Nightmare Garden (The Iron Codex #2) by Caitlin Kittredge
• Fever (The Chemical Garden #2) by Lauren DeStefano
• A Beautiful Evil (Gods & Monsters #2) by Kelly Keaton
• Allegiance (Legacy #2) by Cayla Kluver

First up, the winner of the January SSC giveaway was...

Michelle @ Book Briefs!!

Also, I have the second SSC giveaway coming at you! This month, I'm giving you a choice of a paperback release of the first book in a series (with a 2012 sequel or companion coming out).  Maybe you missed this title last year or maybe you borrowed it from the library and never got your own copy.  Whatever the case may be, here are the choice's for this month's giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

YA Book Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Release Date: 

Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Goodreads description:

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

My Thoughts...

2012 Reading Challenges - Tracking Post

This is the post that I will update with my challenge progress throughout the year for the three year-long challenges that I'm participating in.

Sensational Seconds YA Reading Challenge - hosted by ME! 

1. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

2. Allegiance by Cayla Kluver

3. Until I Die by Amy Plum

4. Insurgent by Veronica Roth

5. Surrender by Elana Johnson

6. The Forgetting Curve by Angie Smibert

7. Thumped by Megan McCafferty

8. Goddess Interrupte by Aimee Carter

9. Once by Anna Carey

10. Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

11.

12.

13.

The Debut Author YA/MG Reading Challenge - hosted by Kristi, The Story Siren.

1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

3. Everneath by Brodi Ashton

 4. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

5. May B. by Caroline Starr Rose

6. The Invisible Tower by Nils Johnson-Shelton

7. The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

8. The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

9. Digit by Annabel Monaghan

10. The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers

11. Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin

12. Slide by Jill Hathaway

13. The Other Life  by Susanne Winnacker

14. Kiss the Morning Star by Elissa Jane Hoole

15. Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig

16. Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein

17. Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt

18. Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Wolf Shaw

The Sophomore Reading Challenge - hosted by Shayn, Chick Loves Lit

1. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

2. The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

3. New Girl by Paige Harbison

4. The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

5. Pieces of Us by Maggie Gelbwasser

6. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

7.

8.

9.

10.

1.Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
2.  Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

3. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

4. Between Sea & Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

5. Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber

6. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

7.I Am J by Chris Beam

8. The Duff by Kody Keplinger

9. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

10. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

11. What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

12. Saints of Augustine by P.E. Ryan

2012 Sensational Seconds Challenge - Link Up Your Reviews!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Welcome to the first month of 2012 and thus the first month of the 2012 Sensational Seconds YA Reading Challenge!  Remember the goal is to read anywhere from 1-4 or 13+ YA/MG sequels that are being released in 2012.  You can check out the rules and sign up HERE.

December 2011 SSC - 2012 Is Almost Here!

We're just days away from the start of 2012 and I wanted to write up a quick post thanking those who have already signed up for the 2012 Sensational Seconds Challenge!  I'm really excited to do this challenge this year and I hope that those of you who are participating in the challenge are excited to get started!  I wanted to share a few things in preparation for January...

January Sequel Releases:
*Books you can consider reading for the challenge!

• Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand 
• A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) by Beth Revis
• Jessica Rules the Dark Side (Jessica #2) by Beth Fantaskey
• Dreaming Awake (Falling Under #2) by Gwen Hayes
• Darkness Falls (Immortal Beloved #2) by Cate Tiernan
• Truth (XVI #2) by Julia Karr
• Havoc (Deviants #2) by Jeff Sampson
• Black Moon (Silver Moon #2) by Rebecca Rogers
• Angel Fire (Angel Trilogy #2) by L.A. Weatherly
• Fool's Silver (Mortal Kiss #2) by Alice Moss

Early Reviews for 2012 Sequels:
*from SSC participants

• A Million Suns by Beth Revis (from Kaye @ The Paper Reader)  
• A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford (from Heather @ Proud Book Nerd)
• Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton (from me)
• Hallowed by Cynthia Hand (from Chelsey @ Sarry Sky Books)
• Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (from Chelsey @ Starry Sky Books)

Also, I have the first SSC giveaway coming at you! I'm giving away my copy of A Million Suns by Beth Revis!  One lucky participant has the opportunity to win this January sequel--just fill out the Rafflecopter form below!  Haven't signed up for the challenge yet?  You can do that HERE! There are lots of levels that you can participate at--pick whatever you're comfortable committing to! :)

Also, if you've been blogging for six months or longer, you can consider joining Around the World ARC Tours.  They have been posting quite a few 2012 sequels lately, and I'm sure that the trend will continue into the new year!

Anyway, the giveaway is International, although I'm sure that my wallet is going to protest that fact. :) (Note: International winner MAY receive a Book Depot order instead, depending on $$) Also, maybe you haven't had a chance to read Across the Universe?  Well, then here's the deal, if you would prefer, I'm totally willing to get you a paperback copy of that instead. I mean, you can't read the sequel unless you've read the first one, right?  So....enter away!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2012 Sensational Seconds Challenge

I now that it may surprise some of you, but I've decided to participate in the 2012 Sensational Sequels Challenge hosted...HERE!  As the creator, how could I not, right? :-)  I'm super excited about many of the sequels coming out in 2012, so without further ado, here's what I'm hoping to accomplish for this challenge next year!

Participation Level:

• Level 4 (Crazy): 13+ sequels

My "Top 13" Sequels to Read in 2012:

1. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
2. Until I Die by Amy Plum
3. Dreamless by Josephine Angelini
4. Arise by Tara Hudson
5. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
6. Fever by Lauren Destefano
7. Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh
8. Outpost by Anne Aguirre
9. The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge
10. Perception by Kim Harrington
11. The Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
12. Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick
13. Surrender by Elana Johnson

That is by no means the definitive list of the sequels that I plan on reading in 2012.  There are simply way too many fabulous books coming out for me to even begin listing! I think I started listing them all and got to 25 before I realized it was a bit silly to do so.

So...are you participating? Be sure to write up your own post and sign-up HERE. :-)

2012 Sensational Seconds Challenge - Sign-Ups!

This is the first time I've ever hosted a challenge so I hope you'll stick with me throughout the year! It's going to be a learning process for sure.  I fell in love with so many debut authors and series this past year that I just couldn't get the idea for this challenge out of my head! I'm hoping that it works out and I can keep it up in future years. :-)

The Books:

• This challenge is specifically focused on YA and MG "seconds" being published between Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2012. This includes sequels (the second book in a series only) and companion novels!(If you want a "bonus" challenge that pairs well with this, be sure to check out Shanyn @ Chick Loves Lit's Sophomore Reading Challenge!)
• I've started a Goodreads list HERE that can help you keep up with some of the upcoming sequels/companions (there are 95 books on the list so far!).  Be aware that this list is not necessarily comprehensive, although I've been trying my best to keep it updated.
  
• This list is just the US sequels being released in 2012.  I'll openly admit that I don't keep up with foreign releases.  If you live in another country, feel free to post reviews for newly released sequels in your country!
• The books must be read between January 1 and December 21, 2012 to count towards the challenge.  I know some people have been lucky enough to read some sequels prior to 2012, but those won't be counted towards this challenge.

The Challenge:

• The goal of the SSC will be to read sequels/companion novels! *duh* There are four different levels that you can choose to participate at:
• Level 1 (Beginner): 1-4 books
• Level 2 (Intermediate): 5-8 books
• Level 3 (Advanced): 8-12 books
• Level 4 (Crazy): 13+ books
• Anyone can join! You don't have to be a blogger specifically, but you do need to review the sequels that you read somewhere (such as Goodreads, LibraryThing, Shelfari, etc.) in English
• There will occasionally be giveaways! (Still TBD...but they'll be for participants only)
• You can join anytime! Just set your goal and get started!

I'd love it immensely if you could write up a brief post on your blog (if you're a blogger) saying that you're going to join in the challenge (but you don't have to and I'll still <3 you for signing up).  If you don't have a blog, link up to your profile where you will post reviews (Goodreads, etc.). Feel free to include the button from above (or make your own brand new one to share)!