(ARC) THE MYSTERY OF HOLLOW PLACES BY REBECCA PODOS

T H E  M Y S T E R Y  O F  H O L L OW  P L A C E S
BY REBECCA PODOS
Category: Young Adult
Genre: Mystery
Expected Publication: January 26th, 2016 by Balzer & Bray
Format Acquired: ARC
Source: HarperCollins International

All Imogene Scott knows of her mother is the bedtime story her father told her as a child. It's the story of how her parents met: he, a forensic pathologist, she, a mysterious woman who came to identify a body. A woman who left Imogene and her father when she was a baby, a woman who was always possessed by a powerful loneliness, a woman who many referred to as troubled waters.

When Imogene is seventeen, her father, now a famous author of medical mysteries, strikes out in the middle of the night and doesn't come back. Neither Imogene's stepmother nor the police knows where he could've gone, but Imogene is convinced he's looking for her mother. She decides to put to use the skills she's gleaned from a lifetime of her father's books to track down a woman she's never known, in order to find him and, perhaps, the answer to the question she's carried with her for her entire life. 

Rebecca Podos' debut is a powerful, affecting story of the pieces of ourselves that remain mysteries even to us - the desperate search through empty spaces for something to hold on to.

"They could be lonely wherever they were, But not us, Immy. We have each other. So we'll never, ever have to feel that way."

I haven't read any mystery book in a while, so I thought, why not start the year with one? Besides, the title and synopsis of the book look interesting, so I decided to start reading this one.

The Mystery of Hollow Places is about a girl named Imogene, who is in search of her missing father. She looked up into the clues that she thought her father left for her, and, later on, found herself also searching for her mother who left them when she was two. I think it's really sad, not knowing the real reason why her parents ran away, and there she is, searching for clues, trying to track one of them so she could find the other. 

"I think he left the heart for me not as a clue, but as a map. Hoping just this once I would see it too, the picture in the stars, and use it to find my way to him."

Things got more exciting when Imogene used her dad's own novels to track him down. That's a really smart move for a girl of her age. and she's got a very positive character. I like that, unlike others who easily give up and start self-pitying for themselves when things get tough. Plus, there's Jessa, her only friend whom she can really rely on, who helped her more than enough. Jessa's character is like those Queen B's at high schools, but I liked her because of the things she did for Imogene.

"I don't know what it adds up to, but I know it leads somewhere. And how do I know that? Faith. In Dad, and in mysteries."

I also like the fact that this book didn't give any focus on romance, but gave a small hint of it. It didn't lose it's emphasis on Immy's search for her missing parents even though she's with a guy she's interested with -- Chad, Jessa's brother. Also, Lindy, her stepmom, played a huge role in this book. She has always been there for Imogene even when her father went missing. She tried to understand her and did her best to help with the case. In short, she's not one of those stepmoms you'd hate.

This book is about mental illness and depression, and how it can affect a person and his or her family, how selfless one may become because of it, how that person no longer cares about how the others would feel, as long as he/she knows it's for the better.

I'm glad this book didn't disappoint me. Take note, this is the author's first novel and she did a great job! Imogene now belongs to the strongest female characters I know. She's a smart and tough girl for her age! I admire her fighting spirit! I totes recommend this to everyone who's into mystery and positive girl fighting spirit.

"This Valentine's Day. . .maybe a stone heart counts as a Valentine after all."

4 out of 5 Pandas

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: REBECCA PODOS

Rebecca Podos' debut YA novel, THE MYSTERY OF HOLLOW PLACES, is forthcoming from Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins) on 1/26/16. A graduate of the Writing, Literature, and Publishing program at Emerson College where she won the M.F.A. Award for Best Thesis, her fiction has been published in Glimmer Train, Glyph, CAJE, Paper Darts, Bellows American Review, and Smokelong Quarterly. Past Awards include the Helman Award for Short Fiction, the David Dornstein Memorial Creative Writing Prize for Young Adult Writers, and the Hillerman-McGarrity Scholarship for Creative Writing. She works as a YA and MG agent at the Rees Literary Agency in Boston

STACKING THE SHELVES #19: WINTER '16 EDITION

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is a great way to showcase books you've recently added to your bookshelves. It is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and, of course, ebooks!

But for my STS, I'll be showing here only the physical copies of books I recently owned/borrowed/won. eBooks/eARCs will be showcased on my In My Mailbox posts.

Here's my first book haul this year! Special thanks to Sarah and Megan of HarperCollins International for these review copies!

The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows

I am a huge fan of Jodi Meadows! She's my writing goddess! I LOVE LOVE LOVE her Newsoul Trilogy!I started reading The Orphan Queen last year but unfortunately, it was affected by my reading slump. Thanks to my book fairy, Kazhy from My Library in the Making for the ARC! I love you!!! Hopefully, I could continue reading it sooner so I can indulge into this huge book as well!

This Is Where The World Ends by Amy Zhang

I loved Falling Into Place so much! Amy Zhang gave me extreme kinds of feels and I can feel that this one will give me even more!

The Mystery Of Hollow Places by Rebecca Podos

I think this book will also give me all kinds of feels this year. I'm glad I received a review copy of this because upon reading the synopsis on Goodreads, I already knew that this book will be one of those books that will get me back to my reading game. By the way, this is the first book that I'll read this year!

How about you? What's added to your haul? :)

{Blog Tour} ARC Review + Dream Cast + Giveaway: THE VINEYARD by Michael Hurley

THE VINEYARD
BY MICHAEL HURLEY

Genre: Fiction

Expected Publication November 25th 2014 by Ragbagger Press
Format Acquired: ARC
Source: Publisher

Purchase: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

From Michael Hurley, winner of the Chanticleer Reviews Grand Prize for his debut novel, THE PRODIGAL, comes a complex and ambitious tale of old money, young passion, and ancient mystery in a classic New England seaside town. 

Dory Delano, Charlotte Harris, and Turner Graham have been drifting through life since their days as roommates at Smith College, ten years ago. Dory is resisting taking the reins of her family’s legacy and fortune even as she relishes the fabulous lifestyle it affords her in the fashionable seaside resort of Martha’s Vineyard. She invites her old friends to join her for a summer on the Vineyard in hopes of rediscovering the innocence of old days and healing new wounds. But hidden in their midst and unknown to all but a few, a reclusive—some say dangerous—fisherman wanders alone, fueling wild speculation about his purpose and his past. None of these women can imagine the events their encounter with the fisherman will set in motion, the shadow he will cast over their destinies, or the transformation that awaits the world they know. 

MY REVIEW

First of all, I would like to give a huge thanks for sending me a physical ARC of the book! Please take note that this in no way affected my review and rating on the story.

I love reunions. It's the best part of life when friendship just drifted away years ago. It's good to hear about their stories, how they have been all this time, what's new and what's still the same, and most of all, rekindling the laughter you shared a long time ago.

The books I read mostly fall under fantasy and romance. But I knew that every now and then, I need a good book that talks about friendship and life. The one that talks about pain and how to overcome them, not just about love and romance. And this is what Michael Hurley brought us -- friendship, life, reunions.

Ten years after graduation, Dory, Turner and Charlotte reunited once again at Martha's Vineyard, catching up with their lives. Dory was being forced to marry someone she doesn't love; Charlotte lost her child and the pain wanted her to commit suicide; and Turner, now a famous blogger. Although so much has changed over the years, they never expected that meeting "the fisherman" will change their lives.

THE VINEYARD DREAM CAST

Of course, all of us have their dream casts on the books we love. So for the story behind Michael Hurley's work, here's what the survey said:

A M A N D A  S E Y F R I E D  as  D O R Y  D E L A N O

G E M M A  A R T E N T O N  as  T U R N E R  G R A H A M

S H A I L E N E  W O O D L E Y  as  C H A R L O T T E  H A R R I S

MY RATING

BOOK TRAILER

GIVEAWAY

Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

10 Winners will receive a Copy of The Vineyard by Michael Hurley.

20 Winners will receive a Signed Bookmark of The Vineyard by Michael Hurley.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael Hurley

Michael Hurley and his wife Susan live near Charleston, South Carolina. Born and raised in Baltimore, Michael holds a degree in English from the University of Maryland and law from St. Louis University.

The Prodigal, Michael’s debut novel from Ragbagger Press, received the Somerset Prize for mainstream fiction and numerous accolades in the trade press, including Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, ForeWord Reviews, BookTrib, Chanticleer Reviews, and IndieReader. It is currently in development for a feature film by producer Diane Sillan Isaacs. Michael’s second novel, The Vineyard, is due to be released by Ragbagger Press in December 2014.

Michael’s first book, Letters from the Woods, is a collection of wilderness-themed essays published by Ragbagger Press in 2005. It was shortlisted for Book of the Year by ForeWord magazine. In 2009, Michael embarked on a two-year, 2,200 mile solo sailing voyage that ended with the loss of his 32-foot sloop, the Gypsy Moon, in the Windward Passage between Cuba and Haiti in 2012. That voyage and the experiences that inspired him to set sail became the subject of his memoir, Once Upon A Gypsy Moon, published in 2013 by Hachette Book Group.

When he is not writing, Michael enjoys reading and relaxing with Susan on the porch of their rambling, one-hundred-year-old house. His fondest pastimes are ocean sailing, playing piano and classical guitar, cooking, and keeping up with an energetic Irish terrier, Frodo Baggins.

Author Links: Website / Goodreads / Facebook

(ARC) Review + Giveaway: NOT IN THE SCRIPT by Amy Finnegan

 

NOT IN THE SCRIPT
BY AMY FINNEGAN
Series: If Only. . . #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published October 7th 2014 by Bloomsbury Children's
Format Acquired: e-ARC
Source: Publisher (Thanks, Griffin, Jean, and Amy!)

Millions of people witnessed Emma Taylor’s first kiss—a kiss that needed twelve takes and four camera angles to get right. After spending nearly all of her teen years performing on cue, Emma wonders if any part of her life is real anymore . . . particularly her relationships.

Jake Elliott’s face is on magazine ads around the world, but his lucrative modeling deals were a poor substitute for what he had to leave behind. Now acting is offering Jake everything he wants: close proximity to home; an opportunity to finally start school; and plenty of time with the smart and irresistible Emma Taylor . . . if she would just give him a chance.

When Jake takes Emma behind the scenes of his real life, she begins to see how genuine he is, but on-set relationships always end badly. Don’t they? Toss in Hollywood’s most notorious heartthrob and a resident diva who may or may not be as evil as she seems, and the production of Coyote Hills heats up in unexpected—and romantic—ways.

This novel in the deliciously fun If Only romance line proves that the best kinds of love stories don’t follow a script.

MY REVIEW

This book is probably one of the cutest romance novel I've read! I had so much fun reading and the characters were funny as well. This is such a great read because this is not your typical insta-love and insta-sex books. I was smiling the whole time reading!

"You never know. You can't help who you fall for."

Emma, our main character, is a famous actress that's known for her lovelife issues: she was always dumped by guys and she never seemed to learn from them. On the other hand, she's not like the other TV stars -- she's not a spoiled brat, and she's not a bitch. In fact, she's a friendly, and sweet woman to her co-starts and everyone around her. While Jake (Hot guy alert!) here is a model gone to being an actor who doesn't really want to be in the industry if it weren't for the money that his family needs. There is also Emma's bestfriend, Rachelle, drooling all over her dream man and what she (they) call "The Bod". Who is he? Secret! :P Then there's Brett, a famous actor known for his good looks and charm for girls AND Emma's long time crush. But when they finally worked together, Emma realized she's no longer attracted to him, although she's still uncomfortable being around him. And, uh, Kimmy. Yeah. The bitchy actress. But you'll have to read the book to know why I don't hate her even though she's a bitch! /winks/

"No one knows their future. That's what makes life so fun."

I love how all the characters in this book are... flirty. Yeah, flirty in a cute and funny way. This book talked about family, friendship and romance all at once, without the kinky parts that you can usually read in other romance books. You will also learn a lot of things especially when it comes to the media and actors, how everything you can read about these artists are not always true, how they feel about them, and most importantly, how they deal with them (paparazzi).

"Tell [her] I couldn't help falling for you, no matter how hard you tried to push me away. That I can't imagine being with anyone else, ever again. . .and that you turn me inside out every time I even think about you."

From strangers to workmates to friends to lovers, the relationship between Emma and Jake is nothing but swoony!Watching (reading) them from each other's perspective, you'll get to know them very well (as if you're actual friends!), and will enjoy every page of this book!If you want a light, romantic and funny read, Not In The Script is the chick lit that will definitely make you love it from the beginning until the end!

MY RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Finnegan

Amy Finnegan writes her own stories because she enjoys falling in love over and over again, and thinks everyone deserves a happy ending. She likes to travel the world—usually to locations where her favorite books take place—and owes her unquenchable thirst for reading to Jane Austen and J.K. Rowling. Her debut novel, NOT IN THE SCRIPT (Bloomsbury, Oct 2014), came about after hearing several years of behind-the-scenes stories from her industry veteran brother. She’s also been lucky enough to visit dozens of film sets and sit in on major productions such as Parks and Recreation, and Parenthood.

You can follow Amy on Twitter @ajfinnegan or Facebook (Amy Finnegan, Author). She is represented by Erin Murphy of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

GIVEAWAY

Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

1 Winner will receive a $50.00 Amazon Gift Card

3 Winners will receive a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card

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(ARC) Review: BLACK ICE by Becca Fitzpatrick

BLACK ICE
BY BECCA FITZPATRICK
Genre: Young Adult Mystery, Thriller
Published October 7th 2014 by Simon and Schuster UK
Format Acquired: ARC
Source: Author c/o National Book Store and Simon and Schuster UK

Britt Phieffer has never been that adventurous, but that's about to change. Wanting to impress her ex-boyfriend, Britt convinces best friend, Korbie, to take a trip with her and go trekking through the Grand Teton Mountains in Wyoming.

But when a freak storm leaves the girls stranded they seek shelter in a cabin, and find two knights in shining armour, Shaun and Mason, who are also hiding out.

But all is not as it seems, and Britt quickly discovers that the guys are there for reasons other than hiking…dangerous reasons that mean they need to get off the mountain, fast. In exchange for her life, Britt is forced to guide them down, and as they set out on a harrowing journey through the cold and snow, Britt realises the only way to get out of this alive is to pretend she is on their side. 

But playing nice is hard, especially when Britt is unsure whether Mason, gorgeous and sexy, is the enemy or an ally. And as she begins to lose track of who is in control it is only a matter of time before things turn deadly…

MY REVIEW

Here comes a new book by the author of Hush, Hush saga which gave us a hint to who the original bad boys were: the Fallen Angels. I love Hush, Hush (review to come!) and I met Becca in person. She's a very nice person and she has lovely hair! So when I learned about this new book, which falls under a completely different genre, I felt ecstatic to see if she can also pull this one off.

I considered five (5) things to give one (1) star each while reading Black Ice:

1. First five chapters. I haven't read mystery/thriller books for about 2-3 years so I considered the first few chapters if it is indeed interesting. I hate it when I get bored at the first chapters of a book, it triggers my reading slump mode on. In Black Ice, I didn't notice I was already past 5 chapters. This is a total page turner. 1 star: check!

“If I had known things would turn out this way, I would have trained harder. I would have learned to take care of myself. But I guess that's the point, isn't it? You never know what you're going to have to face, so you'd better be prepared.” 

2. Characters.  Britt, our main character, is probably one of my favorite characters from now on. She's a strong, intelligent woman who knows what to do in a particular situation. When she and Korbie, her bestfriend, got lost and trapped in that mountain, she didn't show any signs of fear. She knew that panicking will do them no good. Instead, she thought of every way to get their way out. She thinks fast, she acts fast. Korbie, well, Korbie is the kind of person you need but don't need. Does that even makes sense? Mason, on the other hand, is the mysterious type. I find it hard to read him and understand what his real motives are. But he certainly knows how to read people.

3. Plot. It's been a while since I read a thriller book and this one really caught my attention. Plus, I love Britt's character. And solving the mystery through the clues she found while she was held captive. Finding out who these two fugitives are, Britt is more than the vulnerable, weak, cry-baby Calvin thought of her all this time.

“They say that when you're about to die, your life flashes before your eyes. They never tell you that when you watch someone you once loved dying, hovering between this life and the next, it's twice as painful, because you're reliving two lives that traveled one road together.”

4. Twist/Revelations. When I read the prologue, I was intrigued who the killer was, what he wants, and why is he doing these horrible things. And well, at first, I thought the killer was the "good guy" and he's just pretending to be innocent. I didn't thought the suspect was "him". And to think that his motives are not that of a big deal, I know that there are cases like this, having too much pressure that people around you are expecting too much from you.

“I like having you around, Britt. That's the truth. I'm not leaving you. Even if you were a pain in the butt, I'd stay with you. It's the right thing to do. But it turns out I find you likable and interesting, and while I'm not glad you have to go through this, I'm glad we have each other.” 

5. Romance. To those who read Black Ice and wanted to slap me, I know, I know. Hehe. But, I just can't help but like how the romance was built in this captivating crime fiction.

“Because those four days in the mountains, they changed us. I gave you a piece of me. And you must have given me a piece of yourself, too, because you wouldn't have come here otherwise. You would have let go. I can't let go of you, Britt. And I don't want you to let go of me.”

There you go. I didn't expect that Becca would actually pull off this new book, but boy I am wrong! I wasn't disappointed that this is a standalone because I am perfectly happy and satisfied with the way it ended. :)

MY RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Becca Fitzpatrick

(c) Hazel of Stay Bookish

(ARC) Review: DON'T CALL ME BABY by Gwendolyn Heasley

Don't Call Me Baby
by Gwendolyn Heasley
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Published April 22nd 2014 by Harper Teen
Format Acquired: ARC
Source: received from Publisher (Thanks, Sarah and Megan!)

All her life, Imogene has been known as the girl on THAT blog.

Imogene's mother has been writing an incredibly embarrassing, and incredibly popular, blog about her since before she was born. Hundreds of thousands of perfect strangers knew when Imogene had her first period. Imogene's crush saw her "before and after" orthodontia photos. But Imogene is fifteen now, and her mother is still blogging about her, in gruesome detail, against her will.

When a mandatory school project compels Imogene to start her own blog, Imogene is reluctant to expose even more of her life online...until she realizes that the project is the opportunity she's been waiting for to tell the truth about her life under the virtual microscope and to define herself for the first time.

Don't Call Me Baby is a sharply observed and irrepressibly charming story about mothers and daughters, best friends and first crushes, and the surface-level identities we show the world online and the truth you can see only in real life.

MY REVIEW

(Thanks to HarperCollins International for sending me an ARC of this book for review! You guys rock! Please take note that this in no way affects my review.)

Imogene's life has been exposed over the internet even before she was born. Nope, she's not a hollywood actress or what. But yes, she's a celebrity on her mother's famous blog, Mommylicious, which is all about parenting and her, Babylicious. She didn't mind being the subject of her mom's blog at first, but as she grew up, she realized that it's time to have her privacy and to let people know the real her; not the girl on that blog.

"All my life my mom has put words in my mouth and tried to make me into someone I'm not. But today, I've finally had enough."

My mom doesn't have a blog or any other social networking account (except Facebook) but I can say that it's quite irritating when someone posted something about me online without my consent. Especially if I look stupid on the photo, or if the statement about me is embarassing! And I can think of nothing but revenge and get back to that someone, just like what Imogene did when they were required to create their own blog for their English class. Well, she's not alone in this because her bestfriend, Sage is experiencing the same. She's called VeggieBaby, since her mom is a food blogger. A Vegan food blogger, VeggieMommy.

Imogene and Sage thought they could finally speak out what they wanted to tell their moms for a long time through their blogs. But they were wrong. It didn't do anything good, and things just got worse. Luckily for Imogene, she still have her Grandma Hope. I just love her words of wisdom! She's probably one of the coolest fictional grandmas ever.

"This isn't about golf today. This is about frustration. There are certain times when it's good to just come out here and hit the dickens out of some balls. It loosens up something in you."

It's a nice thing to have a blog. I had a personal blog before and treated it as my online diary. While it's indeed very exciting to come up with something to post online, to share photos of what a great weekend you had, to talk about your problems, you don't have to expose all of them to the public. We still need to keep somethings for ourselves only. Especially to parents out there, please understand that we, your kids, don't reallt approve everything your share about us online. We may be quiet, but there are times that deep inside, we're dying of shame. Hehe (My mom read this book before I did! And I don't know, but it's kinda awkward. LOL)

Don't Call Me Baby is a fun and light read about family and friendship. It talks about the things that may keep the distance between the parents and their kids, and involves how to make it up with your bestfriend when you had a misunderstanding. This book made me laugh, it made me laugh, and it also made me blush. ^^,

I recommend this to all mothers (even fathers!) and daughters out there who wants to improve their relationship to one another. To those who wants to prove theirselves to other people who they really are, not the person they see online, and to best friends who want to strengthen their friendship together.

MY RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gwendolyn Heasley

Gwendolyn Heasley is a graduate of Davidson College and the University of Missouri-Columbia where she earned her master’s degree in journalism. When she was a little girl, she desperately wanted to be the next Ann M. Martin- the author of the beloved The Baby-Sitter’s Club series. She’s incredibly grateful that the recession rendered her unemployed and made her chase her nearly forgotten dream. Her third novel Don't Call Me Baby comes out in April and her digital e-novella The Art of Goodbye (the sequel to Where I Belong) comes out in March.

She loves hearing from readers. Please email her at gwendolyn.heasley@gmail.com 

She now lives in Florida with her husband and baby girl.

Author Links:

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

{Blog Tour} (ARC) Review: SAY WHAT YOU WILL by Cammie McGovern

Say What You Will
by Cammie McGovern
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Published June 3rd 2014 by Harper Teen
Format Acquired: ARC
Source: received from Publisher (Thanks, Sarah and Megan!)

John Green's The Fault in Our Stars meets Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park in this beautifully written, incredibly honest, and emotionally poignant novel. Cammie McGovern's insightful young adult debut is a heartfelt and heartbreaking story about how we can all feel lost until we find someone who loves us because of our faults, not in spite of them.

Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts, neurotic rituals, and crippling fear. Both in desperate need of someone to help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either ever realized.

When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other's lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected.

MY REVIEW

(Thanks to HarperCollins International for sending me an ARC of this book! Please take note that this in no way affected my review.)

FEELS.

THE. FEELS.

ALL. THE. FEELS.

“This feeling will pass. The fear is real but the danger is not.” 

Amy Van Dorn is not like any other girl you've known. She's not normal. Literally. She's born with cerebral palsy. She can't barely walk, she can't talk. She uses some kind of wheelchair with a Pathway computer, with a human generated voice who automatically interprets whenever she types whatever she wants to say. Because of her condition, she don't have friends. So her mother hires people to watch over her and assist her at school. Until one day, they finally decided to hire students instead to make her feel more comfortable and uh, less awkward.

Matthew, one of the students who were hired by Amy's mother [Nicole] to be friends with her, has issues of his own to deal with. He has OCD. He keeps doing weird things, like tapping the lockers down the hallway, endless counting of things, washing hands and checking the faucet more than once. He do these thinks because he's afraid. He's afraid of hurting other people, or that other people might get hurt becuase of him.

Say What You Will introduced me to a whole new world of contemporary romance. Amy has a wide optimism, despite her disabilities. She's positive about everything. She's not even afraid of what the future might bring for her. She's a one strong and positive female character that will inspire every girl out there, disabled or not, to keep looking at the brighter side of life. On the other hand, Matthew doesn't know where Amy gets her wide optimism. He's so curious about Amy, her sickness, and most of all, her life. He didn't understand why she's very positive.

As they get to know each other along the way, little by little, they finally understood each other's issues. They may have hurt each other in a while, but they always find a way to make it up. I love the way they sent each other texts and e-mails. I love how they help each other's problems. I love how their friendship bloomed into something they never expected. I love the twists in the story! Didn't see them coming!

I admit, it's really hard to write a review that could justify this book. I never thought I could feel this way for both main characters in a book. I want more from their heart-melting love story!

MY RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cammie McGovern

Cammie McGovern was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford and received the Nelson Algren Award in short fiction. Her work has been published in Redbook, Seventeen, Glimmer Train, TriQuarterly, and other publications.

Author Links:
Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Website

(ARC) Review: INFINITE by Jodi Meadows

Infinite
by Jodi Meadows
Series: Newsoul #3
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Format Acquired: ARC
Source: received from the Publisher
Published January 28th 2014 by Katherine Tegen Books
Purchase: Amazon / Kobo / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

DESTRUCTION
The Year of Souls begins with an earthquake—an alarming rumble from deep within the earth—and it’s only the first of greater dangers to come. The Range caldera is preparing to erupt. Ana knows that as Soul Night approaches, everything near Heart will be at risk.

FLIGHT
Ana’s exile is frightening, but it may also be fortuitous, especially if she can convince her friends to flee Heart and Range with her. They’ll go north, seeking answers and allies to stop Janan’s ascension. And with any luck, the newsouls will be safe from harm’s reach.

CHOICE
The oldsouls might have forgotten the choice they made to give themselves limitless lifetimes, but Ana knows the true cost of reincarnation. What she doesn’t know is whether she’ll have the chance to finish this one sweet life with Sam, especially if she returns to Heart to stop Janan once and for all.

With gorgeous romance and thrilling action, the final book in the Incarnate trilogy offers a brilliant conclusion to the compelling questions of this fascinating world, where one new girl is the key to the lives of millions.

MY REVIEW

How do you feel while reading the last installment of your favorite series? As for me, I feel excited, but somehow sad. The Newsoul Trilogy is probably one of my favorite series in my bookish life. As what I have said at my review of Incarnate (Newsoul #1), Jodi's story is one of a kind. This is an entire new context to me and her ideas of Range and its characters were unique. I never imagines I have to let go of Ana and Dossam's story, although I knew that they will live forever in my heart.

When I saw the title, Infinite, I immediately concluded that this means infinite love between Ana and Sam. But as I read along, I lost hope at some point, knowing that they're fighting to end the reincarnation and stop Janan's evil plan. They realized what it costs for someone to reincarnate and they wanted to give the newsouls a chance to live.

“But reincarnation wasn't natural, and souls suffered for it. Didn't that mean I need to right this wrong if I could? I couldn't ignore it.”

In Infinite, Ana proved herself more than she can do. She didn't fail those who have faith in her. She wanted to stop Janan so bad that she's willing to take all the risk, which includes communicating with dragons. Even though she knew about Sam's history with the dragons, she still pushed through. Her friends were against this decision, but in the end, they all gave her their support because they want to make up with their selfish decision (this happened in Phoenix Overture, Newsoul #2.5). They felt guilty. And they didn't like it that Ana doesn't want them to feel that way because they should. Damn. Ana has such a good heart. And that's one of the reasons why I love her so much. She didn't want to blame her friends but she doesn't take it either. She wanted them to fight to correct what they have done.

"You're trying to keep your friends good and blameless so we can continue on what we'd been before, but that's not going to work. Let us accept the blame for what we've done. Let us deal with that blame. It's not pleasant for any of us, but you can't -- and shouldn't -- try to stop it just because it makes you uncomfortable."

And there's Cris. Sam's bestfriend and probably one of my favorite characters. I was shocked when he sacrificed himself for Ana. I thought he'd be dead and forever gone. But Ana found a way to communicate with the sylph and through Jodi's writing, I can perfectly imagine how they talk to each other. Even with the dragons. I just wished there had been plenty of Ana and Cris parts in the series when Cris was still a human. It doesn't have to be a love affair, just a deeper form of friendship.

Ana and Sam's journey and how their relationship grew was very interesting. It's not the typical instalove, but more on getting to know each other everyday. Their fascination to music drawn them closer together. And Sam. I just love him. He knew Ana will never have the chance to be born again but he wanted her life to continue. He wanted everyone, especially the future generations, to know and remember her as Ana Incarnate and her love for music. Sam never failed to make me blush with his words. He wanted to show Ana a thousand ways to prove his undying love for her and he just makes me swoon all over again. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh. The feels!!! He wanted to spend the rest of his and Ana's life together and do all the things they can while they're still alive and breathing.

"I got so lost in my own guilt and misery that I forgot what's most important."

"What's that?"

"Living. Loving. Making the most of our time together, no matter how long or short it will be."

There are also times when they felt like giving up, but then they realized how much they sacrificed to reach this far and there's no more turning back. I'm happy that everything turned out to be alright. But I cried when the temple burst out and... The ending!!! You guys should make it to the end. I never anticipated that ending. I can't get over it when I finished reading that I just have to read that part over and over again! If you think this is a tragic love story (which I did lol) well, the ending will surprise you.

All in all, the author's writing style made it easy for the readers to understand and appreciate the story even more. The characters's growth is fantastic and the changes in Range can be clearly pictured out in the minds of the readers. Her writing style is simply amazing. This conclusion to the Newsoul series is just perfect. Nothing more to say.

MY RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jodi Meadows

Like many writers, I’ve always wanted to do this professionally. You know, after I decided against being an astronaut.

Unlike many writers, I didn’t skip straight from picture books to adult novels. I have fond memories of going to Bookstop every month for the latest Baby-Sitters Club (which I kept reading, even after I realized they were never going to let the paranormal elements be real), and even fonder memories of hanging out in my middle school library. The librarians probably knew exactly what they were doing when they suggested book after book and discussed them with me at length. I, of course, had no clue they were turning me into a book addict, but it worked out for the best. Once I found the books where magic and other fantastic elements were real, I was hooked.

When I was twenty, I met a boy, moved 1,500 miles, and married him all within six months. I now realize that was crazy and dangerous, but it seemed natural at the time and, again, worked out for the best. Not only did we stay madly in love, he worked full time at a hard job so I could stay home to write books and, hopefully, one day get published.

The other crazy thing we did was fall in love with ferrets. They have their own bedroom.

My hobbies, aside from spending all my money on books and Kippy/ferret treats, revolve around yarn. I love crocheting, knitting, and spinning. In addition to several handspindles, I share my living room with a spinning wheel named Bob.

Author Links:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Gooodreads

"I just want you. I want you forever and I'm afraid--" His hands closed over mine. "I want a life with you. I'd give anything to go back and start this one over, to be reborn into this lifetime. I wouldn't waste it. I'd find you sooner. I'd take you somewhere safe. I'd show you music and love and life every day so you were never alone, never afraid. If I could start over knowing what I know now--" He released a desperate laugh. "I know who this sounds."
"It's okay." My words were a breath, a grasp.
He squeezed my hands. "I'm afraid, Ana. I'm afraid, and I feel like if I don't kiss you right now, I'll break apart."

(ARC) Review: A CRY FOR HOPE by Beth Rinyu

A Cry For Hope

by Beth Rinyu

Genre: New Adult Romance

Format Acquired: e-ARC

Source: Author (Thanks a bunch, Beth!)
Expected Publication March 14th 2014

Hope McAdams life as she knew it ended on the same day that her eight year old son’s did.

Eight months later she's trying to regain some semblance of normality, while trying to repair her once perfect marriage to a man who was her best friend, but now a complete stranger. Coming to the painful realization that she must fix the hole that’s deep within her heart, she goes home to the place that she grew up in hopes that time and distance will heal her wounds and lead her back to the man she loves.

Nick Abate is an old friend of Hope’s whose heart is also on the mend. He’s home on leave from the Marines, and when he and Hope reconnect, their friendship picks up right where they left off, years ago. They both begin to heal and feel whole again with the help of each other. But when their friendship crosses the line, will Hope be able to forgive herself and move on, or will the guilt that she is harboring once again cause her to slip back into the place that she has just escaped? 

What happens when two tortured souls place their trust in each other? Will they find their way back to the ones they love or will their hearts remain connected forever?

MY REVIEW

I have always been a fan of Beth Rinyu's works. The Unplanned Series made me cry, made me blush, and made me laugh. But this book, A Cry of Hope, made me shed a waterfall of tears. It gave me all the feels for a woman, a mother, who lost almost everything in her life. Everything that made her life worth living. And I have to warn you, please prepare a box of tissue before you read this book. I'm 100% sure you'll be needing it.

"This is the story about my family. My beautiful son, my once perfect husband, and finding the courage to live and feel whole again."

At first, I thought this will be another love story about a girl and a boy who were bestfriends then ended up marrying each other. But I was wrong.

A Cry For Hope is a story about Hope, a mother, who lost her son. Not only did he lost her son, but also her husband's heart. He blames her for the tragic incident and she can do nothing but to take the blame. I am not a mother (yet) but through Beth's writing, I can feel the exact feelings of Hope. If I were her, I wouldn't know what to do. It's too much heartbreak for me and I can't bear that kind of pain!

"My two greatest fears in life were losing my child and dying myself. Since I had already faced one of those fears head on, I no longer feared the second."

I hated Jamie, Hope's husband. How can he blame Hope for the loss of their son, Charlie, all this time? Does he really think Hope wanted it to happen? The flashbacks of their lives made me cry each and every time. It literally broke my heart. I was a mess. I cried inside the shuttle going to work while reading. I didn't care about the stares of other people at me. I just cared about Hope's feelings. I wanted to hug her and tell her that everything will be fine. I wanted to slap Jamie to make him realize what he's done. He should've been there for Hope and comfort her in this rough time of their lives. Ugh! Hope made the right decision to stay away from Jamie for the time being and stay with her mother. She needs someone who will understand her and make her feel better.

"You know, Jamie, sometimes emotional pain can hurt worse than physical pain. I would rather endure that day over and over again, rather than feeling like I'm worthless to the man I love."

When Hope ran home, to her mother, all she wanted was to think and probably lessen the pain in her heart by keeping herself busy. But what she didn't expect is that she'd bump into her childhood bestfriend, Nick. And I guess this is why girls also need guy bestfriends. Because in this story, one of them played the most important part. They started hanging out again, keeping up with each other's life. She found out that Nick is carrying some burden with him too, and she thought of not adding to that burden. But Nick can't bear to see Hope feeling so down and hopeless. So he helped her ease out the pain and move on. I thought this will lead into some kind of a friends with benefits thing, but I was wrong again. Nick did everything to pick up the shattered pieces of Hope's heart. He made her feel she is worthy of love, that she deserved to be loved. And I love Nick so much for what he did. Every girl needs a guy like Nick, even for just a friend.

"Hope, you are not hopeless at all. You've just been through a lot and you've changed because of it. You will never be the same person that you were before you lost your son, just like I will never be the same person I was before. . ."

Nick played the biggest role in reuniting Jamie and Hope, thus giving them another chance. Their whole story might bring you pain, and despair, but Nick will give you hope. He will bring you happiness and forgiveness. Yes, the loss of Charlie will always be a whole in their heart that will never be replaced, but eventually, that loss will turn out to be a new beginning, a new life. This is a TOTAL tear-jerker but I don't have any regrets reading this. Beth, I love you. I love your works. I love your characters.

Here are some of the songs that remind me of Hope, Jamie, and Nick's story:

Say Something - A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera

Gravity - Sara Bareilles

MY RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Beth Rinyu

Ever since I can remember, I have always enjoyed Creative Writing. There was always something about being able to travel to a different place or become a different person with just the stroke of a pen - or in today's world a touch of the keyboard. I am the author of The Exception To The Rule, An Unplanned Lesson and Drowning In Love (releasing July 2013).

My life is not as interesting as my books or the characters in them, but then again whose life is? I was born and have lived in New Jersey my whole life. I'm a mom of twin teenage boys, a teenage stepson, a crazy Border Collie and a cat with an identity crisis! I guess you can say writing is my form of Calgon! I am married to a wonderful guy - but we'll keep that between us, I don't want him getting a big head! 

Thanks for taking the time to learn about my books and me! If you decide to read them (and I hope you do!) please be sure to go on and review it for me - yes, even if you don't like it!

Author Links:

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"We both need to accept the new people we've become before we can expect anyone else to accept us. Because, no matter how hard we wish for it, that person that we used to be is never coming back."