TBR Pile ft. Jennifer Echols, Gabrielle Zevin, and Gail Giles

Title: Right Behind You
Author: Gail Giles
Published: 2007
Tagline: "If you can't forgive yourself...will anyone else?"

Description: "Kip McFarland is living with a painful secret: when he was nine, he set Bobby Clarke in fire. And Bobby died.
    After four long years in a juvenile ward, Kip is rehabilitated. He's got a new, "perfect" life. But no one knows he's got a past. No one knows about the nightmares and the guilt that torture him. They don't even know his real name.
   What do you do when your past catches up with you again and again? When the journey to salvation always leads to a dead end? When the person you're most afraid of, the person you'd move anywhere to escape...is yourself?"




Title: Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Published: 2007
Tagline: "Sometimes a girl needs to lose."

Description: "If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss. She wouldn't have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn't have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn't have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia. She certainly would have remembered her boyfriend, Ace. She might even have remembered why she fell in love with him in the first place. She would understand why her best friend, Will, keeps calling her "Chief." She'd get all his inside jokes, and maybe he wouldn't be so frustrated with her for forgetting things she can't possibly remember. She'd know about her mom's new family. She'd know about her dad's fiancée. She wouldn't have to spend her junior year relearning all the French she supposedly knew already. She never would have met James, the boy with the questionable past and the fuzzier future, who tells her he once wanted to kiss her. She wouldn't have wanted to kiss him back. But Naomi picked heads."

Title: Going too Far
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published: 2009
Tagline: "When love crosses the line...where do you stop?"

Description: "All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back. 

   John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge–and over..."

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac on Amazon

Going too Far on Amazon

Right Behind You on Amazon

Teaser Tuesday: Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday is:

Title: Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend

Author: Katie MacAlister (Katie Maxwell)

Published: 2010

Notes: This versions contains the books Got Fangs?(2005) and Circus of the Darned (2006)

Teaser: "My inner Fran started turning cartwheels of joy. I told her to take a Valium and call me in the morning."

I have read this book already, twice in fact, and it is really great. The descriptions of the characters are so well developed that I fell in love with them and cared about them.

Let me know what you think of the book and please share with me your teases and what you are reading. 

TBR Pile (includes Beautiful Disaster, Fear, and Oliver's Hunger)

• First off I would like to say sorry for not posting yesterday, I got caught up with a busy schedule and did not have time. I'm really sorry.

This week's To Be Read pile will include Beautiful Disaster, Fear, and Oliver's Hunger.

The first of this week's To Be Read pile is a book that I am starting today.

Title: Beautiful Disaster
Author: Jamie McGuire
Published: 2011
Tag line: Intense. Dangerous. Addictive

Description from inside cover: "Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn't drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.
  Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants–and needs–to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby's resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis' apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match."

Title: Fear (Gone #5)
Author: Michael Grant
Published: 2012

Description from Goodreads.com: "It's been one year since all the adults disappeared. Gone.

Despite the hunger and the lies, even despite the plague, the kids of Perdido Beach are determined to survive. Creeping into the tenuous new world they've built, though, is perhaps the worst incarnation yet of the enemy known as the Darkness: fear.

Within the FAYZ, life breaks down while the Darkness takes over, literally—turning the dome-world of the FAYZ entirely black. In darkness, the worst fears of all emerge, and the cruelest of intentions are carried out. But even in their darkest moments, the inhabitants of the FAYZ maintain a will to survive and a desire to take care of the others in their ravaged band that endures, no matter what the cost.

Fear, Michael Grant's fifth book in the bestselling dystopian Gone series, will thrill readers . . . even as it terrifies them."

Title: Oliver's Hunger (Scanguards Vampires #7)
Author: Tina Folsom 
Published: 2013 

Description from Goodreads.com: "Newly turned vampire and Scanguards bodyguard Oliver has trouble controlling his thirst for blood. Every night is a struggle against temptation, but when Asian beauty Ursula literally falls into his arms, he fears he will lose the battle over his inner demons and succumb to bloodlust.

Enslaved by vampires for her special blood, Ursula has just escaped her captors. She’s rescued by a handsome stranger, only to realize that he’s a vampire. He claims he wants to help her, but can she trust a vampire who’s not only lusting after her body, but also her blood?

Her promise to rescue her fellow blood whores compels her to join forces with Oliver and his colleagues at Scanguards. Will her choice lead to her salvation or her downfall?"

I am torn between Beautiful Disaster and Oliver's Hunger as the book I am looking forward to reading the most. I love Oliver's Hunger because I have read all the Scanguards Vampires books and love every character. I anxiously wait for each new book. Beautiful Disaster seems really interesting and I have heard that it is similar to Katy Evans' Real. I hope you are interested in these books I will be reading this week and feel free to tell me what you are reading. Bye.

Beautiful Disaster on Goodreads
Fear on Goodreads
Oliver's Disaster on Goodreads

Beautiful Disaster on Amazon (This is a signed edition!!!)
Fear on Amazon
Oliver's Hunger on Amazon

Review of Sean C. Sousa's Flash

Title: Flash (book 1 in Forever Trilogy)

Author: Sean C. Sousa

Published: 2012

Description from Goodreads.com: 

"Long ago, the first reign of Grigori Geist nearly destroyed the Earth.

Returned from exile, Geist is secretly rebuilding his kingdom beneath Antarctica, assembling his robotic Vaucan race to war against mankind. Only one obstacle remains: the war hero known as Brian Renney.

Yet Brian is losing a battle against his fears. Scars of heart and mind linger from his days in Vietnam, fueling his failures as husband and father. This embitters his youngest son, Jason – a star athlete torn between pursuing the love of his life, and meeting the demands of a father who is far from the storied army captain he once was.And all the while, Geist is coming for them.
In this dark hour, Brian and Jason encounter a war to end all others… and an unexpected ally who, once meant for evil, shall forever be a force for good."

Summary: The story of Flash involves an entire race of robotic soldiers called vaucans and archvaucans. There is an entire society called Regnum Aeturnum built under Antarctica that is populated by humans who are being controlled and have lost their free will. An archvaucan named Prince Ahya, later called Flash, who is ordered by his king, Grigori Geist, to murder a man named Brian Renney. Prince Ahya and Dietrich Schmidt plan to overthrow Geist and free the people. Brian Renney is the one man who can help them. A second story line of Brian Reneney and his family develops. Brian was a captain in the Vietnam war and has since become more introverted and closed off. He pushes his wife away and criticizes his sons. After an argument Brian walks away from his family and Prince Ahya comes to assassinate Brian. Brian gets the prince to cease his attack and the prince takes Brian away to protect him. His family wakes up in the hospital and believes that Brian has abandoned them. The novel continues with the two plot lines and they eventually combine to answer questions raised about how Brian and his time in the Vietnam war fits into Regnum Aeturnum and what Geist has planned. Events unfold that lead to disastrous consequences and confrontations that change everyone in the novel. 

My Reaction: I really enjoyed this novel. I find it very interesting that the author created another entire race/species along with another society. The blurb in the back of the kindle edition says that Sousa originally thought of this as a video game design. If he had made it I would definitely play, and I'm not a huge gamer. Along with the plot line of Regnum Aeturnum and the war against Geist came a secondary story line of Brian's family, mainly his son Jason and his friend Alessa. Being a romantic I loved this secondary story and was dying for the two to be together. The two, along with their friends, travel to Atlana to help with victims of human trafficking. I think this is a really important cause and am happy to see that a portion of every sale of this book goes to International Justice Mission and their work to end human trafficking. It was also nice to see the religious aspect and how important it is to Brian's wife Mary. I am glad to see that Flash is the beginning of the Forever trilogy because I would love to read more about these characters and to see how the fight to free the people of Regnum Aeturnum continues. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone because throughout the novel I was emotionally involved. I felt sad, angry, frustrated, and happy along with the characters. Also the battle scenes and nightmares of the Vietnam war that Brian has are so vividly portrayed it was like a movie. I give Flash 4 out of 5 stars and am anxiously waiting for the sequel. 

Teaser Tuesday: Amy Plum's Die For Me

Title: Die For Me

Author: Amy Plum

Published: 2011

Description from inside cover: "My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything. Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent. 

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen. 

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies...immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind. 

While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's –in jeopardy for a chance at love?

Teaser: "What's better, I thought, to be safe and suffer alone, or to risk pain and actually life? Although my head and heart were leading me in two different directions, I was certain that I didn't want my life to resemble what it had for the last three weeks: a drab existence void of color, warmth, and life."

My Reaction: This book seems so interesting to me because of its mystery and romance aspects. Also the cover is amazing so hopefully in this case you can judge a book by its cover.

Review of Laurie Lyons' Gates

GATES by Laurie Lyons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you thought Feather was amazing Gates will have you begging Ms. Lyons for the third novel.

The book opens with the first day of the new school year and it's Lucy and Nathaniel's first day. It is also special because Nathaniel is a mortal, although he still has his Angel powers. Roman returns and continues his relationship with Anastasia. His first appearance shows that Hell was not happy about his performance regarding Lucy and Nathaniel in Feather. As a result Roman seems nicer and helpful. (Although he is still the same sarcastic, moody Demon he was before). Something comes after Lucy and the angel and demon must work together to keep her safe. However, in what I am becoming to recognize as the author's style, a fact is revealed in the end that completely changes the game.

The reason I love Gates so much was because of the characters and the plot. Lucy's friends are hilarious and it was satisfying to see Roman more involved in the storyline. The romance continues to be endearing and the trip to Hell was surprising and enlightening. The novel does leave off on a very abrupt cliff hanger but I'm ok with this as long as the next book comes out extremely soon, like next week. :) But really this series is amazing and I recommend it to anyone and everyone.

View all my reviews

Review of Laurie Lyons' Feather

Title: Feather
Author: Laurie Lyons
Publication Date: September 8, 2012
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Description from Goodreads.com:

"Lucy is a bright eyed, fiery redhead with a quick wit and a photographic memory. On the night of the spring equinox, Lucy meets Nathaniel, a dark and mysterious man who at first appears to have amnesia. Lucy feels inexplicably drawn to Nathaniel and is amazed to discover that he is invisible to everyone but herself. Fearing she is going insane--or worse, losing her photographic memory--Lucy goes on a hunt for answers. What she learns turns her world upside down.

Feather is a tale of love, the power of memories, and the struggle between right and wrong.

How far would you go to save your true love’s soul?"

My Reaction: Feather by Laurie Lyons and the sequel Gates are two of the best books that I have ever read. There have been a few books that have caused me to tear up or get choked up but the ending of Feather literally had tears running down my face. It was so much that I had to stop reading and calm myself down. 

So. Feather is the story of Lucy and Nathaniel. Lucy is a remarkable young woman who remembers everything that she had ever seen. One day she meets Nathaniel who seems like the perfect guy. It is later revealed to Lucy that Nathaniel is an angel who was sent down to earth for an unknown purpose. Along the way they meet a demon, Roman, some dangerous things happen, and, of course, they fall in love. The reason the ending of the novel had me in tears is because Nathaniel and Lucy must make a decision regarding their love and Nathaniel's place in Heaven. 

Overall: (5/5) I loved every single character of this book. Even the secondary characters such as, Doctor Hannon and Lucy's friends. Although a demon, Roman is like able and the secondary story of him and Anastasia is sweet and I love that it continues in Gates. Overall, Feather and Gates are two incredible books and I am so grateful and ecstatic that there will be a third one because I cannot wait.

Feather on Goodreads
Feather on Amazon