Read and Reviewed

I wasn't really sure what to expect from Confessions of An Angry Girl. I loved the idea of a girl who is clearly a wordsmith, as I adore learning new words and finding ways to incorporate them into sentences, and was also very interested in just how angry Rose really was. Turns out, she's nearly apoplectic (see what I did there?), in more ways than one, and actually has some very good reasons for being so. Aside from her anger, Rose is also heartbreaking and hilarious in equal measures, making for a reading experience that was fun and heart-wrenching all at the same time.Everyone knows that high school is a difficult transition for some teens, and Rose Zarelli is no exception. She doesn't conform to the same rules of popularity as others, and isn't interested in doing so, either, which makes her a definite outcast. Combine that with her anger and sadness over her dad's death, and the fact that she and her best friend seem to be growing apart, and you get a read that's definitely full of ups and downs. I actually found myself tearing up a couple of times, in fact, which was not something I'd been expecting and always makes the shock of those emotions more poignant. The parts that particularly got me were her thoughts about her dad, and the way she tried to navigate the way her anger would come and go so hot and furious that it left her - and the reader - reeling. Her reactions and feelings are so realistic and well done that I simply have to applaud the author for writing Rose with such a careful and well-thought-out manner. I really came to love every bit of her.This book also has an unconventional romance, in that Rose falls for Jamie, who not only is an upperclassman with a girlfriend, but also a guy that her circle of friends really looks down on. I'm not even sure you can call this a romance, since Rose spends the entire book not actually being "with" Jamie at all, despite some very well-written and rather steamy kisses shared between them. One of the places I teared up, actually, is during an interaction she has with Jamie in which he tells her one of his secrets, but then pulls away from her, saying he shouldn't have kissed her. There's a definite back and forth that's a bit maddening to read about, but is completely understandable and therefore not as eye-roll inducing as it could be. I can't help but root for the two of them to get things figured out.No book set in a high school would be complete without mean girl drama, but in Confessions of An Angry Girl, it's ratcheted up a bit because Rose experiences some very real bullying and harassment. While the educator in me wanted to shake her and make her tell an adult exactly what was happening, the part of me that was a teenager myself fully grasped why she wouldn't want to, particularly after some events earlier in the book. It didn't make it any easier to read about, but I liked how the culmination of the mean girl story line lead to some reconciliations on Rose's part which helped the book remain more hopeful than angsty.All in all I found this book to be absolutely wonderful, even when it was dealing with subject matter that is decidedly not lighthearted. There is an underlying humor throughout, and Rose herself has much to do with that. I loved the romance, the teen issues, and the way Rose's anger at her father's death was handled. There are some very serious topics tackled within this book's 266 pages, and it's all done incredibly well. I can definitely say that this is one book I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

3.5/5 stars. Chosen Ones is a book that's been on my radar for some time, so when I was asked to review it as part of the pre-release tour for Naturals, I immediately jumped at the chance. And while it did take a while for me to warm up to our main character, and get completely engrossed in the story, I ultimately came away from Chosen Ones quite satisfied, and eager to see what comes next.As with most dystopian books, Chosen Ones tells the tale of a US that's been decimated by a third World War. Instead of one large country, we instead have two separate factions on each of the coasts, with a sort of wasteland where the Midwest once was. Not only is the country suffering under immense poverty, but women have lost the ability to bring forth life. Because humanity is too tired to fight its own battles, scientists have engineered so-called Chosen Ones, who are able to fight without remorse or feeling, making them the perfect killing machines. Tess, our main character, lives on a Compound where the Chosen Ones are engineered, and is forced to work at the actual facility that houses them after her sister's death. It's here that she meets James, and the book really starts to take off."No wonder the council had outlawed books. Stories enabled you to forget your life and your limits. They urged you to reach for a world that was never meant to be yours. There was nothing more dangerous than imagination." - 33%I do want to commend the author on her world-building. The background and history interspersed into the story via Tess' memories and her father's letters really helps the reader figure out what's going on. At times the book was quite frightening, because it's not completely implausible to see something like this eventually occurring in the (hopefully not near) future. I do wish we'd gotten to experience a bit more of the world, but considering that Tess is confined to the compound and Templeton, that's not really feasible. I hope - considering the events at the end of this book - that we WILL get a chance to dive more into the unknown world in the second installment."There's more to this life than what you have settled for. You've crawled so deep inside yourself I wonder if you even know you have a self to save." - 19%The romance between Tess and James was really well done, and I loved how he slowly got Tess out of her shell. She, understandably, pushes people away and keeps herself closed off, because she's lost pretty much everything in her young life and wants to keep herself from the pain of more loss. This makes her a bit difficult to warm up to, as she's not only detached from her surroundings and the people around her, but also the reader. I loved how, the more time she and James spent together, the more it became quite obvious that she needed him to remember her humanity, and he, likewise, needed her to remember that he was more than just a killing machine. Forbidden romance can so easily go wrong, but I'm happy to report that, in this case, it's really done quite perfectly and I enjoyed every moment.While a bit slow to get started, and having a main character that takes a while to warm up to, Chosen Ones is ultimately a solid dystopian book worthy of addition to your shelves. There is a bit of cliffhanger at the end of the book, which nicely sets up the sequel. I can't wait to see what comes next not only for Tess and James, but all the others she cares about as well!***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

As someone who enjoyed Leigh's first book, The Truth About Faking, I was looking forward to reading its companion, The Truth About Letting Go. This book is set in the same town, but focuses on new characters, so while the names of the previous book's characters are mentioned, it's not necessary to read it first. And while I liked The Truth About Faking, I can honestly say that this book is even better, not only in terms of the plot and characters, but also in the strength of the writing. I really liked this one a lot.The Truth About Letting Go is a book that focuses on a lot of issues. Ashley, our main character, has just lost her dad, and is dealing with her immense sadness over that, as well as the fact that her mom has basically disappeared into her work. Add to that a crisis of faith - Ashley decides there must not be a God, because she prayed to him for the six months her dad was ill to no avail -and she's very unsure of who she is, or who she wants to be. This story is very much focused on Ashley's personal journey, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading every single second of it.As well as Ashley, who I couldn't help but love even though she was making some very poor choices, there is a rather fascinating cast of characters that surround her. From her older brother, to the two love interests, to her best friend Mandy, I found each of them to be engaging and unique. Each of the characters (except perhaps Mandy) has their own backstory that's fleshed out and makes them feel real, which really added to the whole overall feel of the book.There is a sort of love triangle, but not in the traditional sense, because it’s pretty clear who Ashley has actual feelings for. Normally love triangles turn me right off, but this one is realistic and done in a way that really portrays Ashley’s state of mind, particularly her anger and sadness over what's happened. I couldn’t help but be drawn to both boys, even though I obviously had an opinion on which one was better for Ashley (and she knows it, too).As a heads-up, there is quite a bit of religious talk in this book, as well as some pretty hot and heavy makeout scenes that are quite steamily written. Because I know that both of those subjects are red flag issues for some, I wanted to make sure I mention it. Everything is handled very tastefully, though, and nothing is shoved in your face, at least in my opinion, but obviously your mileage may vary.All in all, this was a really well done book. It covers a lot of topics, but it’s mostly about a girl who’s trying to rediscover who she is and what she wants. Ashley doesn't always use the best judgement as she tries to figure herself out,  but everything is handled in a realistic and touching way that really draws the reader into her story. If you're looking for a satisfying contemporary read, do pick up The Truth About Letting Go! You won't be disappointed.A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

I am the first to admit that, when it comes to creepy reads, I am not always your girl. I am a bit of a wimp, and tend to watch those scary horror films through my fingers. Unfortunately, when it comes to reading, that doesn't really work so well, so it was with some trepidation that I went into The Madman's Daughter. Having only a cursory knowledge of the source work -The Island of Dr. Moreau - I was nonetheless sure that this would be a somewhat brutal book. And I wasn't wrong. There were times I definitely found myself cringing at the descriptions of the gore, but mostly I was horrified at Juliet's father, who was just ... a really terrible person.

I want to commend the author on the fabulously dark gothic setting of this book. Even when Juliet was still in London, the dark and dank of the walls and the city really came through the pages, placing me firmly in the narrative. I really felt myself traveling along with Juliet as she rode on the boat and came to her father's island. The descriptive prose was beautiful and flowing, and - even when the events of the book had me shrinking away - I still very much enjoyed her style of writing and the way she told her story.

My one complaint was the romance of this book, which honestly got on my nerves. I didn't like Montgomery very much at all; anyone who blindly follows such a horrible man as Dr. Moreau has some serious issues, and doesn't make for a very romantic character. Edward, on the other hand, is nicely dark and mysterious, and I loved how the story of his life was slowly unraveled and revealed to the reader. I was definitely pulling much more for him!

I also need to give props to Juliet herself, who is one tough, determined lady. While I didn't enjoy reading about her feelings for either of the boys, I did like how she worked to reconcile the fact that her father - despite his evil - was a part of her whether she liked it or not, and what that meant for her. I can't help but be intrigued by her character; she has a lot of truths revealed to her and is really going to have to grapple with her knowledge of some dark and terrible things that are definitely going to impact her for a long time.

Brutal and gruesome in equal measures, The Madman's Daughter is not a book for the faint of heart. There's a lot of terrible goings-on happening throughout the story, and Juliet's father is quite possibly one of the evilest men I've ever read about. While the romantic aspects of the story left a lot to be desired for me personally, I still very much enjoyed the setting, Juliet's character, and the driving tension that moves the plot along. There is a very open ending that sets up the sequel, and after seeing what book it's based on, I absolutely cannot wait to dive into it!

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To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

Just as a heads-up, I am going to try to keep this review as spoiler-free as I can for both Renegade and Ripper, although the summary hints at the happenings in the first book.After the rather heart-pounding, breathless events at the close of Ripper, I was super excited to read Renegade and see just where Abbie's journey would take her next. The villain of these books is perfectly twisted and dark, with a major creep factor that - particularly in the first book - makes your skin crawl, and I couldn't wait to see what would happen when he and Abbie came face-to-face again. And while you certainly do see this villain in Renegade, Abbie's biggest concern is her visions of a mythological creature known as a lamia, and her turbulent romantic relationship with William.As the romantic aspect of this story was played up more and more, I became concerned that it would color my opinion of the story. I wanted more Ripper action, more Abbie being strong-willed and kick-ass, and was afraid her mooning over William and their spat close to the beginning would temper exactly what I loved so much about her in the first book. I am happy to report, therefore, that this wasn't really the case; Abbie remained just as strong and stubborn as ever. I love that she is definitely bucking societal trends in wanting to go to medical school and continuing to volunteer at the hospital. She is just so absolutely full of spunk and life that you can't help but love her!Normally I don't go for love triangles at all, and I do have to say that this one did annoy me just a tad, but I did enjoy watching Abbie come to terms with her feelings for both William and Simon, and her thought process as she tried to figure out what she wanted. While I don't necessarily "ship" her with one of the other, I do have to admit to a fondness for Simon over William, simply because of his steadfast approach and his willingness to believe and lend a hand whenever Abbie needed it. Sometimes it's the strong, sturdy ones who are the most swoon-worthy, and to me, that's Simon to a tee. I loved that we got more information about his life, and his background, and what makes him so somber and still and quiet. I am definitely looking forward to more of him!I do want to mention that your understanding and enjoyment of Renegade is very contingent on your having read Ripper. There are a lot of references throughout to characters introduced and situations that happened in the first book, so much so that you will be completely and utterly lost without that background. Just something to keep in mind if this review makes you curious!Renegade is a really good continuation of Abbie's story. The stakes are really being raised, and she's really having to dig deep and confront quite a lot of darkness. There are a lot of questions raised at the end of the second book, and I can't wait to see how they're all going to be answered in the final installment. If you're looking for a really well done Jack the Ripper story with a wonderful female lead character, do check these books out!An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

As opposed to Glitches, which I didn't really feel was amazing (mini-review here) and honestly didn't answer any of my questions, The Queen's Army is the complete opposite. Not only do we get some background into the Lunar Army that Kai and the other diplomats become aware of in Cinder, but I believe we might also have just been introduced to a character who's going to play a role in the remainder of the series.I couldn't help but be struck by the irony of this story. Z, our main character, has been taken from his home, forced to undergo some physical transformations, and has come out of them perhaps more wolf than human. He spends all of his training years being neither the best or the worst, never wanting to fully embrace his animalistic tendencies, but also desperately wanting to avoid becoming the "mindless soldier" threatened by his pack's leader. I have to say that my heart hurt quite a bit for him and the others we see in this brief story, simply because of the circumstances they find themselves in all because of Levana's determination to conquer the Earth. It's scary to know she really has no limits to her thirst for power.I found the last line to be the most thought-provoking, particularly since Z's actions at the end make you wonder precisely if he's avoided becoming what he feared after all. I'm curious to see what comes next!***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

I was actually completely unaware that this novella existed, until I finished reading my paperback copy of Cinder and saw that it was included at the end. I'd like to thank the publisher for doing so, because otherwise I would have missed it!If you're wanting some background about Cinder's introduction into the Linh's lives, then this novella is a must-read. I loved Cinder's uncertainty and fear, and the fact that - even without Adri's vehemence against her - Cinder was already acutely aware of how different she was from Peony and Pearl, and how she didn't really fit in. I did love that Peony was so accepting of her, wanting to play with her, spend time with her, and just talk and laugh with her. It makes the circumstances in Cinder all the more poignant and heart-wrenching. I also adored the early look at Iko, and that it was Cinder that brought her back to "life". I can only hope she reappears soon in Scarlet because I desperately missed her humor and good cheer! I can't help but wonder, though, if Adri's opinion of cyborgs - and Cinder specifically - would have changed if Garan hadn't contracted Letumosis? Alas, that is one question that shall never be answered.While I didn't find Glitches to be completely and utterly amazing, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Cinder, just for the little bits of added information, and some background on the world. It doesn't really answer any burning questions, but is a nice, short, worthwhile read nonetheless.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

Knowing exactly how much I loved Grave Mercy, I could hardly wait to dive into Dark Triumph. While I adored Ismae and Duval's story, I really wanted to know more about Sybella, and what exactly her task was that brought her into the political upheaval of Anne's attempt to keep the duchy of Brittany from French control. I was expecting something politically-driven, as that's precisely what Grave Mercy was, and while there were some politics on the fringe of this story, what we got instead was Sybella's personal journey from a girl who was so consumed with darkness she barely wished to live, to one who winds up being so incredibly strong that I came away feeling even more emotionally attached to her than Ismae.

I don't want to mince words here. Sybella's story is dark and horrifying, and her despair is so thick at times it's difficult to read. While Ismae had a bad life prior to coming to St. Mortain's, Sybella's was downright awful. And while it takes a while for all of her past - and the horrors of her childhood - to come to light, it is very clear what an impact growing up in her father's household had on her. Not only does she have a bleak outlook on her own life, but her interactions with everyone around her are likewise colored in that same gray despair. It is precisely this that makes her growing relationship with Beast so satisfying to read.

While Beast may not be every reader's dream of a man, I couldn't help but love him despite his flaws. His way of embracing life and living it to its fullest - despite not being the best looking guy in the world - is infectious, not only for Sybella but for everyone reading the book he's featured in. Like Duval, Beast has flaws, but is still so completely swoon-worthy despite them that I had a smile on my face throughout most of his appearances in the book. I loved how we got background on him, how Sybella's past was tied to him, and how - most of all - he was able to help lift her out of the darkness that surrounded her. Their interactions were witty and smart, while still having that edge of compassion and affection, especially toward the end. Knowing just how much I adored both him and Duval, I cannot wait to see what kind of male counterpart she has in store for us in the third book!

I also found this book to read much more quickly than Grave Mercy, probably because all of the background and setup had been taken care of in that book. We definitely get to dive straight into Sybella's narrative without any delays in the storytelling, and the book has a very real pace of "go, go, go" that was sometimes missing in Ismae's tale. There is a lot at stake in this story, and the danger of the time period - and Sybella's family - is certainly ratcheted up. I also liked the little glimpses of what might come next in the series, and the way both Ismae and Sybella have come to stand on their own two feet, more certain of their places in the world. This bodes well for Annith in the third book, although I wouldn't be surprised in Mrs. LaFevers throws us a curve or two along the way!

Dark Triumph is very much a story of personal journey and hardship. While there's still quite a bit of the "assassin nun" theme that so drove folks to pick up Grave Mercy, I think readers will become far more enamored with Sybella's slow reconciliation with the life she's been dealt, and her ultimate path to the freedom she so desires. If you loved Grave Mercy you definitely need to pick this one up!

An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

3.5/5 stars.Poison was a book I was especially eager to read. Kyra sounded like a smart and capable main character, and I was very intrigued to learn the set-up for why she tried to kill her best friend. The world also sounded very unique: Kyra is a potions master, trained in poisons, who can also wield them as weapons? Sign me up! And for the most part, I did very much enjoy this book, and our main character, as well as the surrounding cast. But there were some things that ultimately made this just a "good" read and not a "great" one like I'd been hoping.First of all, as a fantasy book - and this is very much a fantasy book - some world-building is really necessary to get the reader in the correct mindset. It's all fine to describe buildings or the potions-brewing, or how Kyra mixes ingredients together to get her final results. But what I really wanted to know is how this world worked, and that sadly wasn't described at all. I just really wanted more explanation about the magical abilities that some people had, the background of the witches and other creatures, more information about Rosie's particular breed, etc. There just wasn't enough information, so I never really felt all that grounded in the world or the story. Sure, it's completely readable and entertaining. I'm not saying it isn't. But it was a very superficial entertainment that ultimately isn't really going to stand out for me personally in the long run.Now, I did very much like Kyra. She is a very stubborn and strong-willed character, who does what she wants and doesn't really care what others think of her. Kyra is one of those who has a magical ability - she is a Seer - and it's because of something she Saw that prompts her to go after the princess. She spends most of the book on the run, and her singleminded approach to finding Ariana and finishing what she started - even though it breaks her heart to have to kill her best friend - is very well done and compelling to read. She also has a very quick wit and a sharp tongue that's fun to read. As far as a point of view character goes, Kyra is a good one. She gets even better when Fred appears in the story, because their back-and-forth was sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, and overall they just had a good chemistry with each other. I was definitely shipping them. And Rosie! I want a magical seeking pig for my very own. ♥It takes a while for things to come to a climax, but even so, Poison reads at a very fast pace. I don't know about the "swoon"-ing promised in the summary, of course, but it was still a fun book. If you're looking for a particularly deep or serious subject, you won't find that here. But if you'd like a fluffy and fun read with a well-done female lead, then I'd certainly recommend it. Ultimately, it's a good rainy day read. Nothing more, nothing less.An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

As a giant fan of Robin Benway's first book, Audrey, Wait!, I was extremely eager to get my hands on a copy of Also Known As. I was hoping I'd find a wonderful main character, lots of humor and laugh-out-loud moments, and perhaps a new cute boy to swoon over. I'm happy to report that Also Known As delivered all that and more; I pretty much had a giant smile on my face the entire time I was reading.What I loved about this book was that it was ridiculously cute without making your teeth hurt from the sweetness. Maggie is a fabulous character; she so wants to impress her parents and do her job correctly, but she goes about it in a slightly over-the-top manner that made her parents eye-roll and me laugh hysterically. "Dramatic" has never been so apt a word. Throw in her new best friend, Roux, who is perhaps even more theatrical, and the cute object of her mission, Jesse, who has his own sharp tongue and wit, and this book was just littered with amazing oneliners and snappy comebacks. The writing has a crispness to it that's hard to really describe, but it keeps you eagerly turning pages and fully engrossed in the plot.The setup for this reminds me a bit of the Gallagher Girls books, in that Maggie is a safecracker and junior spy. While she's not enrolled in a spy school - her school is decidedly more All-American high school - her background shines throughout, complete with her array of spy tips that she drops throughout her monologues. Her interactions with Roux and Jesse were so much fun to read, and while the romance aspect perhaps progressed a bit too quickly (although I simply adored all the time they were alone together, and their first "date" with the ice cream was just too cute), I felt like it was very true to the whole teenage crush/first love mindset. After all, Maggie is only sixteen, so some dramatic flair is expected.I very much enjoyed watching all the spy stuff come together into one action-packed sequence at the end. I also adored Angelo, and wish I could have seen even more of him, because he was amazing. He is the perfect mentor for Maggie, and I just loved how he listened to her and offered his advice only when she really needed it. I have heard mumblings that this may turn into a series, and I for one definitely won't complain if that's true!Also Known As is not a serious book, and it's not meant to be. Go into it for the sheer enjoyment factor, and enjoy the ride. Just be prepared to smile!An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

I don't know if I'm the only reviewer to do this or not, but when a book gets so much hype, the way Cinder has, I tend to be reluctant to read it. I don't want to be the black sheep, the one person amongst my friends to NOT like it, so I just avoid it all together. But since the release of the second book, Scarlet, and AGAIN seeing nothing but praise for it, I realized I really needed to just bite the bullet and read the book. And now that I've finished, I seriously could kick myself, because the story was indeed worth everything it has gotten!

What kept turning me off of this story was the sci-fi elements boasted by the summary. People on the moon? Cyborgs? Intergalactic struggle? WHAT? As striking as the cover is, I just wanted no part of it whatsoever. But upon starting the book, what I found instead was a character I really felt for: one who has been dumped on her entire life for something that is completely not her fault or her doing. I absolutely adored the way Meyer took the tale of Cinderella and turned it on its head, while still keeping with the story's main themes and making it recognizable to the readers (like myself) who adore fairy tales and their retellings. For me, it was the creative aspects of this that actually made it the most enjoyable.

Of course, simply calling this a retelling does it a disservice. What the story is made up of is a little sci-fi, a little dystopia, a little fairy tale, a little mystery, a little kick-ass female lead character, and a (not-so) little swoon-worthy male lead. It basically has all the aspects of a story that I'm going to love, and I can firmly putCinder in that category. I loved unapologetic Cinder, who does the best she can with the family (and life) she's been given. I loved that one of her sisters, Peony, actually really cared about her. And I loved that Prince Kai couldn't help but be intrigued by her. What I hated was the fact that Adri and Pearl's feelings for cyborgs colored Cinder's own opinion of herself, and that society chose to blame the cyborgs themselves for their "disformaties" when it didn't sound like most of them made the choice to have the surgery themselves. Talk about punishing the person for circumstances out of their control!

Cinder was written in a style that's just made to keep the reader reading. Lauren and I read three chapters a night, and sometimes it was SO hard to put that book down for that day, because each chapter seemed to end with it's own little mini cliffhanger that makes you want to keep turning its pages to see what happens next. Particularly once you get close to the end, and everything with Kai and Levana starts coming to a head, the book just screams to be read and read until it's finished. But at the same time, I'm glad I only read a little at a time because it made the book last longer, and allowed you to think about what you'd read for a bit before diving in again. It was like savoring that last bite of chocolate cake; the story melted in your brain and allowed all your feelings to bubble up to the surface. As someone who tends to consume books rather quickly, this was a nice feeling!

And I would be remiss if I didn't give Kai a little love in this review. I adored him from the very second he appeared on the page, not only  because of his strength, but also his frustrations. I loved the chemistry between him and Cinder, and I loved that he wasn't afraid to embrace it, while she very much shied away from him. I have a feeling Kai is going to have to face a lot of things throughout this series, and I just can't help but pull for him to get a happily ever after. He definitely deserves the title of swoon-worthy hero!

Utterly compelling, with fascinating characters and situations populating its pages, Cinder is definitely one of my all-time favorite stories. Even though you can basically tell where the story is headed - it IS ultimately a fairy tale retelling, after all - there is still a fabulous sense of mystery surrounding everyone that just pulls you in and grabs hold. I absolutely cannot WAIT to dive into Scarlet and see how Cinder's story continues, and what Meyer has planned next for her and Kai!

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To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

I had an interesting reading experience while reading Me, Him, Them, and It. I am not really well-versed in pregnancy books, having only read a grand total of two including this one, but both I've read have seemed fairly realistic in terms of their portrayal of what the main characters are going through. But Me, Him, Them, and It isn't just a pregnancy book, and calling it that does it a bit of a disservice; there are a lot of other issues surrounding Evelyn and the people in her life, which meant that the pregnancy wasn't the only "big deal", if you will.Before I get into anything else, let me state up front that I did not get along well at all with Evelyn. She makes a lot of terrible choices (not the least of which is getting pregnant as a teen) that really turn her into someone quite unlikeable. She has a severe lack of good judgement; she is another case of a girl with brains who has no common sense. Throughout the book she chooses to ignore things she really needs to be thinking about and making decisions on. She pushes everyone away from her, too, which makes things even harder. And she comes across as rude and short-tempered for much of the book, which just further grates on the reader.That being said, the issues portions of this book were spot-on and really wonderfully written. Evelyn spends much of this book in turmoil; her parents don't speak to each other and she's grown up in what she calls the "Silent House". This silence transfers over to her interactions with nearly everyone, including her best friend, Lizzie. It was hard for me to relate to Evelyn because, while I might keep some things inside, and it's not like I talk my head off, I'm never as silent as she is for much of the story. It takes her ver loving aunt Linda, Linda's partner, Nora, and their two adoptive daughters to really pull Evelyn out of her shell and make her a sort of normally-functioning human. A lot of this book focuses on the importance of communicating your feelings with people, especially when you are angry with them and really need to hash everything out in order to move on.I really loved Evelyn's Chicago family, who she spends her junior year with in order to hide her pregnancy. I loved how Linda and Nora slowly got her talking and interacting, and I especially enjoyed reading Evelyn's conversations with her young cousins, Tammy and Cecilia. But even when she begins talking, she still refuses to focus on the real issue: the fact that she is pregnant and needs to decide what to do about the baby. I don't want to spoil the ultimate outcome, because Evelyn goes through several different choices, and while she isn't always making said choices the best way, I, personally, was pleased with her ultimate choice. And I shall say no more about that.If you're looking for a really well done book dealing with the subject of teen pregnancy, then you should definitely pick up Me, Him, Them, and It. While Evelyn is not exactly the best character ever, her feelings and choices were ultimately very realistic and true to the problems she faces. I very much enjoyed the realistic portrayal of both her and the adults in her life, and appreciated the thoughtful approach the author took with the difficult subject matter.An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

First off, let me get the superficial things out of the way. Splintered is a gorgeous book. The cover is amazing, and I especially liked the fact that the publisher chose to use purple ink for the pages. There are interesting designs at the start of each chapter, and you can just really tell that presentation was important to everyone involved when it came to this book. Unfortunately, for me, that amazing detail and artistic presence didn't translate to the story text itself.(NOTE: I apologize for the overuse of ALL CAPS in this review. Sometimes it's just the only way to properly express one's feelings!)It's never a good sign when you spend most of the reading experience frustrated with at least one character. It's really not good when you also spend most of the book actively disliking another. But such was the case with Splintered. This book just really annoyed me, which was a shame because the whole idea behind it - a retelling of sorts of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - should have been right up my alley. I wanted to know why the women in Alyssa's family seemingly all suffered from some form of mental illness. I was curious about what kind of mistakes Alice made that needed to be fixed. And I really wanted to root for Alyssa, who seemed to be fighting against so much. Instead, I spent every second she was in Wonderland wanting to reach through the pages and strangle her, because she was just. So. FRUSTRATING.We all know those stupid females in horror movies who run upstairs to get away from the baddie instead of out the door, right? Well, that was Alyssa to a tee; instead of trusting HERSELF (or at least listening to Jeb, who was the voice of reason here, even though he definitely had his own faults), Alyssa kept diving headfirst into situations put in her path by Morpheus, who was CLEARLY using her for his own gains. For me personally, after walking blind into the first problem because of his misinformation, I would stop taking his word on things, you know? But this was not what Alyssa did, and it just really made me want to pull my hair out.Now, to be fair, I don't think people were really supposed to like Morpheus. Or at least, you weren't supposed to like his actions or reasons for them (I think we were supposed to find the man himself quite sexy, which, no). The thing I really hated was the fact that, if he'd just been straight with her, she probably would have done what was necessary ANYWAY because of the ridiculous bond they seemed to have. Even after everything came out, there wasn't anything mentioned that said he couldn't tell her, unless I just skipped over that accidentally during my eye-rolling (it's possible, because I did quite a lot of eye-rolling). I HATE when a book is built on misinformation and manipulation, and that's precisely what the ENTIRE STORY of Splintered revolved around.Plus: A love triangle? REALLY? AND it's the first in a series? I personally loved the ending, the sort of open-endedness of it, which allowed the reader to think about things. But now there's going to be a book two, which is probably going to have even MORE love triangle junk, and, seriously, publishers, STOP IT. Sometimes one book really is enough!Here's what I did like: Alyssa's journey from a scared girl to a strong heroine. The twisting of Carroll's tale into something much more sinister and dark. The way you could still tell who the characters were, even if they didn't precisely look like the ones you're familiar with (whether from the book itself or the Disney film). Alyssa's dad, who loved her unconditionally. The creepy factor. The twist regarding Alice and her descendants. Alyssa's actual trip through Wonderland and everything she encounters.As far as the actual retelling part, Splintered is pretty sound, annoying characters excluded. Even though I came away from this book more frustrated than anything else, I still found some things enjoyable. Much of the ratings drop is due solely to my feelings for Morpheus and Alyssa's inability to realize he was manipulating her, so feel free to take the rating itself - and this entire review - with a grain of salt. After all, reading is probably one of the most subjective hobbies out there, so your mileage may vary!***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

When I first saw the summary for Frost Fire, I was instantly intrigued. I like books where the main character finds out she or he is something different from what they'd always thought, and the self-discovery that usually takes place. While Frost Firedidn't have any of that self-discovery - Allai is on the run for her life, which doesn't leave a lot of room for ruminating on your future - and Allai herself wasn't actually my favorite part of the book, I still found quite a lot to enjoy in its pages. I'm betting now that things have been solved in terms of where Allai is, we'll (hopefully!) see more of that questioning in the second installment.

First of all, the world this is set in is very interesting. While I really would have loved more world-building - how did these paranormal creatures come to be, and why are they protecting the humans? why don't they like the Mages, who can perform magic?  how can the humans have no idea these creatures exist? etc. - the little glimpses we did see of the various factions intrigued me and made me want more. I was especially interested in how the Mages were seemingly working with Drake's father, but don't actually seem to like him. The whole thing left me very curious. I also enjoyed what we could see of the Mages' magic and how it works. I am always a fan of magic, and am especially intrigued with Drake's abilities.

As for the characters, I had a bit of a problem with Allai herself. She proclaims to have trained to fight the Keepers and Rhaize's forces, but she spends most of this book being very damsel-in-distress. Drake has to save her neck several times (and his view of her as soft and weak didn't help), which made it all the more disappointing. I know Allai is dealing with something pretty severe throughout the book in terms of her magic, but I would have liked to see her be a little stronger. Drake, too, has his own flaws (see his view of Allai above), but on the whole I found him enjoyable to read, and especially liked when we got to read from his point of view. He's made out to be all-powerful and strong as well, but he, too, sort of didn't live up to that hype. I'll be interested to see more growth from both him and Allai in the second book.

The character I felt most drawn to is Luke, who I have loads and loads of questions about (and not just because of what we discover at the end). I'm really hoping he's going to make an appearance in the second book as well, because there's so much I want to know about him and his past!

While I seem to be complaining a lot about Frost Fire, that's not really my intention. Truthfully, I found this book extremely intriguing and compelling. The action and introspective parts were very well mixed, keeping the book constantly moving forward at a good pace. While there are things I wish I had more information on, this is the first in a series, so not finding answers to everything isn't exactly a deal breaker. The twists at the end regarding Drake's father's ultimatum and the appearance of the Mages leaves things with a definite question mark hanging over them, and I for one am very interested to see what happens next!

A copy of this book was provided by Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

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I really enjoyed Trinkets. Going in, I was expecting to be put off by these three teenage girls who steal, especially when I really wound up not liking Pretty Crooked, which had a main character that also stole, albeit for different reasons. But instead of a book that focused only on the stealing, we got a look at three girls who have their own sets of issues, who ultimately become friends. It was this journey from semi-acquaintances to really good friends that I enjoyed most about the story.The book is told in alternating viewpoints, so we get equal time with Elodie, Tabitha, and Moe. Each girl has a very distinct style and way of telling their stories: Elodie uses verse, Moe uses journal entries, while Tabitha's words are told in your usual typical story style. Aside from their way of writing, each girl's voice is also distinct. I was surprised at just how much I enjoyed all three, although Moe was definitely my favorite.There is a lot going on in this book. Tabitha's parents are pretending to be fine when they're really not, Elodie's mom died of cancer and her dad remarried someone much younger who Elodie has trouble connecting with, and Moe's parents were killed in a car accident when she was young, with her and her older brother coming to live with their aunt. The book really tries to tackle why each girl steals (and, in Moe's case, why she also dresses goth and hangs with people your mother would not approve of). While I liked watching the girls' evolution and very much enjoyed the twists and turns throughout, I do think the ending was perhaps a bit too neat and clean, but in the end it didn't wind up bothering me too much.Trinkets is a book that tries to tackle a lot of issues, and for the most part, succeeds really well. I adored the girls and the way they came to trust and depend on each other, and their discoveries about what it means to be a real friend. There's a lot of humor mixed in with the girls' darker thoughts, making this compelling and entertaining in equal measures. I'm very glad I gave it a read!***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

I was drawn to Root Bound for two reasons. One, it's a MG fantasy title, and as a librarian working with elementary students, I'm always on the lookout for MG titles they might enjoy, and two, the summary mentions mythology, and as anyone who follows my reviews can probably tell you, I love mythology. So, as far as I was concerned, this book already had two marks in its favor.

For the most part, I did enjoy this book. I very much liked Emma. Her father has a very transient job (he's a musician), and it's caused him and Emma to move a lot. I loved Emma's outlook and the way she just made the best of everything. It has to be so incredibly hard to pick up and move all the time, leaving behind friends and family, and constantly having to figure out how to fit in with a new place or group of people. Her thought process surrounding her first few days at her new school were spot-on and perfect and I felt so terrible for her, especially when she caught the attention of some truly horrible girls.

I also very much loved the world in Root Bound. So much thought and detail went into its creation and development, from the Brownie Burrows, to the witch and how she came into being, to the gift that Emma has and the special skills she possesses. I loved how the author weaved in the mythological elements, from Hades (in this case, Hades refers to the Underworld and not the god) and Ceres, and the way she was still suffering after all this time with having to give up her daughter for those six months. I also love how Emma uses her knowledge from a book to best the badies at one point!

However, that world-building was also what, for me, caused a bit of a ratings drop. Fantasy books need to have a strong foundation in order for the reader to understand the world and what's happening, but in the case of Root Bound, I couldn't help but feel that there was perhaps too MUCH detail. All of the description made the story itself drag in places, and I found myself skimming over parts. Don't get me wrong; the world and the characters populating Under and Emma's journey through this new land were a lot of fun to read, full of adventure and action, but I really feel that the rooms and places they visited perhaps could have done with a little less information in order to help the story flow a bit better. Of course, your mileage may vary, so take my opinion with a grain of salt!

While I think that ultimately this book may be a bit confusing for younger readers, I still very much enjoyed Emma's character and her cast of motley adventurers. I'm definitely curious about what's next for Emma and her friends!

A copy of this book was provided by Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

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To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!