Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber Review

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy of this book!

Name: Darker Still
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: November 8th, 2011
320 pages


The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Pride and Prejudice, with a dash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

New York City, 1882. Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord Denbury. Something in his striking blue eyes calls to her. As his incredibly life-like gaze seems to follow her, Natalie gets the uneasy feeling that details of the painting keep changing...

Jonathan Denbury's soul is trapped in the gilded painting by dark magic while his possessed body commits unspeakable crimes in the city slums. He must lure Natalie into the painting, for only together can they reverse the curse and free his damaged soul.-Goodreads

My Review:
I really enjoyed this book!! Once I started it, I did not want to put it down!
When I first heard about this book, I was enamored with the cover! It's gorgeous!
I also thought the plot summary was very interesting. It sounded very different from other paranormal romance books that I have read so I was very excited to give this a shot!

One of the best parts about this book was the plot! It was very unique and I really enjoyed being in the world of 1880s New York City!
I also really liked the main character Natalie! It was interesting to see her change throughout the novel and I really enjoyed watching her progress as a character.

Overall, I highly recommend this book! It was just the right mix of paranormal and romance and I hope you all like it as much as I did!

My Rating: Five out of Five Stars

In My Mailbox (18)

Hello fellow readers/bloggers! In my Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

This week I didn't receive any books, which is actually good because I am getting caught up on my reading!

Comment below and leave your links to your mailboxes! I will love to see what you all got!

Fateful by Claudia Gray Review

Name: Fateful
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 13th, 2011
328 pages


Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It’s 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they’re sailing on—the RMS Titanic—reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself.

Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He’s in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it’s because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously. . . .

Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec’s past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him—and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.

In Fateful, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray delivers paranormal adventure, dark suspense, and alluring romance set against the opulent backdrop of the Titanic’s first—and last—voyage.-Goodreads

My Review:
What an awesome book! At first I wasn't too sure if I was going to like this one because I didn't love the Evernight series, but I LOVED this book!

One of my favorite parts about this book was that the plot was really original! I really liked how most of the story took place before the Titanic sunk, instead of having it take place during just that event.

I really liked the relationship that Alec and Tess had throughout the novel. I love epic romances and this is definitely one of my favorite ones!

Also, I was SO shocked by the ending! I don't want to give anything away but I really hope that their is a sequel to this book!

Overall, I highly recommend this book! It has the perfect blend of paranormal romance!

My Rating: Five out of Five Stars

Follow Friday # 3

I'm backkk! Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

Today's Question is:

If you could have dinner with your favourite book character, who would you eat with and what would you serve?

I would love to have dinner with Anna from Anna and the French Kiss! I absolutely love that book and it would be awesome to have dinner with her. Now I'm thinking we would have crepes because crepes are one of my favorite foods and I know Anna loves them (hint hint read Anna and the French Kiss to see why!)

Anyways, who would you have dinner with? Leave your comments and links below and follow me! I will be sure to follow back :)

Waiting on Wednesday 16: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

Name: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare
Author: Melissa Jensen
Publisher: Speak
Release Date: February 16th, 2012

I can't wait for this one!! Of course, I love the cover and the painting in the background is gorgeous! The plot summary of this book also sounds interesting..it sounds a lot like some other ya contemporary novels that I have read but with a twist which is awesome!!
Is it February yet?!

Pretty in Pink meets Anna and the French Kiss in this charming romantic comedy

Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. She's got her friends - the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She's got her art - and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they're dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl?-Goodreads

What are your thoughts? What are you waiting for this week?! Comment below!

Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore Review

Name: Between the Sea and Sky
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Release Date: October 25th, 2011
240 pages


For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.-Goodreads

My Review:
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! One of the first things that caught my eye about this book was the cover! It is so pretty!

One of the best parts about this book was the plot, it was really different then other mermaid books that I have read which I enjoyed! I also enjoyed seeing Esmerine on both land and sea!

I liked seeing the relationship between Esmerine and Alandare change throughout the novel. It was cool to see it progress and change during this book.

One of the only things I did not like about Between the Sea and Sky was that the end felt really rushed. I wished that the author could have made it a little bit longer and added in more details!

If you like mermaid books and are looking for a quick, fun read, check this book out!

My Rating: Four of Five Stars

In my Mailbox (17)

In my Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren!

Hey everyone! So this week I got some GREAT books at Barnes and Noble, the Library and Netgalley! I ended up buying Anna and the French Kiss this week because I don't own it and its my one of my favorite books :)

On the with the books!

Between the Sea and the Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore 

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan 

Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Darker Still (Magic Most Foul #1) by Leanna Renee Hieber 

Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik 

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

Well that is all I got this week! I will be having a lot of reading to do!! What do you all think? What did you receive this week? Comment below!

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins Review

Name: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Publisher: Dutton
Release Date: September 29th, 2011
338 pages

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door-Goodreads

My Review:

Wow what an awesome book!!!!!! I was a little bit skeptical about this book at first because I LOVED Anna and The French Kiss! However, I immediately fell in love with this book once I started it!!
I loved Lola! She was an awesome character! She wasn't afraid to be who she really was and I really liked that about her!
I also loved Lola and Cricket's relationship throughout the novel! Of course, I don't want to give anything away but I liked seeing it progress throughout the book.
Another part of this book I enjoyed was surprise appearances by my two favorite characters: Anna and St. Clair! Stephanie puts them in as the perfect balance to this novel, not too little but not distracting from the main characters of the story.

Once again, Stephanie Perkins writes another AMAZING contemporary novel! I HIGHLY recommend this book! I can't wait for Isla and the Happily Ever After!


My Rating: Five out of Five Stars

Waiting on Wednesday 15: Dark Companion

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine!

Name: Dark Companion
Author: Marta Acosta
Publisher: Tor/Macmillan
Release Date: June 2012

I can't wait for this book!! It looks amazing!! The cover is beautiful and mysterious. After reading the plot summary of this book on goodreads I became very intrigued. It sounds mysterious and I can't wait to see what happens!


When foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls and escape her violent urban neighborhood, she thinks the offer is too good to be true. She's even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper's cottage in the center of the birch grove.

Something's not quite right about the school -- or is it Jane? She thinks she sees things in the birch grove at night. She's also beginning to suspect that the elegant headmistress and her sons are hiding secrets. Lucky is the gorgeous, golden son who is especially attentive to Jane, and Jack is the sardonic puzzling brother.

The school with its talented teachers and bright students is a dream for a science and math geek like Jane. She also loves her new friends, including hilarious poetry-spouting rich girl, Mary Violet. But the longer Jane stays at Birch Grove, the more questions she has about the disappearance of another scholarship girl and a missing faculty member.

Jane discovers one secret about Birch Grove, which only leads to more mysteries. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to stay at this school...and be bound to Birch Grove forever?-Goodreads

So what are your thoughts? What are you waiting for this week?
Comment below!

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Name: Name of the Star
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: September 29th, 2011


The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.-Goodreads

My Review:
What an AMAZING book! This is definitely one of the best books that I have read this year!!
The first thing that caught my eye about this book was the cover! It is very unique! The plot of this novel was very different and interesting! London is one my my favorite cities, so I loved reading about it! I also love to read about boarding schools so it was awesome to read about that as well.

This book kept me on the edge of me seat and I was constantly guessing what would happen next, only to be shocked. I love when books do this so this was awesome to see happen!
I also LOVED the romance in this novel! It wasn't too much, but it wasn't too little which I really enjoyed!
I also really liked the supernatural elements to this book! I don't want to give anything away but Maureen Johnson did an awesome job of having a supernatural/real world mix!

Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this novel! I loved it and I can't wait for the sequel!!

My Rating: Five out of Five Stars

In My Mailbox (16)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren!

Hello fellow readers! Sorry again for the lack of posts this week...I have been very busy with school and such!

This week I got some awesome books from my library and one book from Simon & Schuster galley grab (does anyone know if you can read this on another reading device?)

Anyways, on with the books!

Fateful by Claudia Grey

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

Legacy by Molly Cochran

Well that's all I got this week! What do you all think?! What did you get this week?
If anyone knows how to read galley grab books on another device other then a computer please let me know!
Comment Below!!

After the Party by Lisa Jewell Review

Name: After the Party
Publisher: Century
Release Date: April 15th, 2010
437 Pages

It's eleven years since Jem Catterick and Ralph McLeary first got together. They thought it would be for ever, that they'd found their happy ending. As everyone agreed, they were the perfect couple. Then two became four, a flat became a house. Romantic nights out became sleepless nights in. And they soon found that life wasn't quite so simple.-Goodreads


My Review:
Sorry for the lack of posts everyone! Senior year has been super busy! I am almost down with a few books so be on the lookout for more reviews this week!

Anyways, I really enjoyed this novel! I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book. At first, I thought it would be the retelling of how Jem and Ralph got together, but instead it was about how they fell out of love and how they worked together through their problems.

The one thing that I didn't love about this novel was that it was really long and it seems so dragged out. But otherwise the plot was very unique from other contemporary novels that I read and I really enjoyed it!

Overall, I highly recommend giving this book a shot!

My Rating: Four out of Five stars

Waiting on Wednesday 14: When You Open Your Eyes

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine!

Name: When You Open Your Eyes
Author: Celeste Conway
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: March 20th, 2012

I am really excited for this one!! It reminds me of the movie Prince and Me, with a mix of Anna and the French Kiss! I can't wait for March to come so I can get my hands on this one!!

Tessa is in love with Lucien, the son of a European diplomat. He's French and sexy and artistic. With him, she realizes how naive and American she is, and just how alive she can feel.

But Tessa’s father forbids her to see Lucien. So they meet in secret, which makes their relationship feel all the more exciting.

The harder Tessa falls for Lucien, the more volatile he becomes. Suddenly it’s not just their relationship that’s breaking the rules—Lucien knows no boundaries. And Tessa must figure out how far she’ll go for Lucien…before there is no turning back.-Goodreads

Well what are your thoughts? What are you waiting for this week!
Comment below!

In My Mailbox (15)

In my mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren!

This week I received one book from my library, which is actually really good because I can catch up on my reading!

And the book I received this week is...

Lola and The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Wooooo I am super excited that I got this one!! I have been hearing great things and I loved Anna and The French Kiss so I can't wait to start this :)

Anyways what did you all receive this week? What do you think? Comment Below!

Double Clutch Giveway Winner!

Thanks to all who entered the Double Clutch Giveaway! Be on the lookout for more giveaways soon!

And the winner of the Double Clutch Giveaway is...Angie!!!

Be on the lookout for an email soon!

Wildefire by Karsten Knight Review

Name: Wildefire
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: July 26th, 2011
393 pages


Every flame begins with a spark.

Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.-Goodreads


My Review:
At the beginning of this book, I was really enjoying it! I was really liking what was going on. It was very mysterious and intriguing! However, half way through the book, my interest started to decline. I really wasn't enjoying this book anymore. I felt that the plot was dragging on and on, and at some points I thought the book would never end!
If this book was a little bit shorter, I think I would have enjoyed it more. I did, however, really like how all of the different mythologies tied together!

Overall, I personally did not love this book but I would still recommend giving it a shot!

My rating: Three out of Five Stars

Waiting on Wednesday 13: Illuminate

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine!

Name: Illuminate (Gilded Wings #1)
Author: Aimee Agresti
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Release Date: March 6th, 2012

Okay who doesn't love this cover! It's sooooo pretty!! I really like the colors! What first got my interesting in this book was the plot summary! It sounds very mysterious! And I love Chicago so it will be awesome to see a book take place there!

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel? Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew.-Goodreads

So what are your thoughts? What are you waiting for this week? Comment below!

In My Mailbox (14)

In my Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren!

Hello fellow bloggers/readers! This week I got two awesome books from my library! I still have a bunch of books to read so slowly but surely I am catching up on my reading!

Anyways, on with the books!

Lost in Time by Melissa De La Cruz

Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

So what does everything think? What did you receive this week? Comment below!!