Feature and Follow Fridays #3

Feature and Follow Friday is a meme put on by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read where us all bloggers answer a question.  Today's question is:

Q: What is the best book you've read in the last month? What is the worst book you've read in the last month?.

We will start with the best book.  Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

This book was a great romance read, and just plain fun, really.  I can't wait to read Lola and the Boy Next Door!

Worst book?  This was harder because all the books I've read in the last month were good.  But my least favorite was Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions by Melissa Marr and other authors.  

It is a collections of short stories.  There are a few duds in there, but most were good. The best one is the first story by Claudia Gray.

What's the best and worst books you've read in the last month?

Wanderlove Giveaway!

Giveaway for the release of Wanderlove HERE.  Good luck!

Are you a Global Vagabond? 

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path. 

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward. 

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back. 

Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry to this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.

Legend by Marie Lu

Synopsis: Once known as the western coast of the United States, the Republic is know a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors, the colonies.

Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year old June is a military prodigy. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country, she is being groomed for success in the Republic's highest circles.

Born into the slums of the Republic's lake sector, fifteen-year old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths--until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered, and Day becomes the prime suspect.  Now, caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June tries desperately to avenge Metias's death.

But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths to which their country will go to keep its secrets.  

My 2 cents:  Loved this book!  It was hard to put down!

The narration is in first person, and goes back and forth between Day and June.  It doesn't take long before you are sympathetic to both characters, and want them both to win.  This was brilliant of the author, in my opinion.  

The characters are amazing.  I fell in love with Day.  He is at the top of my list right now as far as swoon-worthy male leads!  His story actually reminded me of Robin Hood.  He steals from the privileged rich sector of the city and shares his spoils with his family and neighbors living in the slums.  I also really liked June.  She is one of the strongest female leads I'd read in awhile...in a lot of ways she reminded me of Katniss.  That girl was made of steel.

The ultimate plot twists towards the end blew me away.  Of course, I figured the Republic was lying to June and had some secrets; I didn't realize how big they were until they were uncovered.  

A great story with top notch characters.  If you are looking for a new dystopian that will grip you, this is it!  Giving it 5 stars!

Waiting on Wednesday #2

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme put on by Breaking the Spine.We spotlight upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

Today's Waiting on Wednesday is The Enchantress by Michael Scott.  It is the sixth book in the Immortal Secrets of Nicholas Flamel series. It will be released May 22nd.  

What releases are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday #2

Teaser Tuesday is a meme put on by Should Be Reading.  Anyone can play along!  Just do the following:

--Grab your current read

--Open to a random page

--Share 2 teaser sentences from somewhere on that page

--BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

--Share the book and title

My Teaser is from Legend by Marie Lu on pg. 115

"I tuck a handful of sea daisies into the sleeve of my shirt and a couple of Notes into my pocket for good measure.  Tess helps me wrap both of my hands in cloth before I go to avoid leaving fingerprints anywhere."

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme put together by Broke and Bookish where we put together a list of top tens.  This is my first one, and I just had to today because the top ten is:

Top Ten (pick a genre) books!  So I decided to go with Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic since that's what I'm reading this month! Here we go!

10.  Inside Out by Maria V Snyder

This book had a really good ending, and lots of plot twists.  I am giving it place #10 mainly because the first half of the book was kind of hard to get through.  The ending made it worth reading, though!

9. Birthmarked by Caugh M O'Brien

This book was a very different take on a dystopian.  I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

8.  Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

This book was so good!  I didn't like the sequel nearly as much, but watching the two worlds collide was so suspenseful!  I was almost jumping up and down by the end of it, when everything came together!

7.  Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

You can't have a dystopian list without this book on the list!  A classic, and one of the reasons we have a dystopian genre!

6.  Wither by Lauren DeStefano

This series is very good.  Its really easy to get lost in this world.  Loved the characters, and lots of plot twists. The sequel, Fever, is just as good.

5.  Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Just recently read this book, and loved it!  This one is different, because its a dystopian, but also a fairy tale re-make!

4.  Enclave by Ann Aguirre

This one hasn't gotten as much buzz, which surprises me.  Its dark and violent, and not hard to imagine at all.  And the romance in it is top-notch!

3.  Matched by Ally Condie

I love this series!  A lot of people didn't like it, because they felt the reading was too simple.  It gets more intense the farther you get in, and I think that mirrors Cassia's journey.  What I love best about this series is you never really know too much about the Society, and what's really happening at the top.  It makes it feel like you are right there with Cassia!

2.  Divergent by Veronica Roth

This won on Goodreads "Best book of 2011", voted by readers.  You can't say enough good things about this book.  Its full of action, great characters, and the writing is superb.  Can't wait for Insurgent to get here!

1.  The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

 I don't really need to say to much about this series I think!  The fact that its still #1 to me after all the newer dystopian books I've read..says it all!  If you haven't read these books, I don't know what's wrong with you!  (jk!)  Seriously, go and read them now!

What Are You Reading Monday #2

What Are you Reading Monday is a meme put on by Book Journey where we put out our weekly reading list to share with others.  Its been a busy week for me!

Finished reading last week

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Lenobia's Vow by PC & Kristin Cast

Afterlife by Claudia Gray

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Currently Reading

All's Fair in Vanity's War by Elizabeth Marx

Legend by Marie Lu

Hoping to read this week

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupa

Prized by Caraugh M O'Brien

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Have a great reading week!