Hourglass by Myra McEntire

GoodReads
390 pages, YA Supernatural (Time Travel)
Hourglass #1

Synopsis

One hour to rewrite the past . . . 

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may also change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

My 2 cents

I LOVED this book!!!  I already did my list for my favorites read in 2012 earlier in the week, and this should have been on it!  One of the better YA stories I've read lately!

I generally love time travel books.  They always promise to be interesting.  This one had a whole new concept on time travel:  certain people are born with a supernatural power of time traveling in their genes.  Some can travel to the past, and some to the future, but no one can travel both.

I really loved Emerson.  She is one tough cookie.  Her parents died in a bus accident while they were on vacation, and her much older brother and his wife take care of her.  Luckily, they both love her a lot.  She also has a great best friend, although we didn't see much of her friend in this book.  Emerson has spent most of her teenage years either institutionalized, or doped up on meds for seeing "hallucinations."  She has managed to find some sort of normal in the past year, but things start getting worse.  

Then her brother finds Michael Weaver, who guarantees he can help her.  And the story really takes off from there! I don't want to give anything away, but Michael is "special" too!  I was really frustrated with Michael most of the time.  I liked his best friend, Kaleb much better.  I also could spot the villians in the story a mile away!  

The story line was awesome, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!  This was a great sci-fi tale worth reading!   5 stars!

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

GoodReads
453 pages, YA paranormal (Demons)
The Sweet Trilogy #1

Synopsis

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

My 2 cents

I loved this book way more than I thought I was going to!  The characters were very intriguing, as well the story line.  Anna is the true good girl.  She made me think a little of Sandy from Grease.  Kaidan is the ultimate bad boy.  But extremely hot!  Anna can't help being drawn to him.  Opposites do attract!  And it seems the more time they spend together, Anna becomes a little more naughty, whereas Kaidan becomes a little more good.  

I loved the friendship between Jay and Anna.  Jay is her best friend, and has an alcoholic grandfather, so he has an urge to drink.  Anna helps keep him away from substance abuse, which is a good thing, because he turns from the nice guy to a jerk fast when he drinks!

I thought it was really interesting how this book centers around sins, especially substance abuse.  I think its meant to be a cautionary tale for teens; at least, I hope so!  There is a lot of drinks and alcohol mentioned in this book, as well as sex.  A lot of the partying scenes were so believable, so I think teens in general will love that.  I'm kind of surprised it doesn't have a disclaimer on it (meant for older readers kind of a thing), because it does get pretty intense! It never crosses over to a R rating though.

This is a totally new take on the whole demons/angels kind of thing, and I really enjoyed it!  I can't wait to read Sweet Peril!  4 stars!

Top Ten of 2012--Books I'm most looking forward to in 2013!

Top Ten of 2012 is a week long feature hosted by Confessions of a Bookaholic.  Today's theme is books I'm most looking forward to being released in 2013!  They are listed in no particular order

What books are you looking forward to in 2012?

Top Ten of 2012 Thursday--Best Book Boyfriends

Top Ten of 2012 is a week long feature hosted by Confessions of a Bookaholic.  Today's theme is Best Book Boyfriends of 2012!  This one was really hard.  I ruled out a few, like Four in Insurgent, just because he wasn't listening very well to Tris, and Jace from the City of Lost Souls, because of his insanity, and putting Clary in harm's way.  I hope you like my choices!  These are all boys that I would love to be my boyfriend, if  I was the right age and single!  They are listed in no particular order

Balthazar in Balthazar by Claudia Gray.  This one was easy for me, he is the perfect, protective, caring boyfriend to Skye!

Fade in Outpost by Ann Aguirre.  He starts out pretty jealous, but he soon becomes Deuce's partner once again.  He is perfect for her!

Tucker in Hallowed by Cynthia Hand.  I have been in love with Tucker from the beginning!

Dace in Echo by Alyson Noel.  Again, I've been in love with him since Fated!  And can you get any more perfect than Dace?  He's willing to do anything for Daire!

Lincoln in Entice by Jessica Shirvington.  Linc + Violet = STEAMY!  No one is hotter than Linc!

Sam in Incarnate by Jodi Meadows.  Sam is the perfect, understanding guy!

Simon in City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare.  Could he be any more perfect for Isabelle?

Alex in Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver.  I was so thrilled with the ending to this book!  I don't want to give away any spoilers, but those who have read this book know why!

Daniel in Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard.  I just love how intense Daniel is.  He saves Eleanor more times than I can count!

Cricket in Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins.  Totally the boy next door...I never would have had it change if I'd been Lola!

Possession by Elana Johnson

GoodReads
416 pages, YA dystopian
Possession #1

Synopsis

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even thinkabout kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play

My 2 cents

Wow, this was an intense read!  I really don't know what is going to happen with this series.  I really thought it was going to be more of a run and hide type of adventure, which it is, but so much more!  The whole thing is about mind control.  Its really hard to know what is real and what something is making you see.  It made the story a little confusing, especially towards the end.

I really loved the first half of the story.  I loved Vi, and I fell in love with Jag.  There are so many questions Vi has, and just when she thinks she's uncovered the answers, it turns into more questions!  It turns into a game of who can she trust?  

The last part of the book was very confusing to me.  By the end, I think I had caught up to speed with the story, but I had to go back and reread some of it.  I think because so much of it is an illusion, its hard to know what's really happening.  It really made the book feel Sci-Fi.

And the ending....I don't want to give it away, but it will make you think of Delirium by the end!  I think that's the dystopian I'd most compare this book to.  If you liked Delirium, you will like this!  I give it 4 stars!

GoodReads
YA dystopian, short novella
Possession # .5

Synopsis

Zenn Bower has spent his life falling in love with Violet Schoenfeld. After he turned twelve, he learned his father was part of an underground revolution called the Resistance, a group of free-thinking citizens fighting against the mind controlling governement. He joined, putting his considerable talents to use: lying, flying, and voice control.

He wishes life inside the Resistance could be easy. He yearns to tell Vi what he's doing in the middle of the night. He wants cocky leader of the Resistance Jag Barque to back off.

Zenn runs a mission with Blaze, Jag's older brother, to Freedom. It's a simple get in, get out procedure. But things go wrong when Blaze breaks protocol and Zenn uses his voice to detain him. Zenn's met by Thane Meyers at the drop location, and he has an interesting proposal for Zenn.

Ultimately Zenn has to choose: Violet or the Resistance.

My 2 cents


This is the story told from Zenn's POV on the night that Jag's brother dies.  I really enjoyed reading from Zenn's POV.  It was nice to hear his choices (and he did make a big choice!) and compare that back to the story of Possession.  

It shows us that Zenn might not be such a bad guy after all.  His most important choice--protect Vi at all costs.  In the end, his choice doesn't really help her.  But how was he to know about her father? This novella was definitely worth reading!  4 stars!

GoodReads
YA dystopian, short novella
Possession # 1.5

Synopsis

Set in the world of Possession and Surrender, this riveting, original eBook reveals pieces of Jag’s mysterious past and the inner workings of the Resistance.When Jag, the leader of the Resistance, goes missing during a mission, Indy feels like her heart might break. But as Jag’s second in command, she must put her feelings for him aside and take charge. With Jag in the Thinkers’ hands, the Resistance needs Indy’s smart strategy and calm leadership now more than ever. Indy knows that wherever Jag is, he’s counting on her to continue the fight.

     But then Jag returns . . . with a girl named Vi.

     Indy doesn’t know who this new girl is, or what she has to do with Jag’s disappearance, but she can see the way Jag looks at Vi, and it makes Indy’s heart stop cold. Now that Jag has returned with a new girl at his side, does Indy even have a place in the Resistance?

     This eBook-exclusive story includes special excerpts from bothPossession and Surrender

My 2 cents

WOW!  I'm so glad I got a chance to read this story!  I learned so much about Jag in this story, and the Badlands, and the resistance.  It is told from his old girlfriend's POV, Indy.  So yes, we find out that Indy was an old girlfriend of his--actually up until the week before he left the Badlands!  I thought I was going to hate her at first, but she is actually a very tough bad ass girl in her own right.  And something tells me she might be Jag's and Vi's only hope in upcoming events!  I am thinking this story might be pivotal in the series later, so if you are reading this series, I would recommend!  4 stars!

Top Ten of 2012 Wednesday

Top Ten of 2012 is a week long feature hosted by Confessions of a Bookaholic.  Today's theme is blogger's choice, and I am choosing the best couple of 2012!  They are listed in no particular order

Juliet and Adam in Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Clara and Tucker in Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Alex and Lena in Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Jay and Violet in The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

Hazel and Augustus in The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Kate and Vincent in Until I Die by Amy Plum

Lincoln and Violet in Entice by Jessica Shirvington

Anna and St. Clair in Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Alex and Aiden in Half-Blood by Jennifer L Armentrout

Saba and Jack in Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Do you have any favorite couples of the last year you'd like to share? Leave me a comment or a link!

Spades by Kristy Evans

GoodReads

454 pages (on my Nook) YA Paranormal

Spades #1

Synopsis

17-year-old Calise Thomas grieves her mother's death. As she trains with Chris and his friends at a cabin in the woods, she realizes why they live in the forest - to hide their identities and profession. With each of them wearing a spade tattoo, she tries to investigate the purpose behind the mysterious mark. At the same time, her attraction for Chris heats up and things get sidetracked when she feels like she's being watched. Something unseen and heavy is in their midst, but no one acknowledges the foul, unsettling presence that grips the air. Instead, they take on their secret profession, leaving Calise to figure out who she is and what she's capable of.

My 2 cents

I'm not sure the synopsis explains the story very well.  Basically, its about a girl who is pretty brave and depressed, unable to live with her horrible stepmom any longer and how her dad ignores her, she tries to kill herself in the bathroom at an opera they are attending.  A mysterious man by the name of Chris saves her and whisks her off to a secret cabin in the middle of nowhere, to train for a new profession with his "friends."  

This sounds pretty sinister, which it is, but not Chris himself.  He is pretty awesome!  His friends, though--Tru, Kevin,and especially, Blu--want nothing to do with Calise.  This makes this new life for her pretty difficult.  Even worse, she starts hallucinating right when she gets there, and feels just off.  It seems the attic she is staying in is haunted, so it makes for a creepy atmosphere!

The story sucked me right in.  I really enjoyed this book overall.  It needed a little editing help, and the ending seemed kinda weird--it just kinda ENDED.  The characters and the mysteries, and basic plot was very good, though!  

I got this one for free from Barnes & Noble, but last I checked it was $2.99.  I would say it is worth that price, and I will be checking out the sequel!  3.5 stars!