Giveaway and Interview with author Laurie Wetzel

Hey guys! So this Saturday I was lucky enough to interview author Laurie Wetzel over Google Hangouts! We discussed her book Unclaimed (which is one of my favorite YA paranormal romance novels), the sequel, life, and all sorts of fun stuff. In addition to that, we also mentioned that we are hosting a giveaway for a signed paperback copy of Unclaimed! All you have to do to enter is comment on the interview on YouTube that I have linked below! Anyways, I'll have the interview linked down below for you guys to watch. Enjoy!

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Title: Ruby Red

Author: Kerstin Gier

Release Date: May 10th, 2011

Publisher: Henry Holt

Page Number: 336

Source: Own

Add it: Goodreads

Buy it: Book Depository

Synopsis (Goodreads): Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

 My Review

So, this book was basically amazing. Not gonna lie. It was an extremely fast read that I flew right through, and I was mesmerized the whole time. 

This book was about a Gwyneth who can time travel. That's basically all you need to know, besides the fact that this book was so action packed that I didn't want to put it down. I was drawn into the world of time travel instantly, and I didn't want to leave. However, I will say that I felt like this book was really short, even though it is the first book in the series. 

I was really worried about reading a book that had been translated. Yes, I'd read translated books before, but not knowingly. I was afraid that somethings in this book would get lost, but that wasn't the case. I understood all the references and the dialogue and writing wasn't choppy like I expected it to be. Guess I can leave those stereotypes behind next time I jump into a translated novel. 

Gwyneth was a good main character. She was strong when she needed to, but she also had the innocence of someone who hadn't been exposed to a lot of things, which I feel is rare in Young Adult literature today. As for Gideon, he drove me crazy half the time, but I ended up liking him in the end. The rest of Gwyneth's family was just a giant soap opera, and it was hysterical to read about. And Gwyneth's friend Leslie was everything a best friend should be: loyal, caring, and imaginative. The characters get a gold star. 

Rating: 5/5 worms

Discussion: The Shack by William Paul Young

Title: The Shack

Author: William Paul Young

Release Date: July 1, 2007

Publisher: Windblown Media

Source: Own 

Synopsis (Goodreads): Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his "Great Sadness," Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.

Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.

In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant The Shack wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!

Discussion

Hey guys! So, I just finished reading The Shack, and I know what you're thinking. Lauren, isn't this a YA book blog? Well, yes it is. But, sometimes there are times when you want to branch out a bit and maybe touch on a subject that impacted you. This is one of those times. 

I initially picked up this book for the Popsugar Reading Challenge I'm participating in, to fulfill the challenge of reading your Mom's favorite book. My mom had been telling me how amazing this book is for about a year, and I was very intrigued. However, it wasn't something that I normally would read, so I kept putting it off. But, thanks to the wonder of reading challenges, I finally picked it up. 

Now, I don't really want to review this book. To review this book would take away all the beauty and messages that it has, and I don't want to do that. Instead, I wanted to just say that this book impacted me, and gave me a greater view on life and my faith. It has so many messages and themes in it, that it would be impossible to name them all without completely spoiling the book. I just wanted to say that I know everyone can find something for them in this book. I strongly recommend it. 

Rating: 5/5 worms

Just read it. You'll be glad that you did. 

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: September 29, 2011
Publisher: Dutton Books
Format: Paperback
Source: Own

Goodreads | Book Depository

Synopsis: 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.

My Review

When it comes to reading books, I am a procrastinator. I will buy a book, and then place it on my shelf for years before I pick it up. Or, I will just forget the book came out and I won't read the book for a few years. Lola was one of those books. And I wish I had read it sooner. 

This review will probably be more of a rave, but I will try my hardest to keep the gushing to a minimum. 

Stephanie Perkins, you write the most adorable and beautiful books. When I read Anna and the French Kiss, I felt like I was in Paris. The imagery was beautiful! And reading Lola was no different. I felt like I was with Lola where ever she went. I could imagine her costumes and all the other little details. This book, also like Anna, was cuteness overload. I actually squealed a couple times during this book, because the cuteness overwhelmed me! 

All the characters were perfect. I honestly didn't think any of them had any flaws, at least in my mind. Lola was fabulous. She was spunky, creative, and she reminded me of cinnamon. She also had tons of character development throughout this book. And then there is Cricket. Ah, Cricket. He is adorable, simply adorable. I loved his character from the first time we saw him. He is perfect. And we got to see Anna and St. Clair in this book! That just made me love the book even more. 

While Anna and the French Kiss was mostly fluff, I felt like Lola had a lot more substance. Throughout this book, we see so many real life issues; these things would actually happen. I felt that Lola and the Boy Next Door was more real than Anna and the French Kiss, but I still love Anna. This book also had one of the few love triangles that I actually liked. It wasn't cheesy, it was real! Thank you Stephanie Perkins for making a realistic love triangle. 

Rating: 5/5 worms

If you haven't read Lola and the Boy Next Door yet, don't be like me! Read it now, you won't regret it. 

Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Title: Second Star

Author: Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Release Date: May 13

Source: Netgalley

Format: ebook

Page Number: 256

Purchase: Book Depository

 

Synopsis (Goodreads): A twisty story about love, loss, and lies, this contemporary oceanside adventure is tinged with a touch of dark magic as it follows seventeen-year-old Wendy Darling on a search for her missing surfer brothers. Wendy’s journey leads her to a mysterious hidden cove inhabited by a tribe of young renegade surfers, most of them runaways like her brothers. Wendy is instantly drawn to the cove’s charismatic leader, Pete, but her search also points her toward his nemesis, the drug-dealing Jas. Enigmatic, dangerous, and handsome, Jas pulls Wendy in even as she's falling hard for Pete. A radical reinvention of J. M. Barrie's classic tale, Second Star is an irresistible summer romance about two young men who have yet to grow up—and the troubled beauty trapped between them.

My Review

This book was beautiful. Absolutely wonderfully awesome. I have been obsessed with Peter Pan retellings ever since I read Tiger Lilly and I was so happy to get my hands on a copy of Second Star for review.

 

The retelling aspect of this book was perfect. I thought it was done brilliantly and I couldn't have thought of a better way to do it. I really enjoyed the surfing aspect of the book, because it was really unique and different. I liked how most of the story was original with some aspects of Peter Pan woven in. It took me a little while to get into the story, but when I did, I was completely involved and I loved it.

 

The characters in this book were really, really good. Wendy was very focused on finding her brothers, and while she was sometimes naive, I really liked her. As for Pete and Jas, well, I couldn't pick a side in that love triangle. Both love interests really cared for Wendy and it was interesting to see the differences in each of their relationships. All the side characters, such as Belle, were also really interesting to read about, and they added a lot of flavor to the story.

 

The whole last half of this book completely got to me. I wasn't expecting that sort of an ending at all, and I was blown away. The last half of the book went by so fast and I loved every second of it. This book deals with Wendy's struggle to try to find her brothers, and it was so fantastic. The writing in this book was also wonderful, and it made me want to drive to a beach and read.

 

Rating: 5/5 worms

This book was absolutely wonderful, and I think anyone would really enjoy it.

 

 

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

Title: Never Fade (The Darkest Minds #2)

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Release Date: October 15 2013

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Format: Hardcover

Page Number: 507

Source: Own 

Synopsis (Goodreads): Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster. 

When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her. 

As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?

My Review

I absolutely loved The Darkest Minds which I read last year, and so I was absolutely ecstatic to read Never Fade, and Alexandra Bracken did not disappoint. Everything about this book was absolutely amazing. 

I loved jumping back into the world of The Darkest Minds and seeing what happened to all the characters. After the first book ended I really wanted to know what happened to them and I was relieved that we got to see most of them again. 

Ruby really grew into an incredibly strong character through the course of these two books. She really learned how to use her powers and has come to terms that she's not a monster anymore. She would do anything to help people she loves, and I loved seeing her growth. It was also really interesting to see how much Chubs and Liam have changed from the first book. Chubs has really changed as a person and, well, we all know what happened to Liam. I also really loved the addition of new characters to add spark to the story. 

I loved that Never Fade was a continuation of The Darkest Minds, as well as having a story all its own. Ruby has to go on a quest so to speak, to find Liam and retrieve a flashdrive that contains important information. The plot of Never Fade was never boring and it was always fast paced with so much going on and I can't even describe the wonder that it was!

Rating: 5/5 stars

This book was just as good, if not better than The Darkest Minds and you should definitely read it!

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Title: Entwined

Author: Heather Dixon

Release Date: March 29, 2011

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Page Number: 472

Format: Paperback

Source: Library

Synopsis(Goodreads): Come and mend your broken hearts here.

Just when Azalea should feel that everything is before her—beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing—it’s taken away. All of it. And Azalea is trapped. The Keeper understands. He’s trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. So he extends an invitation.

Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest, but there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

My Review

I adore fairy tales and fairytale retellings. ADORE them. They remind me of when I was a little kid and read underneath my covers at night. And Entwined definitely made me feel that way.

 

When I first started Entwined I thought it was going to be really light and fluffy, but I was wrong. While this book has lots of happy, fluffy moments, it also has lots of darker stuff going on too. There are lots of different things that happen throughout the course of the book that make you want to keep going, because they truly hook your attention. Heather Dixon's writing style also does a great job of keeping you interested. It's really poetic and does a great job of describing all of Azalea's surroundings.

 

Azalea and her sister's are lovely to read about. Azalea is really strong despite what she's going through and I thought that was lovely. She was refreshing to read about because she cared more about her family than she cared about herself. Bramble was my favorite of the sisters. She was just so spunky!

 

Rating: 4.5/5 worms

I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves darker fairy tales!

 

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Title: The Darkest Minds

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Release Date: December 18, 2012

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Page Number: 488

Format: Hardcover

Source: Own

 

Synopsis: When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

 

My Review

This book gave me all the feels. It was exciting, amazing, fantastic, everything. I absolutely loved it!

 

The characters in this book really developed as the book went on and I loved all of them. Ruby, Liam, Zu, and Chubs were some of the most enjoyable characters I have read about in a long time. They had their moments but I just loved to read about them. Liam had a way with words and everything he said was beautiful. Ruby started out cold but grew to love her new friends as the book went on.

 

This book was action packed and filled with awesome! I loved all the action scenes in the van and even just the scenes with Liam and Ruby hanging out. Everything about the plot was great, but the ending killed me! For a week after reading this book I just kept listening to Just Give Me A Reason by Pink, because it perfectly described the ending for me.

 

The writing was great. Alexandra Bracken really built up the world and created a great romance and I found myself sinking into this book. It was phenomenal!

 

Everything about this book was fantastic. I didn't do it justice in this review, but I hope that you will pick it up because it was amazing! I can't really describe it as the next Hunger Games or Divergent because it's not. This book is something all its own. It's creative and beautiful and definitely worth your time.

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Title: Shut Out

Author: Kody Keplinger

Release Date: September 5, 2011

Publisher: Poppy

Page Number: 273

Format: Hardcover

Source: Own

 

Synopsis: Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention

Then Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. But what Lissa never sees coming is her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling...

 

My Review

Kody Keplinger does it again! I loved The Duff by her and I couldn't wait for this one. Keplinger's writing is so engaging and the plots are so funny and awesome that her books are amazing.

 

I love Kody Keplinger's books because she comes up with great ideas and excecutes them really well. A rivalry between teams at the same school? A sex strike by the girls to get it to stop? Genius! The book also takes a look at how different people will react to things. Girls wanted the rivalry to stop while the boys fought, even though they didn't know why they were fighting in the first place.

 

Lissa and all the other characters were superb. Lissa is a leader, which is a good thing considering she was leading the girls. But she also didn't have the "I'm always right and you can't tell me otherwise" attitude that some leaders in books have. Keplinger always has enjoyable characters to read about, and this is no different. I loved Cash and Chloe and everybody else!

 

There is nothing more I really need to say for Keplinger's writing style. She does great with ideas, characters, and everything else. I enjoy her books very much!

 

Rating: 5 worms

 

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Title: Scarlet

Author: Marissa Meyer

Release Date: February 5, 2013

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Source: Library

Synopsis: The fates of Cinder and Scarlet collide as a Lunar threat spreads across the Earth...

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

My Review

You guys all know how much I loved Cinder. I mean, a sci-fi retelling or Cinderella? That's just plain awesome! And I thought that Scarlet was just as good, if not better.

I didn't realize how much I missed Cinder until picking up Scarlet. But Scarlet isn't completely about Cinder, and I loved getting to know Scarlet and Wolf *sigh* too. Scarlet was totally kick butt and and she would do anything to help someone she loves. She was totally spunky and a personality to fit her red hair. Wolf was another character that I really loved, even though we find out some not to great things about him towards the end.

The uniqueness of these books always strikes me. I love the feeling of expecting one thing from Marissa Meyer's books and having something totally different happen. The action of the books also helps. These books are full of action and suspense, especially in Scarlet because of the switching perspectives. Hardly anything is what it seems and Marissa Meyer always, and I mean always, leaves you on a cliffhanger.

Marissa Meyer always has a fantastic way of writing her books. Her worlds are so well built and fun to read about, and her characters aren't the perfect stuck up kind that you find a lot. The ideas behind these books are crazy awesome and she makes everything fight together so well.

Rating: 5/5 worms

If you haven't read this series yet, do it NOW!!