Stacking the Shelves #6: August 30

        August 30? This means that summer is practically over... And it was only the beginning of August the last time I shared this feature with you all!

         Over the past week, I've gotten some amazing books in the mail, where most where gifted and won from Twitter giveaways. And of course, I've been a naughty Edelweiss/Netgalley hoarder.

          Gifted:

         

   Thank you so much to Lori M. Lee, Gretchen McNeil, and Cecil Castellucci for these goodies! I’m so excited to read Vessel and Tin Star which were contest-wins! :D

  

            Bought:  

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian – This is a new print of the book, but it’s actually an oldie in fact. I’ve read The List and her pretty two books in the Burn For Burn trilogy with Jenny Han, and she’s a great author. I’m really excited for this one! (The cover reminds me of going back to school though. *shivers*)

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout – I ADORED LUX—at least the first two books, for now. So I went to the B&N in Florida and looked for anything Jen Armentrout, and this is the beauty that I found! I’m so excited for some demon-sexiness.

                Borrowed:

The Rosie Project – I normally don’t read a lot of adult books obviously compared to amount of YA that I read, but some of them, like Attachments by Rainbow Rowell are fantastic, and I love them just as much as YA. The atmosphere sure is different, but the cuteness is just as believable. I’ve been wanting to hook up onto The Rosie Project for a long time, and this is my chance!

    And here are my e-hauls! Yes, I'm too lazy to add the links in for each, haha. But come on, these are awesome!

     What pretties were part of your haul this week? Have you read any of these and loved them?

Blog Tour: Gypsy, by Trisha Leigh

Gypsy (The Cavy Files #1), by Trisha Leigh

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance

Rating: 4/5 stars

Publication: May 13, 2014, by Createspace

Format: Paperback Edition




Goodreads Summary: Inconsequential: not important or significant.

Synonyms: insignificant, unimportant, nonessential, irrelevant

In the world of genetic mutation, Gypsy’s talent of knowing a person’s age of death is considered a failure. Her peers, the other Cavies, have powers that range from curdling a blood still in the vein to being able to overhear a conversation taking place three miles away, but when they’re taken from the sanctuary where they grew up and forced into the real world, Gypsy, with her all-but-invisible gift, is the one with the advantage.

The only one who’s safe, if the world finds out what they can do.

When the Cavies are attacked and inoculated with an unidentified virus, that illusion is shattered. Whatever was attached to the virus causes their abilities to change. Grow. In some cases, to escape their control.

Gypsy dreamed of normal high school, normal friends, a normal life, for years. Instead, the Cavies are sucked under a sea of government intrigue, weaponized genetic mutation, and crushing secrets that will reframe everything they’ve ever been told about how their "talents" came to be in the first place.

When they find out one of their own has been appropriated by the government, mistreated and forced to run dangerous missions, their desire for information becomes a pressing need. With only a series of guesses about their origins, the path to the truth becomes quickly littered with friends, enemies, and in the end, the Cavies ability to trust anyone at all.

Review:

*Copy provided by author via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review*

   "They spend their days wishing they were more powerful, more different. I spend mine daydreaming about what life would be like had I never come here."

    You may think books like this will probably be set in the dystopian world. If you believe that this book is—you're wrong. This is a contemporary read with paranormal aspects and inquiries inside. It's a paranormal contemporary romance, nothing more or less. And while I was surprised at the fact of that, I enjoyed this even more for being unique and rare. 

     Trisha Leigh is an amazing author. *gushes* Gypsy is the first book I've read of hers, and it certainly won't be the last. It was rich, lush and everything I was looking for in a good paranormal sci-fi adventure. There are serious thrills and plot twists that will leave you going mad. And it all begins with the Cavies... and a seriously messed up adoption.

       Gypsy has a talent—a talent of knowing the age of when someone is going to die. Sure, it has its perks, but Gypsy usually sees it as a worthless ability that really won't do anything. She's grown up with her kind—the other Cavies, in a sanctuary that she's been in for a long period of her life. One day, all of her kind at the moment are brought into the real world, where Gypsy, really known as Norah, meets her father for the first time in her life. She finds out that her mother is dead, and the reason why Gypsy was sent to the sanctuary was because her mother was secretly pregnant and her parents didn't want her mother to keep Gypsy. For time she thinks her life is becoming normal, things get even crazier, when the government begins to unlock secrets about her kind. 

           

            That's basically the largest message of the book. Who can Gypsy trust when her life is spinning out of control? I guess the only people can be her kind. Her dad? Uh, no. Jude? No way. Her new friends? Absolutely not. But everyone makes mistakes at times, and things get screwed up. That's just the way life comes and goes. And at the same time, this book had that mentality inside of it. I loved the idea, but it wasn't as strong as I imagined it'd be. Sure, the author took it to different lengths, but I wish that it would've went somewhere bigger. Hopefully we'll get to see that in the sequel.

              The plot was very well drawn together. It was thick, and didn't leave me with any questions, except obviously at the end where that huge plot twist/cliffhanger came up. I was squealing with joy to get the sequel! And that, my friends, really shows that the author, Trisha Leigh, is a fantastic writer because I'm everything BUT disappointed.

                Gypsy/Norah was a strong protagonist, but I wish that we'd get more out of her. She wasn't as confident and independent as I wish she'd be. Protagonists in a book like this need to be the kick-butt superhero that you dream about at night. She needs to give everything her all and stun us readers for handling everything so smoothly. The whole time, I felt like the book was tipping with her unconfined personality. 

                At the same time, I really liked the romance. It didn't play a huge role in the book, which wasn't wanted for me, and at the same time, both Jude and Gypsy had a beautiful character relationship and friendship unlike many others. So, cheers to them!

                 This was a great novel that left butterflies in my stomach and left me wanting more. Absolutely recommended to the paranormal-scifi-romance community!

Giveaway: US AND CANADA ONLY.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top Ten Tuesday #6: Top Ten Books I Really Want to Read But Don't Own Yet

  Top 10 Tuesday is a meme by Broke and Bookish, hosted each Tuesday, where bloggers list their top 10 in the chosen topic of the week.

             I'm really glad that I've finally caught up with this meme—especially since I've had so much fun preparing it for you guys! Tuesday's almost over, but here are my top 10 (although there are hundreds more) books that I've been dying to read but don't own yet!

          1. Consequences: Opal & Origin, by Jennifer L. Armentrout

     So I've recently read the first two books in the Lux series, and I am all but disappointed. Daemon is so freakin' hot, and Katy as a book blogger? I relate to her even more! Check out my review here.

2. Can't Look Away, by Donna Cooner

      Watching beauty vloggers on YouTube is awesome. For some reason, haha, this reminds me of Bethany Mota. I'm totally going to have to pick this one up soon!

3. Dangerous Girls, by Abigail Haas

        Okay, I adored Dangerous Boys. Abigail Haas is my new favourite author of 2014! Check out my review for DB here.

4. Falling Kingdoms, by Morgan Rhodes

        I've read Morgan's other book through her pen name, Michelle Hodkin, and I was so impressed! Hearing that she has a fantasy trilogy shocked me, and I can't wait to pick this one up!

5. Doon, by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon

         There is so much buzz going on for this novel and its sequel. I think that it's about time that I pick this pretty up!

6. Wildflower, by Alecia Whitaker

           I've read Alecia's other book, The Queen of Kentucky and adored the romance and cute premise it had going on. I can totally tell that this is going to be just as adorable!

                 

7. Popular, by Maya Van Wagenen

             Relatable. One word—captivation.

8. Linked, by Imogen Howson

           I could've gotten the ARC of the sequel of this one, but I haven't read the first so I decided not to request for that one from S&S. This sounds just like my type of dystopia-read!

9. The Queen of the Tearling, by Erika Johanson

         

            I've heard some rumours that this possibly will become a TV show or movie of some sort? I love book-to-film adaptations (I'll be posting a discussion on them soon!) and I think that this premise will be wonderful. Care to spare me a copy of this? :)

                    

10. Pandemic, by Yvonne Ventresca

              This is supposed to be one of the best books of 2014, so I'm going in for it. Plus, I love dystopians that deal with illnesses and epidemics.

What are some of your must-reads that you sadly don't even have yet?

Gigantic Hello Post: #1 (Review, Bookish News, Hauls, and More!)

That's me right there. HELLO EVERYONE! It's been almost two weeks since I last posted, and I apologize! No, I am not forgetting about this blog (in fact it's on my mind almost every second), and no I'm not planning on forgetting about it. ;) Great things have happened over the past few weeks, and I can't wait to share them with you all!

So, this post will focus on everything I missed or need to let you know: I'll share a review of a book I've adored lately, will let you know bookish news, my latest hauls, and a discussion question. 

NEWS!

• This is the news that I've been waiting to share with you all if you all haven't heard already: I am now a co-blogger! I have joined Jeann at Happy Indulgence and when I was noted, it was the best news that anyone can get! Here's my introductory post: http://www.happyindulgencebooks.com/2014/08/09/introducing-our-new-co-blogger/
• I am currently on vacation, and I haven't been having the best amount of time to read books, but I have picked up a lot of pretties to share with you, including Isla and the Happily Ever After! *squeals* My hauls will be shown below. ;)
• IF I STAY IS COMING OUT ON FRIDAY! I am dying, literally dying because I can't wait to see Gayle Forman's gorgeous novel come to life. It's currently the #1 book in the US!
• Psstt... The Mockingjay trailer supposedly might come out on Sunday. Hmm.. ;)

HAULS!

So here are the pretties that I have received and purchased!

Woot! Thank you so much, Harlequin Teen! The diamond matches the title! 

How am I supposed to thank these wonderful ladies again? Kat Green, Nikki Godwin, Cheyanne Young, and Emily Godwin are all amazing, and I seriously thank them a million times for the book and signed bookmarks!

Yes, that is the beach, and YES! That is Isla and the Happily Ever After, Magnolia, and a signed book from Jennifer Echols! This tears me up. :')

I have finally received Season 1 of Orphan Black, a show that I've been wanting to watch for ages. Oh, and Gone Girl! Isn't that becoming a movie?!

Thank you so much to Kate Brauning for this gorgeous ARC and swag! I'm so excited to begin How We Fall!

Other Pretties to Mention:

• Gates of Thread and Stone, by Lori M. Lee
• Since Forever Ago, by Olivia Besse
• Haze, by Paula Weston
• Contessa, by Lori L. Otto
• A Safe Place, by E.M. Tipetts

REVIEW!

Beginnings: Obsidian & Onyx (Lux 1-2), by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Aliens, Romance, Paranormal

Rating: 5/5 stars

Publication: June 3, 2014, by Entangled Teen

Format: Paperback Edition

Goodreads Summary (of Obsidian): Book One of the bestselling Lux series

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring...until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

         Review:

   To this day, I still can't control myself. DAEMON BLACK IS THE ONLY PERSON THAT IS KEEPING ME ALIVE. At least that's what my whole life at the moment feels like. Yes, I've heard that the Lux series is utterly irresistible, but who'd actually believe it until they've read it? I'm fangirling, still fangirling, and I think I need a t-shirt that simply says, "I love aliens," because Jennifer L. Armentrout is my new favourite author of 2014 and I can't simply keep my boyfriend Daemon out of my mind.

    "I think reading is sexy." Daemon smiled at himself. My brows inched up my forehead. "Do you now?" "Oh, yes, and you know what else I think is sexy?" He leaned forward so his entire face filled the picture and nodded his head toward me. "Bloggers like this. Hot." 

    Although this mega-huge book was combined with two books, I felt like it was one adventure overall. I can imagine what the bookworms who read these when they released back in the day were dealing with--the cliffhangers Jen Armentrout creates are terribadly awesome, and you just can't seem to get enough of Daemon's sexiness.

     The plot's simple, but beautiful. Katy Swartz moves to West Virginia for a new change in her and her mom's lifestyle after her father died of brain cancer a few years back in Florida. Turns out, there's an alien next door. No, not the gooey green types who fly in spaceships, but the ones that are sexy, and have amazing powers. She meets Daemon Black--a mega-hottie who is mean and cruel right away. He also has a sister named Dee, who becomes Katy's best friend right away. Katy then goes too close to information and finds out too much, where many people can be looking for her. What happens when she gets in a relationship with Daemon?

       Let me tell you--sexy things. Katy and Daemon were perfect together, and I shipped them so hard. They're so alike in many ways, and the cat-fight relationship they had going on in the beginning basically brought them even closer. 

        "I would've kept you safe." Then in a flash of red-white light, he was gone. And I was alone in the freezing night, left with my choices and mistakes... my guilt."

              

       That's me now--every night, day, evening, afternoon, minute, second; you get the idea. This book will leave you so heartbroken because you wish that you can have that perfect relationship that D and K have together. Their love is so strong, and worthwhile to read.

        From the beginning, I was addicted to this beauty. They did take a while for me to read and complete, but they were fast-paced. Action scenes happened almost every two chapters, and the fighting was described perfectly visually for the reader. I felt like I was living in this alien world with Katy. 

         Speaking of Katy, I loved her. When do you read a book where the protagonist is a book blogger? Rarely, I tell you. She's your ordinary girl--lives to do vlogs and schedule Waiting on Wednesday posts. Daemon and Dee basically change her life so much and spins her around. She suddenly doesn't have time for anything after the aliens barge into her life. It's funny to read about something like that when your life may seem boring. (Which mine isn't, haha)

         Daemon 

           

             Daemon

      

          Daemon

        Daemon

      DAEMON I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

    Now I understand what everyone was talking about. Posing beside Daemon cardboard cutouts, noting that Daemon is your boyfriend, not stop thinking about Daemon, creating Daemon gifs... YES. I am with you all crazy fangirls and there's simply no other better book boyfriend than Daemon. Sorry, Augustus and Four...

        "If there is anything, there is us." I lifted my shoulders, and he helped me shrug out of the sweater. "And what does 'us' really mean?" "You and me." Daemon moved town, tugging off my boots. "No one else."

        I don't want to rave too much because you guys may get sick and tired of me and then may or may not leave me. :( But, I love him.

        All of the characters were a great crew together. There weren't too many of them, and they all were awesome fighters and were sarcastic and just a bunch of fluffs. :)

        The sequel didn't really leave us at a cliffhanger, but I feel like I just can't seem to get enough of Daemon and Katy. So, coming from that, I'm getting ready for 3, 4, 5, and Daemon's hotness. I got steamed, but I'm ready to get burned. ;)

         These two books were absolutely engaging and intriguing. I'd seriously recommend taking a few sleepy pills after finishing them, because you will be stuck thinking about what will happen next.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm very happy to announce that I'm back and running on this blog! Discussion post coming tomorrow, so stay tuned! 

What would you do if you lived next door to a mega-hot alien?

Blog Tour: Somewhere Only We Know

   Somewhere Only We Know, by Cheyanne Young

   Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Paranormal

   Rating: 3.5/5 stars

   Publication: June 15, 2014

   Format: ebook

Summary: Sadie Bradford’s life is one anxiety attack after another. All she wants is to escape life's realities for the summer and hang out with her best friend Aaron. But her grandmother has other plans: Sadie will get a job. Sadie will do volunteer work. Sadie will make new friends - friends without brain injuries that make them forget everything...friends that aren’t Aaron.

While Sadie struggles to survive her anxiety with all these new changes, she finds an escape when she dreams herself into the beautiful world of Isola Fiona. It’s a place that cures memory loss and anxiety. It’s a place where she and Aaron can fall in love. 

But after dragging Aaron along with her to her dream world, things take a turn. Every time they return home, Sadie’s anxiety is a little better but Aaron’s memory is still gone. And Isola Fiona may not be much of a dream after all. As Sadie realizes that Isola Fiona is as real as her anxiety, she rushes to change the course of fate and make things right, but she may be too late...

     Review: 

      "The great thing about dreaming is that in dreams, you can do whatever you want. Sure, you may not always realize you're dreaming at first, but even when the scary parts happen, you'll wake up. I never have to stay stuck in a dream that I don't want to be in."

       This book was unique and special. Yes, it actually does have a huge meaning behind it, and that was one of the reasons why I did adore this and give it all of my time and pleasure for. The author has a story behind it, and the concept of anxiety and mental disorders make it even more special. 

         Sadie has lived with anxiety for the past three years, and the only person who could help her feel better at times is her best friend, Aaron, who has short-term memory loss after a high fever when he was young. This summer, Sadie's grandmother would like Sadie to go social and drop all of her worries and get a job and live. One night, Aaron and Sadie are dragged into a dream world where the anxiety is gone. But what's better--the dream world or reality?

        I loved the concept of this book. You could tell that it was researched and had a lot of thought put into it to make it amazing. The concept was 100% perfect, and I ended up having no regrets with the way it went with the mentality and reality of the characters. These types of things the characters were going through were no joke, but Sadie's depression and anxiety did begin to fade away as she learnt to live and not worry about the thoughts that haunt her.

        Sadie had a huge problem, but either way, I loved her as a character and main protagonist. She was strong and dealt well with her personal demons. Characters like her are truly ones to remember, and I totally praise them up to the bookish gods. *grows a halo* She was a person that created the somewhere only she knew.

          Aaron was... eh. 

                He was cute and all, but it's not like I chose him to be my book boyfriend or anything. He was just adorable in his own way, but no crush or anything. He was perfect for Sadie, though, and I was glad that he made her feel better through her problems.

            The plot was weak at times. It was very thin and the dream world should've been a little more thought through. I found that the characters were put the most thought and detail into, while the world-development stayed at risk and put readers in questioning. I wish that more of my questions were answered, since this was a standalone fascinating story itself. Sure, it was fast-paced and got to the point, but the few tweaks were spotted missing.

             "What if you had to give up your whole life here and never see anyone else again? Would you still come with me?" Aaron leans in closer and whispers so no one can hear. "Of course I would."

              The relationship that Aaron and Sadie had was indescribable. Their romance and friendship left me breathless, especially because they were so alike in so many ways. Not only because of their emotional struggles, but also because of their personalities and the way they took things. They might have not seen it, but they were really formed beautifully. Let's thank the author for that beauty.

                Chey really shocked me by the end. She left many plot twists that really got us thinking about what this novel really meant to the average YA reader. It was a unique read that was fairly enjoyable and absolutely recommended, despite the review tweaks needed to be looked over. 

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20986791-somewhere-only-we-know

Purchase links: Amazon

About Cheyanne Young

Cheyanne is a native Texan with a fear of cold weather and a coffee addiction that probably needs an intervention. She loves books, sarcasm, nail polish and paid holidays. She lives near the beach with her family, one spoiled rotten puppy and a cat who is most likely plotting to take over the world.

She also writes under the pen name Amy Sparling.

Website: www.CheyanneYoung.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/NormalChey

Instagram: http://instagram.com/NormalChey

Newsletter: https://tinyletter.com/CheyanneYoung

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What does your "dream world" include? Comment below! :D

Blog Tour: Hidden Intentions, by Stacy Claflin

 Hidden Intentions by Stacy Claflin 

(The Transformed) 

Publication date: Summer 2014

Genres: New Adult, Paranormal Romance

Rating: 3/5 stars 

Format: ebook

   Fun-loving Clara is keeping a dark and deadly secret from William, the love of her life.

Not because she wants to hide things from him, but because her story is so unbelievable he will probably think she’s crazy.

 If she tells him, she could lose him. If she doesn’t tell him, she will.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22081161-hidden-intentions

Purchase: 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Intentions-Transformed-Standalone-Novel-ebook/dp/B00LDQB0OU/ref=la_B008AXCK1Q_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406561558&sr=1-7

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hidden-intentions-stacy-claflin/1119882881?ean=9781498947145

☟☟☟☟☟☟☟☟☟☟☟☟☟☟☟☟☟☟☟☟

    This is a book about vampires. If you didn't know that and hate vampires, then I'd recommend that you should stay away from this book. I personally am sick and tired of vampire books, and if I knew it, then I'd stay away from this book.

         I overall thought that this one was okay. What kept it good was the fact that the romance and characters were pretty adorable. There were many boring moments that made me roll my eyes and the whole vampire concept is very lacking of awesomeness. Some authors can really create a gorgeous vampire world, but I found this one to be confusing and dull. Other than that, the book was pretty well-written.

  

       This is about Clara, who's secretly a vampire. She's been one for over two hundred years, and went through many phases of relationships. When she meets William, it brings back memories of her love for his ancestor, Liam. They fall in love and head back to their hometown, and when William finds a photo of his ancestors, he finds a photo with a girl who looks exactly like Clara. (And it is.) He then proposes, and Clara figures out that she needs to tell William the truth, or else their whole relationship would be ruined.

        I read this book fairly quickly. It took me about an hour and a half, and although it was fast-paced, I was bored at many times. The plot went by quickly, but the main problem was the concept which didn't interest me. There really was no point of this standalone. Vampires? Yuck.

  

            But it was fast-paced... So that's a pro, right?

        I adored the characters. Clara was just the most kick-ass chick I've read about in an adult novel. She was easy to relate to, and totally independent and perfect, just like William says. William was absolutely hot, steamy, and adorable. I kept fanning myself whenever his POV came up. ;) You'll adore him.

         By the time the ending came, I realized that this book was more of a meh read for me. It had its flaws and good ideas, but the (bad) ending really stuck with me. It was predictably bad, but the romance made it a whole 'lot better because you'll decide that it was worth it.      

-------

About the Author:

    I love writing, reading, and watching most anything paranormal. My favorite shows include Supernatural, Vampire Diaries, Fringe, Pretty Little Liars, and Once Upon a Time.

   I’ve been writing and telling stories for as long as I can remember. As a kid, my story telling would get me into trouble when I would try to convince others that my stories were real.

   When I’m not busy writing, I spend time with my family. I also run a home preschool and educate my kids from home.

You can learn more about my current and upcoming books at StacyClaflin.com.    I’d love to hear from you!

Author Links:

http://stacyclaflin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/stacy.claflin.author

https://twitter.com/growwithstacy

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6591338.Stacy_Claflin

    I'm also hosting a giveaway for 1 ebook copy of Hidden Intentions! Comment below and let me know your favourite vampire read for an entry!

Get Even Promo + Giveaway!

The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars in Gretchen McNeil’s witty and suspenseful novel about four disparate girls who join forces to take revenge on high school bullies and create dangerous enemies for themselves in the process. 
Bree, Olivia, Kitty, and Margot have nothing in common—at least that’s what they’d like the students and administrators of their elite private school to think. The girls have different goals, different friends, and different lives, but they share one very big secret: They’re all members of Don’t Get Mad, a secret society that anonymously takes revenge on the school’s bullies, mean girls, and tyrannical teachers.
When their latest target ends up dead with a blood-soaked “DGM” card in his hands, the girls realize that they’re not as anonymous as they thought—and that someone now wants revenge on them. Soon the clues are piling up, the police are closing in . . . and everyone has something to lose.

   Gretchen McNeil, author of the highly raved 3:59, Possess, and Ten is releasing a book pitched as "The Breakfast Club with a body count," called Get Even. This is the first book in the Don't Get Mad series, and I'm really excited for it! 

   It is being released on September 16, 2014, by Balzer & Bray, and its sequel, Get Dirty, is shortly coming out in June 2015. Apparently, Get Even ends with a dying-to-read-the-sequel cliffhanger that is sure to make readers go mad.

   Here's where you all come in. Gretchen will be releasing the first two chapters of Get Dirty also on September 16, (there's a reason). Why two chapters? A massive, game-changing plot twist is dropped at the end of the last line of Chapter 2. 

    Gretchen will be releasing these two chapters printed in a special booklet (THAT IS SIGNED!) with some Get Even bonus material and a signed Don't Get Mad bookplate!

     "Michelle, how do we get this?" It's simple. You need to pre-order Get Even.

      Pre-order it in paperback, ebook, or audio format from your favourite retailer. Then, send a proof of purchase (your receipt) to Gretchen's email (gretchen.mcneil.giveaways@gmail.com) with your valid mailing address. That's where the fun begins!

       On September 16, you will get mailed all of the goodies that I mentioned above! And it's all simple and easy, and in return, you get great stuff! (Submissions close on Sept. 15 @ 11:59 PM) US & CANADA ONLY.

           Here is Gretchen's post for this giveaway to find out what bookstores are also participating and more details! http://gretchenmcneil.blogspot.ca/2014/07/get-even-pre-order-giveaway.html

            I know what I'm doing tonight. ;)

        Any questions? Let me or Gretchen know!

Confessions of a Teen Nanny, by Victoria Ashton

Confessions of a Teen Nanny (Confessions of a Teen Nanny #1), by Victoria Ashton

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance

Rating: 3/5 stars

Publication: February 21, 2006, by HarperTeen

Format: Hardcover Edition (borrowed)

Goodreads Summary: Sixteen-year-old Adrienne Lewis is in charge of eight-year-old Emma Warner, the youngest member of the snooty Warner family. Emma is an evil genius who has gotten all five previous nannies fired -- and she's the good news. Because then there's Emma's half brother, Graydon, who goes to college -- yet always seems to be lurking around waiting to hit on Adrienne. But worst of all is Emma's beautiful seventeen-year-old half sister, Cameron, whose reputation as a wild girl, a liar, and a user is known to everyone . . . everyone, that is, except Adrienne.

Review:

  I've been spying this book for a long time. I once wanted to order it but it was never in stock. Coming from an older book, I'm not really surprised. I forgot about it over the years, and when I went to the library and found it, I was thrilled.

   I think that if you enjoyed Mean Girls or any chick-lit movie, then you're sure to adore this book. I've read many chick-lits in my life, and this was probably one that was very below-average comparing to the high-class awesome ones like Beach Lane by Melissa de la Cruz. If you don't have anything to read, then this might be your quick summer pick, but other than that, I don't say reading this is mandatory or convincing.

    This incorporates Adrienne Lewis, who is looking for a job. Her friend Liz immediately recommends nannying for the Warners' daughter, Emma, who is a prodigy. Emma's gotten all five previous nannies fired. Emma has a half brother named Graydon who likes to hit on Adrienne, and another half sister named Cameron who's a total wild chick. They immediately turn into friends, but there's still secrets that Adrienne hasn't figured out yet that can ruin everything.

   

      Thankfully this book was short. Other than that, I would've let this go. The characters in this book were very whiny and bitchy. They were the main flaw and are why I'd recommend to let go of this book. It overall was okay, but they basically just ruined it. Both Cameron and Adrienne got on my nerves. (Although Adrienne was supposed to be the innocent goody-two-shoes.) Emma was a cute character, but everyone was spoiled and total drama-queens. 

      The romance? Don't get me started. It was cheesy, predictable and incorporated no sparks whatsoever. I obviously knew that Cameron would end up to do something behind Adrienne's back, and bam! It happened. ._.

       The plot was okay. That's probably the thing that kept me reading. Although this whole book was a little cheesy, I felt in the mood for a chick-lit summery read, and this was probably it. I've been reading many dystopia fantasy reads lately, so this gave me a mini-break. The book was fast-paced, but as we got to the ending, I was disappointed. It was very, very cheesy.

        Overall, I'm glad I stayed with this book. I've been wanting to read it for ages, and now that I finally did, I realized that there are better contemporary-romances out there. Many, many better ones.