Existence by Abbi Glines

Existence by Abbi Glines

Release Date: December 13, 2011

Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

Age Group: Older Young Adult (16+)

Pages: 194

Format: eBook
ISBN: B006LFVZ8E

Buy the Book: Amazon

What happens when you are stalked by Death? You fall in love with him of course. Pagan Moore doesn’t cheat Death, instead, she falls in love with him.

Seventeen year old Pagan Moore, has seen souls her entire life. Once she realized the strangers she often saw walking through walls were not visible to anyone else, she started ignoring them. If she didn’t let them know she could see them, they left her alone. Until she steps out of her car on the first day of school and sees an incredibly sexy guy lounging on a picnic table, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Problem is, she knows he's dead. Not only does he not go away, when she ignores him he does something none of the others have ever done; he speaks. Pagan is fascinated by the soul. What Pagan doesn’t realize is that her appointed time to die is drawing near and the wickedly beautiful soul she is falling in love with is not a soul. He is Death and he is about to break all the rules.

Review:

Hello, pretty boy on the cover. Is it shallow of me to say that I wanted to read this book after I saw you and all of your glowy eyed-ness? Because that is what happened. *ashamed*

But anyway, enough of the beautiful boy cover and on to the actual story. This book was a great read. The premise of the story was very original, so if anyone is looking to escape reading books about vampires, werewolves, or any kind of thing thereof, this is something you should definitely check out. I also really liked Glines’s writing style. When a good story line and good writing are coupled together, you get a good book. And that is what Existence was.

I really liked all the characters for the most part. Pagan is a great female lead. She is a smart and strong, and her emotions came across really well. When she was afraid, there were moments I would look around my room to make sure no one was watching me. I also liked Dank (although I am not a fan of his name). He is a brooding and dark man with a sexy smirk, which is otherwise known as my weakness. He and Pagan together make a decent couple. But I gave my heart to Leif. (I have to admit, when his name first came up, I went and made sure that this book was not written by Maria V. Snyder. I was like, What?? Leif Zaltana? I thought this was a story about Death, not the Study series…? Whoops. My bad.) In any case (quit getting distracted, Bri!), I really liked Leif. He was all about breaking stereotypes. Here was the star of the football team who used to date the most popular girl in school. I know, you have heard this story, right? But things are revealed about Leif that broke all the stereotypes and really surprised me. Here is a guy who beat some pretty unfavorable odds to become the person he is today and he just happens to fall in love with a girl who is enamored with Death. I couldn’t help but root for him! He really cares for Pagan and I thought the chemistry between them was nice. I really hope there is a sequel to this story and he can find his own happiness.

I still have some questions after reading Existence. How was Dank able to become human and why, oh why, did he even bother with Kendra? Was there a point to it? Did he want to make Pagan jealous or try to forget about her? And why did no one remember him once he left school? Hopefully there will be a sequel (*COUGH*PLEASE*COUGH*) and some of things will be explained! Plus, with the ending Glines wrote, there HAS to be a sequel! ><

I recommend this book to any fan of paranormal romance! I have never read any of Abbi Glines books before, but I will be catching up on her other works pretty quickly if they’re anything like Existence. I have definitely become a fan (and I am an absolute sucker for any kind of romance). Glines has another book, Because of Low, due out February 7, 2012 and I am excited to read it! 

A Decent Escape

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Release Date: December 8, 2011

Publisher: Philomel/Penguin

Age Group: Young Adult (14+)

Pages: 336

Format: Hardcover (also available in eBook format)

ISBN: 0399256229
Buy the Book: Amazon

A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny and danger.

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

Review:

Lenzi’s father committed suicide after he could no longer deal with the voices in his head. But now Lenzi has started hearing them, too, and she is sure she is on a path to self-destruction if she cannot keep them out of her head. Her boyfriend, Zak, tries to help where he can, but it is never enough. Then a mysterious boy named Alden appears, and he says that he is a Protector, someone who watches over a Speaker, a Ghost Whisperer who is supposed to help the dead move on. He says Lenzi is his Speaker and he can help her control the voices. She is all for that, but even with her attraction to Alden, he seems a little crazy himself. And now a malevolent spirit out for revenge is back, and Lenzi is standing right in his path. Looks like it’s time for her to make a decision.

I enjoyed this book A LOT. At first, I was kind of confused as to the roles of the Protector and Speaker and their abilities, but things became clear pretty quickly. The premise of the story is actually really interesting, and while the idea of a ghost occupying and possessing a person’s body is not new (same with the Ghost Whisperer aspect), Lindsey gives a nice little twist to the story to make it super original and really enthralling. I also really liked Lindsey’s writing. She really has a way with words that clearly gets feelings across, and her descriptions are eloquent in a way that makes readers feel like they are in Texas themselves.  

I really liked Lenzi. I think what I liked about her the most was how down to Earth she was. She is known as one of the most powerful Speakers ever, yet there are still moments when she is scared and has no idea what to do. She listens to the advice others give her and she is pretty smart. She is definitely one of the better female leads in YA literature. And I LOVED Alden. Why is it I always fall for YA boys? I do not know, but Alden was AWESOME. He was willing to put Lenzi first and he just seemed to really care about her, which I loved. He almost never thinks of just himself, he is always there for her, he listens to her, and the list just goes on and on. Alden is the perfect man. I will end it there. I also liked Zak. There were moments in the book where the reader is not supposed to like him, but I could not help feeling for him. He is a troubled soul who has been abandoned by his parents and had a rough upbringing, and now the girl he loves is pulling away from him. He makes some bad decisions, but he just wants to save the relationship with his girlfriend. I do not know how other people feel about him, but I did not hate him at all. He may not be perfect like Alden is, but what real man ever is?

This was an amazing debut by Mary Lindsey. If you have not read this book yet, I would definitely add it to your to-read list. You do not want to miss out on it! Everything about this book is beautiful. AND THE COVER. I do not know what it is about this cover, but I am obsessed with it. It is GORGEOUS. There has been no mention of a sequel, but if there is one, I am going to be all over it. However, Lindsey will be releasing another book, Annabel, sometime in 2013. It is going to be a retelling of the original Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe. I am looking forward to reading anything else this talented author releases (and please let there be a SS sequel!). 

A Great Escape!

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

This is the very first post for Waiting on Wednesday! YAY! ><

Waiting on Wednesday was created by Jill from Breaking the Spine, and it is a weekly event in which readers select an upcoming release they are super eager to get their hands on. 

So for my very first Waiting on Wednesday post, I have chosen....... [drumroll]

The Selection (The Selection, #1) by Kiera Cass

Release Date: April 24, 2011

Summary (taken from Goodreads.com):

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon. 

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. 

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

I am super excited to get my hands on this! I have been on a dystopian kick lately, making this choice pretty easy for me. I hope it does not disappoint!  

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Release Date: December 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 288
Available Formats: Paperback and eBook
My Shelf: Own (Paperback)
Buy the Book: Amazon

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

Review:

Even after finishing this book hours ago, I still have a big, goofy grin on my face. I cannot stop smiling!! (I really think I started to scare my Japanese co-workers. They were probably thinking, Oh, God, the foreigner is laughing to herself. Why, out of the hundreds of thousands of people in America, did we get stuck with the crazy one?) But seriously, I cannot help it! This book was all kinds of ADORABLE and CUTE!

I fell in love with Jordan! She is a six foot tall tomboy who eats, sleeps, and breaths football and is considered to be ‘one of the guys.’ But deep down, under all that tomboyish-ness, she is still an angsty and confused teenage girl. When the arrival of a sexy Texan has her finally looking at a guy, not as a teammate, but as a romantic interest, she has no idea what to do! She has never had a boyfriend, never kissed a guy, and certainly does not know how to date one. She feels the confusion that all girls feel when they have a crush, and she just wants to find a girlfriend to ask about the scary, unknown people called teenage guys. She is adorable and my heart went out to her!

The chemistry in this book was PURE AWESOMENESS. It was awesome in so many different ways! The love chemistry left me swooning and thinking about taking up football myself and finding a good man, and it was soooo cute.  But there was not just chemistry between Jordan and her boy toy; there was chemistry between Jordan’s family and her football team. The guys on her team were like her big brothers, overprotective and ready to pound anyone if they so much as looked at her funny. And Jordan constantly argues with her father about whether or not a girl should play football, and when they start to understand one another and really reconnect, it tugs at the heartstrings. Everything was so believable and I felt what Jordan felt, whether it was anger, heartbreak, or love.  

Catching Jordan is not just an adorable and emotional love story. It is the story of a tomboy who falls in love for the first time, learns how to overcome obstacles and gender barriers, and never gives up on her dreams. I recommend it to anyone, regardless of whether or not you like football! I am sure you will enjoy it and have a huge smile on your face when you finish! J

The Greatest Escape!

The Cover for Deity (Covenant, #3) is Revealed!!

Jennifer L. Armentrout just revealed the cover for the third book in the Covenant series, Deity! (GORGEOUSNESS!!!)

A YA Heroine Contest is currently being held by The YA Sisterhood, and Alex from the Covenant series has been nominated and is currently up against Nora from the Fallen series by Lauren Kate. As thanks for the fans who nominated Alex, Armentrout and her publishers released the cover 5 months early!! Also, if Alex wins the contest, Armentrout will give us a steamy Aiden/Alex scene that takes place between Half-Blood and Pure, so get out there and vote, people! To vote, click here to go to the voting page.

There is currently another battle between Rose from Vampire Academy and Clara from Unearthly. To vote for either of them, go here!

Happy voting! :)