I See London (I See London #1) by Chanel Cleeton

Title: I See London (I See London #1)
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release date: February 3, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 319
Source: Netgalley/Publisher
Reading level: NA

Maggie Carpenter is ready for a change— and to leave her ordinary life in South Carolina behind. But when she accepts a scholarship to the International School in London, a university attended by the privileged offspring of diplomats and world leaders, Maggie might get more than she bargained for.

When Maggie meets Hugh, a twentysomething British guy, she finds herself living the life she always wanted. Suddenly she’s riding around the city in a Ferrari, wearing borrowed designer clothes and going to the hottest clubs. The only problem? Another guy, the one she can’t seem to keep her hands off of.

Half French, half Lebanese, and ridiculously wealthy, Samir Khouri has made it clear he doesn’t do relationships. He’s the opposite of everything Maggie thought she wanted…and he’s everything she can’t resist. Torn between her dream guy and the boy haunting her dreams, Maggie has to fight for her own happy ending. In a city like London, you never know where you stand, and everything can change in the blink of an eye.

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So this is definitely one of those instances where you should not judge a book by it's cover.  I hate this cover but I absolutely adore what's between the pages.  I See London is a fabulous new adult novel that exceeded all my expectations.

To be honest, I didn't really have many expectations when I started I See London.  I was just looking for a quick, fun read and I thought this one might be good.  It was.  I'm quickly becoming a fan of the new adult genre and it's all because of books like I See London.  The characters, the setting, the story, and the writing were all wonderful.  

The characters in I See London greatly surprised me.  Maggie started off very closed off and almost a little too perfect.  She was very much a goodie two shoes.  That quickly changed with the help of her new friends.  Mya, Fleur, Samir, and everyone she met helped her come out of her shell and really grow as a person.  By the end of the book she was definitely someone I could see myself being friends with.  She wasn't the only character that surprised me though.  Every character in the book was a lot deeper than they originally appeared (except maybe Hugh.)   Fleur was not such a cold hearted bitch, Mya wasn't so perfect, Samir had a heart under his playboy exterior, etc.  Chanel Cleeton did a great job developing each and every character.

The romance was obviously a huge part of the story and it did not disappoint.  Samir and Maggie have undeniable chemistry from the start but that's not all they have.  They quickly develop a very real friendship.  They have a lot more in common than they originally think and even though they bicker like an old married couple, they really do make great friends.  The banter between the two of them was adorable.  Hugh was also a good match for Maggie but I honestly didn't see anything that spectacular about him.  Their relationship seemed only skin deep.

There were a few flaws with I See London though.  I think the biggest flaw had to be how unrealistic and overdramatic it was.  I really couldn't believe some of the things that happened to Maggie and her friends.  It seemed like some things were blown way out of proportion.  I won't bring up specific examples because I don't want to spoil anything but there were a few very obvious instances where this happened.

Overall, I See London was a very fun read.  I look forward to continuing Maggie and Samir's story in London Falling.

What others are saying about I See London:

Rampant Readers' review: "The majority of the novel was captivating and interesting, and kept my attention in the book."

Kimberlyfaye Reads' review: "I See London does, in fact, end with a bit of a cliffhanger and a teaser that has left me all but counting the days until London Falling is released." 

A Life Bound By Books' review: " I See London by Chanel Cleeton whisked this reader off to the city of London with its university, club and elite life as college Freshman and small town girl Maggie takes a chance on a new exciting opportunity in another country." 

Series:

I See London (#1)

London Falling (#2) - July 7, 2014

Silence (Hush, Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Silence (Hush, Hush #3)
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Release date: October 4, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
Pages: 448
Source: Bookstore
Reading level: YA

Nora Grey can't remember the past five months of her life. After the initial shock of waking up in a cemetery and being told that she has been missing for weeks - with no one knowing where she was or who she was with - she tried to get her life back on track. Go to school, hang out with her best friend, Vee, and dodge mom's creepy new boyfriend.

But there is this voice in the back of her head, an idea that she can almost reach out and touch. Visions of angel wings and unearthly creatures that have nothing to do with the life she knows.

And this unshakable feeling that a part of her is missing.

Then Nora crosses paths with a sexy stranger, whom she feels a mesmerizing connection to. He seems to hold all the answers...and her heart. Every minute she spends with him grows more and more intense until she realizes she could be falling in love. Again.

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I know there are a lot of people out there who don’t really care for this series but I have to say that I’m not one of them.  I adored Hush, Hush and while I haven’t loved the rest of the series as much, they are still some great reads.  Silence is definitely a fabulous addition to this series!

I’ll start with the things I didn’t like about Silence since there aren’t very many of them.  My biggest issue was just Nora.  She has always been whiny in the books and that hasn’t changed.  She cries quite a bit and she always relies on other people to save her when she gets into trouble.  She doesn’t even remember Patch and yet she still expects him to come to her rescue in a few parts of the book.  He’s a stranger to her and she trusts him more than she trusts herself.  I can’t get behind that and it really bothers me about her.  I want her to be stronger and just more independent.  However, in this case, it bothered me but it didn’t make me dislike the book all that much.

The story kind of threw me for a loop at first.  Things have changed drastically since the end of Crescendo and for a little bit I was kind of scratching my head wondering what the heck I was missing.  Things were explained pretty quickly though and it started to make sense why things were so different.  Nora’s memory is completely wiped and so it was almost like the first book all over again with her discovering the fallen angels and Nephilim and things like that.  She definitely learned some new things in Silence though that she didn’t know about before.  There was just enough mystery for me to be kept guessing right along with Nora and it kept me hooked.  Silence may have had it’s issues but it is still one book that is extremely hard to stop reading once you get started.

Nora is still the same girl as I mentioned before but she is the only one who is still the same.  Patch is a very different guy now and I almost think I like him more this way.  He’s a bit more reserved, back to his secretive ways, very protective, and super mysterious.  He’s not all lovey dovey although he does have some of those moments too.  He’s just a little aloof and I really do like the tall, dark, handsome, and mysterious air about him.  Vee is also rather changed.  Things have not been going her way since the last book and she has kind of turned into a man hater.  Her comments cracked me up and I have to say that Vee is probably my favorite character out of them all.  She has such an awesome sense of humor and while she does make some mistakes, she’s a really good friend to Nora.  Nora’s mom, however, changed and not for the better.  I couldn’t stand her for most of the book.  She was overbearing and I get that she wanted to protect Nora but she wasn’t doing a very good job of it.  

Overall, while Silence isn’t my favorite book in this series, I enjoyed it and it’s got me eager to finish out Nora and Patch’s story. 

What others are saying about Silence:

Confessions of a Book Addict's review: "Silence sets us up for what I hope will be an epic ending to the series." 

Books That Spark's review: "Once again, Fitzpatrick presents a fast-paced plot which is never short of action, suspense and romance."

I'm Loving Books' review: "Overall, definitely a disappointment but I can’t say that I’m really surprised after Crescendo."

Series:
Hush, Hush (#1)
Crescendo (#2)
Silence (#3)
Finale (#4)

Blog Tour: The Glass Casket by McCormick Templeman + Giveaway!

Title: The Glass Casket
Author: McCormick Templeman
Release date: February 11, 2014
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher
Reading level: YA

Death hasn't visited Rowan Rose since it took her mother when Rowan was only a little girl. But that changes one bleak morning, when five horses and their riders thunder into her village and through the forest, disappearing into the hills. Days later, the riders' bodies are found, and though no one can say for certain what happened in their final hours, their remains prove that whatever it was must have been brutal.

Rowan's village was once a tranquil place, but now things have changed. Something has followed the path those riders made and has come down from the hills, through the forest, and into the village. Beast or man, it has brought death to Rowan's door once again.

Only this time, its appetite is insatiable.

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Last year I was really tempted to read McCormick Templeman's debut novel, The Little Woods, but for some reason, I put it off.  I'm glad I didn't do the same thing with The Glass Casket.  After reading this one, I'm definitely going back and reading The Little Woods because The Glass Casket was fabulous.

The Glass Casket is a chilling, atmospheric read that captivated me from the start.  Admittedly, it does not have the quickest start but if you're willing to get past that (and you should be) the story that's held between these pages is worth it.  The story is the perfect mix of fantasy, romance, and horror.  It's easy to see from the very first pages that The Glass Casket is not your typical fantasy story.  While I wouldn't compare it to The Near Witch in the typical way, it has a similar feeling to it, if you get what I mean.  

The writing is fabulous.  It's probably one of my favorite parts about the book and the reason that I definitely will be checking out more from McCormick Templeman.  It's not overly descriptive but definitely is not lacking in that department.  It's the perfect style of writing for this kind of story.  It gives the book an added sense of creepiness and mystery.  

The characters were amazing.  Rowan is not the easiest person to like at the start and neither are Tom and Jude but they did grow on me.  The interactions between all of them were wonderful and it's easy to see the relationships between them all.  No matter what the relationship was, they all had a certain chemistry to them.  

Overall, I would definitely recommend The Glass Casket to fans of fantasy with a hint of horror.  McCormick Templeman does not hold anything back with this book.  

Giveaway time!

-Giveaway is for US residents only!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to check out the rest of the stops on the blog tour!

January 31^st – Bookish

February 1^st – Katie’s Book Blog

February 3^rd – I’d so Rather be Reading

February 4^th – Forever YA

February 5^th – Wastepaper Prose

February 6^th – Stories & Sweeties

February 7^th – Peace Love Books

February 8^th – The Hiding Spot

February 10^th – Children’s Book Review

February 11^th – The Midnight Garden  

February 13^th – Dear Teen Me

February 17^th – The Midnight Garden

Short Story Saturday: Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan

Short Story Saturday was created by Lauren at 365 Days of Reading.  I can't guarantee that I'll post a review every Saturday but I will post one as often as I can!

I am currently reading Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions.


Short Story: Scenic Route
Author: Carrie Ryan
Anthology: Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions

Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan is a short story set in the world of Carrie Ryan’s Forest of Hands and Teeth series. I have not yet read that series but if this short story is any indication, it’s a fabulous series that is supremely creepy. There isn’t a lot of background regarding the world that Scenic Route is set in and that is my only complaint about this short story. However, I feel like if you’ve read The Forest of Hands and Teeth, you will already know plenty about the world.

This story is more creepy in a realistic way than in a horror way. Sure there is talk of the dead wandering around killing people but that’s not really the danger in Scenic Route. It’s other people, living people, that cause the danger to Margie and her sister. I read this story late at night and I felt like I needed to get up and make sure all the doors were locked. It’s that kind of creepy.

Overall, Scenic Route had some flaws but it was a pretty great short story in the end.

Mini Review: The Bride Wore Size 12 (Heather Wells #5) by Meg Cabot

Title: The Bride Wore Size 12 (Heather Wells #5)
Author: Meg Cabot
Release date: September 24, 2013
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 392
Source: Edelweiss
Reading level: Adult

Heather Wells is used to having her cake and eating it too, but this time her cake just might be cooked. Her wedding cake, that is.

With her upcoming nuptials to PI Cooper Cartwright only weeks away, Heather's already stressed. And when a pretty junior turns up dead, Heather's sure things can't get worse—until every student in the dorm where she works is a possible suspect, and Heather's long-lost mother shows up.

Heather has no time for a tearful mother and bride reunion. She has a wedding to pull off and a murder to solve. Instead of wedding bells, she might be hearing wedding bullets, but she's determined to bring the bad guys to justice if it's the last thing she does . . . and this time, it just might be.

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The Bride Wore Size 12, the fifth (and final?) book in the Heather Wells series, is the perfect conclusion to the story. I’ve always been a Meg Cabot fan and this series really cemented my love of her books.

Everything in Heather’s story is tied up with this book. I don’t know for sure if it’s going to be the final book in the series but if it is, Meg Cabot did a fabulous job tying up all the loose ends. There’s closure with Heather and Cooper, Heather and her mom, all the lovely people who work at Death Dorm with Heather, and even a glimpse at someone from one of Meg Cabot’s other series. It all tied together so perfectly.

Oh and I can’t not mention the adorableness that is Heather and Cooper. They are so cute together. They are really perfect for each other and readers can see it in every one of their interactions. Also, they are too funny! I tried so hard not to laugh out loud at this one but it was extremely difficult.

Overall, The Bride Wore Size 12 is a must read for fans of the Heather Wells series and if you haven’t started the series, get on that right now!

What others are saying about The Bride Wore Size 12:

Nick's Book Blog's review: "I can't even tell you guys how much I just adore this cozy mystery series."

The Readers Den's review: "Meg Cabot has truly created an unforgettable series which I’m sure will hold a special place in my heart and on my book shelf for a very long time."

The Book Addict's Guide's review: "It’s definitely for a light reading kind of mood and if you’re a fan of the series, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!"

Series:
Size 12 is not Fat (#1)
Size 14 is not Fat Either (#2)
Big Boned (#3)
Size 12 and Ready to Rock (#4)
The Bride Wore Size 12 (#5)

Other reviews for this author:
Abandon (Abandon #1) by Meg Cabot
Underworld (Abandon #2) by Meg Cabot

Short Story Saturday: Niederwald by Rachel Vincent

Short Story Saturday was created by Lauren at 365 Days of Reading.  I can't guarantee that I'll post a review every Saturday but I will post one as often as I can!

I am currently reading Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions.

Short Story: Niederwald
Author: Rachel Vincent
Anthology: Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions

Niederwald is set in the world of the Soul Screamers series and I have to admit, it was a little confusing for me. There was a lot of back story to the characters that I did not have and I feel like this story was a little spoilery if you haven’t read the Soul Screamers series.

Emma and Sabine are in Niederwald, Texas for some unknown mission of Sabine’s. Emma really just got dragged along. Sabine is a world class bitch who cares only for herself. The whole reason she’s in Niederwald is to see if the guy she likes will ever break up with his girlfriend. Really? Immature much? That wouldn’t be so bad if she wasn’t putting Emma’s life in danger. Emma’s human and the other inhabitants of Niederwald are not. Yikes.

I will admit there was a lot of action and intrigue in this short story that made me really enjoy it. I didn’t know what exactly was going on at all times and I had no clue what was going to happen. I enjoyed that about Niederwald even if I didn’t feel like I knew everything I needed to know to fully enjoy the story.

Overall, if you haven’t read the Soul Screamers series, you might want to skip this one. It’s a good story but, like I said, seemed a little spoilery and confusing.

Unbreakable (The Legion #1) by Kami Garcia

Title: Unbreakable (The Legion #1)
Author: Kami Garcia
Release date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Pages: 305
Source: ALA
Reading level: YA

I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.

When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.

Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.

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I wasn’t sure what to expect from Kami Garcia’s solo venture but I was pleasantly surprised by it. Unbreakable is a fabulous start to an interesting new series and I am eager for more in this new world from Kami Garcia.

Unbreakable has been compared to the tv show, Supernatural, and I couldn’t find a better comparison. To be honest though, there were a few too many similarities between the show and the book. I could not stop comparing things between the show and the book. That’s truly the only reason I gave Unbreakable 4 stars instead of 5. If you haven’t seen Supernatural, you won’t have this problem but if you do watch the show, just try and stop making comparisons.

The characters were fabulous. Kennedy starts off a little whiny and I was almost positive that I was going to hate her. I thought she was going to be one of those girls who needed a man to protect her. At first, it does seem like that’s the route she’s going to take but that ended up not being the case at all. She’s eager to learn how to hunt and kill ghosts. She knows that she’s a risk to the Legion until she knows how to defend herself and she wants to change that. She’s fierce and awesome and pretty bad-ass, just like the rest of the Legion. Jared and Lukas are twins who are both super hot. They both have different reasons for wanting to help Kennedy but they are both drawn to her and she’s drawn to both of them. It was a little instalovey but not too bad. Priest and Alara were better than Jared and Lukas, in my opinion. Priest was my favorite. He was a well rounded character that I hope to learn more about in the next book. Alara was a little bitchy at first but I grew to like her.

The story is super creepy and I loved that! I’m not a big fan of horror stories but Kami Garcia did it right. The ghosts, the demons, everything was perfect. Normally horror books don’t scare me. I actually find them cheesy a lot of the time. This time I was actually creeped out and I applaud Kami Garcia for that.

Overall, Unbreakable is a must read for horror fans. I loved it and I can’t wait for more!

What others are saying about Unbreakable:

Finding Bliss in Books' review: "A little predictable in some areas, with other flaws could've made this an underwhelming read but the constant action, suspense and horror will satisfy!"

Miss Page-Turner's City of Books' review: "Kami Garcia always has another spooky spirit up her sleeve and the legion's five teens are easily my new favourite ghost hunters!"

A Dream of Books' review: "I enjoyed Garcia's world building and I loved some of the action sequences but some aspects of the book just didn't work for me."

Series:
Unbreakable (#1)
Unbound (#2) - 2014