February #365DaysofYA Challenge Progress

Kate from Literary Kate  and Sarah from What Sarah Read are co-hosting the 365 Days of YA Reading Challenge!  This challenge is inspired by Epic Reads’ 365 Days of YA info graphic.

When My Heart Was Wicked by Tricia Stirling

Title: When My Heart Was Wicked
Author: Tricia Stirling
Length: 192 pages
Publisher: Scholastic
Classification: Young Adult, Magic, Witches
Release Date: February 24, 2015
Source: e-galley via Edelweiss (Thank you Scholastic!)
Read: February 2015

"I used to be one of those girls. The kind who loved to deliver bad news. When I colored my hair, I imagined it seeping into my scalp, black dye pooling into my veins.
But that was the old Lacy. Now, when I cast spells, they are always for good."
16-year-old Lacy believes that magic and science can work side by side. She's a botanist who knows how to harness the healing power of plants. So when her father dies, Lacy tries to stay with her step-mother in Chico, where her magic is good and healing. She fears the darkness that her real mother, Cheyenne, brings out, stripping away everything that is light and kind.
Yet Cheyenne never stays away for long. Beautiful, bewitching, unstable Cheyenne who will stop at nothing, not even black magic, to keep control of her daughter's heart. She forces Lacy to accompany her to Sacramento, and before long, the "old" Lacy starts to resurface.
But when Lacy survives a traumatic encounter, she finds herself faced with a choice. Will she use her powers to exact revenge and spiral into the darkness forever? Or will she find the strength to embrace the light?

GoodReads || Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Books-a-Million

***I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review***

My Best Everything by Sarah Tomp

Title: My Best Everything
Author: Sarah Tomp
Length: 400 pages
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Classification: Young Adult, Contemporary
Release Date: March 3, 2015
Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thanks Little Brown!)
Read: February 2015

You say it was all meant to be. You and me. The way we met. Our secrets in the woods. Even the way it all exploded. It was simply a matter of fate.
Maybe if you were here to tell me again, to explain it one more time, then maybe I wouldn’t feel so uncertain. But I’m going back to the beginning on my own. To see what happened and why.
Luisa “Lulu” Mendez has just finished her final year of high school in a small Virginia town, determined to move on and leave her job at the local junkyard behind. So when her father loses her college tuition money, Lulu needs a new ticket out.
Desperate for funds, she cooks up the (definitely illegal) plan to make and sell moonshine with her friends, Roni and Bucky. Quickly realizing they’re out of their depth, Lulu turns to Mason: a local boy who’s always seemed like a dead end. As Mason guides Lulu through the secret world of moonshine, it looks like her plan might actually work. But can she leave town before she loses everything – including her heart?
The summer walks the line between toxic and intoxicating. My Best Everything is Lulu’s letter to Mason – though is it an apology, a good-bye, or a love letter?

GoodReads || Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Books-a-Million

***I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

2015 #LoveAThon Mini Challenge #5: High Five!

The Book Blogger Love-A-Thon is hosted by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books!

In this post, you’ll be sharing your current “high” fives (what’s currently making you happy) for the following categories:

• Book
• Genre
• Author
• Blogger
• Bookish Merchandise / Book-related site

2015 #LoveAThon Mini Challenge #4: Snapshots

The Book Blogger Love-A-Thon is hosted by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books!

Another fresh challenge! Take some fun photos of your books. Take a “book shelfie”. Do a bookish photo tag. Take photos of your favorites. Be as creative or as simple as you want when it comes to your photos.

I have a lot of books, so I decided to take pictures of my bookshelf that I have in the living room that holds most (not all) of my young adult books. 

2015 #LoveAThon Mini Challenge #3: One Can Only Quote

The Book Blogger Love-A-Thon is hosted by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books!

Here’s a fresh new challenge for this year’s Love-a-Thon! Share a favorite quote (or even more than one) about love or friendship. You can type out the quote, include artwork you find on the web or even make your own graphics for it.

I really LOVE quotes! When I was in high school and college I would write down quotes and favorite lyrics on notecards and I would hang them up all over my room. I could probably list you all a ton of quotes that I like, but I have decided to keep it to only three this time.

2015 #LoveAThon Mini Challenge #2: Book Valentines

The Book Blogger Love-A-Thon is hosted by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books!

Create a valentine for your favorite book guy or gal. You can write a letter, share a playlist, draw something, shop for gifts – whatever way you feel like expressing your love, go for it! Alternatively (or additionally), create a valentine for your favorite author.

I have a lot of favorite book guys and gals. So picking just a couple to make valentines for will be a difficult decision!

2015 #LoveAThon Mini Challenge #1: Book Spine Poetry

The Book Blogger Love-A-Thon is hosted by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books!

One of the most popular Love-a-Thon challenges is returning this year! All you have to do is create book spine poetry. You can either take a photo of the books or type out the titles in a post.

I LOVE book spine poetry. I am not that good at it, but I love doing it!
I didn't take any pictures because I used a mix of physical books and e-books. I only used books that I do have though, even if I haven't read a majority of them! (I really should though!)

2015 #LoveAThon: Questionnaire Post

The Book Blogger Love-A-Thon is hosted by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books!

I am so excited for the Book Blogger Love-A-Thon this year! This is my second year participating, I had a lot of fun last year and looking forward to meeting new bloggers this year! :D

Kalahari by Jessica Khoury

Title: Kalahari
(Corpus #3)
Author: Jessica Khoury
Length: 368 pages
Publisher: Razorbill
Classification: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Release Date: February 24, 2015
Source: e-galley via Penguin First to Read
Read: January 2015

Deep in the Kalahari Desert, a Corpus lab protects a dangerous secret…
But what happens when that secret takes on a life of its own?When an educational safari goes wrong, five teens find themselves stranded in the Kalahari Desert without a guide. It’s up to Sarah, the daughter of zoologists, to keep them alive and lead them to safety, calling on survival know-how from years of growing up in remote and exotic locales. Battling dehydration, starvation and the pangs of first love, she does her best to hold it together, even as their circumstances grow increasingly desperate.
But soon a terrifying encounter makes Sarah question everything she’s ever known about the natural world. A silver lion, as though made of mercury, makes a vicious, unprovoked attack on the group. After a narrow escape, they uncover the chilling truth behind the lion’s silver sheen: a highly contagious and deadly virus that threatens to ravage the entire area—and eliminate life as they know it.
In this breathtaking new novel by the acclaimed author of Origin and Vitro, Sarah and the others must not only outrun the virus, but its creators, who will stop at nothing to wipe every trace of it.

GoodReads || Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Books-a-Million

***I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher via Penguin First to Read in exchange for an honest review***

Mini Reviews: Origin and Vitro by Jessica Khoury

Title: Origin
(Corpus #1)
Author: Jessica Khoury
Length: 394 pages
Publisher: Razorbill
Classification: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Release Date: September 4, 2012
Source: e-book
Read: January 2015

Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home―and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.
Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin―a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.
Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost.

GoodReads |  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

Top Ten Tuesday #45: Book Related Problems I Have

Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Their blog can be found here.

February 17: Ten Book Related Problems I Have (could be serious or fun!)

When Joss Met Matt by Ellie Cahill

Title: When Joss Met Matt
Author: Ellie Cahill
Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Classification: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: February 24, 2015
Source: e-galley via Edelweiss (Thank you Random House Publishing Group & Ballantine Books!)

Ellie Cahill is poised to coin the term “sorbet sex” with her charming twist on the age-old ‘friends-with-benefits’ story.
Dating can be fun, but it can leave a nasty taste in your mouth. For Joss, ever since her longtime boyfriend cheated on her, she doesn’t want her last memory of a guy to be that jerk. Enter her college friend, Matt. They come up with a theory: after a bad break-up, a person needs to cleanse the palate with a little sorbet sex. Lovers for a night, but always back to being friends in the morning. The two can handle it because they have a contract: rules they wrote, rules they follow and rules they can sometimes bend. The arrangement works: everyone needs a little sorbet now and again … until it starts to be the only thing you want. And then Joss breaks the one rule they never wrote down: don’t fall in love.

GoodReads || Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Books-a-Million

***I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review***

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

Title: Seeker
(Seeker #1)
Author: Arwen Elys Dayton
Length: 448 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Classification: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you Random House!)
Read: February 2015

The night Quin Kincaid takes her Oath, she will become what she has trained to be her entire life. She will become a Seeker. This is her legacy, and it is an honor.As a Seeker, Quin will fight beside her two closest companions, Shinobu and John, to protect the weak and the wronged. Together they will stand for light in a shadowy world.And she'll be with the boy she loves--who's also her best friend.But the night Quin takes her Oath, everything changes.Being a Seeker is not what she thought. Her family is not what she thought. Even the boy she loves is not who she thought.And now it's too late to walk away.

GoodReads || Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Books-a-Million

***I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Waiting on Wednesday #11: A Court of Thorns and Roses

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Publication Date: May 5, 2015

Publisher:Bloomsbury Children's

Top Ten Tuesday #44: Ten Things I Like/Dislike/Want More Of When It Comes to Romances

Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Their blog can be found here.

February 10: Top Ten Things I Like/Dislike When It Comes To Romances In Books (can do a full list or split it up in likes/dislikes or even things you want to see MORE of in romances in fiction)

Inherit Midnight by Kate Kae Myers

Title: Inherit Midnight
Author: Kate Kae Myers
Length: 400 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Classification: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thanks Bloomsbury!)
Read: January 2015

The Competition:
Outlandishly wealthy Grandmother VanDemere has decided to leave her vast fortune to the family member who proves him or herself worthiest-by solving puzzles and riddles on a whirlwind race around the globe, from the mines of Venezuela to the castles of Scotland. There will be eight competitors, three continents . . . and a prize worth millions.
The Players:
Seventeen-year-old Avery is the black sheep of the VanDemere clan, the ostracized illegitimate daughter. Finally, she has a chance to prove herself . . . and to discover the truth about her long-lost mother.
Marshall might be Avery's uncle, but there's no love lost between the two of them. He's her main competition, and he'll do anything to win-including betray his own children.
Riley is the handsome son of Grandmother VanDemere's lawyer. As the game progresses, Avery falls hard for Riley. Suddenly, losing the game might mean losing him, too. 
As the competition takes treacherous turns, it becomes clear there can only be one victor. Who can Avery truly trust? And is winning worth her life?

GoodReads ||  Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Books-a-Million

***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

February 2015 Featured Blogger: Brittany from Please Feed The Bookworm!

I have been enjoying getting to know some awesome book bloggers since starting my blog. And decided that it would be fun to start a Featured Blogger of the Month interview. I know that there are a lot of other blogs that have monthly Featured Bloggers & Featured Authors, and I love getting to know other bloggers.

February's Featured Blogger is 

Brittany!

Feature & Follow #5: Reading Multiple Books & FEATURED BLOGGER!

This weekly meme is hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read!

HOW IT WORKS:

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you visit the blogs of our illustrious hosts and leave your name on the post using using the linky tools, then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to Wordpress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don't have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.

So you can probably imagine how excited I am to be a featured blogger this week. (VERY! I might have squeeled a bit...) I was so surprised to open my email and find out that I was picked. Thank you so much Alison and Rachel for such a fun meme and for featuring me this week! 

THIS WEEKS QUESTION: 

Do you read more than 1 book at a time, and if so, how, like a certain amount of pages per book before moving on to the next one in the queue? via Words I Write Crazy

Waiting on Wednesday #10: NIL Unlocked

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

NIL Unlocked by Lynne Matson

Publication Date: May 12, 2015

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co

On the island of Nil, the rules are set. You have exactly 365 days to escape—or you die. Rives is now the undisputed Leader of Nil City, but keeping the City united is tougher than ever.

Raiders have grown bolder, supplies are dwindling, and non-human inhabitants have taken a turn toward the deadly. New arrivals cause rifts within the City, putting the Search system at risk, and calling everything Rives knows into question. Desperate for answers, he teams up with the only other person searching for them: Skye, a new arrival with a mysterious past of her own. Soon the duo find themselves locked in a desperate race to save all the residents of Nil—and possibly destroy the island forever. But at what cost? And who will pay the price?

Why Am I Excited For This Book?

Because I LOVE NIL. I really enjoyed reading it and became SO EXCITED when I found out about NIL Unlocked! I CAN'T WAIT!!!
So one of the main reasons I am excited about this one is because Rives!!! More NIL! I am looking forward to learning more about the island and finding out more answers regarding what happens on the island and everything.
The cover is GORGEOUS! I love it! JUST SO EXCITED!!! (I am so excited I think it is hard for me to explain coherently about why I am looking forward to this book.)

What book are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Top Ten Tuesday #43 : I Can't Believe I Haven't Read These Contemporary Books Yet!

Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Their blog can be found here.

February 3: Top Ten Books I Can't Believe I Haven't/Want To Read From Contemporary Genre 

When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez

Title: When Reason Breaks
Author: Cindy L. Rodriguez
Length: 304 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Classification: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Mental Health
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you Bloomsbury!)
Read: January 2015

13 Reasons Why meets the poetry of Emily Dickinson in this gripping debut novel perfect for fans of Sara Zarr or Jennifer Brown.

A Goth girl with an attitude problem, Elizabeth Davis must learn to control her anger before it destroys her. Emily Delgado appears to be a smart, sweet girl, with a normal life, but as depression clutches at her, she struggles to feel normal. Both girls are in Ms. Diaz’s English class, where they connect to the words of Emily Dickinson. Both are hovering on the edge of an emotional precipice. One of them will attempt suicide. And with Dickinson’s poetry as their guide, both girls must conquer their personal demons to ever be happy.

In an emotionally taut novel with a richly diverse cast of characters, readers will relish in the poetry of Emily Dickinson and be completely swept up in the turmoil of two girls grappling with demons beyond their control.

GoodReads |  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

My February Bookish Itinerary

I tend to be a bit of a mood reader, but each month I come up with a tentative To Be Read List.
And I thought it would be fun to start sharing my TBR list with all of you each month. Then I will share my progress at the end of the month.