Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Here is my selection for the week: 

From Barnes and Noble: 

If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar can taste the freedom—that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she’s ever worked for is on the line.

Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be.

What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California’s dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper. 

Release date is February 3rd 2015 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish where each week there is a new topic for a top ten list. 

This week is "Top Ten Books I'd Like To Read With My Book Club (If I Had A Book Club): 

So I'm not a fan of book clubs, shocking right? So instead of 'book club' books I picked books that I always find myself talking about or trying to get other to read. 

Let me know in the comments what your favorite 'book club' books are! 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

ARC Review of "Water So Deep"

Water So Deep By Nichole Giles 

Stars: 2 

Source: Netgalley 

Release Date: February 2nd 2015 

Emma Harris is not your average seventeen year old, abandoned by her birth parents as an infant Emma never knew anything about where she came from or who she came from. Now almost two decades later the past is catching up to her. 

Unable to go more than a few days without a trip to the beach to swim Emma knows her time on dry land is running out, and fast. 

It will be hard enough to say goodbye to the people that raised her, her Mother, Father and her grandmother but saying goodbye to her brother Keith will be the worst part. 

Add in the new boy at school, James, and Emma will do anything to slow down her metamorphosis. 

See Emma isn't quite human and in a few short months she'll sprout permanent fins and return to her homeland and her people under the sea. 

Where do I start? 

I really liked the idea of this book, anything to do with mermaids catches my eye and I loved the cover but it fell so short of my expectations. 

Emma, the main character is going through this transformation from human to mermaid, the only person who knows the truth about whats going on is her Gran, her parents are left in the dark. I feel like the back story was lacking, it was a really slow read and I would've loved for there to have been a flashback chapter of her grandmother telling her a more in depth story of how she found her and how she was adopted by her parents. 

I didn't really like Emma as a character nor did I like James, to be perfectly honest the only reason I finished the book was to see if she found some way to stay and continue taking care of Keith who was by far my favorite part about this story. 

Merrick shows up every couple of chapters and for the most part is the only other mermaid in the book. He. Was. So. Annoying. 

Their conversations where so bland and so repetitive. At one point I thought my e-reader had jumped back a couple chapters because it was word for word their last conversation. 

I feel like for a 'mermaid' book it was lacking... Well... Mermaids. 

I've only come across one mermaid series that I truly enjoyed (Amanda Hocking's Watersong Series) and I was hoping this one would be able to stand right along side it but that just wasn't the case. 

I'm assuming that there is going to be a sequel do to the cliff hanger at the end but I won't be continuing on with this series. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

ARC Review of How (Not) To Fall In Love

How (Not) To Fall In Love By Lisa Brown Roberts 

Stars: 4 

Source: Netgalley 

Release Date: February 3rd 2015 

Darcy Covington has a perfect life, or as close to perfect as she can get. 

Until one day the rug is ripped out from underneath her and her mother. 

Darcy's car is repossessed in front of all her classmates and her families private affairs are now page one news. Her Dad's company is going under and he's nowhere to be found. Meanwhile her Mother is too busy drinking herself into oblivion to care that their house is being foreclosed on. 

Left with nothing but the company of her dog Darcy realizes without help her and her mother are going to be living out on the street. 

With no one else to turn to Darcy reaches out to her Uncle whom she lost touch with years ago. When Uncle Charlie reenters Darcy's life he brings with him a handful of colorful characters, each one changing Darcy's perspective about what's happening to her and how she's to deal with it. 

I'm not going to lie, I was about 1/4 of the way into this book and I almost DNF it. I hated Darcy and her mother, I didn't care about what was happening to them or how they were going to get through it. I felt nothing towards this book but dislike and disinterest. 

Just when I had had enough I forced myself to read one more chapter, then, I told myself, I could give up and pick a new book. 

And I am so glad I read that one chapter. 

There was a turning point in the book, one very minor and one that I can't even pinpoint now thinking back on it, but it was like I was reading a whole new book. 

Darcy was now relatable and likable, even funny and sarcastic and instead of her drunk mother and rude classmates she was now surrounded by this slew of wonderful people. Charlie and Liz and of course Lucas. 

This book grew on me and that's a very rare occurrence for me. I usually either hate a book or love it, from the first couple of chapters I know where I stand. But this book was a journey, one that needed to be navigated in a certain way in order to get to the perfect ending, and I'm glad I stuck around for that. 

This is a debut book for Lisa and I'm very excited to see what else she has up her sleeve! 

Until next time,
Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

Mini ARC Review of "Chaos Theory"

Chaos Theory By M. Evonne Dobson 

Stars: 4 

Source: Netgalley 

Release Date: February 3rd 2015 

Kami is into horses and martial arts, but mostly science. So much so that she has a chaos theory in her locker. 

Daniel is the new kid at school, the bad boy drug dealer who just lost his sister due to her overdosing on his drugs. 

When their paths cross Kami can't help but see something in Daniel that no one else sees. He doesn't seem like a criminal much less a drug dealer. When Kami starts digging into his sisters death she realizes that things just don't add up. 

With the help of her two best friends Kami sets out to prove Daniels innonce and prove to herself that she's not wrong about how she feels for him. 

I have to be honest, I did not think I was going to like this book, I kept putting it off, moving it further and further down my TBR pile until it finally hit the bottom of the stack. But from the first chapter I realized I had a made a mistake. 

"Chaos Theory" is the perfect young adult mystery, it has everything needed to keep you on the edge of your seat, holding your breath. 

I really enjoyed Kami's story and I hope that perhaps we'll see more of her in the future. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

Stacking The Shelves (22)

"We are all book lovers and the need to share our enthusiasm is sometimes overwhelming. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in the physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! 

If you're anything like me, you are probably hoarding books and even though you are excited about your latest book arrival, it might be a while before you get to review it and Stacking The Shelves is a good way to express your undying enthusiasm for those titles."

So my book buying ban is still going strong (much to my dismay) so these three are review books. 

Lemme know if you've read them and what you got this week :) 

Until next time, 
Ginger

ARC Review of "Red Queen"

Red Queen By Victoria Aveyard 

Stars: 5 blood red stars! 

Source: Edelweiss 

Release Date: February 10th 2015 

Mare Barrow is your average 'Red' with her 18th birthday looming just around the corner she has accepted that her fate is to join her brothers on the front lines along with all the other hundreds of thousands of 'Reds' who have been conscripted. After all pick pocketing isn't a real job and without one there's no use in trying to fight being sent off to your death. 

However Mare's world is turned upside down when she has the misfortune of pick pocketing someone faster than she is. Much to her surprise the stranger treats her with kindness and not only offers her more of what she has stolen but the next day she suddenly finds herself with a job. And not just any job. A job at the palace. 

Serving Silvers isn't Mare's lifelong dream but if it keeps her and her family safe and fed she really can't complain.

The Silvers run Mare's world, with they special abilities and endless supply of Red soldiers no one dares to cross them. 

But when Mare discovers she has abilities of her own- abilities that up until now have only been gifted to Silvers she finds herself in the middle of a political coverup story. After all, if anyone knew Mare's true identity, that she is in fact a 'Red', well then the Royal family would have an uprising on their hands. 

Mare's cover story is simple, she is the lost daughter of a dead Silver, raised by Reds and only just now learning her true identity. To make it even more believable Mare is now betrothed to marry the Kings second son. 

Under the watchful eye of the Queen and her ever loyal staff Mare must learn how to control her new powers, cut ties with her 'Red' past and smile for the camera's, all while trying to find a way out of the suffocating world of Silvers and Royals and perhaps even a way to free her people from the Silvers, once and for all. 

You know in Mean Girls when Tina Fey say's "I'm a pusher!"? Well now so am I! 

Go. Read. This. Book!

I can't even describe to you how amazing "Red Queen" is, every description that I come up with feels inadequate. 

It's amazing, wonderful, terrifying, beautiful, spectacular, thrilling and addictive! 

And even all those words strung together like that do NOT do this book justice! 

I loved every second of Mare's story. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, it was like a never ending roller coaster, one where you're never quite sure if you're upside down or right side up. 

Every single character, from the Royals to the maids all radiated with life. It seemed like if I could only get closer to the pages, breathe them in a little, that I would tumble right in and find myself surrounded by Victoria's characters. And what an amazing journey that would've been. 

You've all been asked the same question countless times, if you could live in any fictional world which would you choose? Well even though Hogwarts is still in first place, at least for me, Mare Barrow's world is now a very close second. 

My only warning to you is that once you finish the book you will immediately want to get your hands on the second one. I can tell you right now that the absolute second they announce the release date for the sequel I will have a countdown going, and not just a daily one, oh no, it will be down to the minute!

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Here is my selection for the week: 

Taken from Barnes and Noble:

When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, and some secrets of his own. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.
 
I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss.

Release date is January 27th 

Obviously I want anything that Gayle Forman has written. I LOVE all of her books and I can't wait to read this one! 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish where each week there is a new topic for a top ten list. 

This week is a 'freebie' and I picked "Top Ten of My Favorite Quotes" 

1. 

“I remember it all: every word, every breath, every tick of the clock . . . everything that happened is with me forever.
I can never forget it.
But that dosen't mean I can live it again. You can't live what's gone, you can only remember it, and memories have no life. They're just pale reminders of a time that's gone - like faded photographs, or a dried-up daisy chain at the back of a drawer. They have no substance. They can't take you back. Nothing can take you back.
Nothing can be the same as it was.
Nothing is.

All I can do is tell it.”

Kevin Brooks - Lucas 

2. 

“They were the screams of riders torn apart by the twisted reflections of their own inner selves."

Neal Shusterman - Full Tilt 

3. 

“But I'd long ago learned not to be picky in farewells. They weren't guaranteed or promised. 

You were lucky, more than blessed, if you got a good-bye at all.”

Sarah Dessen - The Truth About Forever 

4. 

“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it's yours.”

Ayn Rand - Atlas Shrugged 

5.

“The world was a terrible place, cruel, pitiless, dark as a bad dream. Not a good place to live. Only in books could you find pity, comfort, happiness - and love. Books loved anyone who opened them, they gave you security and friendship and didn't ask anything in return; they never went away, never, not even when you treated them badly.

Cornelia Funk - Inkheart 

6.

It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well.

J.K Rowling - Harry Potter 

7. 

“Only now that I loved a grenade did I understand the foolishness of trying to save others from my own impending fragmentation: I couldn’t unlove Augustus Waters. And I didn’t want to.”

John Green - The Fault In Our Stars 

8. 

"You know what the secret is? It's so simple. We love one another. We're nice to one another. Do you know how rare that is?" 

Ann Brashares - Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants 

9. 

“It's hard to let go anything we love. We live in a world which teaches us to clutch. But when we clutch we're left with a fistful of ashes.”

Madeleine L'Engle - A Ring Of Endless Light 

10. 

"Only the very weak minded refuse to be influenced by literate and poetry." 

Clare Cassandra - Clockwork Angel 

These were actually a lot harder to come up with than I thought they would be! I don't even want to talk about how long I spent trying to find all of them... Leave me your favorite book quotes in the comments! 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

Stacking The Shelves (21)

"We are all book lovers and the need to share our enthusiasm is sometimes overwhelming. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in the physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! 

If you're anything like me, you are probably hoarding books and even though you are excited about your latest book arrival, it might be a while before you get to review it and Stacking The Shelves is a good way to express your undying enthusiasm for those titles."

I'm doing good with my new years resolution to not buy too many books so far I've only purchased one book this year (and yes it has been hard!!!!) but these are some review books that have been sent to me. :) 

I cannot tell you how excited I am for all of these books! I LOVED Holes so of course I'm dying to read Fuzzy Mud and Last Years Mistake is one of my most anticipated books of 2015! 

What books did you guys splurge on this week? 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

ARC Review of Playlist For The Dead

Playlist For The Dead By Michelle Falkoff 

Stars: 3 

Source: Edelweiss 

Release Date: January 27th 2015 

Publisher: Harper Teen 

Sam and Hayden were best friends, they did everything together, they relied on one another and they told each other everything. Until they didn't. 

When Hayden commits suicide Sam is left alone, lost and racked with guilt, he can't stop blaming himself for the events that led up to Hayden's death. 

All Hayden left behind is a flash drive and a note saying that it will explain everything. When Sam opens the files on the drive he realizes that Hayden left him a playlist in way of a suicide note. On the playlist are songs Sam has listened to countless times and songs he's never heard before. But each one takes him one step closer to finding out the truth and one step closer to finding himself. 

I'm on the fence about this book. I wanted so badly to like it, and don't get me wrong, there were some parts I really enjoyed, but for the most part it left me feeling very underwhelmed. I hated the way that Hayden was treated and that he felt like the only way out was taking his own life but other than that this book left me feeling, well, nothing.

Even when the bullies who had made Hayden's life a living hell were being taught lessons and getting tastes of their own medicine I couldn't help but think that the author could have amped it up a little bit and pushed it a little further. 

I like books that twist my insides up and grab at my heart strings and leave me sobbing my eyes out at 3 o'clock in the morning. While Playlist For The Dead had all the ingredients for that type of book I feel like it fell short.

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Here is my selection for the week: 

If you could trade your biggest burden for someone else’s, would you do it?
 
Five teenagers sit around a bonfire in the middle of the New Mexico desert. They don’t know it yet, but they are about to make the biggest sacrifice of their lives.
 
Lo has a family history of MS, and is starting to come down with all the symptoms.
Thomas, a former child soldier from Liberia, is plagued by traumatic memories of his war-torn past.
Kaya would do anything to feel physical pain, but a rare condition called CIP keeps her numb.
Ellen can’t remember who she was before she started doing drugs. 
Kit lost his girlfriend in a car accident and now he just can’t shake his newfound fear of death.
 
When they trade totems as a symbol of shedding and adopting one another’s sorrows, they think it’s only an exercise.
 
But in the morning, they wake to find their burdens gone…and replaced with someone else’s.
 
As the reality of the ritual unfolds, this unlikely group of five embarks on a week of beautiful, terrifying experiences that all culminate in one perfect truth: In the end, your soul is stronger than your burdens.

Release date is January 22nd 2015 

I cannot wait for this book! I love the synopsis and I've already put this book on a pedestal, hopefully it doesn't disappoint :) 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish where each week there is a new topic for a top ten list. 

This week is "Top Ten 2014 Releases I Meant To Read But Didn't"

Hopefully with the TBR Pile Challenge I'm participating in this year I can check some of these off of my list. 

What are some books you missed out on last year? 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

ARC Review of "Geek Girl"

Geek Girls By Holly Smale 

Stars:5 

Source: Edelweiss 

Release Date: January 27th 2015 

Harriet Manners is a geek. She would know; she looked up the word 'geek' in her Oxford English Dictionary. She doesn't like fashion, shopping or makeup. So when she's 'discovered' by a modeling agent she can't help but be shocked that the modeling industry want anything to do with her. 

After all Harriet never wanted to be a model, that was always her best friend Nat's dream. But when she's suddenly thrust into the lime light she's not sure which way is up and she can't seem to find a way to tell Natalie the truth without wrecking their friendship. 

Throw in a slightly over protective step mother, an overly eager, very childish father and a not so secret stalker and you've got yourself a delightful read. 

I read Geek Girl in a matter of hours, I don't think I set it down once. I loved everything about it. The characters, the story, the sassy, sarcastic, inner dialogue. 

Toby was probably one of my favorite characters, I imagined him as a teenage Kirk (from Gilmore Girls) completely harmless, ridiculously funny and lovable in every sense of the word. 

Harriet's story was so much fun to read and I cannot wait to see where her and the rest of Smales quirky band of characters end up next! 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

ARC Review of "The Forgotten Girls"

The Forgotten Girls By Sara Blaedel 

Stars: 3 

Source: Netgalley 

Release Date: February 3rd 2015 

A body discovered in the middle of a forest in Denmark, a woman with a scar that travels the length of her body, no shoes, no identification, no missing persons report.

Louise Rick has recently been promoted, now the head of her own department the pressure to solve her first case is weighing heavy on her. 

After releasing a picture of the woman to the media they discover the reason she was never reported missing. Lisemette presumably died over 30 years ago in a mental institution, within minutes of her twin sister. 

When Louise Rick and her new partner, Eik, come to the realization that if Lisemette, up until a few days ago was alive, then its quite possible that her twin sister is alive as well and in serious danger. 

Time is not on their side however and when more bodies start piling up they must race to stop a vicious killer before he strikes again. 

This is my first Sara Blaedel book, "The Forgotten Girls" is book #7 in the Louise Rick series but it makes a good stand alone novel as well. 

I'm not sure how to describe this book, I felt as though it had some element missing. It was such a good mystery and it had the potential to be very dark and creepy. 

For me a good mystery needs to be read with all the lights in the house on. 

This book however I finished at 2 in the morning and promptly rolled over and went to bed. 

Don't get me wrong, what happened to the women in this book was unthinkable but the ending, at least to me, was very anticlimactic. 

Even the 'romance' was lacking. At one point during the book two people find themselves in a public bathroom unable to do anything but kiss one another. 

I am all for romance. Unrequited love. Subtle hand brushes, sideways glances, sultry stares. 

Let me tell you how shocked I was, I must have somehow missed the buildup to these two. There wasn't one point during the entire book when the idea of them together crossed my mind. Even after they kissed it's like they mentally shook hands and got on with their day. 

I can't say much more without including spoilers so I'll leave you with this final thought: "The Forgotten Girls", to me, has everything needed for a mystery minus the scare factor. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.