Suspicion by Alexandra Monir

(source)

Title: Suspicion

Author: Alexandra Monir

Length: 368 pages

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Classification: Young Adult, Paranormal, Mystery

Release Date: December 9, 2014

Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you so much Random House/Delacorte Press!)

Read: November 2014

Mysterious. Magnificent. Creepy. Welcome to Rockford Manor. "There's something hidden in the Maze." Seventeen-year-old Imogen has never forgotten the last words her father said to her seven years ago, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family's English country manor. Haunted by her parents' deaths, Imogen moves to New York City with her new guardians. But when a letter arrives with the news of her cousin's untimely death, revealing that Imogen is now the only heir left to run the estate, she returns to England and warily accepts her role as duchess. All is not as it seems at Rockford, and Imogen quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind the mansion's aristocratic exterior, hinting that the spate of deaths in her family were no accident. And at the center of the mystery is Imogen herself--and Sebastian, the childhood friend she has secretly loved for years. Just what has Imogen walked into? Combining a fresh twist on the classic REBECCA with a spine-tingling mystery and powerful romance, SUSPICION is an action-packed thrill ride. (From GoodReads)

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

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

My Rating: 

I love the cover and the summary sounded awesome, so I decided that this was a book I wanted to read.
I have never read REBECCA, so I can't really comment on how much they are or are not alike.
The only expectation I had going into this book was hoping that I will enjoy the story.

Imogen lost both her parents as well as her uncle and aunt in a fire when she was ten years old. For the past seven years she has lived in New York with her guardians. And she hasn't been back to Rockford Manor since the tragic event that changed her life forever. Until she finds out that her grandfather and cousin have both passed away, leaving her as the sole survivor of Rockford Manor. Imogen then decides to move back to the place that she doesn't really want to be. Accepting to become the duchess of Rockford Manor. She then discovers dark secrets and tries to uncover the mystery surrounding Rockford Manor.

It was very easy for me to get swept up in the story. And I like the way the story was presented, seeing a glimpse of the present, then going back years and months to find out what had happened up to that point.

I think that the story is a mystery with paranormal elements and a bit of romance.

I was really fascinated with the mystery in this story. I kept second-guessing my thoughts regarding what was happening and who was involved. And I didn't really see the ending coming. It really surprised me and I think it was definitely a twist. The ending isn't exactly realistic, but I don't really mind because unrealistic things in books don't bother me (a large majority of the time).

To me there wasn't as much romance as I thought there would be. And the bit of romance that was in the story didn't have much of a build up. I didn't feel like it was insta-love or anything, but I was hoping for more development in their relationship and romance.
I didn't really connect with Imogen's relationship, and I think it was mostly due to wanting there to be a bit more. Even though I wanted a little bit more, this didn't keep me from enjoying what I was reading.  And I do like that the romance isn't the majority of the story.

I like Imogen. I felt so bad for everything that she had been through. I found the paranormal elements to be very intriguing and was anxious to learn more about them and how it related to Imogen.

I was interested in the other characters and how they all fit into the story.

I feel like the ending had resolutions and some answers, but I was left wondering what else would happen and wanting to know more about certain things.

My Recommendation:
This book interested me and I enjoyed reading it. But I didn't fall in love with it. If you enjoy reading books that have mystery and some paranormal elements, then you might enjoy reading this book. There isn't as much romance as I thought there would be as I read. And the ending was a bit crazy, but overall, I found the book interesting.
I'd check it out at the library.

Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger

(source)

Title: Waistcoats & Weaponry
(Finishing School #3)
Author: Gail Carriger
Length: 304 pages
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Classification: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Steampunk
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thanks Little Brown!)
Read: November 2014

Class is back in session...Sophronia continues her second year at finishing school in style--with a steel-bladed fan secreted in the folds of her ball gown, of course. Such a fashionable choice of weapon comes in handy when Sophronia, her best friend Dimity, sweet sootie Soap, and the charming Lord Felix Mersey stowaway on a train to return their classmate Sidheag to her werewolf pack in Scotland. No one suspected what--or who--they would find aboard that suspiciously empty train. Sophronia uncovers a plot that threatens to throw all of London into chaos and she must decide where her loyalties lie, once and for all.  Gather your poison, steel tipped quill, and the rest of your school supplies and join Mademoiselle Geraldine's proper young killing machines in the third rousing installment in the New York Times bestselling Finishing School Series by steampunk author, Gail Carriger. (From GoodReads)

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

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

***This is part of a series. There will be spoilers of things that happened in the other book(s) so if you haven't read it and don't want to know things that happened, please stop reading now.*** 

My Rating:

Wow! For me, the books in the Finishing School series just keep getting better and better! This book pulled me in quickly and I devoured it. I started it late one night and easily finished it the next day.

There is a lot of action packed into this book. There were some moments where I was extremely anxious to see how the scene was going to play out. There were a lot of things revealed in this story and some of my questions have been answered. The author has done an amazing job creating a story that leaves me with new questions due to the interesting turn of events in this installment. 

Waistcoats & Weaponry takes back up a little bit after the ending events in book two. Sophronia and her friends are all back at their schools. The girls are back in classes learning fun new skills like fighting with a fan and the art of seduction. And the boys are back at Bunson's. Sidheag receives some troubling news which makes her want to get back to Scotland quickly. Which makes Sophronia, Dimity, Soap, and Lord Mersey accompany Sidheag on an adventure to get her home.

I was a little sad that some of the characters that have had bigger parts in the other two books were not in this story very much. Pillover has a fun small part in the story. Though I did find those scenes to be entertaining. And Vieve is just mentioned a few times. But even though these characters had minor parts, the story was still captivating and unique. 

We learn more and more about our favorite characters in this book. 

Sophronia continues to be a good friend. She always helps her friends and also not stand in the way of their decisions and desires at the same time. To me it does seem that Sophronia makes up her mind about where her allegiance lies. 

We also learn and see a bit of a different side of Soap in this book. We see more of Soap as well. At least that is how it felt to me. And I am dying to know more about Soap in the next book!

Felix also has an interesting role in this story. Though I feel like things are still a bit mysterious with him. I am not sure what to think really. I am anxious to see what happens next with this character.

I found the parts with Dimity in this book to be a bit humorous. Sidheag has a lot of challenges that she is facing in this story.

This story made me love the characters more and also made me have a lot of different feelings. I felt happy, frustrated, angry, sad, and a little heartbroken at various points of the plot. And more than anything I hooked on this unique book series and can't wait to find out what happens next!

My Recommendation:

If you have read the first two books, DEFINITELY pick up this one. I found it to be a great addition to this unique storyline. I think that this book is fun, entertaining and serious all at the same time. We find out a lot of different things in this story, but are left wanting to know what else will happen to our group of characters!

Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

(source)

Title: Curtsies & Conspiracies 
(Finishing School #2)
Author: Gail Carriger
Length: 310 pages
Publisher: Little Brown
Classification: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Steampunk
Release Date: November 2013
Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you Little Brown!)
Read: October/November 2014

Does one need four fully grown foxgloves for decorating a dinner table for six guests? Or is it six foxgloves to kill four fully grown guests? Sophronia's first year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has certainly been rousing! For one thing, finishing school is training her to be a spy (won't Mumsy be surprised?). Furthermore, Sophronia got mixed up in an intrigue over a stolen device and had a cheese pie thrown at her in a most horrid display of poor manners. Now, as she sneaks around the dirigible school, eavesdropping on the teachers' quarters and making clandestine climbs to the ship's boiler room, she learns that there may be more to a field trip to London than is apparent at first. A conspiracy is afoot--one with dire implications for both supernaturals and humans. Sophronia must rely on her training to discover who is behind the dangerous plot-and survive the London Season with a full dance card. In this bestselling sequel to New York Times bestselling Etiquette & Espionage, class is back in session with more petticoats and poison, tea trays and treason. Gail's distinctive voice, signature humor, and lush steampunk setting are sure to be the height of fashion this season. (From NetGalley)

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

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

***This book is part is part of a series, and so this review may include spoilers from previous books***

My Rating:

A fun and entertaining continuation to Etiquette & Espionage! I really enjoyed reading this book. In fact I liked it more than the first book in the series.

I think that Curtsies & Conspiracies picks up not long after the end of the first book. Sophronia is now in her second year of Finishing School. She is back on the airship school with her group of friends, Dimity, Sidheag, Agatha, Vieve and Soap. The girls are tested for the skills that they have been learning. And friendships are tested as well. Sophronia continues to do quite well at the school and quickly learns new skills and techniques.

This book (at least for me) had a bit more action and espionage. Which made the book really fun and entertaining to read. I was quickly drawn into the plot of the story. And found the addition of some of the boys from Bunson's to be very interesting. It was fun for the girls to practice their skills on the boys. As well as, learning more about the characters like Pillover and Felix.

I loved that there is a bit of mystery to the story and there were some surprising plot twists that kept me longing to know what would happen next. I like that the story doesn't really have much of a cliffhanger at the end, but I am still left wanting to read more so I can find out what else is in store for these characters.

I already liked the characters going into the second book, but I feel like I became a bit more attached to them while reading this sequel.

Sophronia is still a very likable character. She is quite smart and very entertaining. And I like that I am not sure where her loyalties lie. And I think she doesn't know for sure either. I love that she gathers information and likes to make her own decisions. Sophronia has some tough decisions to make during the events of this book and it is interesting to find out what happens. I really love the friendships that she has with the other characters. Their interactions are some of my favorite parts of the story.

I really liked that I learned a bit more about Dimity and Pillover and their family in this book. I really like both of these characters to it was awesome to feel like I knew them a little better. I still find Dimity to be Sophronia's opposite. But I think that is why I love their friendship so much. They really fit together well and help each other out.

I also enjoyed the parts with Sidheag and Agatha. They are fun characters that made excellent additions to the group of friends. I really like how well Sidheag and Sophronia get along. They have similar interests.

Felix is a new character. I love how he is a bit of a mystery to me. I am really curious to see what happens next for this character. I love the interactions with Sophronia.

My Recommendation:

If you have read the first book of this series and enjoyed reading it, I highly recommend reading this sequel. I found it to be just as unique as the first story, with a little more action and spying. I was very entertained and can't wait to find out what happens in the next installment!

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

(source)

Title: Etiquette & Espionage
(Finishing School #1)
Author: Gail Carriger
Length: 307 pages
Publisher: Little Brown Books For Young Readers
Classification: Young Adult, Steampunk, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you Little Brown!)
Read: October 2014

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is the bane of her mother's existence. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper etiquette at tea--and god forbid anyone see her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. She enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality. But little do Sophronia or her mother know that this is a school where ingenious young girls learn to finish, all right--but it's a different kind of finishing. Mademoiselle Geraldine's certainly trains young ladies in the finer arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but also in the other kinds of finishing: the fine arts of death, diversion, deceit, espionage, and the modern weaponries. Sophronia and her friends are going to have a rousing first year at school. (From GoodReads)

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

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

(Between 3.5 & 4. I've rounded up to 4 because I did enjoy the story and was left wondering what will happen in the next book.)

This story wasn't really what I was expecting, but I am glad that I read it. It is a fun story with a fascinating world and entertaining characters.

Sophronia is not your typical girl. She doesn't care much for fashion. She cares more about climbing around and snooping. She likes to see how things work. Which is not proper etiquette. Her mother agrees that finishing school seems to be the right fit for Sophronia to learn more about proper etiquette and manners.

I think that this is a promising start to an interesting trilogy. This is a very imaginative world full of inventions and fun characters. There are vampires, werewolves, mechanicals, and flywaymen.

At first some of the vocabulary was surprising. I haven't really read many books that have the same words. But I really enjoyed the way that the characters spoke and the language used. I feel like it really fit in well with the story. The names were also different than I am used to. Some of them I am not sure I pronounce them the correct way, but I love how the names add to the story.

This book has some action, but not as much as I thought there would be. There were some times while I was reading, where I felt like the story dragged a little slowly for me. I was interested to find out what would happen next.

I like that the story focuses more on friendship than romance. Yes, there are male characters in the story. And yes, there are boys that the girls will mention are handsome. But there wasn't really any romance in the story.

I really like the characters.

Sophronia is a fun and entertaining main character. There were several times where I was anxious to find out what she would do next. She really likes to explore and find things. I really like that she is smart. She figures things out for herself.
I especially love the friendships that she develops through the story.
Dimity is a great character. She reminds me of myself because I also hate the sight of blood. I like that in some ways she is the opposite of Sophronia. I also love how well they get along. Dimity is a wonderful friend and she really is there for Sophronia.
Soap is another fun character. His friendship with Sophronia is also very enjoyable. I like that he also is there for Sophronia and helps her.
Vieve is one of my favorite characters. So smart and clever! I also love the inventions. And this friendship with Sophronia is also loyal and heartwarming.
There are several other supporting characters that I really enjoyed reading about and like their interactions with the main characters.
I also like the little feud between Sophronia and Monique. I had no problem picturing Monique in my head. And I was very interested in the interactions between these two characters.

My Recommendation:
I think this is a fascinating world. I enjoyed reading the story and I am looking forward to reading book two and finding out more about these fun characters and what is going to come next!

Unmarked by Kami Garcia

(source)

Title: Unmarked
(The Legion Book 2)

Author: Kami Garcia

Length: 384 pages

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Classification: Young Adult, Paranormal

Release Date: September 30, 2014

Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you Little Brown!)

Read: October 2014

The heart-pounding sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller, Unbreakable, by New York Times bestselling Beautiful Creatures co-author Kami Garcia. He is here... and he could be anyone. Kennedy Waters lives in a world where vengeance spirits kill, ghosts keep secrets, and a demon walks among us–a demon she accidentally set free. Now Kennedy and the other Legion members–Alara, Priest, Lukas, and Jared–have to hunt him down. As they learn more about the history of the Legion and the Illuminati, Kennedy realizes that the greatest mystery of all does not belong to any secret order, but to her own family. With the clock ticking and the life of someone she loves hanging in the balance, Kennedy has to ask the question she fears most: what is it about her past that has left her Unmarked? (From GoodReads)

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

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

**This book is a sequel, so there will be spoilers for what happened in book one!**

My Rating:

I liked this book more than book one, UNBREAKABLE.  I think that it is a great continuation of a story that I already liked! 
The story really grabbed my attention and  really flew by quickly. 

The story picks up where book one left off. Andras has been released and the group needs to find a way to stop him. 

I love the action in the story. It really made me engage more with the book and kept the story entertaining and exciting. There were a few plot twists that I saw coming, but overall I think there were more that I was not expecting, which kept the story very engaging. 

I do think that the characters were further developed in this book, which I really liked. 
And there are a few more character additions. 

Kennedy's best friend, Elle, (we had some scenes with her in book one UNBREAKABLE) is a more prominent character in this book. I really enjoy their friendship. And I love their friendly banter. I also like her interactions with the members of The Legion. I feel like she adds some lightness to the story and a little bit of humor. 

I absolutely love the further relationship development between Kennedy and Jared and am glad that it seems like the love triangle is done. 

Kennedy, to me, seems more determined in this story. Her character grows from being full of self-doubt to needing answers and being able to fix what has happened. She won't stop until she completes that task. Yes, there are times where she is concerned about why she hasn't received her mark yet, but that is understandable and she doesn't only concentrate on it. I love that we find out more about Kennedy's past and she discovers things that she never knew about.

I really enjoyed finding out more about the other members of The Legion: Jared, Lukas, Priest, and Alara.  We find out more about their pasts and lives. 

I don't want to go in depth about the other new character additions because I don't want to give anything away. But I will say that I think they are interesting characters and really add some mystery to the story. 

This story ends with a bit of a cliffhanger (at least in my opinion). And now I can't wait to find out what happens next!

My Recommendation:
If you read the first book and enjoyed it, then I really think that you will enjoy this continuation. There are some mysterious reveals, plot twists, and action that make the story very entertaining. Characters become more developed and easier to care about and become attached to. 

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

(source)

Title: Unbreakable 
(The Legion Book 1)

Author: Kami Garcia

Length:305 pages

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Classification: Young Adult, Paranormal

Release Date: October 1, 2013

Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you Little Brown!)

Read: October 2014

Supernatural meets The Da Vinci Code in this action-packed paranormal thriller, the first book in a new series from New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia. 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. Suspense, romance, and the paranormal meet in this chilling urban fantasy, the first book in a new series from Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels. (From GoodReads)

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

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


My Rating:

Overall, I enjoyed reading this story.

There are A LOT of similarities to the TV Show Supernatural. (Which is a show that I really like!)
I didn't really mind how similar they are. In fact, I think it is part of what made me interested in reading the book. And even though there are a lot of things in common, I do feel like Unbreakable had enough action and some plot twists that made this an entertaining story to read.

I read this book really quickly and it held my attention throughout the entire story. 
The writing and story kept me interested and engaged. There were some spooky scenes as well as a couple that scared me a little bit. But overall, not too scary for me (I don't handle scary very well.)

I like the characters, but I didn't really feel that connected to any of them. 

Kennedy is the main character. She is almost killed by the same spirit that killed her mother. But luckily for her, twins Jared and Lukas, save her and explain to her what is happening. I like that she is skeptical about the things they are telling her. She also has a lot of denial regarding what she is told about her and her mother. But after so long, it starts to get a little frustrating. She will start to believe and decide to help, then she second guesses herself and everything all over again. Throughout the story. She has a lot of self-doubt. I am looking forward to more character growth and development in the next book. 

Then there is the love-triangle. My biggest dislike of the story. I usually don't really mind love-triangles. But I don't like when the love-triangle involves siblings (brothers/sisters) or best friends. These ones usually just frustrate me, make me angry, or break my heart.
So I dislike this one because it involves the brothers both liking Kennedy. I feel like overall, Kennedy knows which of the brothers she likes and which one she views more like a friend. But there are several times where maybe she doesn't know or thinks about the other one because it would just be easier. But it does seem like the love-triangle is over by the end of the book. (That is my hope). 

Jared and Lukas are okay characters. Though most of the time they almost feel like the same person. Maybe it is because they are twins and brothers can share a lot of the same qualities. They do feel very similar. With the exception of one of the brothers being the "bad boy" type character and the other one being really nice. For me, I feel that Jared was a little bit more developed than Lukas. I am also hoping for more character growth and development for these characters in the next book.

The two other characters in the group are Priest and Alara. I really like both of these characters. Priest is fun. He loves music and is very good at creating things. I found him to be really interesting. I also like that he is smart. He might be a little younger than the others, but I like that he stands up for himself and wants to help out the others. And Alara is just awesome! She is very confident and bold. She doesn't take crap from anyone. She comes off as mean and closed off, but deep down she cares a lot about others. 

I think that it is a pretty good first book to a series. And I am interested to read the next book to find out what happens next. The ending definitely made me curious to find out what happens next!

My Recommendation:

If you like shows like Supernatural (and don't mind the similarities) or if you like scary stories that involve demons and ghosts than you might like this book. 

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

(source)

Title: Afterworlds
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Length: 608 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Classification: Young Adult, Contemporary, Paranormal
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Source: e-galley via Edelweiss (Thank you Simon Pulse!)
Read: September 2014

Darcy Patel has put college and everything else on hold to publish her teen novel, Afterworlds. Arriving in New York with no apartment or friends she wonders whether she's made the right decision until she falls in with a crowd of other seasoned and fledgling writers who take her under their wings… Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, a suspenseful thriller about Lizzie, a teen who slips into the 'Afterworld' to survive a terrorist attack. But the Afterworld is a place between the living and the dead and as Lizzie drifts between our world and that of the Afterworld, she discovers that many unsolved - and terrifying - stories need to be reconciled. And when a new threat resurfaces, Lizzie learns her special gifts may not be enough to protect those she loves and cares about most. (From GoodReads)

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

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

My Rating:

I decided I HAD to read this book because I really loved reading Westerfeld's first three Uglies books (no, I haven't read the last one yet). And so I was really excited when I was approved via Edelweisss to read and review his newest book, Afterworlds.

This was an interesting read. It is very unique since the author combines two stories into one book!

I had a hard time getting into the story at first. In fact, I almost gave up on reading it, but decided to keep on and see if the story started to pick up for me. It wasn't because I thought the story was boring. I had a hard time because of the alternating between Darcy's life and the chapters of the book she has written. I got a bit frustrated with the alternating chapters. Don't get me wrong, I think it was a very unique way to write the book. But I would get into the storyline in the chapter and become interested in what was happening, then it would be over and onto the other part of the story. I like that each chapter left me wanting more. But at first this back and forth really frustrated me.

But about half-way in, I started to be more interested in both sides of the book. And the back and forth didn't bother me as much anymore.

Darcy's Life:
I really enjoyed reading about the life of a young writer and how crazy it can be. I think it is a good insight into a writer's life. The difficulties and frustrations that an author can face, but also the happiness and the wonderful feeling of being published can bring.
I think what I liked most about Darcy's life is her relationships with others.
I really love her relationship with her sister. It feels real to me and I enjoyed the sibling banter between the two. But at the same time, you can tell that they really care about one another. I also liked the parts with her parents and her friends from high school. I liked how she found a way to balance her new life with her old life.
And I especially liked the relationship between her and Imogene. I like that it has the ups and downs and cuteness of a first relationship. It was easy to connect with those feelings of the characters. And I wanted to know what would happen.

The "Afterworlds" Story:
This is the story that Darcy wrote in one month. The first chapter is amazing. It really pulled me in and grabbed my attention with ease. I felt my heart beating and wanting to know what would happen to the main character, Lizzie.
Overall, I liked this storyline.
I found it to be fascinating and unique.
I liked the characters and relationships in this plot also.
Both Lizzie and her mother have been through so much. And I enjoyed watching them bond. And I think that Lizzie's character had a lot of development and growth throughout the story.

My Recommendation:
I am glad that I decided to not give up reading this book. I don't regret reading it at all. I was able to enjoy both of the storylines and found the story to be entertaining. But it is not a story that I plan to reread in the future. I do think that readers will enjoy reading this story. So I say, give it a read.

Compulsion by Martina Boone

(source)

Title: Compulsion
(The Heirs of Watson Island #1)
Author: Martina Boone
Length: 448 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Classification: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Southern Gothic
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Source: e-galley (I was approved for an e-galley via Edelweiss. Thank you Simon Pulse!)
Read: August 2014

GoodReads
Barnes & Noble
Books-a-Million
Amazon

Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.

All her life, Barrie Watson had been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lived with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt’s South Carolina plantation instead--a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.

Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn’t what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead. (From GoodReads)

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

My Rating:

I love this cover. It is so gorgeous. I really do try to not base wanting to read a book based on the cover, but after seeing the cover for COMPULSION, it just made me even more excited to read the book!

The Story:

A fascinating story about a girl whose life has been turned upside down due to the loss of her mother and being sent to live across the country with an aunt she has never met. Not only does Barrie have to get used to living somewhere new, she discovers and tries to get to the bottom of some old family secrets.
The author creates a southern setting that is realistic and beautiful. The type of world that readers will want to visit.
I found this to be a wonderfully written story that balances the paranormal, mystery, and romance.

This was so hard for me to put down. I was quickly drawn into this world. I love the interactions between the characters. I love the supernatural things that are happening on the island. And I really love the mystery that surrounds it all.

And even though I think the book ends with some closure. I was left wanting more. I wanted to know more about Watson Island. Especially the past history. I am really interested in finding out more about Barrie's parents and what else happened in their pasts on Watson Island. And I am really looking forward to finding out what else is going to happen to Barrie, Eight and Cassie.

The Characters:

I really love these characters.
I think that the characters were all well-written. I wanted to get to know them and was very interested in finding out more about their lives and what would happen.

Barrie: She is full of curiosity. Especially curiosity regarding her gift, which just added to my own. I also like that she is curious about her roots and her mother's past. After the loss of her mother, her life changed and part of what she has to discover deals with things that she never knew about her own mother.  I love that she is a strong character. She looks for answers and doesn't really rely on others figuring things out for her.
And I just absolutely loved the relationship between her and Mark. I love their phone conversations. I love that even though there are not a lot of scenes of them together, I still get the understanding of how important they are to one another. It is a very special bond and relationship.

Eight: He is so strong and dependable. He wants to try and protect Barrie, even if she doesn't let him. I loved finding out more about his character as the story went along. He is caring and trustworthy. I enjoyed watching the conflict between him and Barrie. I really like his gift and how it affects his character and his interactions with other people.

Cassie: I found her to be one of those characters you think you aren't going to like much, but yet you are drawn to them and want to know more. She is a complex character. I felt like I wasn't sure how to see her and how her relationship would be with Barrie. And even after finishing the story, I am not sure exactly how to view Cassie. I find her character interesting and there are a lot of times that I feel bad for what she is going through. But there were also times where I did not like the decisions that she was making. But I found that she not only adds some conflict to the story, but she also left me wondering what would happen next to not only her but with the relationship between her and Barrie.

I really love all the other characters in the story too. Like Barrie's Aunt Pru. She is a very intriguing character. I feel like she has so much weighing on her and she tries so hard to keep everything together. And I loved watching her relationship with Barrie bloom. Also, Eight's dad, Seven. I love the mystery surrounding his past and the connection to Barrie's family.

My Recommendation:
I love this book and can't wait to dive into the next book. The story is unique and has mystery, romance, tension, and a fascinating supernatural element. I highly recommend reading this one!

Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper

(source)

Title: Salt & Storm
Author: Kendall Kulper
Length: 416 pages
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Classification: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Witches, Magic, Historical
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Source: e-galley (I was approved for this ARC via NetGalley. Thank you Little Brown!)
Read: July 2014

GoodReads 
Barnes & Noble
Books-a-Million

A sweeping historical romance about a witch who foresees her own murder--and the one boy who can help change her future.
Sixteen-year-old Avery Roe wants only to take her rightful place as the witch of Prince Island, making the charms that keep the island's whalers safe at sea, but her mother has forced her into a magic-free world of proper manners and respectability. When Avery dreams she's to be murdered, she knows time is running out to unlock her magic and save herself.
Avery finds an unexpected ally in a tattooed harpoon boy named Tane--a sailor with magic of his own, who moves Avery in ways she never expected. Becoming a witch might stop her murder and save her island from ruin, but Avery discovers her magic requires a sacrifice she never prepared for. (From GoodReads)

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



My Rating:

After seeing the cover of this book and reading the summary, I was so glad that I was approved by Little Brown via NetGalley to read an ARC!
The cover is so lovely. I really like that the picture is simple, but at the same time pretty. And I love the font used for the title!

I really liked this take on Witches. I really found their abilities and how they do magic/charms very interesting. 

The Story:

I really like that the story wasn't only about what was happening to the characters in the story, but also about the history of the island and the Roe witches. I think the author did a great job at including a lot of background and information while not overshadowing the plot and storyline. 

I really like the  setting and the descriptions. There were times where I wished I could be on this island, seeing what the characters would be seeing. 

I like that there was a mystery feel to the story as well. I was very interested in the mysterious dream that the main character, Avery, kept having. I also really enjoyed the mystery surrounding the other characters. I felt like they all were mysterious in their own ways. I had fun trying to figure out what was going on with those characters individually and how it relates to Avery.  
 For most of the book, I was left guessing what would happen next. But around the middle of the story, I made a guess for what I thought would happen and ended up being close. But it didn't take away from me enjoying the book. And it definitely did not keep me from feeling emotions about the events and the ending. 

The Characters:

 I think that the characters are well written with well-developed backstories. I found them to be very fascinating characters and I enjoyed learning more about them as the story progressed.

Avery is interesting, determined, and at times stubborn. But I really like that she knew what it was she wanted and that she would do whatever she could to fight to achieve it. 

Tane is a very mysterious character. While reading the story, I kept thinking about how there was so much more I wanted to know about his character. I was very happy with the development and found his backstory to be captivating. 

Avery's Mother is a frustrating character for me. We view her from Avery's POV (point of view) and as a reader I could feel the anger and frustration that Avery had for her mother. 

My Recommendation:

If you like reading about witches and like informational stories, then I would recommend giving this book a read. The story was fascinating and mysterious. I liked the characters and the island.