Review: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

When Taylor's dad is diagnosed with cancer, the family decides to spend one last summer together at their lake house.  The family hasn't been there for five years but it seems like not a lot has changed, the ice cream shop is still there, so is Taylor's ex-best friend and her first boyfriend. So this was a downer book, and I knew that going in, but it was still pretty depressing. For some…

Review: Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.** Thomas is infected with the Stone Plague.  He thinks that by getting his mask and bonding with his color, he can cure himself.  But when his famous father Guy Fawkes doesn't show up to his color test, Thomas sets off to London to find him. When he finds his father, Thomas is…

Review: Roar by Cora Carmack

Aurora's family has had the power to control storms for centuries, ruling a kingdom because of this power.  There is just one problem, Aurora does not have any Stormling powers.  To hide this she is forced to marry Prince Cassius.  At first, Cassius seems to be the charismatic second son, but as Aurora learns more about him, sh cannot go through with the marriage. Aurora decides to run away, and join a band…

Review: Carry On (Simon Snow #1) by Rainbow Rowell

Simon Snow is supposed to save Magick. He's enrolled in Watford School of Magicks, with his best friend Penny and his archenemy/roommate Baz. Simon is visited by the ghost of Baz's mom.  She tells Simon to find her killer.  Penny, Baz and Simon must work together to solve the mystery surrounding the death, which will also lead them to answers on how to defeat the Humdrumb once and for all.   If you have…

Review: Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

On the way home from a vacation Finn and Layla stop at a service station to use the restroom. When he returns to the car Layla is gone. At least that's the story Finn told the police. It is ten years later and Finn is engaged, to Ellen, Layla's sister of all people.  With the wedding just months away, Finn begins to get emails.  Someone knows what really happened to Layla. B. A.…

Review: Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Bailey Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online as Alex.  Bailey was a very safe distance away making this online crush just a fantasy until she moves in with her dad, who just happens to live in the same California surfing town as her online crush. Bailey is not one to take risks so she doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Instead, she sets…

Review: Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Eelyn fights alongside her Asks clansmen against their rivals, the Riki.  While on the battlefield she sees the impossible— her brother, fighting with the enemy — the fact that he is fighting for the enemy would be surprising enough, except that he's been dead for five years. Distracted in battle by her brother's return, she is captured by the Riki, and take to their village as a slave.  But when the Riki village…

Review: The Opposite of Here by Tara Altebrando

Months after the tragic accident that killed her boyfriend, Natalie's parents decide to have a  sail-a-bration for her seventeenth birthday.  Natalie, her parents and her three best friends board the ship where Natalie meets a guy the very first night. When Natalie goes to meet him later, he is nowhere to be found and something he said earlier makes her think that maybe be jumped.  While Natalie tries to figure out what happened to…

Review: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Since birth, Nyx has been groomed to take down the Gentle Lord (Ignifex), and break the curse on her people.  She resents her family for making her carry out this mission but goes to meet her fate by marrying the Ignifex on her seventeenth birthday. But the Gentle Lord is not exactly what she expected, and soon her heart is torn between love and duty, I read this years ago and really enjoyed it. …

Review: Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Review As I said, I really enjoyed the character of Stevie, but she wasn't the only one.  The whole cast of characters was great.  I liked that they all seemed to be real and fit into a school like the one in Truly Devious. And Nate is just the best! The mystery itself was very interesting.  I liked that there were two, it reminded me a lot of Veronica Mars (one of my…