REVIEW: Girl on a Wire by Gwenda Bond

A ballerina, twirling on a wire high above the crowd. Horses, prancing like salsa dancers. Trapeze artists, flying like somersaulting falcons. And magic crackling through the air. Welcome to the Cirque American!

Sixteen-year-old Jules Maroni’s dream is to follow in her father’s footsteps as a high-wire walker. When her family is offered a prestigious role in the new Cirque American, it seems that Jules and the Amazing Maronis will finally get the spotlight they deserve. But the presence of the Flying Garcias may derail her plans. For decades, the two rival families have avoided each other as sworn enemies.

Jules ignores the drama and focuses on the wire, skyrocketing to fame as the girl in a red tutu who dances across the wire at death-defying heights. But when she discovers a peacock feather—an infamous object of bad luck—planted on her costume, Jules nearly loses her footing. She has no choice but to seek help from the unlikeliest of people: Remy Garcia, son of the Garcia clan matriarch and the best trapeze artist in the Cirque.

As more mysterious talismans believed to possess unlucky magic appear, Jules and Remy unite to find the culprit. And if they don’t figure out what’s going on soon, Jules may be the first Maroni to do the unthinkable: fall.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

MY THOUGHTS
Wow! This was such a surprising read!
I've been seeing this book all over the web, but never thought that it would be worth reading. All I knew was that it took place in a circus, which didn't interest me for some reason. I eventually read the synopsis and decided that I should give it a try. I saw that this book has a family rivalry, which I'm always a sucker for.

I was expecting this to me an okay read, but this ended up being such a great book! I was drawn into the book quickly and was immediately glued into the pages. I actually read the entire book in one sitting. Above all, this book is a mystery in a circus setting (a setting which I ended up liking) and I really interesting in how everything played out.

I also ended up liking the romance, which is surprising, but I was shipping it the entire time.

My only issue with this book was how the mystery was resolved. I can't explain without spoilers, but it seemed really unbelieveable and way too much was done for just a small thing. <highlight to view spoiler>All of this over a stupid coin? Really?! I know it's an actually good luck coin, but that's still too much! And how can he be forgiven?!<end of spoiler>

IN CONCLUSION
Overall, a really intriguing mystery with a really great, and new, setting. I had issues with the end, but other than that, this was a really amazing book!
I would definitely recommend it!

I hereby give this book

4 Wheels!

Meaning: It was amazing!

Cover Lust: Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Cover Lust is something that I do every week where I feature a book cover that I absolutely love!

The X-Men meets Ocean's Eleven in this edge-of-your-seat sci-fi adventure about a band of "super" criminals.

When the MK virus swept across the planet, a vaccine was created to stop the epidemic, but it came with some unexpected side effects. A small percentage of the population developed superhero-like powers. Seventeen-year-old Ciere Giba has the handy ability to change her appearance at will. She's what's known as an illusionist...She's also a thief.

After a robbery goes awry, Ciere must team up with a group of fellow super-powered criminals on another job that most would consider too reckless. The formula for the vaccine that gave them their abilities was supposedly destroyed years ago. But what if it wasn't?

The lines between good and bad, us and them, and freedom and entrapment are blurred as Ciere and the rest of her crew become embroiled in a deadly race against the government that could cost them their lives.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

 Why did I pick this cover? 

I'm a sucker for text-based cover and this one is no different! I really like how the text is sitting on the ground and the overall super hero/ comic book vibe I'm getting from the cover! I also like the additions of the search copter and the girl as they both tie-in with the book.

What are your thoughts? Tell me in the comments!

Lost Blood Cover Reveal!

Today is the cover reveal day for Lost Blood by Emma Raveling! Look below to see the new cover!

They are the Strange, those born of magic, myths, and legends. Beings who defy scientific explanation, whose physical and mental abilities far surpass the limitations of the human body.When they first appeared, the world resisted, frightened by their powers. But after decades of bloodshed, humanity finally accepted that the Strange were here to stay.A tenuous peace exists. For now.WELCOME TO BRANNIGAN CITY
Seventeen-year-old Delaney Corbeau is one of the Skilled. As a Chancer, she uses her magic to help humans find everything from misplaced keys and hidden heirlooms to lost pets.
She can find anyone and anything…except the two people she needs the most.
Liam Connelly is an Earth Shifter and son of Brannigan City’s Alpha. When his older brother goes missing, he must turn to his former childhood friend for help. Delaney’s the only person who can locate him.
The problem is they haven’t spoken in four years.
When a reclusive art collector hires Delaney to locate a stolen antique Japanese book, her path crosses with Liam once again. Soon, the simple retrieval job becomes something much more terrifying.
An old evil is stirring and it’s determined to punish every living being in Brannigan City, both Strange and human.
Delaney and Liam will have to work together if they want to survive.
Lost Blood is the first book in Emma Raveling’s new Chancer series, featuring two unlikely allies and a mysterious, thrilling adventure set in a dark world full of monsters and magic.

Publication date: TBA  Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult   lGoodreadsl

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emma Raveling writes a wide variety of fiction for teens and adults. She is the author of the young adult urban / contemporary fantasy series, the Ondine Quartet, and Lost Blood, the first installment of the forthcoming young adult urban fantasy series, Chancer. She’s also working on the first book in her new Steel Magic series for adults.

An avid traveler hopelessly addicted to diet coke and coffee, she currently resides in Honolulu, Hawaii with her husband and German shepherd.

Twitter/ Website/ Facebook/ Goodreads

REVIEW: Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences.

Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect . . . or a curse? With Ezra’s help, Hester investigates her family’s strange, sad history. The answers she seeks are waiting in the graveyard, the crypt, and at the bottom of the ocean—but powerful forces will do anything to keep her from uncovering her connection to Syrenka and to the tragedy of so long ago.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

MY THOUGHTS
I'm ashamed to say this, but I almost gave up on this book. The first 70 pages or so just wouldn't click with me. The book alternated time periods, some chapters took place in the present while other took place in the 1870's. What bothered me about this was that, well, nothing was really happening. Add the fact that the two time periods seemed to have no connection with each other, I just wasn't really into the book. Then I got my Chaos in the mail and just pushed Monstrous Beauty to the side.
And it sat there for more than a week.
I didn't want to pick it up again, but I checked Goodreads and I noticed very positive reviews, so I decided to give the book another chance.
And I am glad that I gave it another chance. The book was completely different the second time I picked it up. It was so much more interesting and I actually began to like the alternating time periods. Most surprisingly, this book was not only about mermaids. In fact, I would hardly call it a mermaid book. This book is more like a very intriguing paranormal mystery with both the past and the present. I was so into the last half of the book that it was enormously difficult for me to put it down.
My only issue with the last half was that there was the addition of insta-love, one of my biggest pet peeves. And it wasn't easy to ignore.

IN CONCLUSION
The first 70 pages are pretty dull, but it picks up speed fast after that! I enjoying reading this book and I would've given it a 4 if it weren't for the slow beginning and the insta-love. If you want a very surprising mystery with paranormal elements this is your book!
This author is a great writer and I can't wait to read more from her!

I hereby give this book

3 Wheels

Meaning: I liked it

Cover vs. Cover: Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield

This week's pick is...

Chantress

VS.  

Original                      Redesign

I really like the original cover, I oddly liked the blurred effect, but I like the redesign more. I'm not a fan of the monochrome, but I find the redesign to be a very pretty cover and, unlike, the original, you can tell that the book is historical.

Final Verdict: Redesign

Do you agree? Give me your thoughts on which cover is the best!

Waiting on Wednesday: Reborn by Jennifer Rush

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, where you talk about whatever book you are IMPATIENTLY WAITING for!

This week I am waiting for...

An action-packed, romantic, and suspenseful third book in the Altered series.

The Branch is in shambles, but Anna, Sam, Cas, and Nick can't rest easy. Remnants of the organization lurk unseen and the flashbacks to their old lives are only getting stronger--especially Nick's.

Following scattered memories and clues from his Branch file, Nick sets off alone in search of answers and in search of the girl who haunts his dreams. But the sleepy town where she lives in full of secrets and Nick soon learns that uncovering their shared past may have deadly consequences.

Release Date: January 6th 2015  Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Why am I waiting?

I LOVE this series! And I definitely want to read more!

What book are you waiting for this week?

Top Ten Tuesday:Top Ten Books To Read To Get In The Halloween Spirit

Hosted each week by The Broke and the Bookish, it's a meme for listing the top ten for everything bookish.

(The covers take you to the Goodreads page)

I had a hard time choosing just 10 books, but these are all great books to put you in a halloween mood. These books have vampires, ghosts, demons, zombies, and more! And many of them have the perfect creepiness!
What books/movies put you in the Halloween spirit?

New Releases in YA! (October 26th-31st)

Every week I list all (or almost all) of the YA books (and the occasional MG) that are coming out within that week!

Here's what you get to look forward to this week:

P.S. Click on the book's cover for the Goodreads page!

               
               
                

What books, if any, do you plan to buy?

Short & Simple Reviews: Wonder & #scandal

This is a place for books that I didn't fully review.

Maybe I listed my likes and dislikes, had a little short paragraph, or a few sentences to convey my feelings on the book, but whatever the "review" is, all of them are short and simple. (hence the clever name)

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse. August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?
 R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

 Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Review

This was such a beautiful book and by the end of it I was crying. 
I wasn't crying tears of sadness, but tears of joy. 
I can't stress this enough, how beautiful and life-changing this book is.
This might be a middle-grade book, but this book is for ALL ages. Everyone needs to read this book. It will change how you look at people and make you a better person.

I hereby give this book

5 Wheels!

Meaning: A new favorite!

Lucy’s learned some important lessons from tabloid darling Jayla Heart’s all-too-public blunders: Avoid the spotlight, don’t feed the Internet trolls, and keep your secrets secret. The policy has served Lucy well all through high school, so when her best friend Ellie gets sick before prom and begs her to step in as Cole’s date, she accepts with a smile, silencing about ten different reservations. Like the one where she’d rather stay home shredding online zombies. And the one where she hates playing dress-up. And especially the one where she’s been secretly in love with Cole since the dawn of time.
 When Cole surprises her at the after party with a kiss under the stars, it’s everything Lucy has ever dreamed of… and the biggest BFF deal-breaker ever. Despite Cole’s lingering sweetness, Lucy knows they’ll have to ’fess up to Ellie. But before they get the chance, Lucy’s own Facebook profile mysteriously explodes with compromising pics of her and Cole, along with tons of other students’ party indiscretions. Tagged. Liked. And furiously viral.
 By Monday morning, Lucy’s been branded a slut, a backstabber, and a narc, mired in a tabloid-worthy scandal just weeks before graduation.
 Lucy’s been battling undead masses online long enough to know there’s only one way to survive a disaster of this magnitude: Stand up and fight. Game plan? Uncover and expose the Facebook hacker, win back her best friend’s trust, and graduate with a clean slate.
 There’s just one snag—Cole. Turns out Lucy’s not the only one who’s been harboring unrequited love...

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Review

I was originally not intending to read this book. It just screams that this would be a drama-filled book. But I liked Sarah Ockler's other books and it was a free read on Pulse-it, so decided to give it a go.

I actually ended up enjoying it, in a way. I felt for Lucy and I was glued to the pages because I really wanted to know who was the one behind all this.

My issue with this book mainly has to do with my own preferences. I'm not a fan of books with high-school dramas, mostly because they make me so angry.

Overall, I did like this book, even though I was very angry throughout it because of how Lucy was treated. And this book made me very glad that I'm done with high-school!

I hereby give this book

3 Wheels

Meaning: I liked it.

Stacking the Shelves (October 25th 2014)

Hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Stacking the Shelves is where all the book nerds can post about the lovely (or not so lovely) books that they've got this week.

P.S. The covers take you to the book's Goodreads page!

Books I've Read in the Last Week

One of the Goodreads groups I'm in has a readathon going on so...

Checked Out From Library

I don't actually have this right now, but it is currently being held for me at the library and I'm going to go get it tomorrow!

Books I Bought

Ebook Copies:

Bought

Freebies

I've never read The Lonely Hearts Club, so I don't know why I got the novella. I guess I figured that I might read the book at some point? I enjoyed the author's other book, so maybe.

Books I Reviewed

(The covers are linked to my review)

Short & Simple

NEW DISCOVERIES

I add books to my TBR pile so often, that I decided to include the new additions to my ever-growing list.
I DID NOT RECEIVE OR BUY THESE BOOKS. I only added them to my TBR list.




Check out my current giveaway!

Anyway, what books did you haul in this week?