♥♥♥♥♥♥♥Princess Bookie♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: January 2014

Thursday, January 30

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

Release Date: January 28, 2014

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 384

Summary: The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann.

My Thoughts: Oh My Gosh! I loved this one! It will probably end up being one of my favorites of the year!

What an interesting concept and so crazy to read about.

We are introduced to Davy who is your above average teenager. She gets good grades, plays music, has a wonderful family, awesome friends, and a hot boyfriend. Her life is pretty good. Things are pretty clear cut for her. She’ll have a nice future.

Until one day the results from a test everyone took at the beginning of the year. By this point, the test is a long ago memory. The test was to see if they had a genetic component for the kill gene. What this means is that she is capable of killing and they predict that she will.

Everything for Davy changes in an instant. Once people find out, they want nothing to do with her. Her best friend turns on her instantly. She goes from loving Davy to absolutely hating her. She loses her best friend, and mostly everyone else in her life. Even her family is a little scared of her it seems. And her boyfriend, arrggg!

Davy gets put in a new school; a public school. But she really only gets confined to one room, a room with others like her. She’s expected to do her work and graduate. I wanted to cry when the deal with the tattoo came up. Heartbreaking! But things change, and Davy gets sent away to a camp with others like her. It’s basically a training camp to make Davy use the kill gene for better things, more productive things. While Davy was in the new school she made a few friends. I especially liked Sean. Sean was such a good guy even though he came off as a badass sometimes. He really cared for people.

Sean was probably the biggest highlight of the story for me. Even though I loved the idea of this, I also really loved the characters. Great character development. I loved seeing things from Davy’s point of view, and I loved seeing how she had to deal with things.

And of course, the cliffhanger! OHHHH!! I need the next one now! I loved this one to pieces!

Overall: Loved it! I hope I enjoy the next one in this series just as much! I adored this one! The plot was interesting and had awesome characters. I loved both Davy and Sean and even all the other secondary characters. I loved that Davy and Sean would do anything for one another. I loved this one! I hope you do too!

Cover: Its so pretty! I love the girls long hair and I think this is a neat cover!

What I’d Give It:

Friday, January 24

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Release Date: June 19, 2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 224

Summary: When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.

My Thoughts: I remember picking this one up about a year ago, reading outside on my porch. I think I read about 40 pages but then I got distracted, put it down, and started something else. I finally got back to reading it and finished it.

I don’t know why I waited.

We are introduced to Travis who just returned home from Afghanistan, where he lost his best friend. He is now trying to put the pieces back together. After being to war, and losing someone so close to him he’s a mess. He is back in his hometown and he runs into a girl named Harper. A girl he kissed years ago and embarrassed pretty good.

Oh boy does Harper remember. She holds a grudge pretty well, at first but then she really opens up to him.

I loved Harper and Travis’ banter back and forth. But I also liked seeing them get to know one another. Even though they had went to school together, they didn’t really know each other. I also liked all the moments, especially with the turtles.

I’m glad we also saw Travis’ family. I am happy to see what they were like and it made me understand him much better.

I enjoyed seeing him go through what he had too to actually get somewhere. He had to learn to deal with his feelings and overcome them. He had to move on as best as he could.

I really enjoyed this one. I think most of it was due to the romance. I honestly don’t read very many novels from a guy’s point of view so this was a little hard for me to really grasp at first.

Overall: I really enjoyed this one and am glad I finally read it. I enjoyed his voice and I also enjoyed the moments with Harper and his friends. I felt like I really got inside his head. This is a great contemp novel!

Cover: I like it! Even though its not real colorful this one would definitely draw me in. I love the dog tag and I love how they are just kissing. Think this cover is really cute!

What I’d Give It:

Monday, January 20

Bitter Sweet Love (Dark Elements .05) by Jennifer Armentrout

Release Date: December 1, 2013

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 105

Summary: In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series THE DARK ELEMENTS, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

Dez wasn't just Jasmine's crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining balance between good and evil. He was her everything...right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn't help that Jas's father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he's back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn't taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again...

My Thoughts: This was really short so I finished within an hour or so. We are introduced to Dez and Jasmine who haven’t seen each other in a few years. He comes back for her and wants to start right where they left off. They were promised to each other and were to be married before he split.

Jasmine isn’t too happy about this. It was hard on her when he left. She promises to give him seven days to change her mind and they go on some adventures together. We also meet two other characters who I really liked. Zayne and Layla. They were a riot and I enjoyed them a lot! Gargoyles will be interesting to read about, that is for sure!

Quite a bit happened in this one, even though it was so short which was good but it also felt a bit rushed. I’m glad I read it though before I start White Hot Kiss!

Overall: I liked it! It was short but an interesting premise to a new story!

Cover: Its sweet! Like the colors! And the way he’s kissing her!

What I'd Give It:

Thursday, January 16

Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill

Release Date: January 7, 2014

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 352

Summary: Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she’d give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.

Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.

When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one: no strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself.

My Thoughts: I loved this one! When I read Morrill’s first novel, I knew I would read everything else by her! I was not disappointed!

We are introduced to Sloane Emily Jacobs and Sloane Devon Jacobs. Both girls have the same name except their middle name. Both girls are going away for the summer. One girl is headed to a hockey camp, and the other to a figure skating camp (basically). Both Sloane’s meet by accident but decide to take one another’s place. They figure anything is better than doing what they had originally planned on doing.

At first, it was a bit confusing with both of the Sloanes, but after just a few pages it got easier. It was easy to keep them straight! I loved both the hockey and ice skating angle. Both were so cute and fun!

I also liked both boys in this one! Of course, they each have to have a boy in their life. I loved getting to know them both! So adorable and cute!

I really enjoyed the plot of this one and the characters. We had some awesome friends and of course a nemesis.

Being Sloane Jacobs was a fun cute read and I’ll be sure to pick up Morrills next book as well!

Overall: I didn’t want to say too much about this one because its one of those fun novels that you need to read on your own. If you like contemps, I think you’ll enjoy this one! It was FUN!!!!!

Cover: Like it! Its so sweet just like her cover for Meant To Be. I like the way these covers are done!!

What I'd Give It:

Friday, January 10

Touch Of Power (Healer #1) by Maria Snyder

Release Date: December 20, 2011

Publisher: Mira

Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 400

Summary: Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life.

My Thoughts: Why did I wait so long to read this one? I loved it!

I can’t believe I didn’t read this sooner! It was the perfect mix of romance and fantasy.

We are introduced to Avry who has been on the run for three years. She is a healer and everyone hates healers. When the plague happened, a lot of people blamed healers. Avry is very careful who she heals but she always ends up healing someone who turns her in, and she’s on the run again. She is pretty good about not getting caught, until of course she does.

Avry knows her life was worth the child’s though. She is set to be executed until she gets rescued by quite the guy named Kerrick. He takes her and they go on the run together. She meets his crew of guys and she also realizes he wants her to heal someone. And it isn’t just a small person either. He’s known pretty well. So well, that Avry knows him and hates him!

Avry is put to quite the test in this novel. I don’t want to say much more but I will say that I loved all the characters thrown throughout the novel and I loved seeing her get to know each one. There are so many but they all make the novel. They were freaking funny yet some were sweet and of course some were jerks.

I am big on character development and this one had a lot. But the plot was also really great. It kept me wanting more and I finished this one in just a few days. I didn’t want to put it down! I loved the ending as well, and now I need to the next one quick!

I loved Avry and I loved Kerrick. I loved all the little things, like the death lillies. This one was a wonderful setup for this world and I can’t wait to read more.

Overall: This one was probably one of my favorites of 2013. It was full of adventure, romance, and you never knew what was going to happen. More Kerrick please!!!

Cover: Like it! It's really pretty but also kind of weird but I’d still pick it up. It just doesn’t jump out at me like it should. Very pretty though.

What I'd Give It:

Tuesday, January 7

Double Digit (Digit #2) by Annabel Monaghan

Release Date: January 7, 2014

Publisher: HMH Books For Young Readers
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 192

Summary: To say eighteen-year-old Farrah Higgins—or Digit—is good at math is a laughable understatement. She’s been cracking codes since childhood, and is finally at home with “her people” at MIT in Cambridge. Her talents are so off the charts that her laptop is under surveillance by both the CIA and an ecoterrorist named Jonas Furnis. So when she thoughtlessly hacks into the Department of Defense’s database, she lands in serious hot water inside and outside the law. Readers will be sad to turn the last page of this suspenseful, sassy, super smart thriller, the sequel to A Girl Named Digit.

My Thoughts: I loved the first novel so when I got the chance to review this one, I jumped right on it! It was just as good!

Double Digit is a real short novel but it has so much to say. We are back once again with Digit aka Farrah. She’s now a freshmen in college and trying to live a normal life. The novel starts out with her dating the FBI agent from the first novel, John. I really like John so much! He’s adorable, caring, and protective.

Digit is the same girl as ever. She’s so stinkin smart! And the things she does and says. Always a riot.

We are introduced to a few new friends, alongside a guy named Bass. I liked Bass, I did. I could feel he took a liking to Digit so I’m not surprised how that friendship blossomed.

Digit is trying to be normal, and do normal things, like go to toga parties. But when she gets kidnapped, things start to go crazy. And to top it off, she hacks into the Department Of Defense to save some time, so this really sets her up for real trouble.

With Jonas Furnis after her mind, and the government wanting to put her behind bars, Digit just can not get a break!

I enjoyed this one. Not quite as much as the first but almost! Its fun, witty, smart! I just wish it was longer. These are just too short!

Overall: I really enjoy Digit! I like John! And I like her new friends. And of course her sweet little brother. And the plot, woohooo! Like it!

Cover: It’s neat. Like the blueish color to it!

What I’d Give It:

Thursday, January 2

Almost Everything (Vampire Princess #3) by Tate Hallaway

Release Date: February 7, 2012

Publisher: NAL Trade

Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 320

Summary: Ever since her father banished the half-witch, half-vampire Ana Parker and vampire knight Elias from the court of the Northern vampires, Ana has been trying to live a normal life. But when the Prince of the Southern Region vampires informs Ana that they're on the brink of war and she accidentally offers up Elias as a peace offering, the princess knows that she's going to need some help to get out of this situation.

With Ana's boy drama meter hitting an all time high, summer in St. Paul is heating up for all the wrong reasons...

My Thoughts: Another cute novel by Hallaway! I love this series so much!

We are back with Ana who you may remember from the previous two books. She’s part vampire/part witch. This sure does complicate things in her life! And we also are back with her awesome best friend and the two guys who she pines after. Elias and her ex-boyfriend Nik. Both are still irresistible. But, there is also a new guy in the picture. He goes to her school and his name is Thompson. He’s a sweet guy and he is very understanding.

There is a lot of plot in this one and I don’t want to expand too much. Its fun to learn all the ups and downs that are going down and how huge the plot is in this one. And it’s Ana’s responsibility (so she thinks) to find a reasonable solution to help everyone.

I really enjoyed this series! And, the ending. Well, I wanted things to end differently but you never know what could happen if their are more books.

I think this series is all about the characters for me. I love learning about them. I love experiencing things with them. And the plot keeps them on their toes.

Overall: I just overall love this series and I think this may have been my favorite one. I found myself laughing at things and smiling at how Ana reacts to things. I really love this series and the characters.

Cover: Love it! I always enjoy these covers. They are simple but neat!

What I'd Give It: