Sleep No More by Aprilynne Pike

Sleep No More by Aprilynne Pike

Release Date: April 29, 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages:  352

Summary: Lisa McMann's Wake trilogy meets the blockbuster Inception in this dark page-turner from #1 New York Times bestselling author Aprilynne Pike.

Oracles see the future but are never supposed to interfere. Charlotte learned that the hard way. If she hadn't tried to change one of her childhood visions, her father would still be alive. Since the accident, Charlotte has suppressed her visions to avoid making the same mistake. But when she receives a premonition of a classmate's murder, she can no longer ignore her powerful gift.

Then Charlotte meets someone who not only knows her secret but who also has a way for her to stop the killer. He offers to teach her how to manipulate her visions to change the future. But doing so will put Charlotte in the path of the murderer.…

Aprilynne Pike's bestselling Wings series was called "remarkable" by Stephenie Meyer, bestselling author of the Twilight Saga. And her most recent novel, Life After Theft, was cheered as a "whirlwind adventure" by School Library Journal. Now Aprilynne returns with this exhilarating departure from her previous novels. Sleep No More is a psychological thrill ride that is sure to keep readers' hearts racing until the very end.

My Thoughts: I read this one in a day! Right through the night! And early the next morning.

We are introduced to Charlotte who is an oracle.She sees the future. But she has spent her whole life learning how to block it out and ignore it. She shouldn't change it because it can change things in the long run! And oh can it! Charlotte lives with her mother and her aunt. Her dad died when she was young.

Charlotte has had a crush on a boy named Linden forever! Ever since she was a kid when he helped her! Linden was such a cutie! I really liked him even though he isn’t perfect.

When murders start happening in her small town, Charlotte starts to worry. She sees them before they happen. She has a hard time fighting the visions.

Charlotte meets a man named Smith who offers to guide her with her visions. He encourages her to let them come and help the victims. To change things. To keep them alive. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to think of Smith. Wasn't sure if I liked him or not at first.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers so read this one now! Does Charlotte catch the killer? Who all has to die first?

The only thing I didn’t really like is the ending with Linden. I just wasn't too fond of it, even though it does make sense. I just wanted something else to happen I guess.

Overall:  I enjoyed this one. A little paranormal mixed with a murder mystery? Yes please. It was also a bit creepy reading it in the middle of the night, in the dark. Gave me the creeps!

I liked the story, I liked the characters, so all in all I‘ll give it 4 cupcakes!

Cover:  Its ok! Its a little bit creepy. And intriguing.

What I’d Give It:

Landry Park (Landry Park #1) by Bethany Hagen

Landry Park (Landry Park #1) by Bethany Hagen

Release Date: February 4, 2014

Publisher: Dial

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages:  384

Summary: Downton Abbey meets The Selection in this dystopian tale of love and betrayal

In a fragmented future United States ruled by the lavish gentry, seventeen-year-old Madeline Landry dreams of going to the university. Unfortunately, gentry decorum and her domineering father won't allow that. Madeline must marry, like a good Landry woman, and run the family estate. But her world is turned upside down when she discovers the devastating consequences her lifestyle is having on those less fortunate. As Madeline begins to question everything she has ever learned, she finds herself increasingly drawn to handsome, beguiling David Dana. Soon, rumors of war and rebellion start to spread, and Madeline finds herself and David at the center of it all. Ultimately, she must make a choice between duty - her family and the estate she loves dearly - and desire.

My Thoughts:  I feel like this one took me a little while to read, and really get into but once I did, I loved every minute of it.

We are introduced to Madeline who is the heir to a great future and estate. She is set to run things just as her ancestors before her had. But Madeline wants more. She wants University. She doesn’t want to get married right now and take over. She doesn’t want to be groomed into this.

Madeline meets a boy named David Dana. David is mysterious but also very intriguing. At times he seems arrogant but Madeline soon realizes there is more to him than meets the eye.

Madeline starts to see what is really going on inside her city and the place she calls home. She is thrown right in and things start to go crazy from there. I don’t want to say too much because I loved finding out all the secrets and I loved seeing things unravel behind her family and the town. I loved hearing about her ancestors and what happened.

I don’t really read too many novels based around historical stuff. I usually just find it not to my taste but I really loved this one. It just all felt right and I loved Madeline! I also loved David and I loved the moments they were together. Madeline is brave and very smart and David is sincere and sweet.  

Overall:  Not only did I love the plot of this one, I also loved the characters. They did it for me. I loved the main ones but also the side characters we get introduced to throughout the novel. I liked seeing who they really were and what they were up too.

I highly recommend this one, even if you're not a big fan of historicals!!!

Cover: Like it! It doesn’t really give any clue what this one is about! But it also looks neat!

What I’d Give It:

The Museum Of Intangible Things by Wendy Wunder

The Museum Of Intangible Things by Wendy Wunder

Release Date:  April 10, 2014

Publisher: Razorbill

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 304

Summary:  Loyalty. Envy. Obligation. Dreams. Disappointment. Fear. Negligence. Coping. Elation. Lust. Nature. Freedom. Heartbreak. Insouciance. Audacity. Gluttony. Belief. God. Karma. Knowing what you want (there is probably a French word for it). SayingYes. Destiny. Truth. Devotion. Forgiveness. Life. Happiness (ever after).

Hannah and Zoe haven’t had much in their lives, but they’ve always had each other. So when Zoe tells Hannah she needs to get out of their down-and-out New Jersey town, they pile into Hannah’s beat-up old Le Mans and head west, putting everything—their deadbeat parents, their disappointing love lives, their inevitable enrollment at community college—behind them.

As they chase storms and make new friends, Zoe tells Hannah she wants more for her. She wants her to live bigger, dream grander, aim higher. And so Zoe begins teaching Hannah all about life’s intangible things, concepts sadly missing from her existence—things like audacity, insouciance,karma, and even happiness.

An unforgettable read from the acclaimed author of The Probability of Miracles, The Museum of Intangible Things sparkles with the humor and heartbreak of true friendship and first love.

My Thoughts: Yes, I definitely saw the beauty of this one. It was written pretty great and it was pretty beautiful.

But I also had a hard time connecting with the story and the characters both. I couldn’t really relate to either Hannah or Zoe and that was a huge problem for me.

We meet Hannah and Zoe. Zoe is bipolar. The girls have been best friends since they were kids and Hannah knows how to calm Zoe down. She can really speak to her.

Zoe and Hannah go on a road trip. During this road trip they do so many things and encounter so many events. Crazy and fun events. Confusing events.

And we also meet their families in the book and boys.

And that ending, wow. I did really like Zoe’s little brother. He made things even more interesting while we saw him. The Museum Of Intangible Things was a unique book. It was moving and crazy intense.

Overall:  I liked this one but I debated between 3 and 4 cupcakes. I didn’t really connect to it like I thought I would. I also thought this one would be a 5 cupcake book for me but it wasn’t. I enjoyed it. It is probably more of a 3.5 but I’m rounding it up this time!

A lot of people will love this one! Even more than me!

Cover:   Love it! I love hearts and the background. Really cute cover!

What I’d Give It:

The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik

The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik

Release Date: April 22, 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group:Young Adult

Pages:  384

Summary:  Anna Eliot is tired of worrying about what other people think. After all, that was how she lost the only guy she ever really liked, Finn Westbrook.

Now, three years after she broke his heart, the one who got away is back in her life.

All Anna wants is a chance to relive their last kiss again (and again and again). But Finn obviously hasn’t forgotten how she treated him, and he’s made it clear he has no interest in having anything to do with her.

Anna keeps trying to persuade herself that she doesn’t care about Finn either, but even though they’ve both changed since they first met, deep down she knows he’s the guy for her. Now if only she can get him to believe that, too....

With her signature wit and expertly authentic teen voice, Claire LaZebnik (the author of fan favorites Epic Fail and The Trouble with Flirting) once again breathes new life into a perennially popular love story. Fans of Polly Shulman, Maureen Johnson, and, of course, Jane Austen will love this irresistibly funny and romantic tale of first loves and second chances.

My Thoughts:  I enjoyed this one. We are introduced to Anna who has a group of friends and a boy she likes named Finn. Finn is a nice kid but he’s kind of dorky. Anna fits in nicely with her friends. They aren't super popular but they aren't super dorky either. I’d say they were average.

Anna starts dating Finn but she’s too afraid to tell anyone. She’s a bit embarrassed by him because her friends think he’s too nerdy. Well, Finn ends up going away for a while and he comes back pretty cute and sweet. All her friends instantly like him but he resents Anna. He also starts dating one of her friends.

I felt like there wasn't a lot of depth to this one. It was deep on some levels but on others it was just a fun book and I liked seeing all the sides of her friends and Finn. They did a lot and Anna goes to a music festival which I enjoyed.

I did enjoy the way things developed with Finn and Anna.  I liked seeing just how Finn felt about the old Anna and the new Anna. And vice versa.

I enjoyed the friendships. I enjoyed the romance. And the little bit of drama.

Overall:  I really did enjoy this one. I debated between 3 and 4 cupcakes. Its probably more of a 3.5 for me though. I enjoyed it, thought it was cute, liked the characters but it probably wasn't my favorite of the year.

The Last Best Kiss is definitely worth a read.

Cover: Love it! Super cute cover! I love how we can see their legs. Neat!

What I’d Give It:

Taken (Taken #1) by Erin Bowman

Taken (Taken #1) by Erin Bowman

Release Date: April 16, 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages:  368

Summary:  There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

My Thoughts: I usually have a hard time reading books with a male perspective but this one, I just flew right through.

We are introduced to Gray Weathersby and his brother Blaine. They are a year apart and live in a small community called Claysoot. They’ve lived in Claysoot their whole lives. Their mother and father are both gone. They only have each other. And so when Blaine hits 18, they both know things are going to change. Blaine will be swept away by The Heist. Nobody really knows much about the Heist or why it exists.

Gray feels alone and his only comfort is Emma so he gets the idea that he will jump the wall. Anyone who has ever tried has came back burned. But he figures, oh well its worth the risk.

Gray and Emma’s worlds are about to change. Everything they have ever known is about to change, drastically.

I just couldn’t believe what was happening but it all made sense. I was surprised, I was sad, this one really tugged at my emotions.

And I loved the addition of Bree. She spiced things up for me and added more drama. Loved that.

I liked the plot. I liked how things happened. I also found myself drawn to Blaine as I got to know him more as well.

Even when Gray started to grow up, I still saw moments of him that seemed somewhat immature.

Overall:  I liked this one quite a bit, but I think its more of a 3.5 rating for me but I’m giving it 4 since I did enjoy it more than I thought I would.  

Cover: Love it! Love the people, and love the colors. Its so bright!

What I’d Give It:

Split Second (Pivot Point #2) Kasie West

Split Second (Pivot Point #2) Kasie West

Release Date: February 11, 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages:  368

Summary: Life can change in a split second.

Addie hardly recognizes her life since her parents divorced. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. She can’t believe this is the future she chose. On top of that, her ability is acting up. She’s always been able to Search the future when presented with a choice. Now she can manipulate and slow down time, too . . . but not without a price.

When Addie’s dad invites her to spend her winter break with him, she jumps at the chance to escape into the Norm world of Dallas, Texas. There she meets the handsome and achingly familiar Trevor. He’s a virtual stranger to her, so why does her heart do a funny flip every time she sees him? But after witnessing secrets that were supposed to stay hidden, Trevor quickly seems more suspicious of Addie than interested in her. And she has an inexplicable desire to change that.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Laila, has a secret of her own: she can restore Addie’s memories . . . once she learns how. But there are powerful people who don’t want to see this happen. Desperate, Laila tries to manipulate Connor, a brooding bad boy from school—but he seems to be the only boy in the Compound immune to her charms. And the only one who can help her.

As Addie and Laila frantically attempt to retrieve the lost memories, Addie must piece together a world she thought she knew before she loses the love she nearly forgot . . . and a future that could change everything.

My Thoughts:  I really enjoyed Pivot Point so I was excited to read this one!

We are back with Addie and Laila, best friends! Addie has seen what can happen and has chosen her path. But, she also missed out on a quite a bit.

Addie gets to visit her dad for break so she jumps on the chance. She wants away for a while and to be normal. But normal isn’t always a great thing either. While in Texas, she meets Trevor again. But of course she really only knows him from her vision and he doesn't know her. But the chemistry between them is amazing! I instantly liked Trevor again. He’s so sweet and cute! Just want to pick him up and hug him.

This time Addie wants to do things right, but things don’t go according to plan…

Back home, Laila has her own problems to face. And she’s got quite a few.

Honestly, I really liked this one. But I feel like if I say much I’ll give too much away. Pivot Point had so many twists and turns that if I mention many details, you’ll know too many important details so I’m just going to leave it at this.

I enjoyed this one! I still like the characters and the plot is so unique! Quite a lot of twists in Split Second as well! And a few new characters to add to the mix.

Overall: Enjoyed it! Glad how things went and turned out. I’m happy.

Cover: Like it! These covers are neat.

What I’d Give It:

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Release Date: April 8, 2014

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 352

Summary: Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.

My Thoughts: I really loved Hawkins Hex Hall series so I was anxious to read this one!

And while I enjoyed it a lot, I still loved the Hex Hall series more.

We are introduced to Harper who is your average teenage girl but with a whip of a personality and who is a little education obsessed. She wants to get into a good college, make her parents happy, and on top of that she is involved in a lot of extracurricular activities. Her life is too busy and she has no time for anything new.

But when she runs into a janitor getting murdered and him transferring his responsibilities (ninja kicking butt powers) to her she is pretty much in trouble. He was a Paladin and his job was to protect a certain boy.

A certain boy named David who has been Harper’s nemesis since they were children! Could things get any worse for Harper? Now she has to protect him! What a load of crap. LOL.

David and Harper have spent their lives fighting with each other, but now they must fight together to survive.

I loved Harper’s personality. She was so spunky and always had something to say. David was a sweetheart. I could tell underneath his comebacks, he had true feelings for Harper. They had chemistry!

People are out to kill David and now its on Harper to fix it. She has so many obstacles that get in the way including her boyfriend and her best friend. Things are not easy hiding who she really is.

I really loved both characters and I loved everything that was going on in the background. They had other things they had to tend too as well. They each had a life to live. But all in all, Harper and David made a good team and I could just tell something needed to happen between them.

And of course, Rebel Belle leaves us with a cliffhanger and its a good one. Now, I need the next book!

Overall: I really enjoyed this one! I wanted to give it 5 cupcakes but there was a few pages where it got slow and I needed it to speed back up. I really liked the plot of this one, how things went down, and how Harper and David related to one another. I loved the character development. I would definitely recommend this one, especially if you liked the Hex Hall series!

Cover: Love it! I love the prettiness of it, and I love the color! Its a cute eye catching cover!! 

What I'd Give It: