Twelve Days of New Adult Giveaway Hop


Hey, guys! It's been such a LONG time since I have done a giveaway!
And what better way to get back into the groove than doing a giveaway of great New Adult books!
SUPER excited!
You can check out the original post on Stuck in Books here!
ONE winner gets to choose an ebook of his/her choice from the list of books below:






Good Luck
And
Don't forget to hop on to the other blogs!


ARC Review: Perfect Couple by Jennifer Echols

Title: Perfect Couple (The Superlatives #2)
Author: Jennifer Echols
Publication: January 13th 2015 by Simon Pulse
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Provided by the kind publisher...
Goodreads

Perfect Couple is #2 in the Superlatives series about seniors at a Florida high school who are selected for their class's superlative categories in the yearbook, and how the labels change the way they view themselves and alter the course of their lives.

Can your heart be put to a popular vote?

As yearbook photographer, Harper is responsible for capturing those candid moments that make high school memorable. But her own life is anything but picture perfect. Her parents' bitter divorce has left her wondering what a loving relationship would look like. And ever since the senior class voted her and star quarterback Brody the “Perfect Couple That Never Was,” her friends have been on her case to ask Brody out.

Brody doesn’t lack in female admirers, but Harper can't see herself with him. He seems confused about why they were matched together, too. They’re total opposites—the last people in the world who would ever be compatible, let alone the “perfect couple.” Yet ever since the class paired the two of them, they've found themselves drawn together--first by curiosity, then by an undeniable bond.

The trouble is, though they're very attracted to each other and both of them admit this, they have a hard time getting along or even communicating clearly. If they’re the perfect couple, this shouldn’t be so difficult! Soon it becomes clear their class was wrong, and they throw in the towel. But after they walk away, both of them feel so changed from making the effort that they can’t forget each other. What if that means this match made in hell is the perfect couple after all?

-- My Rating --
4/5 Oscars: Really Liked It

-- My Thoughts --

     I read the first book in the series not a long while ago. It was quite a cute contemporary read, though not the best. But I was definitely excited for the second book, because I felt I would like Harper more. In more ways than not, I did.
     Harper has always been the good girl all her life. She has followed the rules, had the perfect boyfriend. But when the school couples her with Brody for the Perfect Couple That Never Was, everything changes. For her and for Brody. And finally Harper might realize that the only thing that is making her to find her true self has always been there all along.
     As always, the characters are absolutely adorable. I just love the way they talk and behave and they sound like normal teenagers with all the insecurity and angst. It was absolutely refreshing to read something that felt so real. Then, there's Harper. Although she was not as goody-two-shoes as I pictured her to be, she was still likable. Not always, though. She made very, very stupid decisions that she knew she would regret afterwards.
     Then, there's Kaye and Sawyer. I LOVE both of them and I literally cannot wait to read their book, which will be the next one in this series. The romance  in this book is sizzling hot at times, but absolutely cringe-worthy at other times. I didn't know why the characters did what they did, I wanted to jump into the book and slap some of them. Otherwise, the romance was quite cute.
     This book is definitely a very cute and fluffy contemporary read. I definitely liked it better than the first book and thankfully it didn't have the second-book-in-a-series syndrome and it turned out better than I hoped it would be. I am patiently waiting for the third book :)

Review: Love Letters To The Dead by Ava Dellaira

Title: Love Letters to the Dead
Author: Ava Dellaira
Publication: April 1st 2014 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Owned
Goodreads

It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person.

Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to the dead—to people like Janis Joplin, Heath Ledger, Amelia Earhart, and Amy Winehouse—though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating the choppy waters of new friendships, learning to live with her splintering family, falling in love for the first time, and, most important, trying to grieve for May. But how do you mourn for someone you haven't forgiven?

It's not until Laurel has written the truth about what happened to herself that she can finally accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was—lovely and amazing and deeply flawed—can she truly start to discover her own path.

In a voice that's as lyrical and as true as a favorite song, Ava Dellaira writes about one girl's journey through life's challenges with a haunting and often heartbreaking beauty. 

-- My Rating --
4/5 Oscars: Really Liked It

-- My Thoughts --

     I've heard a LOT about this book from the blogging world, recently. And in reading, I'm definitely a follower of the pack. I wanted to know what was all the buzz about, and yes, they were right.
     Laurel doesn't know how to cope with the tragedy in her life. And now that she's starting high school, it's even harder. But then her teacher assigns them a homework. They have to write a letter to a dead person. But once Laurel starts writing letters, she doesn't stop. She can't stop. They're finally holding her up.
     What I loved most about this book is the whole idea of it. Writing letters to dead people and coping with tragedy through that. It's such a beautiful idea and I am so impressed that the author thought of it this way. Then, the writing style is fabulous. I cannot believe this is the author's debut novel, because she sounds like an experienced writer through her writings. She makes the characters come out of the pages.

Sometimes when we say things, we hear silence. Or only echoes. Like screaming from inside. And that's really lonely. But that only happens when we weren't really listening. It means we weren't ready to listen yet. Because every time we speak, there is a voice. There is the world that answers back...

     Laurel is a shy, insecure, and sad young girl. You can feel every emotion she's feeling through her letters. On top of that, she's also really smart. It shows through her writings and you fall in love with her immediately. Then, we  have the love interest, Sky. Although I didn't like him a lot, he's good for Laurel and I liked them together. But otherwise, he's really not my kind of book-boyfriends.Too unbelievable.
     The letters are amazing. Since this book is told in letters throughout, I loved the references to the people that Laurel is writing to. I admit that I learned a lot from her references. There's Kurt Cobain, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Bishop, Amelia Earhart, River Phoenix, Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Allan Lane, E. E. Cummings, and many others. So many different people, but Laurel feels connected to them somehow. Then, there's the reference to all the different music in this book. I loved that. I loved how Laurel felt connected to different musicians and singers, also different poetesses.  It was all beautiful.
     All in all, I LOVED this book. I loved what it offered and what it had in it. This is not just a love story. This is a story about love,redemption, about finding your true self, and finally coping with the truth of the world. Finding the beauty in things.

Review: To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Author: Jenny Han
Publication: April 15th 2014 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Owned
Goodreads

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

-- My Rating --
5/5 Oscars: Loved it

-- My Thoughts --

     Who hasn't heard of Jenny Han and her amazing contemporary novels? I had heard a lot about her, and when her new book came out and it was immediately raved about, I knew that I needed to read this.
     Lara Jane Song lives with her two sisters, Margot and Kitty, and their single father. Her life is as normal as it can be. But then, Margot is leaving for college. And Lara Jane is alone taking care of her family. And then, the five letters she'd secretly written to the boys she'd loved before, are all send in the mail. She has to confront all her previous loves, for better or for worse.
     I absolutely adored this novel. First, there's the setting and the idea of the novel. Lara Jane lets go of her loves by writing them a final letter and sealing it and keeping it hidden. But accidentally, all her letters get sent. Then, it's all about confronting the boys she loved before. I loved this idea. It's something so unique that I wish I had thought of myself (I'm jealous of Jenny Han's mind!)
     Then, there are the characters. Which are, by far, this book's strongest suit. I LOVED Lara Jane. I don't think I have ever loved a character as much as I love her. She's so loyal, encouraging, teasing, selfless, smart, and quirky. She's the kind of girl I want to have as my sister. Share my experiences with her. I loved that she was also half-Korean, which added a lot of traditional details to the novel. Then, there are the secondary characters. There's Margot, Lara Jane's sister, who has like a lovable control-freak and a great symbol of a role model, then there's Kitty, Lara Jane's younger sister, who is just adorable. There was not one single character in this book that wasn't three-dimensional and lovable.
     Then, we'll go to the boys. There's Josh (Joshy), who is Margot's boyfriend,  but he is also one of the guys Lara Jane loved. So he received her letter. Then,there's Peter K, who also receives her letter. These two guys are polar opposites, but they are both adorable. Specially Peter with his arrogant attitude but heart of gold. I just want to jump into this book and hug this guy tight! i loved him that much.
     The romance in this novel is beautiful. It might just be for pretend, at first. But Lara Jane's feelings are so real and palpable. I felt for her and I felt with her. I loved all the confrontations she had with the guys, other than Josh and Peter. She is incredibly funny, sweet, and shy. And I definitely did NOT expect who she ended up with at the end.
     The ending was beautiful. It wasn't what i expected, not by a long shot. But I was so happy about it. When I turned the last page on my e-reader, I was grinning so wide my mouth hurt, and I was half-sad that such a great book was over. It's been a LONG time since I've found a contemporary that I enjoyed so much. This book is a gem;  it will make you laugh out loud, get into a thoughtful trans, and fall in love all at the same time. It's beautiful, truly. And I just found that a second book is coming out! YAY! Can't wait for more of Lara Jane!

Sisterhood of World Book Bloggers


Although I always say that my blog is an award-free zone but I really wanted to do something fun besides all the reviewing (not that reviewing isn't FUN itself!). I wanna thank Dana @ DanaSquare for nominating me for this award!

So, here are the guidelines for Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award:
  1. Thank the blogger that nominated you, and link back to their site.
  2. Post the award's logo onto your blog.
  3. Answer the 10 questions you've been asked.
  4. Nominate 10 other bloggers and ask them 10 questions.


And here are my answers :

1. What was the last book that you gave 5 stars to?
Follow Me Through Darkness by Danielle Ellison. A PERFECT DYSTOPIAN!

2. What book got you into reading YA?
I think it was The Host by Stephenie Meyer. My ALL time favorite book.

3. What character from a series deserves their own spin-off book or series?
Ashley, the main character's brother in The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer

4. What is your most recent favorite genre?
Definitely Horror. Although I read a couple of books in the genre before but i have just realized that I adore creepy books!

5. Do you collect anything other than books?
Well, I wouldn't say I collect anything else. But I do LOVE movies and I have SO MANY DVDs.

6. What is you favorite TV Show?
The Vampire Diaries. DAMON "sighs"

7. What is the next book in you TBR pile?
The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (One of my FAVE series!)

8. Who is your most owned author?
Hmmmm, it's probably either Sarah Dessen or Sara Shepard (strange coincidence!)

9. When did you start blogging?
Two years ago. In 2012.

10. Which book that you love do you think deserves more hype? 
Definitely The Setti Saga by Stephanie Judice. It's SO good!



Here are my 10 questions for those I have tagged:

  1. What is your ALL TIME favorite book?
  2. Do you like it when a book is categorized in a mixture of genres? Like, there is no specific genre for it?
  3. Who is your favorite author and why?
  4. Do you like it when authors use a LOT of metaphors in their books? Like, "his eyes were as blue as the sky" or "He wrapped his arms around me like octopus tentacles" (yes,  I have actually read the second one in a book)
  5. Do you like listening to music while reading books or does it distract you?
  6. Do you prefer audiobooks to be read by the same voice throughout or different voices for different main characters?
  7. Are you a fan of highlighting favorite passages in books?
  8. Be honest, do you pick a book for your TBR list (sometimes) based on the cover ONLY?
  9. If you could be a main character in a book, which book would it be?
  10. Do you like it when bloggers post some updates about their personal life along with the main subject of the blog?

And I tag:

ARC Review: Follow Me Through Darkness by Danielle Ellison

Title: Follow Me Through Darkness (The Boundless Trilogy #1)
Author: Danielle Ellison
Publication: October 21st 2014 by Spencer Hill Press
Genre: YA Dystopia
Source: Provided by the kind publisher...
Goodreads

The truth won't always set you free.

Less than a year ago, Neely Ambrose’s biggest worry was having the freedom to follow a path that wasn't chosen for her.

Less than a year ago, she believed she could trust the Elders who said they had everyone’s best interest at heart and who said they were keeping them safe from the outside.

Sixty days ago, she discovered what they had planned for everyone she loved—and that all of it centered around her.
Now she’s on the run through a dangerous wasteland full of killing machines, secret organizations, and people who want to sell her back to the Elders for their own safety. The whole world outside the Compound is living proof that everything in Neely’s life was a lie manufactured by the Elders, which may even include the boy she loves.

All Neely wants is the truth, but each new piece of it drives her further from what she thought she knew. With only forty days until everyone she loves falls under the Elders’ mind control, Neely must decipher who to trust, what questions to ask, and how to get one step ahead of the Elders, who will do anything to keep their secrets buried.

-- My Rating --
5/5 Oscars: LOVED it

-- My Thoughts --

      Okay, so I admit it; I thought this book was contemporary when I started it. I didn't read the blurb, so sue me :D Although I am SUPER glad that I didn't because diving into this book blindly was the best thing I did.
     Neely is on the way to the Old World. She has left everything she knew and loved behind to pursue something that's gonna save everyone she loves. She has been trusting the Elders for too long but now she knows what they are really after, and what plans they had for her.
     This book is YA dystopia and a great one at that. It's a futuristic world where the United States has been destroyed and some of the elite and rich people live in Compounds (kinda like closed domes) thinking that there is no life left outside their city. The plot was a bit slow at the beginning but that was needed to get the story started. But when it picked up, there was no slow moments. Everything was fast-paced and exhilarating and i loved it.
     I loved the way the author told her story. We get the book in first person POV from Neely, our protagonist, but some of the chapters are flashbacks and the flashbacks are absolutely MY favorite part of this book. I feel like they were essential to the story and leaving ONE of the flashbacks out would have ruined it.
     I love Neely. She's kick-ass, brave, kind, selfless, forgiving, and loving. I just adored her. She is everything girls wish they could be. But she wasn't without flaws. She made mistakes and did wrong things and she recovered from them. IN a nutshell, she was real. The other secondary characters also made this story come alive. Although they were constantly changing, most of the secondary characters were only there for a couple of chapters, they still left a huge impression.
     Then, we have the love interest(s). I just simply fell in love with two different guys at once. I am not going to give anything away but guys, this is not the kind of love triangle that you can hate. Because you fall in love with the three main characters and I rooted for both of the guys. Though I kinda do have a favorite that I hope Neely ends up with. They're both so brave and so loving and caring and just SO swoon-worthy. Oh, Danielle Ellison, you broke my heart so!
     The ending was PHENOMENAL, to put it mildly. I fell in love with everything this author has written and i literally cannot believe that this is her debut novel. She is already a pro. I cannot wait to read more and I am impatiently waiting for the second book in the series and to dive more into Neely's world.

Feel by Karen-Anne Stewart Cover Reveal!

Hey, guys! Today, I have an exciting Cover Reveal for ya!
Feel's cover is AWESOME, don't you agree?



Feel by Karen-Anne Stewart 
Publication date: December 2014
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal Romance
Goodreads

Synopsis

The one whose emotions I can’t feel is the one who makes me feel the most.
I was a sensitive, at least that’s what I was told by the boy who saved me from the overwhelming emotions that consumed my soul, the boy who saved me from myself when my gift became stronger. Through the years, he was my redemption, my reason to take my next breath…then, he was gone.
Jensen always told me I was strong, but I didn’t believe him until I was forced to be strong on my own, and I kept breathing without him. I’ve taken 42 million breaths since the moment he sent me away. Now, four years later, he’s standing in front of me, and I can barely breathe.
This isn’t just a story about the abilities I possess; it’s a story about something much stronger…the love of the man who possesses every part of me.
***Disclaimer – Feel is intended for readers 18+ due to strong language, mature scenes, and some violence.


-- Author Bio --

Karen-Anne Stewart has always adored reading and has now fallen in love with writing. Her written works are The Rain Trilogy: Saving Rain, Healing Rain, and After the Rain. Her debut novel, Saving Rain: The First Novel in The Rain Trilogy, was a nominee for the Book Junkie’s Choice Awards and is a nominee for the 2013 RONE Awards.

When Karen-Anne isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, and visiting new places. She fuels her addiction of creating new stories by her only other addiction, caffeine, and listening to a myriad of musical genres. Tucked away near the Blue Ridge Mountains, Karen-Anne lives with her husband, daughter, two dogs, and their cat. She plans on writing new adult romance as long as her fingers maintain dexterity.

Author Links

http://www.karen-annestewart.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6920317.Karen_Anne_Stewart
https://www.facebook.com/SKarenAnne
https://twitter.com/SKarenAnne


Review: Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell

Title: Dear Killer
Author: Katherine Ewell
Publication: May 21st 2013 by Chronicle Books
Genre: YA Contemporary, thriller
Source: Owned
Goodreads

Rule One—Nothing is right, nothing is wrong.
Rule Two—Be careful.
Rule Three—Fight using your legs whenever possible, because they’re the strongest part of your body. Your arms are the weakest.
Rule Four—Hit to kill. The first blow should be the last, if at all possible.
Rule Five—The letters are the law.

Kit takes her role as London’s notorious “Perfect Killer” seriously. The letters and cash that come to her via a secret mailbox are not a game; choosing who to kill is not an impulse decision. Every letter she receives begins with “Dear Killer,” and every time Kit murders, she leaves a letter with the dead body. Her moral nihilism and thus her murders are a way of life—the only way of life she has ever known.

But when a letter appears in the mailbox that will have the power to topple Kit’s convictions as perfectly as she commits her murders, she must make a decision: follow the only rules she has ever known, or challenge Rule One, and go from there.

Katherine Ewell’s Dear Killer is a sinister psychological thriller that explores the thin line between good and evil, and the messiness of that inevitable moment when life contradicts everything you believe.

-- My Rating --
4/5 Oscars: Really Liked It

-- My Thoughts --

     This book caught me at first sight with its wonderful cover and intriguing title and exciting blurb. I knew I needed to read it , so, when I had the chance, I jumped at it and it was such a delight!
     Kit is London's most famous killer, known as the Perfect Killer. Every police officer is on her case, looking for clues, Kit is a smart serial killer, but she's also a 16-year-old girl. So, when she receives a killing order for someone in her own high school, she is very intrigued and the young police officer, Alex, also intrigues her with his wit and his insistence on the Perfect Killer case. Will these draw Kit finally into the hand of the police?
     A sixteen-year-old hired killer? Count me in. Although we might have heard a lot about young killers, mostly in the fantasy and dystopia genre, this was the first time I've read of such a young girl with an absurd job. And you cannot deny that it was as interesting as ever. This book was fast-paced and i could not pull myself away from it, not for one second. I needed to know every single thing that happened and that made me finish this book in only two days.
     This book's main center, is not romance, it's mostly the philosophical and moral part of what Kit does. Is it right to kill people? Is it wrong? Do "right" and "wrong" really exist or are they results of the human society's misplaced ideas? That was really intriguing and i loved Kit's take on it. How she rolled it over in her head and kept thinking about it and its consequences. She is one of the smartest girls I've seen in YA, but she also had her insecurities and flaws, she wasn't perfect.

     There's a little something going on between Alex and Kit, but we don't see anything, not even kisses. I was a bit disappointed in the romantic aspect, that's probably why I put four stars instead of five. This book is a thriller at times, a contemporary some other times, but it was still as amazing as I hoped it would be. This is for fans of thrillers and a little mystery on the side, you'll definitely like it.

Review: Dangerous Girls by Abigai Haas

Title: Dangerous Girls
Author: Abigail Haas
Publication: July 16th 2013 by Simon Pulse
Genre: YA Contemporary Thriller
Source: Owned
Goodreads

It's Spring Break of senior year. Anna, her boyfriend Tate, her best friend Elise, and a few other close friends are off to a debaucherous trip to Aruba that promises to be the time of their lives. But when Elise is found brutally murdered, Anna finds herself trapped in a country not her own, fighting against vile and contemptuous accusations. 

As Anna sets out to find her friend's killer; she discovers hard truths about her friendships, the slippery nature of truth, and the ache of young love.

As she awaits the judge's decree, it becomes clear that everyone around her thinks she is not just guilty, but dangerous. When the truth comes out, it is more shocking than one could ever imagine...


-- My Rating --
4/5 Oscars: Really liked it

-- My Thoughts --

     I started paying attention to all the hype about Abigail Haas when her new book, Dangerous Boys came out. Both her books sounded so intriguing and I couldn't stop myself from finally reading one of them.
     It was just a vacation between friends. It was never supposed to turn so ugly. Nobody was supposed to die. But now, Anna is accused of killing her best friend. And there seems to be nobody who can help her. Except herself.
     The first thing about this book is there are a whole bunch of characters. But fortunately, we only focus on three or four in our flashbacks. Yes, this book is mostly told in different chapters. Some in the time of the trial, some in the time of the vacation, and some much before then. I loved that and I thought it was essential for the story to be told this way. The flashbacks were executed perfectly.
     The characters are definitely not meant to be likable. All of them had "ugh" moments and I basically hated each one of them some time or another. But Anna is definitely a very intriguing main character. She makes you question everything you know about her story, whether she is lying or not,you never know.
     The ending was by far, the most unexpected ending I have ever read in ANY book for that matter. It left me so shocked I kept looking back at the last page, and being like; how the hell did this even happen? Anyways, I absolutely LOVED how the author did that. She turned everything around in the last second and it was amazing! I cannot wait to read more of her thrilling, dangerous books.