Title: Purity
Author: Jackson Pearce
Publisher: Little, Brown
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Format: Hardback
Source: Publisher for Review
Rating: Acquire

A novel about love, loss, and sex -- but not necessarily in that order.Before her mother died, Shelby promised three things: to listen to her father, to love as much as possible, and to live without restraint. Those Promises become harder to keep when Shelby's father joins the planning committee for the Princess Ball, an annual dance that ends with a ceremonial vow to live pure lives -- in other words, no "bad behavior," no breaking the rules, and definitely no sex.Torn between Promises One and Three, Shelby makes a decision -- to exploit a loophole and lose her virginity before taking the vow. But somewhere between failed hookup attempts and helping her dad plan the ball, Shelby starts to understand what her mother really meant, what her father really needs, and who really has the right to her purity.

Out of all the books Pearce has published this is only the second one of her's I have read. Her first book I read was As You Wish and I loved it! As I closed that book I said I cannot wait to read more from this author. So I thought it fate (Yes, I am being overly cheese-ie) when Little, Brown sent me a copy of Purity. I was so happy to get it, and even more excited to read it! I posted an IMM expressing my over dramatic happiness about the book and one of my followers mentioned how this book was such a let down, and I let that get to me so I set it back on my shelf and ignored the poor book for a few months.

Finally, I just took a chance on Pearce. And I am glad I did! This book was not a let down, not even close.  For such a small book, it really left a big impact. This book is one of those contemporary novels that you love and you really get attached to. I was close to tears throughout the novel.

The characters were lets just say I loved some, more then I should... and others just slipped through my radar. Most of the main characters are great! Shelby and her dad were both amazing characters. I really grew attached to Shelby, and I reflected on some of the things she went through. Shelby and her fathers relationship is really something. Through the novel you watch it grow, and I think this is one of the strong points of the novel.

Pearce is a great writer. I think this book shows just how much talent she has. Yes, the book has some adult issues, but these issues are experienced everyday by adolescents! I think Pearce did a great job with the issues at hand, she wasn't to harsh but most of all she didn't do the fluff thing that most authors do. Along with a great story line Pearce was able to add great bits of humor! So while you're reading your close to tears, then you burst out laughing.  I admire her as an author.

This book was a short read, and with only about 200 pages you can experience a great story and become and emotional wreak!

WARNING: The following is very personal and emotional. If you cannot or don't want to read about suicide then please don't read the following. I don't mean to hurt or offend anyone with this. This is just my feelings and how my school is dealing with this tragedy. 

As most of you know, I am a high school student. I attend an over populated and most definitely crowded public high school. My high school has over 1,800 young adults that walk the halls everyday. The problem with our school, which is probably the same with most schools, is we just don't care. Everyday students belittle each other, and for what? Some juicy gossip with their friends. Our high school society is failing, and no one is doing any thing to stop it. Or are they?

   (This is what I was listening to as I was typing these thoughts up, please give it a listen as you read.)

In the past four months my high school has been slapped in the face with tragedy. With in these 4 months their have been 3 deaths that have touched our small, country town. One of these deaths was from what I was blabbering about above, just not caring. The other 2 where accidental, though still just as important. But I want to talk about the death that should not have happened.

In September a fellow high school student decided that he was done with everything and fed up with our school. He decided to take his life. The news reached the school. And it spread like wildfire. This one student had sent our school into a stand still. What shocked me was when I found out that this was not the first suicide that had breached our school halls. Three years before I started as a freshman, their was a mass suicide that took place at my school. One girl took her life and in the next few weeks three of her friends followed in her path. And as I looked more and more into this I found out that there are even more lost lives that I haven't heard about.

My school was on the brink of destruction, how many more students would decide to kill themselves?
We need to do something to stop this. And thats what our loving counselors and our local Zappos did for our school. They had a program come to my school and talk to us. This program was not a normal, or cheap (Thank you Zappos). It's called Rachel's Challenge. And while the main topic is not on suicide, but that of a young life that was lost to soon. This program was very emotional and had most of the school in tears at the end. A foreign exchange student that was setting next to me broke down in tears and his sobs were so loud that it drowned mine out. Next thing I know we are surrounded by out friends hugging and crying right along with us. I accepted what the program was teaching us, will you?

Rachel Scott has touched another school. My school's wounds are slowly healing. Many of my friends have joined the new club at our school that developed from Rachel's Challenge. We are just a few students that care about each other and our school. We are starting small, but we hope to change our school for a better and to stop all of the death that circles around our heads. We will never forget all of those that have lost their lives from our school. They will always stay in our hearts.

"I will not be labeled as AVERAGE." -Rachel Joy Scott. 

For more information about the program or the amazing person Rachel Scott was you can visit the Rachel's Challenge website.

Again, I am sorry if this hurt or offended anyone that was not my intention. I just need to get all of that off my chest. Suicide is a very serious matter and this was not in anyway 'bashing' the subject.  Please do not take my words the wrong way. I pray for anyone that is having the same issue, I know how hard it is and I hope things get better for you.

Title: The Lure of Shapinsay
Author: Krista Holle
Publisher: Sweet River Romance
Release Date: December 16, 2011
Format: Paperback
Source: Author for Review
Rating: Covet

Ever since Kait Swanney could remember, the old crones of the village have been warning her to stay away from the selkies. They claim that like sirens of old, the seal men creep from the inky waters, shed their skins, and entice women to their deaths beneath the North Sea. But avoiding an encounter becomes impossible when Kait is spotted at the water's edge, moments after the murder of a half-selkie infant.
Kait is woken unexpectedly by a beautiful selkie man seeking revenge. After she declares her innocence, the intruder darts into the night, but not before inadvertently bewitching her with an overpowering lure.She obsesses over a reunion deep beneath the bay and risks her own life to be reunited with her selkie. But when she lands the dangerous lover, the chaos that follows leaves Kait little time to wonder—is it love setting her on fire or has she simply been lured?

*My Review* 

I was shocked at how quickly I fell into Kait's world! I was contacted by Krista, the author, and when I read the synopsis I knew I had to read The Lure of Shapinsay. This book was something VERY different for the other books I have been reading. This was a completely original book, with a unique and passionate story line.

The selkie people have now caught my attention! To be completely honest I had never heard of them. So before I read the book I did a little research on these seal people. Who does research to read a book? Is what your thinking, but I do! Krista has taken this lovely legend that has been over shadowed by vampires, angels, and even mermaids and created a beautiful and intoxicating tale of love, lost, and heartbreak.

The characters where easy to love. I instantly grew attached to Kait. And Eamon was difficult at times..but I still loved him! I understood why Kait was the way she was, but one thing that bugged me was how far she would go for Eamon. Sure she loves him, but some of her actions where questionable. Eamon was a pain through a lot of the book, but as you read more about him you start to understand why he was acting the way he was.

I do recommend this for an older audience! It was mostly clean, but their are a few parts that young eyes should not read :P One of my favorite things about this book was the alternating point of views. It switched between Kait and Eamon. I really like this! You where able to see into bother characters mind.

Overall, this book has been one of my favorites I have read this year. It was just what I needed to get back into the swing of things! :D

This is a treat for you, my lovely followers! Today I am hosting the #MMBlogTour scavenger hunt. Moonlight Mayhem is the second book in the Spellbound series, which is written by Sherry Soule. This all ends August 31! So you have plenty of time. Be sure to visit other blogs participating in the tour for more giveaways, interviews, and for just more awesome-ness! So to get to the good stuff here is the scavenger hunt as promised!

Welcome to “Author Sherry Soule’s Awesome Scavenger Hunt”

This giveaway is open internationally! So let’s tell the blogging world!

To celebrate the release of author, Sherry Soule’s new paranormal, romance novel, MOONLIGHT MAYHEM, you are invited to go on this cyber scavenger hunt and find clues to answer the questions posted below. If you get them all correct, you might score a Kindle or Nook version of the first book in this unforgettable YA series, BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN! 

Once you find all 8 clues, please return to this site and put your answers in the comment section. Random winner will be picked on [INSERT DATE] and be posted at the top of this post, please check back on that day to find out if you’re the lucky winner.

The links below will start you on this author's scavenger hunt. Find the answers to each question by clicking on the underlined words, which will link to the answers, and be sure to check the bottom of the post for the details regarding this random giveaway. Best of luck!

Hint: All questions can be found at these 2 blogs: Sherry’s Official Blog and Spellbound Series Universe and Twitter. (Links at bottom of post)

SPELLBOUND SERIES QUESTIONS

1. What is the title of Sherry Soule’s third book in the YA Spellbound series? 

2. In Shiloh’s “Epic Battle” short story, what is she destined to do? 

3. What is the last tagline on the Moonlight Mayhem book trailer? 

4. Which book in the series featured a creepy wraith? 

5. Who are the Nephilim direct descendants of? 

6. What is the title of the first book in the epic Spellbound series and what was it nominated for? 

7. What do all heritage witches inherit from their ancestors? 

8. On @WriterSherry’s Twitter profile, what is she a fan of?

MOONLIGHT MAYHEM Synopsis:

Otherworldly Creatures. Dazzling Magic. Fiery Romance.

Shiloh Ravenwolf thought she was getting used to the strange events in Whispering Pines, until the full moon brings another surge of supernatural threats to her coastal town. Ferocious wolves, deadly necromancers, and shambling zombies have descended upon the neighborhood, so Shiloh needs to gain control of her magical abilities—fast! 

It sucks that she has a crippling fear of the dark, which for a demon hunter can be an epic problem.

When her classmates are attacked by a mysterious creature and her father is murdered, Shiloh vows vengeance. Forcing her phobias aside, she forms an unlikely coven of supernaturally gifted teens to help her eradicate this menace. Except that's not all Shiloh has to worry about. She’s battling a different monster within herself and struggling not to become the very thing she fights: evil. 

But with demon blood inside her—anything can happen…

Moonlight Mayhem is the second novel in the unforgettably epic Spellbound series!

Places you can cyberstalk, Sherry Soule:

Official Website: http://sherrysoule.com

Official Blog: http://www.sherrysoule.blogspot.com

Official Spellbound Series Universe: http://thespellboundseries.blogspot.com

Twitter @WriterSherry: http://twitter.com/writersherry

Awesome Book Trailers/YouTube: http://youtu.be/5uqVXKygvUs

  and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o44sW-gFtvA

goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4925996.Sherry_Soule

Random winner will be picked on August 31 and be posted at the top of this quiz, please check back on that day to find out if you’re the lucky winner.

Giveaway details for a Kindle or Nook of BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN:

1.) You must comment with all 8 answers

2.) Be a follower of the Spellbound Series Universe Blog

3.) Be a follower of this blog

4.) Follow us both on Twitter - @WriterSherry & INSERT

5.) Tweet about this giveaway and include link in the comment

Good luck!

Hello guys! Heres an IMM. I know I have been gone for a while, but I hope to get back into the swing of doing these videos. In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren.

What did you get this week?

Kiersten White cover for her newest novel Mind Games is beautiful! It is set to release February of 2013 from HarperTeen. I love this! HarperTeen always has pretty amazing covers. I cannot wait to read her new series!

What do you think?

"His own soft tears woke him. They made him smile.
Strong men did not cry. But even in doing so made him a weak man, he was still a man nonetheless.
Somewhere a woodpecker rapped. The air on his skin made him shiver. The sky was so bright he could see red through his thin eyelids. He opened them.
Too bright.
He closed them again.
One thing at a time." (Pg. 46)

Book: Enchanted
Author: Alethea Kontis


I'm not too far along in this book, but I like it so far! It's a fairytale re-telling! :D And I love those so I hope this book doesn't disappoint.

Title: Secrets

Author: Lauren Kunze & Rina Onur

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Release Date: June 1, 2011

Format: Hardcover/ ARC

Source: Alexa/ Purchased

Rating: Borrow 

Reputation, Reputation, Reputation.

You're a student at the most prestigious university in the country, and you've been tapped for the most elite social club. You've made it

Now Don't Blow It

Callie Andrews triumphed during her first semester at Harvard: she made incomparable friends, found the perfect boyfriend, and received invitations to the most exclusive secret societies. But she may have ruined every-thing with one ill-fated night. Now she's keeping secrets from everyone, including--Clint the upperclassman who's too good to be true, Vanessa the best friend turned backstabber, Gregory the guy who's a total(ly hot) mistake, and Lexi the social queen who wants to bring Callie down.

But Callie didn't get into Harvard by giving up, and she isn't about to now. Besides, she's not the only one with something to hide. . . .

*My Review* 

I read The Ivy awhile back. So starting the second book I was a little confused to what was going on. Eventually things started coming back to me and I remembered (most) of what happened in The Ivy. I think this book was so cruel! If it where a guy it would be a big tease. :P I was getting so frustrated reading this book. I remember while i was riding home I got so mad I started to shake the book. Now my siblings think I'm crazy! ;)

I do not recommend reading this book if you do not like drama! This book is filled with drama. Every page you turn something new is going on. Being in high school I'm used to all the crap. I could also guess what was going to happen next. Reading this has made me realize that college might not be so different from high school; only people are drinking ALOT. 

I do love some of the characters. Callie is someone I feel for, but I think she did make some dumb choices. While other characters I just can not stand. Prime example: Lexi. Gregory... oh Greg. He is what keeps drawing me back to this series. Him and his handsome self. 

This series has made me rethink going away to a big college. When I was younger Harvard or Yale was all I dreamed about, but now if all you get are petty people out to get you then no thanks! I'll go to my local college. :P

I will admit that these books keep you on the edge of your seat. Also the romance is pretty awesome. But the drama. It was just too much!