Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

• Here are the rules:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share 2 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the TITLE and AUTHOR too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser.

'I didn't know if it was Lena, or the book itself, but the words appeared on the page in front of me slowly, one at a time.' - Ethan pg 66 'Beautiful Darkness' by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Review: Unravelling

Title: Unravelling
Author: Elizabeth Norris
Series: Unravelling #1
Published: April 24th 2012
Rating: 3.5

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed--as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows--with every fiber of her being--that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something--but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened--the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life--points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets--and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

When I first initially heard all the buzz surrounding Unravelling I  immediately put it down as a must read, thinking it would be absolutely mind blowing but, now that I've picked it up and read it for myself? I'm slightly disappointed. I don't know why though, it was quite an enjoyable read but it just failed to draw me in the way other books have and not to mention that unspeakable thing happened to one of my favorite characters! 

The novels protagonist is Janelle Tenner who is one tough kicking bad-ass but in the sense she's fiercely protective over the ones she loves and does what needs to be done in order to protect them. Janelle basically brought up her younger brother Jared from a young age, as her mother is mentally unstable and will occasionally have a few melt downs here and there, while her dad is off solving crimes for the FBI, hardly ever home to deal with the mess around him. Janelle is obviously very selfless under taking the task of parenting her brother while her parents really should of been. The relationship between the siblings is very strong/sad as we see how they have come to the routine of fending for themselves. 

In the first half of the novel we see Janelle going through the motions of her life but not really living it. It's not till she's rammed down by truck dying in the process- yes she actually dies!- then coming back to life seeing the face of Ben Michaels- the schools 'stoner'- that she realizes she yearns for something more in life. More then her quarterback almost boyfriend nick, more then snooping around her dad's cases playing FBI. Janelle wants something real and genuine-incoming Ben Micheals here!

The relationship between Janelle and Ben quickly progressed throughout the novel, it didn't have one of those intense build ups, with the 'will they' or 'won't they' thing going on. It was established very early on that Janelle and Ben had feelings for each other, and maybe that's why I didn't completely love this book. I couldn't help thinking that maybe the only reason Janelle started having these feelings for Ben because he saved her and now she's got the falling in love with your savior complex going on?  Either way it was enjoyable to see how their relationship played out.

One of the things I did love about this book was the countdown! On every chapter there's a countdown to some mysterious item that the FBI found and can't seem to solve or stop at all. All they know is that bodies being found in the most gruesome ways and if they don't stop the countdown it's going only going to get much worse! Janelle and her lovable bestfriend Alex- who I must say was my favorite character- try to help the FBI in the case whether they know it or not. While trying to solve the case Janelle follows the clues and they all lead to BEN!!! Ben and his friends are hiding a dark secret, one so out of this world that its  imperative that Janelle must tell no one. Janelle and Ben join forces to stop the countdown before Wave Function Collapse occurs and trust me, that would not be good for the human race. 

Overall Unravelling is a fast paced sci-fi that has easy to love characters, I may have a few issues with it but it'll have you tittering on the edge right up to the ending, and with a ending like THAT I'm positive the  sequel Unbreakable will be even better.

-Taylor x

Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer

Title: The Evolution of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Series: Mara Dyer #2
Published: October 23rd 2012
Rating: 5

Mara Dyer knows she isn't crazy. She knows that she can kill with her mind, and that Noah can heal with his. Mara also knows that somehow, Jude is not a hallucination. He is alive. Unfortunately, convincing her family and doctors that she's not unstable and doesn't need to be hospitalised isn't easy. The only person who actually believes her is Noah. But being with Noah is dangerous and Mara is in constant fear that she might hurt him. She needs to learn how to control her power, and fast! Together, Mara and Noah must try and figure out exactly how Jude survived when the asylum collapsed, and how he knows so much about her strange ability...before anyone else ends up dead!


The Evolution of Mara Dyer left me breathless and mind blown. It lived up to the Unbecoming and succeeded to almost surpass it in my eyes. 

In this thrilling sequel we see shocking information revealed many questions were answered but inevitably led to more questions. The plot line throughout the novel was very intricate, sometimes I was confused when Mara would suddenly pass out for no apparent reason, I found it hard to decipher  what was going on, but besides from that everything was perfect! 

Poor poor Mara... I don't know how many times this girl ended up in the hospital, getting pumped god knows what drugs into her! It's a wonder that she hasn't had a overdose already! We see Mara really grow as a character throughout the novel, of course she had her down times, and trust me, there were many! But I think she had to fall apart to realize who she was and how to gain control,we see this towards the ending. And what a ending it was! I won't say too much, but it was definitely a game changer.

And now onto the beautiful Noah Shaw... that boy. I swear the whole time I was reading it was like he had his hand around my heart squeezing it! Noah a beautiful boy surround by darkness. I'm happy to say that we get to explore Noah more as character in this novel. We get to see what's behind his blank facade and find out what made him the way he is. It was beautiful to see Noah develop and let Mara in making them closer then ever. We finally find out how Noah first discovered his power and also what his visions may mean.

On to the romance! It was breathtakingly beautiful the way Michelle Hodkin described Mara and Noah's relationship, it was intense, innocent, sexy and loving all in  one. There were a few quite hot and heated scenes exchanges between them that left me with no words. There was one particular scene at the beach that left me with an ache in my heart, Michelle Hodkin words made me feel like I was there, and every touch and word spoken I felt it! 

The Evolution of Mara will certainly keep on the edge and keep you second guessing at every turn, it will have you hold your breath in trepidation and your back tingling. Overall there was drama, action, romance, humor and a bucket full of crazy, I can't to see what's install next! 

-Taylor x

Waiting on Wednesday

Hey Guys!

This week I'm waiting for...

Breaking Point (Article 5 #2) by Kristen Simmons

Release Date: February 2nd 2013

After faking their deaths to escape from prison, Ember Miller and Chase Jennings have only one goal: to lay low until the Federal Bureau of Reformation forgets they ever existed.

Near-celebrities now for the increasingly sensationalized tales of their struggles with the government, Ember and Chase are recognized and taken in by the Resistance—an underground organization working to systematically take down the government. At headquarters, all eyes are on the sniper, an anonymous assassin taking out FBR soldiers one by one. Rumors are flying about the sniper’s true identity, and Ember and Chase welcome the diversion….

Until the government posts its most-wanted list, and their number one suspect is Ember herself.

Orders are shoot to kill, and soldiers are cleared to fire on suspicion alone. Suddenly Ember can’t even step onto the street without fear of being recognized, and “laying low” is a joke. Even members of the Resistance are starting to look at her sideways.

With Chase urging her to run, Ember must decide: Go into hiding…or fight back?

I enjoyed reading Article 5 alot and when I finished all I could think about was Chase and Ember, and how would their story continue? I loved the romance between the two more than I did then in other books, I finds theirs somehow more deep, more real, that I felt that it could possibly apply to some people in reality. Here I go rambling! Anyways I'm tremendously excited to see whats in store and can not wait till I get my hands on Breaking Point.

-Taylor x

Review: Losing Lila

Title: Losing Lila
Author: Sarah Alderson
Series: Lila #2
Published: August 2nd 2012
Rating: 5

Alex and Lila are on the run, desperately trying to stay one step ahead of the Unit, which is somehow tracking their every move. While Alex is determined to keep Lila safe and her ability secret at any cost, Lila's only thought is of finding a way back to California so she can rescue her brother and mother from the military base where they're being held. Struggling to control both her growing power and her deepening feelings for Alex, Lila decides the time has finally come to stop running and start fighting. Together with Alex, Demos, and the others she's come to think of as family, Lila plans not only to save her brother and mum, but also to completely destroy the Unit and everything it stands for. But the plan requires Lila to return to California alone, and to make friends with the enemy - and in doing so, she risks losing everything: Alex, her family… even her life.

Action-packed, filled with hot sleek scenes and shell-shocking revelations, the sequel to Hunting Lila is even more thrilling than the first.

Losing Lila picks up when Lila and Alex are on the run from the unit after the infamous Joshua-tree shooting. Alex goes to tremendous lengths to protect Lila, even sometimes from herself. With the unit hot on their tail the lovesick pair end up in run down Mexico City trying to escape the units grasp while getting to know the local drug dealer along the way. Joining forces with Demos, the plan is made to take down the unit and Richard Sterling forever. 

Losing Lila was an adrenaline rush to read, sometimes it felt like being in a Die Hard movie! There were sooo many intense dangerous scenes that it had me at the edge of my seat frantically reading through the pages to find out the out come. There were many unexpected twists that I did not see coming at all that made me face plant. Let's just say that I should have saw that coming. Sarah Alderson really delivered a winner here guys. 

 Alex. Really where do I begin? Where can I go buy one just like him? Alex was everything that I want in a man; loyal, loving, brave, extremely attractive.... Look I could name sooo many wonderful things about him but I think you get the picture here. Alex was once again going far and beyond to keep Lila  out of harms way. Though for that same reason, issues occurred between the pair, Lila willing to do anything to rescue her family and Alex torn trying to protect her and do the right thing at the same time was very interesting to see. There was however plenty of hot scenes to make up for that. The steam those two were giving off.... as you can see Lila is still on her mission to seduce Alex.

I could gush all day about this book, there is just a million reason why I loved it so much. Whether it be from the whimsical Suki or the itty bitty crush I have on Jack (not gonna lie its pretty huge) Losing Lila is an enthralling read and I thank Sarah Alderson for creating such fascinating and sexy world.


-Taylor x

Review: Beautiful Creatures 

Title: Beautiful Creatures

Author: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Series: Caster Chronicles #1

Published: December 1st 2009

Rating: 4.5

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Beautiful Creatures is set in old Southern town where everyone knows all your dirty little secrets and appearances are everything! Complete with narrow mind house-wives waving their warm home cooked meals in their southern bell dresses, the town runs accordingly to their wishes.  There's nothing that doesn't conform to their way, that is until Lena Duchannes strolls in and moves in with the town shut in, Macon Ravenwood, that things start to fall astray. Ethan Wate a local boy who's been having strange dreams about a girl who keeps falling inches away from his grasp, realizes that Lena Duchannes, the girl who wears the wrong clothes, speaks her mind and also happens to be Galtin's newest outcast, is the girl of his dreams. Literally. 

The countdown is on to Lena's birthday, the day she either turns Light or Dark, oh and don't forget the 200 year old curse that Lena and Ethan's ancestors caused that now plaque them both. The idea's behind this book are extremely complex, the mythology at times can be hard to keep up with, but I however found the richness of details made the story more compelling. There's a lot of mystery mix up within the novel, with bits of information slowly pieced  out to reveal the complexity.

The romance was insanely adorable, Ethan *sighs*  there are no words to describe how cute and gentle-manlike he was, Ethan really was a true Southern gentleman. Every kiss was filled with the exhilarating feeling of star-crossed lovers and forbidden love that I like so much! As Lena and Ethan's relationship progressed we see the difficulties they have to overcome, and boy, there are some huge mountains they have to climb to be together. The more you read you see just how hard that's ultimately going to be.

Beautiful Creatures is a very enjoyable read, although it may be a bit unnecessarily long, if you power through it I think you'll love it. I recommend it to anyone who's interested in Southern tales filled with a heart aching romance and captivating magic.

-Taylor x