Dream Things True DNF Review -- TBBA Termination Letter

Dream Things True | Marie Marquardt
Release Date: September 1st, 2015
Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin
Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 352
Edition: E-ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: DNF

A modern-day Romeo and Juliet story in which a wealthy Southern boy falls in love with an undocumented Mexican girl and together they face perils in their hostile Georgia town.

Evan, a soccer star and the nephew of a conservative Southern Senator, has never wanted for much -- except a functional family. Alma has lived in Georgia since she was two-years-old, excels in school, and has a large, warm Mexican family. Never mind their differences, the two fall in love, and they fall hard. But when ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) begins raids on their town, Alma knows that she needs to tell Evan her secret. There's too much at stake. But how to tell her country-club boyfriend that she’s an undocumented immigrant? That her whole family and most of her friends live in the country without permission. What follows is a beautiful, nuanced, well-paced exploration of the complications of immigration, young love, defying one’s family, and facing a tangled bureaucracy that threatens to completely upend two young lives.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author/publisher. This does not affect my opinion or views regarding the book whatsoever.

Dear Dream Things True,

After reading over your material, I Tika from the Baby Boppers Association, has decided to terminate your Young Adult license. You broke our world record for quickest DNF coming in at 4%, then again at 10. It pains me to let go of such potential, but as chairman of this very organization, I must cut out the bad weeds before they grow into ugly bushes. Or whatever weeds grow into. Do they grow? Okay anywho, as of September 12 2015, your termination will be put into effect IMMEDIATELY. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Tika @fangirlconfessions, or visit our website at www.babyboppersreassociation.com/questionsandconcerns.

SEE PAGE 2 FOR REASON(S) OF TERMINATION 

(1) All Over The Place.
In your " How To Take Things Nice & Slow " pamphlet, page 35 column 2, was the first exercise learned at TBBA. A completion of atleast 85% was needed to remain in the program, unfortunately it is reported that you scored just below a 10%.

One of the biggest problems I had with DTT, was how nothing really made any sense. From just the first couple of pages, so much is being told with little to no explanation, causing the plot to jump around. It just felt like a hot mess. One minute your main character Alma is talking about not wanting to go to her local high school, to trying to convince her dad to send her with distant family in Atlanta, to kissing and fondling a " probably distant cousin or something, " to being sent off to Atlanta for being a fast ass with said distant-cousin-or-something, to being BACK in her hometown because she has to watch her baby cousins . . .

Surely you can see how this was way too much going on at once.

(2) Unrealistic
As you read in your license contract, here at TBBA we do NOT tolerate unrealistic-ness in our novels. It was as if you said, " Oh yeah, lets make Evan jump into a moving truck, stop it before it rolls into a busy street, then talk to Alma as if he's known her his entire life! " What a grand plan my dear! . . . NOT! This was actually one of the deciding factors in your termination, because come on, that was a bit ridiculous. What ever happened to the times where characters met each other NORMALLY? Like at the mall shopping, or at school, on the soccer team, at a Starbucks, Whole Foods, SOMETHING! If some stranger jumps into my car to save my life, I'm still kicking his behind out afterwards. I don't know you fool, but thanks!

(3) Unbearable Characters.
From the first chapter I knew I wasn't going to like Alma. She came across as a bit ungrateful, which truly rubbed me the wrong way. Evan just exuberates POMPOUS ASS. I could be wrong, but then again I never am.

If you want to appeal this decision, please submit a " Try Again Never " form which is attached to this letter. Myself along with other board members at the association, will look over your testimony to see if another chance can be given. We will notify you in 24 months if a decision has been made to induct you back into the program. No phone calls or emails please.

Best Of Luck!

The Baby Boppers Association Head Bitch In Charge,

Tika.

Dream Things True by Marie Marquardt -- Giveaway Time!

Dream Things True | Marie Marquardt
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin
Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 352
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A modern-day Romeo and Juliet story in which a wealthy Southern boy falls in love with an undocumented Mexican girl and together they face perils in their hostile Georgia town.
Evan, a soccer star and the nephew of a conservative Southern Senator, has never wanted for much -- except a functional family. Alma has lived in Georgia since she was two-years-old, excels in school, and has a large, warm Mexican family. Never mind their differences, the two fall in love, and they fall hard. But when ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) begins raids on their town, Alma knows that she needs to tell Evan her secret. There's too much at stake. But how to tell her country-club boyfriend that she’s an undocumented immigrant? That her whole family and most of her friends live in the country without permission. What follows is a beautiful, nuanced, well-paced exploration of the complications of immigration, young love, defying one’s family, and facing a tangled bureaucracy that threatens to completely upend two young lives.

Dream Things True by Marie Marquardt was one of my most anticipated reads of this season! The story, set in one of my favorite states - Georgia, follows a young mexican girl, as she meets and falls for a senator's son. Of course this wouldn't be a YA novel if it didn't include some drama. With a few sprinkle of secrets held by our main character Alma, will her dreams come true, or will everything fall apart? 

Anyone up for reading a modern twist on the classic story of Romeo and Juliet? Enter to win below!

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Never Never By Brianna R Shrum -- Top 5 Favorite Quotes (SST)

Never Never | Brianna R Shrum
Release Date: September 22, 2015
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Pages: 368
Genre(s): Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling

James Hook is a child who only wants to grow up.

When he meets Peter Pan, a boy who loves to pretend and is intent on never becoming a man, James decides he could try being a child—at least briefly. James joins Peter Pan on a holiday to Neverland, a place of adventure created by children’s dreams, but Neverland is not for the faint of heart. Soon James finds himself longing for home, determined that he is destined to be a man. But Peter refuses to take him back, leaving James trapped in a world just beyond the one he loves. A world where children are to never grow up.
But grow up he does. And thus begins the epic adventure of a Lost Boy and a Pirate.

This story isn’t about Peter Pan; it’s about the boy whose life he stole. It’s about a man in a world that hates men. It’s about the feared Captain James Hook and his passionate quest to kill the Pan, an impossible feat in a magical land where everyone loves Peter Pan.
Except one.

If you guys don't know about Never Never by Brianna R Shrum, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? It's a retelling of our favorite classic tale Peter Pan, told in such an interesting way. In this story, the perspective is told from James, who gives a fresh look as to who he was before he became the infamous Captain Hook. As apart of my Sunday Street Team post, I'll be showcasing 5 of my favorite quotes from Never Never, allowing you guys a little sneak peak as to what's to come. If the synopsis has grabbed your attention and you can't wait to read about James and that rusty ass hook, or Peter Pan in all his yeast-infection-yogo-pants glory, make sure you pre-order in time for it's September 22nd release!

" To die, thought the lost boy in place of the captain, will be an awfully big adventure. "

" I love you James Hook. Her body melted against his, yielding to him, and he gave himself completely over to her. He was totally consumed by her, enraptured by the feel, the taste, the beauty of her. And when she let out a small sound of pain, he brought his lips to her ear and kissed her gently until she relaxed against him and they moved together. "

Because surprisingly, things get a little steamy & who doesn't like . . . ya know . . . steam.

" James knew that he was readying himself to kill a child. A child that deserved nothing less than death, but a child nonetheless. Like Peter had killed the child in him so long ago. "

Now, now boys, settle down.

" His jaw dropped, and his eyes flew open. There, hundreds of feet beneath him, was a vast jungle, twinkling with life, dotted with little oasis here and there. There was a blue lagoon and a sea at it's edge, occupied by a large and wicked pirate ship, one that from this distance, he could barely make out- but it gave him a faint tickling in his chest. "

 ' Is it- is this, is this it? '
' Yes James. This is it. This is Neverland. '

Neverland sounds pretty damn intriguing huh?

" I could kill you now Peter Pan. I could kill you now and not a soul will hear you. You stole my life from me. I could do it. "

I really like when Hook is angry . .

So those are my top 5 favorite quotes from Never Never by Brianna R Shrum! Have any of you read or plan on reading this title?

The Appearance Of Annie Van Sinderen ARC Review -- Trippy

The Appearance Of Annie Van Sinderen
Katherine Howe
Release Date: September. 15, 2015| G.P Putnam
Genre(s): Young Adult, Paranormal
Pages: 400
Edition: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Rating:

A haunting, contemporary love story from the New York Times bestselling author of Conversion
It’s summertime in New York City, and aspiring filmmaker Wes Auckerman has just arrived to start his summer term at NYU. While shooting a séance at a psychic’s in the East Village, he meets a mysterious, intoxicatingly beautiful girl named Annie.

As they start spending time together, Wes finds himself falling for her, drawn to her rose petal lips and her entrancing glow. But there’s something about her that he can’t put his finger on that makes him wonder about this intriguing hipster girl from the Village. Why does she use such strange slang? Why does she always seem so reserved and distant? And, most importantly, why does he only seem to run into her on one block near the Bowery? Annie’s hiding something, a dark secret from her past that may be the answer to all of Wes’s questions . . .

I received a review copy courtesy of the author/publisher. This does not affect my opinion or views regarding the book whatsoever.

You know what pains me the most about doing non-spoiler reviews? The fact that I can't fully describe how I felt about a story. 

Here's my problem. The Appearance Of Annie Van Sinderen was such a spectacular read, that I want to yell to the skies above about every moment, every emotion, every DETAIL, of what I experienced. Buttttttt since I want my readers to go in with an open mind, (open mouth sounded way too pervy lol) I'll try to refrain from spilling too many beans . . . 

KEYWORD . TRY 

The Appearance of Annie is one of those stories that completely flew over my head for the first 200 or so pages. I was so engrossed by the mysterious creepiness of the writing and characters, that I never bothered to stop and think, " why exactly is all of this even HAPPENING? " Every couple or so pages, I'm literally saying aloud, " WHAT IS GOING ON? " because I was so freaking lost, but in the best damn way. It reminded me of the time my step-sister and I were lost in New York. We didn't panic, or even care to be honest, because we were so in AWE of our surroundings, so swept up into the energy of the city, and if any experience could be compared to reading this book, this would definitely be it.

My absolute favorite thing about The Appearance of Annie is the plot. The characters could've been as flat as my next door neighbor's booty, (they weren't of course) and I bet you a pre-order, I would've loved it all the same. The story follows our two main characters Wes and Annie in a very strange way. Wes, a college student attending NYU's summer program for film, and Annie a . . . girl from the . . . 1800's. Part one is told from Wes's perspective and all his typical boy glory. I loved his character, especially his passion for making documentaries, which happens to be a serious obsession of mine. Annie's perspective on the other hand, was a wholeee nother ball game. I was so intrigued by her story, and how the author cleverly weaved the classic tale of Rip Van Winkle into the mix. 

Speaking of Rip Van Winkle, remember how he fell asleep, then woke up in a time completely different from his own? Well, imagine my expression when I FINALLY discovered that the same had happened to Annie. Can you even cope with being born in a time where they didn't have cars, cellphones, or even airplanes? Then BAM, you wake up and your town seems normal, but suddenly cobblestone streets turn into slick pavement, markets and other grubby buildings turn into sleek glass structures scraping the sky, and even walking down the street feels like your watching some type of weird porn. I would've totally shit my pants. Howe infused historical fiction with our modern day world, allowing the story to be not only amusing, (Annie's reactions to the new-age was so cute) but trippy as hell. To say I was a kid in a candy store would be an understatement. 

Katherine's work is so pleasantly unreal, allowing readers the perfect fictional escape. 

I found myself completely taken away by the premise, the characters, the flow, even the charm of it all, and before I knew it, the story had ended, and far to quickly for my tastes. I adored this unusual take on a love story between two characters from two different centuries, not to forget the quirky secondary characters that made the story that much more enjoyable. 

The writing was beyond captivating, with the perfect mixture of a well done contemporary, fantasy, a sprinkle of historical fiction, and a dash of paranormal elements, making this a special treat for every reader. The Appearance of Annie Van Sinderen mashes the past and present, real with the unreal, so if you're ready to frazzle your wits with this out of body experience, I highly recommend you pick this up.

The Counting Downers ARC Review -- Render Me Speechless

The Counting Downers | A.J Compton
Release Date: July 24th, 2015
Genre(s): New Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 342
Edition: E-ARC
Source: INKslinger PR
Rating:

Imagine if we could see how long everyone around us had left to live. But we weren’t allowed to know our own numbers…
Trying to make sense of life after the death of her beloved father, free spirit Matilda Evans meets Tristan Isaacs and discovers a marrow-deep connection with him.
No stranger to grief himself, lonely artist Tristan is in awe of Matilda’s fun and philosophical approach to life. With every second spent in her presence, he finds his views on life and loss changing, and begins to embrace the beauty of being alive.
As their friendship turns into something deeper, lessons are learned, memories are made, and legacies are created.
But with both of them knowing how long their soulmate has left in this lifetime, important questions have to be asked and tough decisions have to be made before time runs out.
The Counting-Downers is an inspiring story about life, loss, love, and making the most of every moment.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author/publisher. This does not affect my opinion or views regarding the book whatsoever.


It's been a very, very long time since I've read a book that has forced me to not only THINK, but to FEEL on this type of level. It's been an even longer time since I've read a new adult novel that packed so much meaning, so many powerful messages that can be used outside of our fictional lives. Learn to appreciate the people around you, cherish the time you have on this earth, and always remember that time waits for no one, no matter how long you try to grasp each second . . . 

27 Years, 8 Months, 16 days, 17 hours, 34 Minutes, 59 Seconds

Can you imagine living in a world where you know the lifespan of everyone around you? Can you sit across from your mother or father, best friend or husband, and know that in days, months, or even years, they'll no longer be on this earth with you? I thought long and hard about this while I was reading, and while it would be . . . cool? Okay no that's not fitting . . informative maybe, to see exactly when someone's going to pass away, it's also terrifying as hell. What's even more jarring, is that while there's a digital clock floating over your head, it's visible to everyone with the exception of you. So no, you don't know when you're going to die, you can't tell anyone when they'll go, and no one is allowed to tell you. 

" Time waits for no man, and answers to no one. Time is kind of an asshole. "

You ain't lying about that girl. 

The Counting Downers is a dual-perspective novel told through the eyes of our two main characters, Matilda and Tristan. Instead of engulfing themselves in the pain of losing their loved ones, (Matilda's dad & Tristan's grandfather) they used that feeling of despair and hopelessness, and evolved into two of the most amazingly goodhearted people I've ever read in my life.

If there was ever a near perfect couple, (a good and bad thing for me) it would most certainly be them. One thing that I appreciated, was while they met rather quickly, the time span between when they met and actually became friends was a whole 2 years! This made the story THAT more realistic, because come on, how likely is it that you'll just immediately start being friends with a total stranger. Take notes authors!

With time being used as the core concept of this novel, it allowed everything to be so . . . deep. The writing, characters, and plot were crafted so cleverly and quite dramatic, allowing you to not only connect with the characters and their story, but to actually CARE about them as well. One of my favorite aspects of this book, is when Matilda came up with the idea to make the " Legacy List. " Don't expect to see " Eat 100 pieces of sushi " or " Go sky-diving . . . naked. " Since in this world life is nothing but sand being slowly sprinkled from someone's palm, the list contains meaningful tasks, showcasing just how compassionate our characters are.  

" Time is of the essence "

Thinking back on my experience, there were two minor issues I had with the story. First, with such poetic writing comes the problem with some passages being too over-descriptive. This of course can be a good and or bad thing for some, for me it was a little of both. It showed the author can write her ass off, but it also proved that having a novel with that type of prose, can easily become draggy. After a couple of chapters I was able to get used to it, and the story began to flow freely with no hiccups.

Another thing that peeved me more than I would've liked, was that the characters were too perfect. I know, I know, what a way to sound hypocritical, but I feel if things didn't go so well ALL THE TIME for Matilda & Tristan, the big plot twist at the end would've had such a harder impact! It's like I knew everything would work out regardless, so that very scene were things were supposed to be intense, didn't connect with me emotionally. It was nothing but blue skies and smooth sailing for these love birds. I just wish it were more of a frightening rollercoaster, and not a nice walk though the park.

The Counting Downers was beyond a fantastic read, proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the new adult genre. The writing is stunning, the characters (even the secondaries) are wholesome and full of so much  life, and the plot was spun into a beautiful tale of riding life until the wheels fall off. Please do not pass this up, it's worth every bit of praise it receives.

Live True . Live Deep . Live Free .

Top Ten Tuesday -- 10 Finished Series I Haven't Finished!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish. 

I decided to start participating in more memes, especially since the last time I've done a TTT was December . . . of LAST YEAR! Terrible, I know! Anywho, this week's topic is:

Ten FINISHED Series I Haven't Finished!

Vampire Academy | Richelle Mead
Vampire Academy Series
Number of books: 6

EVERYONE and their mama loves Vampire Academy, meanwhile I'm in my corner cringing at how many books are in the series. I purchased the first book months ago out of curiosity as to why people love it so much, but I haven't made it a priority read. This past month I told myself that I want to knock out more series, so VA I shall read you soon.

Bloodlines | Richelle Mead

Bloodlines Series

Number of books: 4

A spin-off to the Vampire Academy series. Who knows when I'll get to this.

Does anyone else not like these covers? EW.

                                                                             



City Of Bones | Cassandra Clare

Mortal Instruments Series

Number of Books: 6

If you guys remember my Readers Choice post " Never Would I Ever, " City of Bones and Red Hot Kiss were the two books chosen for me to read. I haven't forgotten guys, so after I knock out all of my arcs, I'm definitely diving in. I've heard mixed things about this series, as well as the author so we shall see what I think. 

Clockwork Angel | Cassandra Clare

The Infernal Devices Trilogy

Number of books: 3

Yes I know this isn't a series, but because The Mortal Instruments is a spin-off (or the other way around I don't know) from this, I decided to include it. Clockwork Angel is another book I purchased out of curiosity. Apparently the cat wasn't too curious because I still haven't read it yet lol.

The Selection | Kiera Cass

The Selection Series 

Number of books: 4

The Selection is actually a series I've been wanting to read but just haven't been in the mood to do so. I'm constantly being told that I'd love it, and that it's such a guilty to read, so soon guys, SOON. 

Marked | P.C Cast & Kristin Cast

House Of Night Series

Number of books: 12

I actually don't ever plan to read these books because WHO HAS TIME TO READ 12 BOOKS? 

NOT I THAT'S WHO!

The ratings and reviews on each book aren't that motivating either . .

Obsidian | Jennifer L Armentrout

Lux Series

Number of books: 5

2 reasons why I was so hesitant to read these books:

1) The covers are terrible. Yes I said it.

2) I read Wait For You by Jennifer and disliked it so much, I vowed to never pick another book from her again.

Well of course that changed, because I purchased the bind-up Lux: The Beginnings for my birthday and I plan on starting it as soon as I finished up some arcs! To everyone who pressured me to read it, I better like it!

Half Blood | Jennifer L Armentrout

Covenant Series

Number of books: 4

Now that I'm more into Urban Fantasy, I definitely want to pick this up. These covers are in my opinion, her best yet, so I'm even more motivated to not only START, but FINISH this series.

Poison Study | Maria V Snyder

Study Series

Number of books: 6 (Including sequel series)

I first purchased Poison Study after a recommendation from a good blogger friend. Of course I haven't read it yet, (I obviously have commitment issues when it comes to series) but I must say I'm very excited to start it. I'm so intrigued by the " sequel series " as everyone is calling it, and Shadow Study is on the top of my TBR. Which means I should probably read the first 3 asap huh? lol. There are two more books being released in the sequel series I believe, making it incomplete but whatever, I wanted to include it anyway!

The Lost Hero | Rick Riordan

The Heros Of Olympus series

Number of books: 5

Every time I go to buy this book so that I can kick start the series, there's a little voice in the back of my head that says, " Read this and you'll betray Harry Potter, " and well . . . we can't go doing that now can we? 

So that's my list of 10 finished series I haven't finished . . . or started in my case lol. 

So What are some series you haven't finished?

Waiting On Wednesday -- Must Haves!

" Waiting on Wednesday " is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. I haven't participated in quite some time, and I'm soooo excited for this upcoming release!

Guys, I haven't done a Waiting on Wednesday post in foreverrrr, and with all the amazing releases coming out, (especially for 2016) I figured I'd jump back in and showcase 4 titles that I consider my absolute must haves!

Sleeping Giants | Sylvain Neuvel

As of right now, this is definitely my most anticipated release. I adore science fiction, and I honestly don't read enough of it, but my goodness this just screams ME. 

Anywho, read the synopsis, thank me later. 

The First Time She Drowned | Kerry Kletter

18 . College . Mental Institution . Dysfunctional Family . 

Enough Said.

Riders | Veronica Rossi

" Can You Outrun Destiny? " 

Probably not, but with that fire ass horse I could! 

Revenge And The Wild | Michelle Modesto

HOLY SHIT THAT SYNOPSIS

I feel like the " western trend " in YA is about to be the new bandwagon, but it seriously seems like Michelle has one hell of concept on her hands. I love revenge stories, and just by the blurb she's giving me LIFE and then some! This is my second anticipated read of next year!

So that's all for this week guys! 

Are any of these titles on your radar? What other books are you looking forward to?

Griffin Teen Gets A New Look!

So, with the new school year coming, everyone is looking to re-invent themselves with a total " New Year New Me " type of thing, you know the whole, " I'm such and such and I'm here to shut things down! " situation?

* crickets *

No?

Oh come on, you guys know what I mean! Anywho, I'm pretty darn excited to share that one of my favorite publishing houses wanted in on that makeover too, and has presented us with a 2.0 of their own!

Notice anything different about the Griffin Teen website? Well if you need to take a trip to the eye doctor, or crank up the prescription on your glasses, then I'll let in you on the secret . . . 

* drum roll please *

THEY LAUNCHED A NEW WEBSITE!

* Throws Confetti *

I am here ladies and gentlemen, to get you excited about the re-launch of Griffin Teen, which is going down . . . TODAY! In celebration of this event, and to thank all of us readers for the constant support, the wonderful team at GT will also be showcasing their new feature:

GRIFFIN TEEN GRIFFIN TEN SWEEPSTAKES!

Griffin Teen Griffin Ten, is their very own giveaway feature! You'd simply go to the website, find the GTGT link, and fill out the form to win!

Simple, simple people.
Above, (scroll up just a little don't be lazy lol) I've showcased all ten books that you'd have a chance of winning this month! Each participate has a 1 of 10 chances to win:

Dream Things True
All The Rage
Breakaway
Firsts
Fangirl
Romancing The Dark In The City Of Light
Frostfire
Ice Kissed
Crystal Kingdom
The Lost Girl

So what are you waiting for? Check out the new site, sign up for the newsletter to receive information about authors, events, and upcoming releases from Griffin Teen, and enter to win one of these exciting titles!

Oh and help spread the word of course!