Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken (=MUST READ!!)

Genre: YA, dystopia, sci-fi, romance, paranormal
Series: The Darkest Minds #1

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.
When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.
When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

My review: ★★★★★

GET READY FOR A REVIEW FULL OF CAPSLOCK AND GIFS!

It’s been two weeks since I finished this book and I’m still not over it. This book is worth ALL the hype. I’ve been seeing this book everywhere. Goodreads, Instagram, blogs… and it made me curious. I had extremely high expectations about the plot and especially the ending. And oh man, I am completely stunned. Alexandra is an amazing writer. She completely ruined me. RUINED me.

This book is a rollercoaster of feelings. I laughed, cried, squealed, held my breath, … I think my face was worth filming through the whole book, because I must have done a few weird expressions. I cannot believe how good this was. Like I said, my expectations were VERY high and I wasn’t bored for a single second while reading The Darkest Minds.

The story is a little slow in the beginning, because you get a lot of information about the world Alexandra created, but it wasn’t boring-slow, it was interesting-slow (you know what I mean?). I loved how Alexandra introduced everything. Dystopia isn’t my usual genre, so even I’m surprised of how much I loved this.

That being said, let me tell you my feelings about the characters. Ready? Okay, here I go:

RUBY, LIAM, CHUBS AND ZU ARE MY BABIES. I LOVE THEM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH OH MY GOD.

Ruby: She is freaking badass! She is one of my fav main characters, without hesitation. She had an amazing and big heart and I loved the way she thinks. She’s been through hell and she’s still so good. She’s a survivor and I just love her.

Liam: CAN I HAVE HIM PLEASE? I have a huge crush on him and… and… oh god, I can’t after that ending… I just… I CAN'T.

Chubs: I want him as bestie. He’s amazing and I love him so much. I wasn’t so sure about him in the beginning, but once a friendship started between him and Ruby, I just couldn’t resist him anymore. He’s funny, caring and such a good friend! I WANT MORE OF HIM!!

Zu: Awwwww, she’s just freaking cute! I love how she expresses herself and I am very curious about her past! I cannot wait to find out more about her!

The rest of the characters were amazing too. I even loved how much I hated Clancy (because no, Ruby is for Liam, just get out)!! Every character is so complex and although we don’t know much about all the side-characters, Alexandra managed to make me interested in every one of them.

The whole plot of this book keeps you on edge. It’s damn stressful (the good kind)! One moment it’s fast-paced, on other times you’re like ‘what the HELL is happening?’. The whole thing with the abilities is freaking cool!! Cannot wait to find out more about the other colors! 

And then you have these super cute romantic moments and your heart melts completely.

That’s the thing I loved the most by the way: the romantic moments. Not because they were super cheesy, but the way Alexandra slipped them into this (dark) dystopian story. The romance in this book is effortless and personally, I think this is the best kind. And HELL YES, I SHIP LIAM AND RUBY!!

I want to tell you so much more about my feelings, but I think you’re going to find it out yourself while you’re going to read this book yourself (because trust me, YOU WILL), so I’m just going to say one more thing:

THAT ENDING WAS JUST FREAKING EVIL. LIKE NO. NO. NO. NOPEEEEEEE.

Little tip: make you already bought the second book before finishing this one. You’ll need it.

*sighs* This is such a crappy review, but I just CAN’T COPE WITH THIS BOOK. IT’S SO FREAKING GOOD AND MY MIND/HEART IS A MESS.

*waves* I'm back!

Two weekend ago I was in Venice. I've been back since last Monday, but I've been so tired lately that I had absolutely no courage to start working on blogposts, that's the reason behind my lack of posts ... So sorry for that! But I'm officially back as you may have seen ;)

I had an amazing time there. It was a little city trip with my parents and brother. I had a lot of fun and the weather was beautiful. Now, some of you wanted to see some pictures from Venice, so here we go!

Me on one of the many island of Venice

Me and my brother on a gondola

The exact moment when I fell in love with quills...

And that's the one I bought!

Admiring the view...

We had so much luck with the weather!!

Love this view...

And a family pic! ;)

Friday Finds #5!

FRIDAY FINDS showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your TBR list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased). This is hosted by ShouldBeReading!

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Yes, I’m officially back with another Friday Finds. These are actually my find of the past two weeks! Not much, I know, but I’m trying to reduce my tbr, remember? ;)


  What are your friday finds?? ;) Comment below!

Release Day Launch: Art-Crossed Love by Libby Rice (Excerpt + giveaway!)

We're having a release day launch for Libby Rice's Art Crossed Love!! Check out the amazing giveaway and the excerpt Libby is sharing with us!!! :)

Can love be more than a four-letter word?

Lissa Blanc is a painter on a mission. She filters the world through a lens of color, line, and form and hides her ambition behind a delicate smirk that lets her critics believe life comes easy. To her, art isn’t what she sees. It’s what she feels. Few know that behind the glitz of a prodigious upbringing, she’s driven to emerge from the shadow of painful memories that insist she’ll never be a renowned talent in her own right.

Cole Rathlen is a photographer on the mend. A crippling grief has stifled his once-rising career and compromised his creative instincts. Knowing he can’t stagnate forever, he seeks a twisted absolution in the form of a woman whose paintings give life to the emotions he won’t let himself imagine, let alone feel.

When the two partner for a prestigious project that will pull them from the mountains of Colorado to the palaces of India, Lissa quickly realizes that more than diverging ideals hinder their search for success and salvation. Was Cole’s life upended by a tragic but unavoidable choice or something more sinister? While Lissa can’t delve into the mystery but not the man, Cole can’t resist a tenacious soul that refuses to leave him chained. As the truth closes in on a project finally sprouting wings, will Lissa sacrifice her chance at success to set Cole free? Or will Cole shrug the chains of lingering regrets to prove that those who love the most, love again

Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | All Romance eBooks | Art-Crossed Love Goodreads

Excerpt

Someone made a mistake in teaching you life is easy. Cole’s words had hit like well-aimed arrows, and not of the Cupid variety. At least Lissa knew which camp he fell into. The naysayers tended toward one of two options—push Lissa away or pull Lissa close. The pushers openly mocked her “illegitimate” success. The pullers beguiled her in an effort to see how much of that “luck”—or connections or money or opportunity—could rub off on them. Cole was a clear pusher, and frankly, she liked those better. At least they were honest. A hank of hair chose that moment to abandon the clip that couldn’t quite contain her pony tail. Ruler straight despite a healthy dedication to volumizing shampoo, her hair liked to slip from its confines and lay flat against her head in an antagonizing refusal to hold body. She imagined her looks mattered about as much to Cole as couponing did to Donald Trump, but hell, she had nothing to lose and everything to gain. After the disaster in the driveway, she could at least try to make herself presentable. Her trek to the spare bathroom two rooms down took her past Cole’s bedroom door across the hall. His rumpled bed sat in silence. Nothing personal hinted at the room’s inhabitant. A dresser and two night stands held a clock and a box of tissues between them. No pictures or knickknacks, not even a stray piece of clothing or a random shoe littered Cole’s studied order, dimmed by heavy shades that blocked the rising sun from cheering the space. Earthy scents of pine and sandalwood filled her nostrils. Despite his obvious efforts to disappear within the emptiness, the room bore his mark. The hard edges and sanded planks had absorbed his essence without permission.

Libby Rice Bio

Before becoming a writer, Libby was first a mechanical engineer in the data acquisition industry (voltmeter anyone?). Preferring writing to technical design, Libby headed to law school and eventually practiced patent law for several enterprising years (patent application covering a voltmeter anyone?). Finally realizing that technology just wasn’t her bag, she traded the voltmeters for alpha heroes and the women who love them. Today, Libby writes contemporary romances from the foot of the Rocky Mountains, where she lives with her husband, a bona fide rocket scientist (he stuck with the voltmeters!). When not writing, Libby loves good food, even better wine, and traveling the world in search of the next great story.

Libby loves hearing from readers! Join the fun at www.libbyrice.com, where you can sign up for Libby’s new-release e-newsletter, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram. 

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads | Instagram

 Giveaway

Enter Libby's giveaway!! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Twitter: Alexandra Bracken and her amazing books!

Is true though :D

Recent Release #20: Homecoming by Kass Morgan

Every Wednesday I share a recent release I’m excited to read. If you want to check out the previous ones, click here. These are all books I'm adding to my growing pile of tbr-books ;) 

Series: The Hundred #3

Genre: YA, sci-fy, dystopia, romance

Release date: February 24th 2015

Weeks after landing on Earth, the Hundred have managed to create a sense of order amidst their wild, chaotic surroundings. But their delicate balance comes crashing down with the arrival of new dropships from space.

These new arrivals are the lucky ones - back on the Colony, the oxygen is almost gone - but after making it safely to Earth, GLASS's luck seems to be running out. CLARKE leads a rescue party to the crash site, ready to treat the wounded, but she can't stop thinking about her parents who may still be alive. Meanwhile, WELLS struggles to maintain his authority despite the presence of the Vice Chancellor and his armed guards, and BELLAMY must decide whether to face or flee the crimes he thought he'd left behind.

It's time for the Hundred to come together and fight for the freedom they've found on Earth, or risk losing everything - and everyone - they love.

Recent Release #19: The Return by Jennifer L. Armentrout

THE RETURN is a New Adult Paranormal Romance and is a part of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Titan Series. Seth is looking to be just as dangerously delicious as we all hoped!!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Booksamillion

Series: Titan #1 (Covenant spin-off)

Genre: NA, mythology, romance, supernatural

Release date: February 17^th 2015

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Length: 335 pages

The Fates are cackling their bony asses off…

It’s been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they’ve given him have been violent and bloody–which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He’s got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.

Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy’s deal might be, but it’s a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her.

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.

Because history has once again been flipped to repeat.

Excerpt

Shaking my head, I pivoted around and walked down the long hall to my dorm room. As I reached the door, the shiver was at the base of my spine again, dancing its way up until it traveled across my shoulders. My heart turned over heavily and I closed my eyes. Twice in one day.
Oh God.
I’d never felt this more than once in any span of several days. Swallowing hard, I wrapped my fingers around the doorknob, battling the urge to turn and scan the hall, because I knew no one would be there. Dragging in a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped inside the room. My brows flew up, and I forgot about the feeling as I closed the door behind me. Erin was sprawled on the floor, palms pressed down on a mat, her spandex-covered behind jutting up toward the sky. She turned her head, peering at me from under her armpit. Her armpit. “How in the world do you get your neck to bend like that without killing yourself?” I asked. “Skills, yo.” Erin did yoga and meditation religiously, saying it helped merge her yin and yang together or something. She’d once told me she had a hell of a mean streak, and contorting herself into painful-looking positions helped keep “good vibrations” around her. Which was strange, because I’d never seen Erin lose her temper in the two years I’d known her. Erin unfolded herself from some kind of downward dog or upward pony and grinned at me. “Check under the bed.” Curious, I dropped my bag and stepped over her legs. Bending down, I lifted the bedspread and my eyes grew to the size of saucers when I spotted the bottle. I snatched it up and clutched it to my chest as I whipped toward her. “José!” Her grin spread into a smile. “The best boyfriend ever.”

About Jennifer L. Armentrout

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math.

Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.  

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Novel Goodreads ** Author Goodreads

Giveaway

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Traveling!

Hi guys!

This weekend - well actually in 5 hours - I'm leaving for three days. I'm doing a little citytrip to Venice! No, my bookboyfriebds weren't available, so I'm going with my parents and brother ;)

This is the reason why I won't be posting NY Friday Finds and Book Of The Week :/
I didn't have the time to prepare then sorry :( I'll try to find a way to make it up to you next week (I'm coming back on Monday night)!

Hope you are not too disappointed!!
Have a nice weekend! 💖💖

By the way, I'm taking The Darkest Minds with me (on my kindle) so I hope I'll be able to read a lot on the plane  ✈ ;)

Recent Release #18: I Remember You by Cathleen Davitt Bell

Every Wednesday I share a recent release I’m excited to read. If you want to check out the previous ones, click here. These are all books I'm adding to my growing pile of tbr-books ;) 

  

Series: stand-alone

Genre: Young Adult, romance, sci-fy, time travel

Release date: February 10^th 2015

Publisher: Young Readers

Length: 320 pages

For fans of THE FUTURE OF US comes an engrossing story of two teens, whose love for each other is tested by time and fate.

Lucas and Juliet couldn’t be more different from each other. But from the moment Lucas sees Juliet, he swears he remembers their first kiss. Their first dance. Their first fight. He even knows what’s going to happen between them—not because he can predict the future, but because he claims to have already lived it.

Juliet doesn’t know whether to be afraid for herself or for Lucas. As Lucas’s memories occur more frequently, they also grow more ominous. All Juliet wants is to keep Lucas safe with her. But how do you hold on to someone you love in the present when they’ve begun slipping away from you in the future?

*GORGEOUS* Cover reveal: Extraordinary Sam by Kevin A. Springer

This Monday I have the pleasure to introduce you to this gorgeous cover of Extraordinary Sam by Kevin Springer! I mean, LOOK AT IT. SO GORGEOUS. 

“This box may seem empty, but there’s more than meets the eye…”

What would you do if you discovered your life was more than you thought? That your whole life was training for an adventure beyond your dreams? That you had the power to change the fate of a world? If given a choice, would you run or would you be extraordinary?

In EXTRAORDINARY SAM, Sam Miller seems like an ordinary 12-year-old boy, until he discovers a mysterious box. Suddenly, he lands in a magical world in which he must battle deadly pirates, savage warriors, giant man-eating spiders, and a fire-wielding tyrant. To survive, Sam must overcome his fears, solve riddles, and most of all, be extraordinary.

*This book will be released in March 2015!*

About the author

Kevin Springer grew up on a farm in Maryland where his imagination could run free. He was able to reconnect to that creativity through telling bedtime stories to his two boys. One of those stuck and evolved into Extraordinary Sam. What started out as a simple story of a boy who had a magical hatbox turned into an exciting story of adventure and self-discovery.

Kevin is a self-proclaimed dreamer and a kid at heart. When he’s not writing or reading, he is watching movies or helping with homework. He lives outside of Atlanta with his wife, kids and dogs.

Website: kevinaspringer.wordpress.com

Twitter: @kevinaspringer

Review: My Heart & Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

Genre: young adult, contemporary, romance, death
Series: stand-alone

Aysel and Roman are practically strangers, but they've been drawn into an unthinkable partnership. In a month's time, they plan to commit suicide - together.

Aysel knows why she wants to die: being the daughter of a murderer doesn't equal normal, well-adjusted teenager. But she can't figure out why handsome, popular Roman wants to end it all....and why he's even more determined than she is.

With the deadline getting closer, something starts to grow between Aysel and Roman - a feeling she never thought she would experience. It seems there might be something to live for, after all - but is Aysel in so deep she can't turn back?

My review: ★★★★+0.5

If I have a boyfriend, his name is death. And I’m pretty sure Roman is in love with him, too. It’s like a love triangle gone wrong. Or maybe it’s a love triangle gone right: we both get the guy on April 7.

I was so excited when I got this book gifted. I started reading this immediately. Although, I have to say that I expected something different. I expected big ugly crying, but it didn’t happen. But I’m glad it didn’t turned out how I expected. Because it was even better.

“You’re not allowed to die without me,” he wispers.

Aysel is depressed, haunted by the consequences of her dad’s acts. She’s broken and wants to die. Roman is being eaten by his guilt of something that happened almost one year ago. He doesn’t think he deserves to live after what he did. He too wants to die and he planned it all out. But both are too scared to do it alone. That’s how they find each other and become suicide-partners. Aysel and Roman are the perfect match. They understand each other perfectly and because of that they have a connection that’s beyond my comprehending.

“Maybe we all have darkness inside of us and some of us are better at dealing with it than others.”

Like I said, I thought this was going to be a very heavy read and hard to get through because of the heavy emotions. But I never thought a book with teenage suicide could be so full of hope. This book touched me in a very different way. I don’t even know how to explain it.

The more I read, the more I felt anxious about what was going to happen. The book felt like a ticking clock and the ending was… *sighs* I don’t think there’s a word to describe this. I grew attached to Roman and Aysel. I wish this book was longer though. I would have loved to see what happened after.

“Sometimes I wonder if my heart is like a black hole - it's so dense that there's no room for light, but that doesn't mean it can't still suck me in.”

So trust me, this is definitely a must-read! This book is beautifully written and I know already lots of people will love it. It’s a real and honest story that will touch your heart in the way you were not expecting.

“You're like a grey sky. You're beautiful, even though you don't want to be.”

Book Of The Week #22: Volition by Lily Paradis

Every Sunday I share a book I discovered during the week. I think it's a good idea for you guys if you're looking for random recommendations ;)
If you want to see the previous ones, just click here.

Series: stand-alone

Genre: new adult, contemporary, romance

Length: 394 pages

Release date: February 6th 2015

You know that feeling in the pit of your stomach that stays with you, then tears you apart slowly at first, and all at once shreds every fiber of your being? 

It’s because you’re contradicting the universe. 

Everything lines up so perfectly that you couldn’t have imagined it to work out better, but then you have to go and do everything humanly possible to ruin it because you can’t stand to have it go right? 

That’s what I did. I did it because there’s a darkness that surrounds me, and I think I want it there. 

My name is Tate McKenna, and my soul is blacker than my heart. 

Thoughts?

I had the chance to beta-read this book and I loved it SO much. I haven’t read the final version yet, but I received an ARC so I’ll probably will very soon.

My copies of Lily's books

Review: Vampire Academy, the graphic novel by Richelle Mead

Genre: young adult, graphic novel, vampires
Series: Vampire Academy #1

After two years on the run, best friends Rose and Lissa are caught and returned to St. Vladimir’s Academy, a private high school for vampires and half-bloods. It’s filled with intrigue, danger—and even romance.

Enter their dark, fascinating world through a new series of 144-page full-color graphic novels. The entire first Vampire Academy novel has been adapted for book one by Leigh Dragoon and overseen by Richelle Mead, while the beautiful art of acclaimed British illustrator Emma Vieceli brings the story to life.

My review: ★★★★

I’m a huuuuuge fan of the Vampire Academy and yes, I even liked the movie. So I was super excited when I finally decided to read this graphic novel!

The story is not as complete as in the actual book (obviously), but it didn’t bother me at all. It was like having a recap of the actual book. I’ve been wanting to reread the 6 books, but you know… rereading 6 books with all the new unread books I have is pretty hard. So this graphic novel was perfect for me! I had my dose of Rose and Dimitri and I’m satisfied :D

Oh by the way, the drawings are BEAUTIFUL!!! Like really really beautiful. Dimitri and Rose are so beautiful! I mean, judge for yourself:

I cannot wait to read the next one!

Friday Finds #4: Graphic novels!!

FRIDAY FINDS showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your TBR list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased). This is hosted by ShouldBeReading! 

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This week I discovered the world of graphic novels! Here’s what I added this week:

  QUESTION: What did you add on your tbr??

Instagram picture: My bookshelves!

Source: @melissa_reads

Recent Release #17: The Fosters & When Fate Collides

Every Wednesday I share a recent release I’m excited to read. If you want to check out the previous ones, click here. These are all books I'm adding to my growing pile of tbr-books ;) PS: The cover is linked to Goodreads!

Keep your enemies close by Stacy Kravetz

Series: stand-alone

Genre: YA, tv show companion, romance

Release date: January 27^th 2015

Publisher: Kingswell Teen

Length: 224 pages

As a companion to ABC Family's show The Fosters, this first book in a potential series takes place over a weekend community service/extra school credit trip Callie is required to take in order to boost her history grade. 

To complicate things, she's thrown together with Talya and the forced relationship between Callie and Talya takes a series of turns over the course of the book. The bright spot is a new guy, Austin, who is really into Callie--no, he's into Talya--no, he's into Callie. Callie and Talya reveal things to each other about their feelings for Austin, find common ground, find confidantes in each other, and bond over the work they're doing.Also, the relationships with the other kids on the weekend trip -- a new cast of characters which will be ongoing in the book series -- both create tension as well as draw Callie and Talya together. 

Ultimately, they see each other as something other than rivals and find they have more in common than they'd thought. But when they return to school, they're forced to decide whether they're really friends. And the first person they encounter is Austin, who has transferred to their school.

When Fate Collides by  Isabelle Richards

Series: Fate #1

Genre: New Adult, romance, suspence

Release date: January 28^th 2015

Publisher: /

Length: 250 pages

Life can change in the blink of an eye. One moment, Lily Preston is trapped in a loveless marriage. In a split second she is free, but at what cost? Her mundane life is set into a free fall of tragedy and terror. Her husband maybe out of her life, but he left a storm of collateral damage behind and the burden is on Lily to sort it out.

Fate connects Lily with Gavin Edwards, a charmingly handsome British gentleman that has been drawn into her tangled circumstance. Gavin is everything Lily’s husband wasn’t and gives her hope that love really does exist. Gavin wants nothing more than to sweep Lily up and carry her off into the sunset, far away from the devastation left behind by her husband. Gavin has been the first breath of fresh air in her life, but she isn’t looking to be saved. She needs to clean up her husband’s mess and find a way to save herself in the process.

Does she throw caution to the wind and open her heart? Or listen to her head that tells her and go it alone until she’s found herself again?