Book Nerds Across America

"Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?" 
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.  A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more? Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it. (from Goodreads)


Flo's Review
You guys. This story is basically my fairy tale fantasy come true. As you may know, I am the BookNerd who is always traveling. I'd say about 90% of the time I am going to visit someone or meet someone -- so I spend a lot of plane time alone. I always hear the stories from Southwest Airlines about how people met the love of their lives on a plane ride and I think to myself, "That would be soo amazing!" But alas -- it has yet to happen to me. (I did come close, though, when my flight to the Hunger Games set was delayed and I ended up passing the time talking to a very attractive young man whose number I did leave with.)

Dreamless resumes where Starcrossed left off.  Hector is now an outcast and cannot interact with his family without the furies trying to make them kill one another.  Lucas and Helen are still under the false impression that they are cousins and are struggling to suppress their feelings for each other. 

Helen is descending to the underworld each night with hopes of finding the furies and putting an end to the blood debts, which have been plaguing the Scions for ages.  It is even more important to her now that she has seen first hand the impact the furies have had on Hector and the rest of the Delos family. She is determined to fulfill her obligation as the Descender, but it is taking its toll on her physically and mentally.  She is alone in the underworld and wandering aimlessly.  Even though Casandra, the Oracle, is trying her best to research history, they can't quite determine how to bring happiness to the furies. 

One evening, she encounters another person while in the underworld.  She later finds out that Orion was sent by her mother to assist and protect her because he, too, can descend into the underworld.  This is where the love triangle comes into play.  Lucas and Helen are adamant about their need to move on...so Josie has to throw a hot guy, the descendant of Aphrodite, into the mix.  I really enjoyed this new character, but I am still TEAM LUCAS 100%. 

I enjoyed how Josie gave Claire and Matt, Helen's long time BFFs, a larger role in this book.  I am excited to see how their relationships and roles within the Demigod world will continue in Goddess, the final book in this series.  There were a lot of new Gods, Goddesses, and mythological creatures mentioned throughout the book.  I actually found myself at Barnes and Noble one afternoon browsing a National Geographic book on Greek Mythology in order to get a better understanding of all of the characters. Josie did a REMARKABLE job of weaving Greek Mythology throughout the story without overwhelming the reader.  She has set up an explosive conclusion to this series, which is scheduled to be released in May of 2013.

Mary's Review


WOW! Josephine really knows how to give a girl a heart attack! Seriously!

I could not put this book down once I started it.  I felt so bad for Helen.  She was having to go into the Underworld every night trying to figure out the Fates.  Finally, she sees someone down there with her. A new character, Orion, who is helping her in the Underworld.  He was sent by Helen's mother to help her.

Now, I cannot forget Lucas.  (I am TEAM LUCAS).  Even though I think Orion is a awesome friend to Helen, Lucas will always hold her heart.  I just wish Helen's mother would tell the truth! The one thing that I DID NOT LIKE: Lucas' attitude problem.  I understand why he has it, but I am so over it!

Just like Jacque's review I LOVE how Josie can weave in the Greek Mythology into the story and not make it sound so "old world".  Like I have always said, she is an amazing author!

Now, I am counting the days till Book 3!!!

The one thing that I think was needed for this book to reach the five star level was more to the love story.  Luce and Daniel's love has lasted thousands of years.  They always find each other, but we never get more than a G rated Disney film type of interaction between them.  While not every series can have feathers, I would have expected a little more than what we received by the end of this series.

The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.Can the lost be reclaimed? What price is too high to pay for love? Who can be trusted when sin and salvation collide?     Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series. (Goodreads Summary)

Goodreads Description:


When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she’s single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, stalked by her ex’s frat brother, and failing a class for the first time in her life.


Her econ professor gives her an email address for Landon, the class tutor, who shows her that she’s still the same intelligent girl she’s always been. As Jacqueline becomes interested in more from her tutor than a better grade, his teasing responses make the feeling seem mutual. There’s just one problem—their only interactions are through email.


Meanwhile, a guy in her econ class proves his worth the first night she meets him. Nothing like her popular ex or her brainy tutor, Lucas sits on the back row, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. At a downtown club, he disappears after several dances that leave her on fire. When he asks if he can sketch her, alone in her room, she agrees—hoping for more.


Then Jacqueline discovers a withheld connection between her supportive tutor and her seductive classmate, her ex comes back into the picture, and her stalker escalates his attention by spreading rumors that they’ve hooked up. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.


Author Recommendation: Mature Young Adults (language, drinking, sexual situations)


Mary's Review:


I put this on to my "to-read" list after I read an amazing review of it on The Autumn Review.  I have to say I am glad that I purchase this book........WOW.............just WOW!!

I am going to say one thing about this book that is a SPOIL!  I know that there is a warning of sexual situations please understand that includes an a attempted rape scene.  You all know that I usually do not read books that have this type of content BUT it is an essential part of the book and I was able to skim that part and not lose the importance of it.

Anyway, back to the good stuff, a hot hot hot Lucas! OH YES! I love me some Lucas! He is mysterious and is always staring at Jacqueline.  Plus, he seems to be there when she really needs him! Then there is Kennedy (Jacqueline ex boyfriend) (ugh), he dumps her after 3 years together, then tries to get back into her good graces (jerk!). But, then there is Landon.  The econ tutor that Jacqueline has not met but emails a lot.  There is some serious flirting that goes on there too!

Then the twist happens! I really did not see the twist but I LIKED IT!

This is a awesome book and a quick read! I am telling you all to buy it now!

Goodreads Description: 


Amber Walker and her older brother, Jake, have an abusive father. One night her brother's best friend, Liam, sees her crying and climbs through her bedroom window to comfort her. That one action sparks a love/hate relationship that spans over the next eight years.

Liam is now a confident, flirty player who has never had a girlfriend before. Amber is still emotionally scarred from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. Together they make an unlikely pair.

Their relationship has always been a rocky one, but what happens when Amber starts to view her brother's best friend a little differently? And how will her brother, who has always been a little overprotective, react when he finds out that the pair are growing closer? Find out in The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window.


Mary's Review:


O.  M.. G.!!!!!!!!!!! This book was recommended to me by the awesome @JennNun.  I put it on my "to-read" list, but it was not until I saw the review from Mandy over at I Read Indie Books, that I push it up my list and read it!

I was a FOOL because I did not read this book sooner.  I do not even know where to begin on how awesome this book was.  So, I will start from the beginning......

Jake and Amber are siblings and their neighbor is Liam, who is also Jake's best friend.  Jake and Amber suffer some serious abuse from their father.  One night when Amber is 8 and Liam is 10 he sees her crying and he sneaks through her window and comforts her (aaaawwwww!).  He continued to do that every night for 8 years!!! (I KNOW RIGHT!!!!)

Now, they all are in high school and Liam and Jake are the "the-big-guys" on campus and still very protective of Amber.  But, things have changed.  Liam is a "player" of sorts and Amber can handle people touching her.  They really are opposites but, the story has some twist and turns.

I am not going to spoil any of it, but I will say this.............READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goodreads Description:

Sherry has always known there was something out there. She's eighteen, works for a tabloid newspaper in Chicago and has a brother, Danny who is a lazy mooch. They live a pretty normal dull life with hippie parents and a normal existence Then the moon dissapears and people start to go missing only to reappear later, but different. Sherry has an abusive ex-boyfriend who shows up and claims to be one of these beings that have been showing up around the world. He's no longer the same person in that body. He tells her he has come to protect her and her brother and takes her underground, against her will to save her, where they meet others like them. She begins to unravel the truth about Merrick, about what he's really doing here, about the way he looks at her, about the crazy dangerous world they live in. Can he convince her that he's here to help? Will she like what she finds when she opens up to the truth? Will he be the one to love her when everyone else has failed her? Will he be able to protect her?


Goodreads Description:

Sherry and Merrick's story continues in this sequel to Collide. In this installment, we come face to face with old acquantances and new friends and new enemies. Things will change for all of them especially when a little girl is found and everyone's loyalties are tested. A revelation may upset the delicate balance they've all tried so hard to set. There's new love, new rivalries and new transformations in the continuing series of Collide




Goodreads Description: 


In the third installment of the Collide series, we start off with Sherry, taken prisoner in the enforcement facility. The little bunker family must now decide whether it's worth the risk to try to save her or if it would bring doom to them all. Lily has started showing signs of her gift progressing, which may not be a desirable thing. And as Marissa starts to act strangely, Jeff must come to terms that there may be more to her illness that meets the eye.
Daniel, the Lighter who shocked Lillian with his human emotions will reappear, but for what purpose? Will Sherry be rescued before it's too late? Will Daniel prove to be a genuine miracle? Will Cain be able to fully get over his love for Sherry and move on with Lillian? And how much more trouble can the new Taker cause for the rebels? 
Some will make it and some won't as the story continues..


Mary's Review:


Everyone knows that I have a "slight" obsession with Shelly Crane's writing.  She has quickly became one of most favorite authors.  Her talents as an author still put my in awe.  When she realized that I had not read this series yet she was kind enough to loan me the books to read them.  I had been so busy reading other books that this book series of Shelly's kept getting pushed down my "to-read" list.  Then finally I was able to have to find the time to read these.  Of course, I was not disappointed at all!


What I liked about the series: I loved all the characters.  When I first started Collide I thought it was just going to be about Sherry and Merrick, their love and the battle.  Well, I was WRONG! There are a lot of characters in this series and each one holds a special place in the book and in the story.  I quickly fell in love with them all.  I enjoyed the fight of good vs. evil and seeing character fall in love (even through the dark times).


What I did not like: Without giving out too much, it's the death and/or suffering of a character that I do not know.  Of course, there needs to be death and pain for good to prevail, but I still do not like it.  


Favorite Character:  There are several that I love in this series but Sherry (by far) is my favorite.  She puts everyone before her and she is the first to protect everyone.  I love watching her love, compassion, and fierceness grow throughout the books! She is an amazing character!


I really thought that Shelly was going to end this with three books.  I was wrong.  The forth installment will be out later this year.  I can say that I will be waiting for it!

For those of you who haven't read the first book, I will give you a quick summary of the characters.  Rachel and Darcy have been best friends since they were four years old.  They are now 30 and living in New York City.  Rachel is the smart and sensible attorney who recently stole Darcy's fiance' (Dex).  Ordinarily this would be an unthinkable situation, but I was actually rooting for Rachel and Dex because they seemed perfect for each other. 

Darcy on the other hand is an unlikeable character.  I can not describe her any better than their long time friend Ethan who said...

"You are shallow.  You're utterly selfish and misguided, with totally screwed up values."  She is the attractive, flirty, party girl who thinks she is entitled to anything and anyone she wants, simply because she is beautiful.  She was actually dating one of the groomsmen (Marcus) during her engagement and is expecting his child when she decided to call off the wedding.  Dex was also planning on cancelling the wedding because he was in love with Rachel.  You would think this mutual realization would lead to an amicable split, but not when Darcy is a factor in the equation.

This is where Something Blue starts.  I was a bit leery at first about the change in narrator.  The first book was told from Rachel's perspective, but now we are getting Darcy's side of the story.  Darcy does rehash several situations from Something Borrowed, so we get her point of view on various events that unfolded in book one.  We also learn more about her relationship with Marcus.  It doesn't take Darcy long to alienate herself from all of her friends and family.  I actually enjoyed watching her sense of entitlement get whisked out from under her as her life came crashing down before her pretty little Jimmy Choos.  Before long she was left with only one option.  She decided to move to London to "visit" Ethan for a few weeks, but she had no intentions of returning to New York.  She was on a mission to find herself an attractive and wealthy Englishman who could support her and her unborn child. 

After about 200 pages, and a reality check discussion with Ethan, we FINALLY get to see Darcy's finer side.  She begins to take her pregnancy more seriously and realizes that perhaps SHE is the one with the "issues" and not EVERYONE else.  As she begins to make a complete 180, I actually started to like her character.  By the end, I was on Team Darcy.

While I don't think it was quite as good as the first book in the series, it was well worth the read.  I was very happy with how the story came to a close and would recommend it if you are looking for a light and entertaining book to read.

Goodreads Summay
When literature student Anastasia Steele is drafted to interview the successful young entrepreneur Christian Grey for her campus magazine, she finds him attractive, enigmatic and intimidating. Convinced their meeting went badly, she tries to put Grey out of her mind - until he happens to turn up at the out-of-town hardware store where she works part-time. The unworldly, innocent Ana is shocked to realize she wants this man, and when he warns her to keep her distance it only makes her more desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her - but on his own terms. Shocked yet thrilled by Grey's singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success – his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving adoptive family – Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a passionate, physical and daring affair, Ana learns more about her own dark desires, as well as the Christian Grey hidden away from public scrutiny. Can their relationship transcend physical passion? Will Ana find it in herself to submit to the self-indulgent Master? And if she does, will she still love what she finds? Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

Flo's Review

Why, oh why, don't I just listen?!? My good friends warned me that I would not like this book. So why did I spend $9.99 of my hard-earned cash buying this e-book, when I could have spent it on another apple martini at the restaurant last night?!

I'll tell you why. Because EVERYONE is talking about this series. EVERYONE. So, it's got to be good, right?! I made it, according to my Nook, to page 143 of 391 (Nook pages are different) before I could do it no more. And that was after wanting to quit for awhile, but trying to push through a little longer. Here is my main problem with the book:

Nothing. Happens.

I know that sounds counter to what you've heard about this book. But I can assure you, in the 36% of the book I made it through, not much happened. My main problem is dragging something out that does not need to be dragged out. Anastasia Steele is attracted to Christian Grey. Ok, cool. Tell us. Give us a few example. THEN MOVE ON. I do not need to read for three pages about how he makes you nervous. Tell us, describe it, give a few examples and you can be done with that in a page or two tops. No need to go to a different setting and then go through the whole things ALL OVER AGAIN. Here's kind of what it looked like:

Page 1 through Page Way-Too-Long: Anastasia interviews Christian Grey. He's hot and makes her nervous.
Page Why-Am-I-Still-Reading-This through Page Really?: Christian Grey comes to Anastasia's place of work. He's hot and makes her nervous.
...and so on.

Ok, because I, unlike this book, do not want to go on and on about the same point, let's move on to my next rant. I have said over and over again that I have a hard time liking books if I don't like the main characters and I do not like either one of these two. I realize Ana is supposed to be very vanilla, but her character kind of doesn't mesh. She spends a lot of the time not understanding why Christian Grey likes her because she's sooo ordinary, yet we learn that both Jose and Paul like her. They can like her, but Christian Grey can't?! Yes, apparently.

Christian Grey. He's supposed to be soooo hot and all that, but I cannot find a guy hot if his personality is not also hot, and trust me when I tell you, his personality is NOT hot. Ana calls him a control freak -- he is one. And I won't give away his "secret" to avoid being spoilery, but NOTHING about that is okay. NOTHING. And how Ana thinks something along the lines of, "I'll do whatever he wants!" Not. Okay. And I think I read in the synopsis for the other 2 books in the trilogy that it's because he had a rough childhood and we come to understand him more or something....still? Not. Okay.

I like to be positive, so let's end this review on a positive note. The thing that I actually really liked about this book was how well James equated it to Twilight. I had fun realizing which characters in this book were which Twilight characters, and which scenes were being mirrored. James was pretty much spot on with it, and I liked the creativity and the cleverness.

Okay, let's discuss! I just honestly want to know why you liked this book, if you did. Am I missing something awesome because I didn't finish the book? Also, if you are the one other person on the planet besides me who did not like this book, I'd like to hear from you, too!

Goodreads Summary


In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training. Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister. Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives. Ender's Game is the winner of the 1985 Nebula Award for Best Novel and the 1986 Hugo Award for Best Novel.


Flo's Review

I bought this book a long time ago, and I wanted to get it read before the movie comes out. I am a huge fan of YA dystopian fiction, so I wanted to love this...but I did not.

Goodreads Summary:



He may have given her up without a fight, but Sawyer Vincent is far from over losing the girl he’s loved all of his life. Instead of giving up his best friend and the girl he thought he’d spend forever with, he gave Ashton and his brother Beau his blessing. However, adjusting to seeing Ashton wrapped up in Beau’s arms isn’t easy. Complicating everything even more, Ashton’s cousin Lana is in town for the summer. Sweet, kind, soft-spoken Lana, who gets under his skin. Just being near her makes him forget all about Ashton and his broken heart. Lana is everything he wanted Ashton to be except she isn’t Ashton. She lacks the backbone to stand up for herself and confidence that Ashton wears like a crown. 


Lana McDaniel has lived her life in her cousin's shadow. While Lana struggled with her grades no matter how hard she tried, her mother praised Ashton's intelligence. She hadn’t been blessed with Ashton’s blond hair and flawless skin, but that didn't keep her mother from lamenting her naturally red hair and freckles. But none of that would have mattered if Ashton hadn’t always had Sawyer Vincent wrapped around her finger -- the only boy Lana wanted. Once Ashton let Sawyer go, Lana had been so sure that he’d move on. Determined to make Sawyer finally see her, she'd talked her mother into letting her spend the summer with Ashton. But Sawyer is still in love with Ashton, and Lana isn’t going to be anyone's rebound girl. No matter how yummy Sawyer Vincent’s kisses taste.


MARY'S REVIEW:


*sigh* there is something about Sawyer and Beau Vincent that just makes this girl weak in the knees.  When I read The Vincent Boys I was sure in love with bad-boy Beau.

However, times have changed Beau is with Ashton and Sawyer is on his own trying to deal with this situation. (Not going very well at first).  Now enters Lana, Ashton's cousin.  Lana has her own family drama and I can say that I truly felt sorry for this girl.  I was so happy when Sawyer and Lana began to hang out together.  But, you know that Sawyer just cannot stop loving Ashton and trust me Lana tries.  I did enjoy seeing a different side of Sawyer than in the last book.  He has a little bad-boy in him that we had not seen.  On top of that, the ending was very good!

I really enjoyed this story BUT THERE WAS ONE THING MISSING.  Beau and Ashton has the "truck scene" but we did not get one of those for Sawyer and Lana.  THEN, Abbi did announce that if she received 200 reviews on Amazon that she would release that scene!  (HEHE) I cannot wait for that.

Goodreads Summary:


“No secret stays hidden forever.”


Still grieving from their loss in the far East, Giovanni Vecchio and Beatrice De Novo discover that for them, all roads really do lead to Rome. But nothing is quite as it seems in the Eternal City. Joined by Carwyn and Tenzin, unexpected clashes greet them almost immediately, and rivalries churn beneath the glittering facade of the old Roman court. They quickly realize that allies might be enemies, and ancient rivals could hold the key to a deadly secret.


Giovanni and Beatrice will be forced to call on old alliances, ancient power, and fierce cunning to survive for the eternity they both desire. Sometimes, finding the end means going back to the beginning. Fire, Earth, Wind, and Water finally meet with devastating results in the conclusion of the Elemental Mysteries




MARY'S REVIEW:


Elizabeth Hunter's imagination must be out of this world.  How do I know this?  I know this because of this amazing series that she has wrote!

I am a vampire-lover.  Yes, Edward Cullen was always my favorite but I can honestly say this statement:

Move over Edward, Gio stole my heart!


There is no one like Gio and Beatrice is his perfect mate.  I cannot imagine a more perfect pair.  You can honestly feel their love and need for each other.

This part of the story was mainly centered around Gio.  I say that because we learn a lot of back story with Gio and Lorenzo (which I enjoyed a lot).  The fights between the vampires were so detailed that Elizabeth really wanted you to be there fighting with them.  The one character that I wanted to see more of was Ben, who is Gio and Beatrice "nephew".  He is funny, smart, and very protective of his family.  I hoping that in the future there might be a book of Ben's point-of-view.

I was very sad to see this story end =*(  it has become one of more favorites stories.  However, Elizabeth has announced that she will be doing a story in Carwyn's point-of-view (I CANNOT WAIT).

Goodreads Description:


At a freshman party she doesn't remember, Jess Jordan was almost raped.


...Almost. Very nearly. Not quite. Three years later, Jess has managed to make everyone believe she's better. Over it. Because she is.


...Almost. Very nearly. Not quite.


Unfortunately, until Jess proves she's back to normal activities, her parents won't discuss college. So, she lands a summer internship and strikes a deal with hockey jock, Gray Porter: He gets $8,000. She gets a fake boyfriend and a social life. 


Jess has no idea Gray signed on for reasons other than money. She also never expects to fall in love. But Gray’s amazingly hot, holds her hand all the time, and makes her forget that he’s simply doing his job. It’s like having a real boyfriend.


...Almost. Very nearly. Not quite.


Gray Porter is hiding secrets of his own. About Jess Jordan. About why he’s driven to protect her, why he won't cash her checks, or deny her anything she asks.




Mary's Review:


I do not usually read books about rape.  Its just my own personal choice, but when my Twitter friend @JennNun told me it was an outstanding read I knew that I had to read it.

I am so glad that I did.  First off, it is not as graphic as I thought it might be.  Second, Jess and Gray are amazing characters that you fall in love with instantly.

Poor Jess, the girl has been through so much since her freshmen year of high school when she was "Almost" raped.  All the while, Gray was there in the shadows and she did not even realize it.  Then they end up in the same internship and this "agreement" was for Jess to get back to a normal life.  Gray did need the money but wanted so much more from Jess.  You can really feel their love blossom and see the struggles that Gray goes through trying to help (and tell) Jess. On top of that, you can see the daily struggles that Jess goes through with this ordeal.

This is a outstanding love story.  Its about strength, growth, trust, and most importantly LOVE!

I would recommend this ANYONE to read!

Goodreads Description:


Darkness has descended on the Transylvanian Alps.
Four packs of the powerful Grey wolves – in a rare show of cooperation – had joined together here in an effort to help their pack members find true mates. Then they were betrayed by one of their own – an Alpha hell-bent on becoming the most powerful of the Canis lupis. And though the wolf's assassination attempt on the currently-reigning Romanian Alpha failed, his plans to get Decebel, the Romanian Beta, out of the picture were coming together even as his treachery was discovered. The wolf fled, leaving destruction, death, and a missing mate behind him.


Unbeknownst to the other packs, the wolf has employed a witch to finish the deadly job and help him gain another tool to increase his power. A curse of devastating proportions will cripple Decebel in a way that may dissolve his fragile bond with Jennifer. Meanwhile, injured and alone, Jen has been fighting for her life. She had come to terms with her fate, accepting that she would not share a life with Decebel, until help came in the most unexpected form...


Vasile will have to use all his resources – including Sally, the new gypsy healer of the Romanian pack – to discover a way in which to destroy the witch, lift the curse from Decebel and reunite him with the one woman who makes him whole, and solve a mystery that's been surrounding the Romanian pack for 300 years.




MARY'S REVIEW:


I have been waiting for this book since I finished Book 3: Just One Drop.  I was literally counting the days on my calendar.

Finally, the moment came! I almost fainted! I cannot get enough of these wolves!  I still believe that Jennifer Adams is the best (and funniest) character ever written  and Decebel, well, he is the sexiest wolf EVER!!

Out Of The Dark picks up right where Just One Drop left off at.  Jennifer is hurt and lost in the woods, Decebel is trying to save her (but she wants him to save her friends), Vasile was almost killed, Sally ends up being a Gypsy Healer (I KNOW RIGHT!!!???), and we still have Fane and Jacque.

Big, bad, wolf Thad try to kill Vasile (EPIC FAIL ON THAT ONE THAD!) and just when I think Decebel will be able to go save Jennifer, he is hit with a curse and cannot remember Jennifer. UGH!  However, Decebel's wolf still knows that he needs Jennifer and that is all Decebel needs to go and find her.  Along with that Sally, Jacque, and Fane are willing to do anything to save their Beta and Jennifer.  We also get some new characters and they are just as awesome!  They all tie this amazing story together.

Quinn Loftis was determined to give me a heart attack from this story, though.  She was almost successful!  However, there were 3 things that I wanted to see in this book and I got 2 of the 3.  I will not want to spoil what they are so I will give hints.  Someone gets hitched and there is more phasing.  The #3 thing that I wanted I think will come in book 5 (which I hoping she is writing right now because I am not sure how much longer I can wait).  I am really not sure if there will be a Book 5, there had been no official announcement from Quinn Loftis (as of yet).  I do have my fingers crossed that there will be.

I really suggest that everyone read this series.  They are fast and fabulous reads and have become one of my favorite series.

Jacque's Review:

I really enjoyed Divergent.  In fact, I gave it 5 stars and recommended it to a number of friends.  I wish I could say the same is true for Insurgent.  I struggled through the majority of this book.  I often lost focus and had to skim ahead to see if there was a apparent purpose to what I was reading.  Ultimately, I felt this book was average at best.  I gave it 3 out of 5 stars and can only hope that the final book in this series will take a turn for the better.

The first problem I had is the lack of back story.  I realize the book is already 525 pages, but Veronica really needed to reintroduce the secondary characters.  After waiting a year between reading Divergent and starting Insurgent, I had forgotten how several of the characters fit into the story.  I was able to piece some of it together, but ultimately had to reread a few chapters in Divergent to obtain a clear understanding.

Next, I did not like the angle Veronica took with Tris and Four's characters.  She made Tris out to be weak.  She was supposed to be at the top of her initiation class and was looked up to by other Dauntless members because of her actions in book one, but she was a total head case in this book.  I really wanted Tris to pick up a gun and defend herself.  She needed to stop feeling sorry for herself and wasting the life her parents sacrificed their lives to protect.  Also, what sort of person would side with her boyfriend's abusive father behind his back?  The lack of communication between Tris and Four was incomprehensible to me.  They should have been a team, working together towards a common goal.

With regards to Four, Veronica really played up the "he is a coward because of his father" angle way too much.  She made his character out to be very harsh and emotionless.  He seemed to lack a sense of compassion, which I don't think fits with his character.  I also didn't like how Veronica seemed to add a make out scene every so often just to keep their relationship together.  There really wasn't a connection between Tris and Four the majority of the book.  They were working independently and didn't share anything personal with one another until the very end.

I could bring up some additional issues with the book, but I will move onto the positives.  The book was fast paced due to all of the action scenes, which were very well written.  We also got to learn more about life in the other factions and how all of the factions and factionless interacted with one another.  We can also see first hand that life for the factionless is not as bad as it was made out to be by the leaders.  I feel like Veronica left the possibilities for book 3 wide open.  I have no idea what direction she will take, but I can only hope that all of the drama between Four and Tris is over.  They need to work together and Tris needs to toughen up again if she is going to be of any use in the final book.  She needs to stop thinking about all of the things Four taught her during her initiation and start actually using what she was taught.  She needs to be the strong divergent character who is not only Smart (Erudite) and Selfless (Abnegation), but Fearless (Dauntless) as well.    


Flo's Review


Mary was the first BookNerd to read Insurgent. She kept tweeting us to hurry and read it so we could talk! I finally gave up on the idea of waiting to get it from the library and just downloaded it to my Nook.

So. Much. Love.

I really enjoyed seeing the different factions. In Divergent, we knew Abnegation and Dauntless, basically. In this book, we get to spend time in all of them. Veronica Roth shows us that ALL of the factions have their dark sides -- not just Dauntless.

Tris and Four’s relationship in this book. It grew. It struggled. There were times I did not agree with Tris’ actions. And there were times I hurt because they hurt. But how real and raw their love is. You can’t help but admire something so strong that it stays standing -- even if it wavers a little bit -- when everything else around them is literally falling apart.

Pacing in this book was incredible. I kept wanting to put it down at several points, but I just could not find a natural place to do so! From the time when Tris and her friends leave Amity in the beginning through the very last page, there is non-stop action.

I got to the end and was like, “WHAT?!” Definitely had to re-read it a few times to process what was being set up for the third installment in the trilogy, Detergent. It will bring to light to something that while I honestly should have considered it, it NEVER crossed my mind. I honestly have no idea where Veronica Roth is going with this, and I can’t wait to see!

Divergent was my favorite book of 2011, and Insurgent did not disappoint!

P.S. Tobias, I love you.

Mary's Review


I finished Insurgent before all the other Book Nerds because I could NOT PUT IT DOWN! It was so good!  Just like with Divergent it was such a page-turner.

Tris and Four's relationship was totally crazy throughout this book.  It frustrated me so much, but I understood what Veronica Roth was doing.  Also, like Flo, I liked seeing the interactions with the other fractions and all characters.

The best part of the book was the ending....O......M.......G!!!!!!! Talk about a cliff hanger!!  I am counting down to the days till Book 3, for a few reasons.  1) what is going to have to Four and Tris?  2) what the heck is going to happen to the divergent and 3) well.....you have to read it because I do not want to give up any spoilers.

TO FLO:  Four is MINE (haha!)

Goodreads Description:


For Tobin and Delia, everything was always equal.

A bargain, a trade, a deal to be struck.

A kiss for a kiss.
Your shirt for mine.
Break my heart, I’ll break yours.

Their disastrous split was no different. Tobin’s spent the last year pretending Delia never existed, and Delia’s been in D.C., pretending to be anything but the country girl that she is.

When tragedy brings her back to town, Tobin and Delia realize that time apart hasn't healed either one of them. But staying away from each other is harder than they imagined, especially in small town Louisiana, and old feelings are quickly brought back to the surface.

In the mess they’ve created, is there anything to be salvaged of a love that they both thought would be forever?

MARY'S REVIEW:

This book grabs you right off the first page.  Tobin is going through a serious break-down because his brother just died.  On top of that, the love of his life (that moved away a year ago) comes back.  Delia and Tobin have that kind of love that people dream of; however, there are some complications that have drove them apart.

One is Delia's father.  He is a US Senator and moved his family to Washington DC and feels that Tobin is not "good enough" for his daughter.  (I do not like him!)  Then there is Delia's mother, who enjoys the drink (a lot), whom I am sure did not help the situation of keeping Tobin and Delia together.

Two is Tobin and Delia themselves.  Their miscommunication to each other and others are causing them to not look at the whole picture.  Now that Delia was going to be staying town for a little while they cannot help but run into each other and end up in the places that cause memories to come flooding back.

There was a TWIST in the story that I did not see at all and overall the story was great.  I enjoyed the flashbacks because it really helped to tell the story overall.

Goodreads Description:

Emma’s struggle with an abusive home life came to a heart pounding conclusion in the final chapters of Reason to Breathe. Now everyone in Weslyn knows Emma’s secret, but Carol can’t hurt Emma anymore. Some are still haunted by the horror of that night, and some must face the repercussions of their choices. Fans of Rebecca Donovan’s debut novel will discover there’s still much to learn about Emma’s life.

MARY'S REVIEW:


If you thought I cried in Reason to Breathe, I cried even harder in this book.

This book picks up 6 months later from the last one.  Emma is now living with Sara and her family after everything that happened in Book 1.  On top of that, the whole town knows what happened.  Emma is now having really bad nightmares and still having issues trusting people.

Well, her mother tries to have a relationship with her and Emma makes the decision to move in with her.  That does not work out so well.  Emma's mom really is not a good mother, she is a drunk.  BUT, we have a new character (whom I did not like) Jonathon.  He is Emma's mother's (much younger) boyfriend.  Emma and Jonathan become friends, just friends.  However, there is something about Jonathan's past that does not settle well with me and I do not really trust him.  Evan and Sara try to be there for Emma but she is still not trusting them fully (which makes me a bit upset).

Of course, there is a HUGE cliff-hanger and I cried through every part of it.  Now, I have to wait until Book 3 comes out.

Good Reads description: 


"No one tried to get involved with me, and I kept to myself. This was the place where everything was supposed to be safe and easy. How could Evan Mathews unravel my constant universe in just one day?"

He knows there’s something more to the girl sitting in the back of the class the moment he sees her. She’s beautiful, intelligent, and athletic – but she slips quietly through the crowded halls, trying not to exist. Determined to get to know the elusive girl, Evan soon discovers…

Emma Thomas is hiding a terrible secret.

Reason to Breathe is an electrifying page turner from start to finish, a unique tale of life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and one girl’s fragile grasp of hope.

MARY'S REVIEW:

You all know that I am the crier of the Book Nerds and this book made me cry A LOT!  I read this book in one day because I could not stop reading it, even through the tears.

Emma is the main character who lives with her aunt and uncle because her father is dead and her mother is "unfit" to take care of her.  Her aunt and uncle are so phony! They do not love nor care about Emma.  The only person that Emma has in her life is her best friend, Sara, whom I just loved.  That is until Evan shows up....OMG!!! *hot guy alert*  He really comes in and tries so hard to help her and care for her, but he knows that she is hiding something.

Now I do not want to spoil this book but I will warn you there is abuse in it and it can be a bit disturbing (depending on what your definition of "disturbing" is).  Emma tries to be so strong and the pain that she goes through is unfathomable.  I can not imagine anyone going through her pain.

I was so glad that she had Evan and Sara.  However, this book has the BEST cliff-hanger that I have read in a very long time.

This is a must read ....... with a box of tissues!

Good Reads Description:


Flat-Out Love is a warm and witty novel of family love and dysfunction, deep heartache and raw vulnerability, with a bit of mystery and one whopping, knock-you-to-your-knees romance.


Something is seriously off in the Watkins home. And Julie Seagle, college freshman, small-town Ohio transplant, and the newest resident of this Boston house, is determined to get to the bottom of it.


When Julie's off-campus housing falls through, her mother's old college roommate, Erin Watkins, invites her to move in. The parents, Erin and Roger, are welcoming, but emotionally distant and academically driven to eccentric extremes. The middle child, Matt, is an MIT tech geek with a sweet side ... and the social skills of a spool of USB cable. The youngest, Celeste, is a frighteningly bright but freakishly fastidious 13-year-old who hauls around a life-sized cardboard cutout of her oldest brother almost everywhere she goes.


And there's that oldest brother, Finn: funny, gorgeous, smart, sensitive, almost emotionally available. Geographically? Definitely unavailable. That's because Finn is traveling the world and surfacing only for random Facebook chats, e-mails, and status updates. Before long, through late-night exchanges of disembodied text, he begins to stir something tender and silly and maybe even a little bit sexy in Julie's suddenly lonesome soul.


To Julie, the emotionally scrambled members of the Watkins family add up to something that ... well ... doesn't quite add up. Not until she forces a buried secret to the surface, eliciting a dramatic confrontation that threatens to tear the fragile Watkins family apart, does she get her answer.


Flat-Out Love comes complete with emails, Facebook status updates, and instant messages.


Mary's Review:


I found this book (kind-of) by accident.  It was on my Amazon account recommendation list.  I hardly ever look at that list but I was just looking to see if there was something that I had not read yet.

So, after reading the GoodReads description I thought ... sounds good let's try it.

WOW.....JUST WOW!!  I am so glad that I did.  I really enjoyed this book.

Julie is in Boston to go to college and it does not start out well for her.  Thankfully, her mother's old college roommate, Erin, helps her out and moves Julie into her home.  Now, Erin has 3 children, Finn (who is traveling the world), Matt (middle-child, MIT student, geek) and Celeste (13 years old and goes no where without a huge cut-out of Finn).  Jessica is trying to figure out this whole family all the while talking to Finn, who is traveling the world.  Through out the book there are emails, texts, and Facebook status that just cracked me up and some that made you really think!

Sounds weird right!?!?! Well, it is but I loved how Jessica Park wrote this book.  I did not figure out the "secret" until the very end and I was a bit shocked.  However, Jessica Park really made me fall in love with all these characters and I have to say that I "borrowed" a couple of Finn's and Matt's Facebook status updates....haha!!

This is a good, quick, and lovely read and I would recommend for others to read it!

Jacque's Review:

Shine was a lot different for me than Shade or Shift.  There were some AMAZING moments and I felt like there was a real sense of closure by the end.  It was 5* all the way, but something was missing.  I really am Team Zogan, but I think it all comes down to Logan.  The two parts in this book that did cause my eyes to water involved him.  His lack of a presence was felt by not only Aura, but this reader as well.

I realize that Aura and Zachary needed to move on without Logan...and boy did they ever.  I was very happy for them and I was SHOCKED by some of the things that we learned in this book.   I already apologized to Zachary on twitter, but he deserves an apology here as well.  He may have made a "dishonorable" decision in Shift, but he is a very strong, thoughtful and caring character.  The assumption I made about him was 100% incorrect.  I really connected with his character throughout this book and wish he had more involvement in the first half.  It was heartbreaking to watch Aura and Zachary struggle for so long while they were forced to be apart.  I absolutely FLEW through the last half of the book when they were finally back together.   

There is a lot more action in this story and Zach and Aura's safety is constantly in question.  They aren't really sure who the "bad guys" are, which makes their quest all the more challenging.  Their need to stay apart, even when they are together, for the benefit of their "research" was almost as difficult for them as when they were an ocean apart. 

I really enjoyed discovering more of Aura's Mom's story and exploring Scotland, Ireland, and Newgrange.  These places are so important to who Aura and Zachary are on so many levels.  I enjoyed witnessing their excitement, even in the face of constant danger, as they slowly unraveled the mystery behind the shift.

Overall...I was VERY pleased with how this series concluded and I would recommend it HIGHLY.  I am already adding Jeri Smith-Ready's WVMP Radio Series to my TBR list.  

Teri's Review

**Please dont hate me when you read this..I was so torn in this book**
Ugg...ok...here it is. I have been trying to write this review for weeks now. I had my copy of Shine before it was released thanks to the wonderful Jeri Smith Ready, but I haven't been able to describe how I feel about this. The one thing I am certain..I'm in mourning, I mourned Logan more in Shine than I did at the end of the last book. Yes, I knew he passed on and yes he was referred  to quite a bit in Shine, but fact was, he was missing and so was my heart.
The book started out with a bang, and I thought Jeri was just aiming to do me completely in.. Thank God I kept reading, because trust me I was more than ready to book the book down at that point. So for me the first of the book was a slow read. Aura seemed lacking as a main character without the help of either Logan or Zach. Not only did I find myself mourning Logan, but now I wasn't getting any Zach relief. The story was good tho, lots of spy type stuff that set it apart from the other two books, but for me, the book didnt pick up until Zach appeared.
The biggie here for me was the big build up to Zach and Aura's lovemaking ( yeah dont judge I wanted it) I have been waiting for this...I was totally let down. The 17 minutes when Logan was human and with Aura was totally so much more sexy in my opinion. And the breakups.................uggg.............I just wasnt a happy camper thru most of the book.
As always Jeri's writing was fantastic. The time spent in Ireland was great and made me want to book a flight out in the same instance. The whole memorial concert for Logan and when Zach did the favor for Logan, these were the highlights of the book for me. Maybe I wasn't merely mourning Logan, maybe I was mourning the end of one of my favorite series. I know this, even tho I had complaints with the book it still rated a 5 with me, I just wasn't ready to let go yet

Shelly Crane was so kind to help host this giveaway of her prize packs.

So, without further a do:

The winner of the Devour book is:

TAMMY 


The winner of the 3 signed bookmarks and button is:

Nicc209


The winner of the 3 signed bookmarks is:

DannaMarieG


Please be sure to be checking your emails!!!!

I feel so honored that Misty Provencher asked Book Nerds to be part of the Cornestone Book Tour.  Along with that, there is an amazing interview and a GIVEAWAY.

It was not too long ago that I read this book.  It was much different than most books that I have read.  You can read my review here.  The book has a very unique story line and you will fall in love with the characters.

You can check out the reviews on Good Reads and Amazon.

Misty is so kind to be helping out with this giveaway.  For our international fans Misty will be giving a eBook of Cornerstone.  If you are US fan that you can receive a paper copy.  All you have to do is leave a comment along with your email. I will pick a winner on May 27th, 2012.

INTERVIEW:


When did you realize that you wanted to be an author?  Always.  In grade school we had to write a little story and the teacher turned it into a book.  I loved it so much, I turned in five of them before she told me to knock it off.  In high school, I had to do a paper that would map a geographical route across the U.S. and there had to be expenditures for gas and food along the way.  I turned what had to be a three page paper into a 40 page adventure.  It’s what I do.


Where your characters, Nalena and Garrett, based off of someone??  Not exactly.  The feelings Nalena has for Garrett, however,  are loosely based on this mad crush I had when I was in 7^th grade.   The guy was named Ted and his family would visit his grandparent’s cottage in the summer, just down the street from my house.  He was a little older than me and I hardly knew him, but he was a total hottie and I went to complete idiot bubbles whenever he was around.   So, Nalena and I have that in common.


 How did you come up with the storyline of Cornerstone? It was the process of dreaming backward.  I had a dream eons ago and it was one of those dreams that just sticks with you.  I can still remember a lot of the details from it.  It took several years of floating around in the metal computer before I realized it was a book, waiting to be written.  But the dream was the ending of the story, so I had to trace it back to figure out how the dream would’ve come about.  So, that’s where Cornerstone came from.


 Can you give us any insight into Keystone? Do you know when it will come out? My cover artist is currently working on the Keystone cover, but I keep pushing back the release date because I’ve got a lot of revisions to do before it’s ready to Sorry for the delays, but things have to be right, you know?  I’m hoping to get it out by the fall, if not earlier>We’re going on a quest in Keystone, so fasten your seatbelts.  You’ll see more of Garrett and Nalena, more of the Reese family and the Addo and there will be lots of new characters that I can’t wait for you to meet.  Cornerstone introduced you to the Ianua community, but Keystone is going to show you how the whole shebang works.  


What other projects are you working on, or would like to work on in the future?   I’ve got one story that’s half finished (a dark YA fantasy)  one that is laid out and ready to be written (it’s like The Breakfast Club meets A Midsummer Night’s Dream), and about five more beating on the door.  I’ve learned from Keystone that you really want to push through and get the draft down as quick as you can.  That’s the challenge now- get them down and get them out into the reader’s hands.

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical. Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both them both legions of faithful fans. (from Goodreads)

Okay, I am about to gush over another John Green book! As you know from my reviews on The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns, I really enjoy his clever writing and his realistic, lovable characters. I can also say the same thing about David Levithan, having read Dash & Lily's Book of Dares and seeing Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. So, let me tell you all about the FABULOUSITY of Will Grayson, Will Grayson book in true Tiny Cooper fashion.

Green and Levithan wrote this story in alternating chapters, each one a different Will Grayson. I immediately liked the first Will Grayson from the get-go. I did not like the second Will Grayson from the get-go. Then, a little more than halfway through the book, I decided I didn't really like the first Will Grayson that much and I simply adored the second Will Grayson. In the end, adored them both. Both Green and Levithan did an amazing job portraying real, flawed teenage boys who are struggling with tough life issues and trying to fit in and make sense of their world. They both needed hugs. I wanted to give both Will Graysons hugs and re-assure them that life does get better after high school.

The character of Tiny Cooper played a big part (pun intended) in both Will Grayson's stories. He helped them both to get closer to realizing their true selves and what was important to them. He was also the comic relief and the right amount of optimism that the Wills needed. If you haven't read the book, Tiny Cooper is a large gay man who is writing a musical about his life entitled Tiny Dancer. What's not to love?!?!

If you get the opportunity to listen to the audiobook -- do it! Both the narrators made the story come alive with their delivery -- the pacing was ON KEY and they even sing! At the same time, I was happy to have a copy of the book on hand as well, because  the style of writing was also part of the characters. For example, the second Will Grayson only wrote in lowercase and his conversations were portrayed in IM (Instant Messaging) fashion. In an interview at the end of the book, Levithan explains that this is how Will sees himself.  I was also glad to have the book because eventually it got to the point where I didn't want to stop enjoying the story just because I wasn't driving around anymore. I abandoned the audiobook and read the last 30%. Although, honestly, now that I am done with the book, I am going to keep listening to the end of audiobook.

I loved this book from the first page. If you follow my status updates on Goodreads, they pretty much go like this:

"I am looking forward to loving this book!"
"I love this book!"
"I love this book so much!"

I am not even exaggerating -- those were my updates. Anyway, please do yourself a favor and pick up Will Grayson, Will Grayson. You will laugh at Tiny, you will love the Wills, then hate the Wills, then love the Wills again. You will get misty and its poignancy, feel crushed when the Wills feel crushed, and cheer for certain characters to get together. 

As for me, I am now off to continue my quest of reading everything John Green has ever written. And David Levithan, too. Have you read any of their books? Which ones do you recommend?