Guest Post & Giveaway with Jamie Blair (Leap of Faith Book Blitz)

Today we have Jamie Blair here for a guest post and a giveaway! This post is part of the blog tour for Leap of Faith, hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. 

Guest Post

The Teen Pregnancy Book That’s Not

A handful of times over the past couple weeks, I’ve spotted Leap Of Faith being called a teen pregnancy book. The funny part of this to me is that the teen, Faith, in my book is never really pregnant. But, she does pretend that the baby, who is actually her newborn sister, is her own baby and the situation she gets herself into does make her a teen mom.

Faith, having grown up with an addict for a mom, more often than not with no food in the house, knows that her baby sister is in for an even worst childhood than she had. What starts in Faith’s mind as getting back at her mom turns into an enormous sacrifice as she takes the baby and goes on the run.

Taking care of a newborn isn’t glorified in Leap of Faith and that’s not because as the author I wanted to make the book a preachy, issue book. I wrote it for entertainment, not as a warning to readers. Having a newborn is portrayed as touch because it really is. Having a newborn is insanely hard. Anyone taking on the task of raising a baby needs a support system, and this is where Leap Of Faith gets tricky.

Faith not only finds her support system, but she finds the family she’s never had and always wanted. But, in the back of her mind, she knows her time there is limited. She’s told so many lies, it has to come to an end somehow.

When it all does come crashing down, Faith has a second sacrifice to make. She’s grown to love the family—and the boy—who have taken her and her baby in. But, in order to keep them from being implemented in any legal action Faith might face for kidnapping the baby, she knows she has to leave the perfect life she’s found behind.

Leap Of Faith isn’t a teen pregnancy book. It’s a book about sacrifice, love, family and hope.

Giveaway

As part of the blog tour, the author hosting a giveaway! Open to US only, here's what you can win:

10 winners:

--5 prize packages of a signed hardback, a t-shirt and a guitar pick, 

--5 e-books with an autographed Leap of Faith notecard, a guitar pick and stickers

Enter using the form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure to check out all the other stops of the blitz, and keep your eye out for Leap of Faith, which has already been released.

Leap of Faith by Jamie Blair
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Leah Kurtz has finally found a place to call home, a town where she and baby Addy can live in peace, far from the drug-infested place she grew up. Chris is one of the best parts of her new life, the only person who’s ever made her feel safe. And now that she’s found him, there’s no way she can tell the truth:
Her real name is Faith, not Leah. She’s seventeen, not nineteen. And the baby isn’t hers—Faith kidnapped her.
Faith’s history catches up with her when a cop starts asking questions and Chris’s aunt spots her picture in the newspaper. She knows it’s time to run again, but if Faith leaves, she’ll lose Chris. If Chris is in love with a lie, though, did Faith ever really have him in the first place?

Review: Dreams of Significant Girls by Cristina Garcia

Title: Dreams of Significant Girls
Author: Cristina Garcia
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release date: July 12th 2011
Pages: 256
Genre: Young Adult historical
Source: Bought
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Shirin is an Iranian princess; Ingrid, a German-Canadian eccentric; and Vivien, a Cuban-Jewish New Yorker culinary phenom. The three are roommates at a Swiss boarding school, where they spend their summers learning more than French and European culture. As the girls’ paths cross and merge—summers together, school years separate—they navigate social and cultural differences and learn the confusing and conflicting legacies of their families’ pasts. In the spirit of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Shirin, Ingrid, and Vivien grow together even when they are apart, forming unbreakable bonds along the way.

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Dreams of Significant Girls just has too much going on. The book's 250 pages just aren't enough to explore the stories of three narrators over the course of three years. There were a lot of interesting storylines, but nothing gets explored in enough depth, making Dreams of Significant Girls a very underwhelming read for me.

I liked the idea of these characters, but the characterization leaves much to be desired. Ingrid seemed like an intriguing character, but she turned out to be nothing more than the bad-girl stereotype; she drinks, smokes, and sleeps around, but that's it, and the story behind that is never really explored. Especially since the book is only set in the summers, we don't know a lot about Ingrid's family or background or what makes her act the way she does. Vivian is an okay character, I guess, but kind of boring - I don't really remember anything about her other than the fact that she likes to cook. Shirin started out as the most frustrating character because she acts like a spoiled brat most of the time. Towards the middle, there is a storyline that could have made her a fascinating character, but instead of exploring that issue, a new issue is introduced at the end and neither one of them is really explored. The characterization of all three girls uses more telling than showing, making them somewhat cliched and underdeveloped main characters.

Before reading the novel, I thought Dreams of Significant Girls was contemporary, but it's actually set in the 70s. I thought the historical aspect would be something I would enjoy, but it's done in a really strange and unrealistic way. The telling-instead-of-showing thing is part of the problem here, too: instead of showing us the ways of the time the author has the characters say something like "It's the 70s. We can do whatever we want," which I find unrealistic and strange. World War II plays a role in the novel, too, but I thought the storyline concerning the parents was just kind of pointless because it's not fully explored either; we don't see its effect on the main characters, and it's just kind of added on to the rest of the story.

Every part of this novel felt underdeveloped to me. There are way too many things going on, which means that we didn't get to know the characters well enough and no storyline is explored in enough depth. That made Dreams of Significant Girls an underwhelming read for me.

Review: Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg

Title: Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality
Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Publisher: Point
Release date: March 1st 2013
Pages: 272
Genre: Young Adult contemporary
Source: Bought
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Don't mess with a girl with a Great Personality.
Everybody loves Lexi. She's popular, smart, funny...but she's never been one of those girls, the pretty ones who get all the attention from guys. And on top of that, her seven-year-old sister, Mackenzie, is a terror in a tiara, and part of a pageant scene where she gets praised for her beauty (with the help of fake hair and tons of makeup).
Lexi's sick of it. She's sick of being the girl who hears about kisses instead of getting them. She's sick of being ignored by her longtime crush, Logan. She's sick of being taken for granted by her pageant-obsessed mom. And she's sick of having all her family's money wasted on a phony pursuit of perfection.
The time has come for Lexi to step out from the sidelines. Girls without great personalities aren't going to know what hit them. Because Lexi's going to play the beauty game - and she's in it to win it.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I've read The Lonely Hearts Club, and it was a cute, fun read. And from what I've heard, that's what you can generally expect from Elizabeth Eulberg's novels - nothing too deep or meaningful, but always entertaining. That's what Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality is, too, and sometimes you just need a quick, fun read that doesn't make you think too much.

There's two parts to Lexi's story: the family storyline and the high-school-drama storyline. I really liked the family storyline: the beauty pageant stuff is fun to read about, and I enjoyed getting to know the members of her family. (I guess "enjoy" isn't the right word, because there were times I wanted to punch each one of them in the face. But I definitely liked reading about them because they're well-developed characters.) Then there's the high school drama, which I'll admit is cliched and therefore wasn't always that great to read. But I didn't mind too much; Cam and Benny are good supporting characters, and for once, I actually liked the love triangle, if just for the unusual outcome.

Lexi is a very typical main character, which is both good and bad. She can be a little annoying in her typical teenager-y ways of thinking, but at the same time, that makes her easy to relate to.  Her narration is nice to read, keeping me entertained and making Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality a quick read.

The message, though, is something I was kind of confused about. At first, Lexi plays down her beauty, always in baggy t-shirts with her hair in a ponytail and no makeup. Then, she gets a makeover and dresses nice and wears a ton of makeup. The message is never really clear about whether or not that is supposed to be a good thing, though - in some ways, the book argues that you shouldn't have to change yourself to be appreciated by others. But Lexi not giving her looks any effort isn't portrayed as a good thing, either. I was confused about what message, exactly, the author wanted to convey about beauty and body image.

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality is an entertaining read, but not much more. I had hoped for a stronger girl-power message, a theme I have come to expect from lighter reads such as this one. Still, Elizabeth Eulberg's writing is good, and the story is fun, so if you're looking for an entertaining, lighthearted read that doesn't require much thinking on your part, give this one a try!

Review: 17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma

Title: 17 & Gone
Author: Nova Ren Suma
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release date: March 21st 2013
Pages: 354
Genre: Young Adult mystery
Source: Bought a signed copy at Books of Wonder!
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Seventeen-year-old Lauren is having visions of girls who have gone missing. And all these girls have just one thing in common—they are 17 and gone without a trace. As Lauren struggles to shake these waking nightmares, impossible questions demand urgent answers: Why are the girls speaking to Lauren? How can she help them? And . . . is she next? As Lauren searches for clues, everything begins to unravel, and when a brush with death lands her in the hospital, a shocking truth emerges, changing everything.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This is a really hard book to review without spoiling anything. 17 & Gone's strength is the way it blurs the lines between reality and, well, something else, which is really hard to talk about without giving anything away. So if you don't get what I'm saying in the rest of my review because I'm going to have to be vague and confusing, just know that this is an amazing book, and I loved it.

Weird is really the only way to describe this novel. It's unlike anything I've read before - you can't even classify it without spoiling anything because you don't know whether this is a psychological thriller or a ghost story or something else until the end, and even now I'm not sure any classification is 100% right. You don't really understand what's going on until the end, but it works - this book is creepy and weird in the best way possible.

What makes 17 & Gone work is Nova Ren Suma's amazing writing. In her debut, Imaginary Girls, she impressed me with her way with words, and it's just as good in her sophomore novel. She has this vivid, atmospheric style that works really well with creepy stories like these; she can create an eerie, almost scary mood with just a few words.

The only thing I found lacking was Lauren's character. The psychological aspect is well-done; the way she reacts to the ghosts or voices or whatever they are is relatable and fascinating to read about. But I also wanted to know Lauren just as Lauren - who was she before all of this weird stuff started happening to her? I wanted to know more about her regular personality and life. We know her mom and her boyfriend, and her best friend is mentioned I think once, but we never really got to know them, or Lauren in relation to them. I wanted to know how Lauren acted before, both by herself and in relation to other people, and I wish that had been explored some more.

That's my only complaint, though; everything else about this book is perfect. 17 & Gone is a captivating read, blurring the lines between reality, hallucinations, and the supernatural in a most compelling way. Nova Ren Suma has impressed me again with her luscious, atmospheric, eerie writing and unique and creepy stories. I can't wait for another one of her books!

Top Ten Tuesday #25: Fall TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish with a different topic for a top-ten list each week. You can find out more about it here.

This week's topic is: Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR


1. Fault Line by Christa Desir

That cover is simply stunning. And the story sounds just as great.

2. Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally

Miranda Kenneally's books are amazing, and I'm sure Racing Savannah will be no exception.

3. Meet Me at the River by Nina de Gramont

Meet Me at the River sounds creepy and messed-up and perfect for me.

4. Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards

The description is very vague, but it sounds intriguing!

5. Allegiant by Veronica Roth

I don't think I need to explain why I'm dying to read this one.

6. Anywhere But Here by Tanya Lloyd Kyi

Anywhere But Here sounds dark and depressing in the best way possible.

7. The Vow by Jessica Martinez

I really liked Jessica Martinez's Virtuosity, and this one sounds so good!

8. The Paradox of Vertical Flight by Emil Ostrovski

The Paradox of Vertical Flight sounds crazy and so unique! I always love when you combine serious issues with a light-hearted situation, which this book seems to do.

9. Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

I loved Pushing the Limits and Dare You To, and I can't wait to read Isaiah's story!

10. Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

Something Like Normal was one of my favorite reads last year, and I'm ridiculously excited for another book by Trish Doller. Thank God I don't have to wait much longer for the release of this one!

These are the fall releases I'm most excited to read - what are you planning on reading this fall?

Bookish Anticipation #28

Bookish Anticipation is a feature I do every once in a while to spotlight future releases I'm excited for. It was inspired by Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday. You can check out more of my Bookish Anticipation posts here.

The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky by Holly Schindler
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Release date: February 6th 2014 

August “Auggie” Jones lives with her Grandpa Gus, a trash hauler, in a poor part of town. So when her wealthy classmate’s father starts the House Beautification Committee, it’s homes like Auggie’s that are deemed “in violation.” Auggie is determined to prove that she is not as run-down as the outside of her house might suggest. Using the kind of items Gus usually hauls to the scrap heap, a broken toaster becomes a flower; church windows turn into a rainbow walkway; and an old car gets new life as spinning whirligigs. What starts out as a home renovation project becomes much more as Auggie and her grandpa discover a talent they never knew they had—and redefine a whole town’s perception of beauty, one recycled sculpture at a time. Auggie’s talent for creating found art will remind readers that one girl’s trash really is another girl’s treasure.

The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson
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Release date: January 7th 2014 

For the past five years, Hayley Kincaid and her father, Andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as he struggles to escape the demons that have tortured him since his return from Iraq. Now they are back in the town where he grew up so Hayley can attend school. Perhaps, for the first time, Hayley can have a normal life, put aside her own painful memories, even have a relationship with Finn, the hot guy who obviously likes her but is hiding secrets of his own.
Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over?

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
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Release date: November 5th 2013

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.
What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.
Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.
Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

The F-It List by Julie Halpern
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Release date: November 12th 2013

Alex’s father recently died in a car accident. And on the night of his funeral, her best friend Becca slept with Alex’s boyfriend. So things aren’t great. Alex steps away from her friendship with Becca and focuses on her family.
But when Alex finally decides to forgive Becca, she finds out something that will change her world again--Becca has cancer.
So what do you do when your best friend has cancer? You help her shave her head. And then you take her bucket list and try to fulfill it on her behalf. Because if that’s all you can do to help your ailing friend--you do it.

The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle
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Release date: March 18th 2014

Growing up in privileged, Manhattan social circles, Caggie’s life should be perfect, and it almost was until the day that her younger sister drowned when Caggie was supposed to be watching her. Stricken by grief, Caggie pulls away from her friends and family, only to have everyone misinterpret a crucial moment when she supposedly saves a fellow classmate from suicide. Now she’s famous for something she didn’t do and everyone lauds her as a hero. But inside she still blames herself for the death of her sister and continues to pull away from everything in her life, best friend and perfect boyfriend included. Then Caggie meets Astor, the new boy at school, about whom rumours are swirling and known facts are few. In Astor she finds someone who just might understand her pain, because he has an inner pain of his own. But the more Caggie pulls away from her former life to be with Astor, the more she realises that his pain might be darker, and deeper, than anything she’s ever felt. His pain might be enough to end his life…and Caggie’s as well.

Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor
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Release date: February 18th 2014

Zoe and her best friend, Olivia, have always had big plans for the future, none of which included Olivia getting sick. Still, Zoe is determined to put on a brave face and be positive for her friend.
Even when she isn't sure what to say. Even when Olivia misses months of school. Even when Zoe starts falling for Calvin, Olivia's crush.
The one thing that keeps Zoe moving forward is knowing that Olivia will beat this, and everything will go back to the way it was before. It has to. Because the alternative is too terrifying for her to even imagine.

Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens
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Release date: February 25th 2014

Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.
When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in "the Kool-Aid Kid," who has secrets of his own. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth.

Panic by Lauren Oliver
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Release date: March 4th 2014

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.
Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.
Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.
For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

Review: Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

Title: Wild Cards (Wild Cards #1)
Author: Simone Elkeles
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Release date: October 1st 2013
Pages: 352
Genre: Young Adult contemporary romance
Source: BEA - I received a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!
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After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.
Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I loved the Perfect Chemistry series, so I was really excited when I heard Simone Elkeles would be starting another Young Adult romance series. The set-up of the story is great. It's another love/hate story, exactly what Simone Elkeles does best. Sadly, though, I found the execution to be lacking, and I didn't like Wild Cards as much as the Perfect Chemistry books: it's an enjoyable read, but there were quite a few things about Wild Cards that didn't work for me.

Ashtyn and Derek are okay characters, but nothing special. I wish there'd been more showing and less telling: we're told Derek is a bad boy, but he never does more than play a relatively harmless prank. We're told Ashtyn is a football star, but we never actually get to see her play. We're told they have issues, but they never seem to struggle with anything other than their own stubbornness. 

The relationship between Ashtyn and Derek is, in a word, frustrating. I get that their fighting and going back and forth between hating and loving each other is the point, but it just got annoying after a while. Their feelings are so melodramatic: I wanted to tell them both to make up their minds and get over themselves. And it also bugged me that it's never even mentioned that their relationship is somewhat incestuous. They're not actually related, so this shouldn't have stopped them from doing anything. But I still found it strange how Ashtyn being Derek's step-aunt is never even mentioned in relation to them going out. That just seemed weird to me.

Other than romance, there really isn't much to the story. Both Ashtyn's and Derek's family storylines had potential but were never really elaborated on, which I found especially disappointing because these could have provided a better background for the issues in their relationship. 

Despite the melodrama and cliches, Wild Cards is an entertaining read. Simone Elkeles's style reads quickly, even when the story is underdeveloped. Wild Cards is a fun read, but it can't compare to the Perfect Chemistry series. I'm not sure whether I will be reading the rest of this series.

Review: Cherry Money Baby by John M Cusick

Title: Cherry Money Baby
Author: John M Cusick
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release date: September 10th 2013
Pages: 400
Genre: Young Adult contemporary
Source: BEA - I received a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!
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Cherry Kerrigan loves her simple life, her family’s tiny trailer, even working at Burrito Barn. Forget college — she’s marrying her sweetheart from next door. But here comes Ardelia Deen, a glamorous starlet who sweeps Cherry into a world of fast cars and penthouse parties. Now Cherry’s small-town life just seems so . . . small. When Ardelia drops a bomb of an offer — one involving a baby — Cherry knows her life will change forever, no matter what she decides. John M. Cusick focuses his signature wit on Hollywood royalty and the wide-eyed dreams of Small Town, U.S.A. in a novel about discovering who you are . . . and changing your mind.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I had absolutely zero expectations going into this novel. Cherry Money Baby sounded like it might be good, but it doesn't have a huge hook to reel you in. And that's what it turned out to be, too: there's no one special thing that would make this book amazing, but it's definitely a simple, good read.

I really liked the story of Cherry Money Baby. There is no one plot line that totally hooked me, no one thing I could say this book is really about. It's simply a good story. It develops in a very honest, realistic kind of way, making the pages turn all on their own. It's the kind of story that could head in any direction, and you just sit back and let it take you along. I don't know how to explain it; Cherry Money Baby is simply a story I enjoyed getting lost in.

I'm not sure what to make of the characters. Cherry was a little hard to relate to, because what she wants out of life is just so completely foreign to me. I didn't exactly like her, but I did enjoy reading about her. My favorite character is most definitely Ardelia: she is far from perfect, but she had me, like Cherry, hanging on to her every word. When the small-town stuff got too boring for me, I could always count on Ardelia to cause for another entertaining scene. There is something enticing about her character; I couldn't get enough of her. The scene in the park is my favorite!

The only part I didn't particularly like is the ending. Maybe I'm letting my own personal opinions get in the way here, but the final message just didn't sit right with me.

Still, Cherry Money Baby is a great read. It is understated and more on the slow side, but in the best way possible. Beautifully written and with a story unlike any I've read before (even if you can't tell from the description), Cherry Money Baby is a novel that I really enjoyed.

Review: 3:59 by Gretchen McNeil

Title: 3:59
Author: Gretchen McNeil
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Release date: September 17th 2013
Pages: 400
Genre: Young Adult science fiction
Source: BEA - I received a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!
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Josie Byrne's life is spiraling out of control. Her parents are divorcing, her boyfriend Nick has grown distant, and her physics teacher has it in for her. When she's betrayed by the two people she trusts most, Josie thinks things can't get worse.
Until she starts having dreams about a girl named Jo. Every night at the same time—3:59 a.m.
Jo's life is everything Josie wants: she's popular, her parents are happily married, and Nick adores her. It all seems real, but they're just dreams, right? Josie thinks so, until she wakes one night to a shadowy image of herself in the bedroom mirror – Jo.
Josie and Jo realize that they are doppelgängers living in parallel universes that overlap every twelve hours at exactly 3:59. Fascinated by Jo's perfect world, Josie jumps at the chance to jump through the portal and switch places for a day.
But Jo’s world is far from perfect. Not only is Nick not Jo's boyfriend, he hates her. Jo's mom is missing, possibly insane. And at night, shadowy creatures feed on human flesh.
By the end of the day, Josie is desperate to return to her own life. But there’s a problem: Jo has sealed the portal, trapping Josie in this dangerous world. Can she figure out a way home before it’s too late?

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I rarely read science fiction, so I was wary starting this book. Honestly, the only reason I even read it is because I wanted to meet Gretchen McNeil, which is why I got a signed ARC of this book at BEA this year. Going in with low expectations, 3:59 turned out to be a book I really enjoyed - it definitely has its flaws, and it's not going on my favorites shelf any time soon, but it was entertaining to say the least.

Science fiction-y, dystopian, mystery-ish (whatever this is) kinds of books make my head spin. I know this can't be the case, but with fast-paced plots like the one in 3:59, it always feels like the author is just making up new plot twists as they go along. And it definitely felt that way in 3:59 - there are some crazy plot twists, and it seemed like we had a new bad guy every couple of chapters. I'm split on what to make of this: on the one hand, that causes for a lot of suspense and an exciting read. On the other hand, though, it got a little too crazy and unrealistic for the contemporary/realistic fiction fan I am, and a little confusing, too.

I had some problems with the world-building, too. There are a couple of smaller details that don't match up. For example, how come the Nox attacked Josie on her first day, if they supposedly can't sense her because she's from another universe? And how come the visions at 3:59 just started now, if the two universes have already been connected for six months? I can never read science fiction or dystopian novels without questioning the little things like that. I also found it a little strange how Josie figured it all out: yes, she's a physics geek, but I still find it unrealistic for a couple of teenagers to figure it all out if leading scientist couldn't do it.

What bugged me the most, though, is the romance. It is entirely melodramatic and insta-love-y, how Josie and Nick risk so much for each other when they've only known each other for a couple of days. The romanceseems unnecessary for the main plot, and it always frustrates me when a romance storyline is forced onto a story that doesn't need it. Also, these two have the most inappropriately timed make-out session. Just saying.

Wow, it seems like I've only mentioned negative things about this book now. Which is strange, because that is definitely all that I thought about it. Yes, there are a lot of smaller things that didn't work for me. But 3:59 was still a very entertaining read for me: it's suspenseful and fun, and definitely kept the pages turning. If you can ignore the smaller things and just get lost in a fun story, I definitely recommend 3:59!

New Releases September 2013

New releases:

Me Since You by Laura Wiess
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Release date: September 3rd 2013

Sixteen-year-old Rowan is still reeling from her father’s suicide four months ago, after he failed to stop a man from leaping off an overpass to his death. The only witness is Eli, a teenaged boy wrapped deep in mourning for his own father, killed in action in Afghanistan. When Rowan and Eli meet, they recognize kindred spirits, and begin to navigate grief and its aftermath together.
Rowan can’t understand how her father could choose to leave her, and acts out, pushing away friends and taking risks with her safety. Rowan’s mother, wracked with her own guilt and sorrow over failing to save her husband, stops going to work and collects stray cats for comfort. Grief, fractured and unpredictable, rules their lives now. Rowan is lost—and sinking. But Eli represents a lifeline for Rowan, and as they struggle to make sense of what’s gone and what is left behind, they begin to fall in love. Me Since You is Laura Wiess at her finest—a beautiful, gripping and painfully honest examination of adolescence.

Dead Ends by Erin Jade Lange
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Release date: September 3rd 2013

Dane Washington is one suspension away from expulsion. In a high school full of “haves,” being a “have not” makes Dane feel like life is hurtling toward one big dead end. Billy D. spends his high school days in Special Ed and he’s not exactly a “have” himself. The biggest thing Billy’s missing? His dad. Billy is sure the riddles his father left in an atlas are really clues to finding him again and through a bizarre turn of events, he talks Dane into joining him on the search.
A bully and a boy with Down syndrome makes for an unlikely friendship, but together, they work through the clues, leading to unmarked towns and secrets of the past. But they’re all dead ends. Until the final clue . . . and a secret Billy shouldn’t have been keeping.

Leap of Faith by Jamie Blair
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Release date: September 3rd 2013

Leah Kurtz has finally found a place to call home, a town where she and baby Addy can live in peace, far from the drug-infested place she grew up. Chris is one of the best parts of her new life, the only person who’s ever made her feel safe. And now that she’s found him, there’s no way she can tell the truth:
Her real name is Faith, not Leah. She’s seventeen, not nineteen. And the baby isn’t hers—Faith kidnapped her.
Faith’s history catches up with her when a cop starts asking questions and Chris’s aunt spots her picture in the newspaper. She knows it’s time to run again, but if Faith leaves, she’ll lose Chris. If Chris is in love with a lie, though, did Faith ever really have him in the first place?

Fire with Fire (Burn for Burn #2) by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian
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Release date: September 3rd 2013

Lillia, Kat, and Mary had the perfect plan. Work together in secret to take down the people who wronged them. But things didn’t exactly go the way they’d hoped at the Homecoming Dance.
Not even close.
For now, it looks like they got away with it. All they have to do is move on and pick up the pieces, forget there ever was a pact. But it’s not easy, not when Reeve is still a total jerk and Rennie’s meaner than she ever was before.
And then there’s sweet little Mary…she knows there’s something seriously wrong with her. If she can’t control her anger, she’s sure that someone will get hurt even worse than Reeve was. Mary understands now that it’s not just that Reeve bullied her—it’s that he made her love him.
Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, burn for a burn. A broken heart for a broken heart. The girls are up to the task. They’ll make Reeve fall in love with Lillia and then they will crush him. It’s the only way he’ll learn.
It seems once a fire is lit, the only thing you can do is let it burn...

Hurt by Tabitha Suzuma
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Release date: September 5th 2013

Why? is the burning question on everyone’s lips. Why would a guy like Mathéo Walsh want to die? At seventeen, he is Britain’s most promising diving champion. He is a heartthrob, a straight A student and lives in one of the wealthiest areas of London. He has great mates and is the envy of everyone around him. And most importantly of all, he is deeply in love with his girlfriend, Lola. He has always been a stable, well-adjusted guy...
Until one weekend. A weekend he cannot seem to remember. All he knows is that he has come back a changed person. One who no longer knows how to have fun, no longer wants to spend time with his friends, no longer enjoys diving. Something terrible happened that weekend – something violent and bloody and twisted. He no longer knows who he is. He no longer trusts himself around people: he only wants to hurt, wound and destroy. Slowly, he begins to piece back the buried, fragmented memories, and finds himself staring at the reflection of a monster.
Tormented, Mathéo suddenly finds himself faced with the most devastating choice of his life. Keep his secret, and put those closest to him in terrible danger. Or confess, and lose Lola forever...

The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace
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Release date: September 8th 2013

Madelyn Hawkins is super smart. At sixteen, she's so gifted that she can attend college through a special program at her high school. On her first day, she meets Bennet. He's cute, funny, and kind. He understands Madelyn and what she's endured - and missed out on - in order to excel academically and please her parents. Now, for the first time in her life, she's falling in love.
There's only one problem. Bennet is Madelyn's college professor, and he thinks she's eighteen - because she hasn't told him the truth. The story of their forbidden romance is told in letters that Madelyn writes to Bennet - both a heart-searing ode to their ill-fated love and an apology.

Cherry Money Baby by John M Cusick
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Release date: September 10th 2013

Cherry Kerrigan loves her simple life, her family’s tiny trailer, even working at Burrito Barn. Forget college — she’s marrying her sweetheart from next door. But here comes Ardelia Deen, a glamorous starlet who sweeps Cherry into a world of fast cars and penthouse parties. Now Cherry’s small-town life just seems so . . . small. When Ardelia drops a bomb of an offer — one involving a baby — Cherry knows her life will change forever, no matter what she decides. John M. Cusick focuses his signature wit on Hollywood royalty and the wide-eyed dreams of Small Town, U.S.A. in a novel about discovering who you are . . . and changing your mind.

Living with Jackie Chan by Jo Knowles
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Release date: September 10th 2013

This isn’t how Josh expected to spend senior year. He thought he’d be hanging out with his best friends, Dave and Caleb, driving around, partying, just like always. But here he is, miles from home — new school, new life, living with his Jackie-Chan-obsessed uncle, Larry, and trying to forget. But Josh can’t forget. So many things bring back memories of last year and the night that changed everything. Every day the pain, the shame, and the just not knowing are never far from his thoughts. Why is he such a loser? How could he have done what he did? He finds some moments of peace when he practices karate with Stella, the girl upstairs and his one real friend. As they move together through the katas, Josh feels connected in a way he has never felt before. He wonders if they could be more than friends, but Stella’s jealous boyfriend will make sure that doesn’t happen. And maybe it doesn’t matter. If Stella knew the truth, would she still think he was a True Karate Man?

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
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Release date: September 10th 2013

In Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl, Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? Open her heart to someone? Or will she just go on living inside somebody else’s fiction?

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
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Release date: September 13th 2013

While flying an Allied fighter plane from Paris to England, American ATA pilot and amateur poet, Rose Justice, is captured by the Nazis and sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious women's concentration camp. Trapped in horrific circumstances, Rose finds hope in the impossible through the loyalty, bravery and friendship of her fellow prisoners. But will that be enough to endure the fate that’s in store for her?

Dead Girls Don't Lie by Jennifer Shaw Wolf
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Release date: September 17th 2013

Rachel died at two a.m . . . Three hours after Skyler kissed me for the first time. Forty-five minutes after she sent me her last text.
Jaycee and Rachel were best friends. But that was before. . .before that terrible night at the old house. Before Rachel shut Jaycee out. Before Jaycee chose Skyler over Rachel. Then Rachel is found dead. The police blame a growing gang problem in their small town, but Jaycee is sure it has to do with that night at the old house. Rachel’s text is the first clue—starting Jaycee on a search that leads to a shocking secret. Rachel’s death was no random crime, and Jaycee must figure out who to trust before she can expose the truth. 

3:59 by Gretchen McNeil
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Release date: September 17th 2013

Josie Byrne's life is spiraling out of control. Her parents are divorcing, her boyfriend Nick has grown distant, and her physics teacher has it in for her. When she's betrayed by the two people she trusts most, Josie thinks things can't get worse.
Until she starts having dreams about a girl named Jo. Every night at the same time—3:59 a.m.
Jo's life is everything Josie wants: she's popular, her parents are happily married, and Nick adores her. It all seems real, but they're just dreams, right? Josie thinks so, until she wakes one night to a shadowy image of herself in the bedroom mirror – Jo.
Josie and Jo realize that they are doppelgängers living in parallel universes that overlap every twelve hours at exactly 3:59. Fascinated by Jo's perfect world, Josie jumps at the chance to jump through the portal and switch places for a day.
But Jo’s world is far from perfect. Not only is Nick not Jo's boyfriend, he hates her. Jo's mom is missing, possibly insane. And at night, shadowy creatures feed on human flesh.
By the end of the day, Josie is desperate to return to her own life. But there’s a problem: Jo has sealed the portal, trapping Josie in this dangerous world. Can she figure out a way home before it’s too late?

Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts
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Release date: September 17th 2013

The world is living in the shadow of oncoming disaster. An asteroid is set to strike the earth in just one week’s time; catastrophe is unavoidable. The question isn’t how to save the world—the question is, what to do with the time that's left? Against this stark backdrop, three island teens wrestle with intertwining stories of love, friendship and family—all with the ultimate stakes at hand.

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
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Release date: September 17th 2013

Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.

Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller
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Release date: September 24th 2013

Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility.

Chasing Shadows by Swati Avasthi
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Release date: September 24th 2013

Before: Corey, Holly, and Savitri are one unit—fast, strong, inseparable. Together they turn Chicago concrete and asphalt into a freerunner’s jungle gym, ricocheting off walls, scaling buildings, leaping from rooftop to rooftop.
But acting like a superhero doesn’t make you bulletproof...
After: Holly and Savitri are coming unglued. Holly says she's chasing Corey's killer, chasing revenge. Savitri fears Holly's just running wild—and leaving her behind. Friends should stand by each other in times of crissi. But can you hold on too tight? Too long?

The Paradox of Vertical Flight by Emil Ostrovski
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Release date: September 24th 2013

On the morning of his eighteenth birthday, philosophy student and high school senior Jack Polovsky is somewhat seriously thinking of suicide when his cell phone rings. Jack's ex-girlfriend, Jess, has given birth, and Jack is the father. Jack hasn't spoken with Jess in about nine months—and she wants him to see the baby before he is adopted. The new teenage father kidnaps the baby, names him Socrates, stocks up on baby supplies at Wal-Mart, and hits the road with his best friend, Tommy, and the ex-girlfriend. As they head to Grandma's house (eluding the police at every turn), Jack tells baby Socrates about Homer, Troy, Aristotle, the real Socrates, and the Greek myths—because all stories spring from those stories, really. Even this one. Funny, heart-wrenching, and wholly original, this debut novel by Emil Ostrovski explores the nature of family, love, friendship, fate, fatherhood, and myth.

All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry
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Release date: September 26th 2013

Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town of Roswell Station. Two years ago, only Judith returned, permanently mutilated, reviled and ignored by those who were once her friends and family. Unable to speak, Judith lives like a ghost in her own home, silently pouring out her thoughts to the boy who’s owned her heart as long as she can remember—even if he doesn’t know it—her childhood friend, Lucas. But when Roswell Station is attacked, long-buried secrets come to light, and Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if it means changing her world, and the lives around her, forever. This startlingly original novel will shock and disturb you; it will fill you with Judith’s passion and longing; and its mysteries will keep you feverishly turning the pages until the very last.

New in paperback:

Butter by Erin Jade Lange
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Release date: September 3rd 2013

A boy everyone calls “Butter” is about to make Scottsdale High history. He’s going to eat himself to death live on the Internet – and everyone will watch.
He announces his deadly plan to an army of peers and expects pity, insults or even indifference. Instead, he finds morbid encouragement. When that encouragement tips the scales into popularity, Butter has a reason to live. But if he doesn’t go through with his plan, he’ll lose everything.

Shadowlands by Kate Brian
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Release date: September 3rd 2013

Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived … and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection with her father and sister, Darcy, leaving their friends and family without so much as a goodbye.
Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children, but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. But just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?

Ask the Passengers by A.S. King
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Release date: September 10th 2013

Astrid Jones copes with her small town's gossip and narrow-mindedness by staring at the sky and imagining that she's sending love to the passengers in the airplanes flying high over her backyard. Maybe they'll know what to do with it. Maybe it'll make them happy. Maybe they'll need it. Her mother doesn't want it, her father's always stoned, her perfect sister's too busy trying to fit in, and the people in her small town would never allow her to love the person she really wants to: another girl named Dee. There's no one Astrid feels she can talk to about this deep secret or the profound questions that she's trying to answer. But little does she know just how much sending her love--and asking the right questions--will affect the passengers' lives, and her own, for the better.
In this unmistakably original portrayal of a girl struggling to break free of society's boxes and definitions, Printz Honor author A.S. King asks readers to question everything--and offers hope to those who will never stop seeking and sharing real love.

Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt
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Release date: September 17th 2013

Mia’s used to being the perfect teenager: pretty, popular, smart, caring. But that was before she was diagnosed with leukemia. Now, her father has become Captain Cancer Facts and her mother is obsessed with maintaining Mia’s image. Her maybe-more-than-a-friend, Gyver, is judging her decision not to tell the other cheerleaders that she’s sick. Her life’s about to change and she’s terrified by the loss of control.
Mia’s always been superstitious, but as her body starts to feel like it belongs less to her and more to the doctors and their needles, she becomes irrationally dependent on horoscopes, fortune cookies, and good luck charms. As chemotherapy replaces cheerleading and platelets replace parties, Mia just wants normal back. But despite searching for clues in everything from songs on the radio to her Magic 8 Ball, her future is coming up Outlook not so good.

Ten by Gretchen McNeil
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Release date: September 17th 2013

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives – an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school's most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury. But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.
Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off the from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn't scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton
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Release date: September 24th 2013

How can you talk about something you can't remember?
When sixteen-year-old cheerleader Cassidy "Sid" Murphy ends up on a ski lift next to handsome college boy, Dax Windsor, she's thrilled; but Dax isn't what he seems. He takes everything from Sid - including a lock of her perfect red curls - and she can't remember any of it. Back home and alienated by her old friends, Sid forms an unlikely friendship with Corey "The Living Stoner" Livingston (slacker, baker, total dreamboat) and finds someone who truly makes her happy. Now if she can just shed the nightmares and those few extra pounds, everything will be perfect... or so Sid thinks.

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
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Release date: September 24th 2013

When Travis Stephenson returns home from Afghanistan, his parents are on the brink of divorce, his brother has stolen his girlfriend and his car, and nightmares of his best friend getting killed keep him completely spooked. But when he runs into Harper Gray, a girl who despises him for trashing her reputation with a middle school lie, life actually starts looking up. As Travis and Harper see more of each other, he starts falling for her and a way through the family meltdown, the post-traumatic stress, and the possibility of an interesting future begins to emerge.