Waiting on Wednesday

Tandem by Anna Jarzab

Everything repeats.
You. Your best friend. Every person you know.
Many worlds. Many lives--infinite possibilities.
Welcome to the multiverse.

Sixteen-year-old Sasha Lawson has only ever known one small, ordinary life. When she was young, she loved her grandfather's stories of parallel worlds inhabited by girls who looked like her but led totally different lives. Sasha never believed such worlds were real--until now, when she finds herself thrust into one against her will.

To prevent imminent war, Sasha must slip into the life of an alternate version of herself, a princess who has vanished on the eve of her arranged marriage. If Sasha succeeds in fooling everyone, she will be returned home; if she fails, she'll be trapped in another girl's life forever. As time runs out, Sasha finds herself torn between two worlds, two lives, and two young men vying for her love--one who knows her secret, and one who thinks she's someone she's not.

The first book in the Many-Worlds Trilogy, Tandem is a riveting saga of love and betrayal set in parallel universes in which nothing--and no one--is what it seems.

Why yes, I have found another awesome sounding parallel universe book. With an even better premise, in my opinion! Tandem sounds absolutely amazing! Parallel worlds AND a double life. Two of my favorite things! Plus I love that cover!

Also, am I the only one who thinks that Tandem sounds Hunger Games-ish and Multiverse sounds Dr. Who-ish?

Mini Freak Out: Emblaze by Jessica Shirvington

Mini Freak Out
(Non spoilery. I think)

Goodreads Blurb

 Once again Violet Eden faces an impossible choice ... and the consequences are unimaginable.
Violet has come to terms with the fact that being part angel, part human, means her life will never be as it was.
Now Violet has something Phoenix - the exiled angel who betrayed her - will do anything for, and she has no intention of letting it fall into his hands. The only problem is that he has something she needs too.
Not afraid to raise the stakes, Phoenix seemingly holds all the power, always one step ahead. And when he puts the final pieces of the prophecy together, it doesn't take him long to realise exactly who he needs in order to open the gates of Hell.
With the help of surprising new allies, ancient prophecies are deciphered, a destination set and, after a shattering confrontation with her father, Violet leaves for the islands of Greece without knowing if she will have a home to return to...

 Well well, it's been a while since one of these! WARNING: LOTSA CUSSING. I shall use ze asteriks.

Pages: Reaction

7: Ummm...I forgot everything...O_O

15: DELUDED, KID. YOU'RE DELUDED

37: The delight sounds good, but what's the horror for? *suspicion*

41: I love Phoenix. SO MUCH.

43: TAKE THAT BACK VIOLET. YOU COULD LOVE PHOENIX.

54: Ze dad iis blind.

59: GO VI.

61: Oh, bad idea random exile.

64: They have the Maddox...*thinks of Beautiful Disaster* Please, no.

66: OHOHOH

69: Come here, Violet, let me hug you and MAKE YOU REALIZE THAT PHONEIX IS SO MUCH BETTER

71:*snorts* I bet Spence's emotions are different than yours. Plus, this is PHOENIX. I'd do anything to see him lol.

76: OH SHI*

81: O_______O Oh my gosh. That's so sad D:

87: ASKDF:NWDSC

95: NUH UH. PHOENIX WOULDN'T HURT STEPH.

97: O_O VIOLET DON'T YOU DARE

113: Awkkkkwarrrddd

134: YOU SHOULD. I love Phoenix. :D In case you didn't know.

138: STOP IT LINC. THEY'RE PERFECT TOGETHER.

136: Suckerrrrrr. (I'm talking about Jase. Not the others)

155: SERIOUSLY? SERIOUSLY? SERIOUSLY?

160: Steph, you're genius

174: OUCH

179: Okay, maybe I do like Linc. *wavers* NO. TEAM PHOENIX. I think.

186: DANGER DANGER DANGER

187: Oh, poor Jase. I feel so bad for you :(

197: Shi* just got real.

200: STOP IT WITH YOUR HERO COMPLEX, VI. I LOVE YOU, BUT STILL.

204: YEAH LINC. ARE YOU DEFICIENT?

211: Oh my God. I'm starting to storngly dislike your father, Vi.

213: Oh my GOD, SPENCE. I GATHER YOU IN A HUG MENTALLY.

219: I don't think I'm going to like this chick.

222: D:

225: TELL HERRRRRRR.

229: BAHAHA I LOVE SPENCE. Also, BS with Grigori? SOUNDS FUN

235: O_O Uh oh

242: HOW DID IT THAT THERE. MANY STARES.

246: *giggles*

261: GRIM REAPERS GRIM REAPERS. RUNNNNNN.

276: O_O WOAH WOAH WOAH.

281: OMG. OMG. OMG. *SQUEALS* FINALLY. Okay, I may be a bit Team Lincoln.

283: NOOOOOOOO.

286: Are you surprise? IT'S JOSEPHINE

288: SADNESS

291: NEVER MIND TOTALLY TEAM PHOENIX *throws self into imaginary Phoenix's arms*

293: HE DOESN'T HATE YOU.

300: Gaping commence

304: YOU DIDN'T

305: LOLOL

323: TALK ABOUT SHOW OFF

347: DID YOU JUST FIGURE IT OUT

350: Oh my God. VIOLET, DON'T YOU DARE

361: Okay, so Phoenix is a bit demented, but I still love him

375: SADFLJHEWIIIIINALKHNRHI$#WURPO@QJNRE

377: NONONONONONO

379: SHI* SHI* SHI*

387: DAMN RIGHT HE DOES. DON'T HURT HIM

389: FUC*

391: Oh my God. You're kidding me. So she's winter, he's the sun, she's vanilla, he's honey. So basically e's gold and she's silver? *headdesk*

402: SEE. HE IS NOT EVIL. MUCH

408: Oh dam* O_O

410: MEEEEP

418: YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HER CONDITIONS. DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON HER

432: dude, you have no chance. Trust me.

445: OH MY GOD YOU CAN'T JUST FREAKING END IT THERE.

So that was longer than usual plus I'm too much in shock to write a review. So, yeah.

Pages: 464

Genre: Paranormal

Series: Violet Eden Chapters #3

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: March 5, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Goodreads Blurb

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?
When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds. 
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs? 

Only I would get this AFTER I met the author and couldn't get it signed.

Anyways.

You guys, I feel like this is the perfect summer read. It's a sweet, light story about first love and it's just one of those stories you read to cheer up. It was like a fairy tale--something that's so sweet and a story you just want to read over and over again, but something that's 99% never going to happen. It was such a beautiful love story that I desperately wish was real!

Graham and Ellie had such developed personalities that made me love them all the more! Graham was the sweet celebrity who, in typical fashion, was tired of all the publicity, all the paparazzi, all the fame and glory. While I did say typical, we don't really have many books like that, do we? And Ellie was the small town girl (livin' in a lonely world. She took the midnight train...okay, off topic) who just wanted to stay an anonymity. I can't say why, since that's sort of a spoiler, but it's explained early on in the book!

And so, I wasn't entirely being honest about the light. We do deal with some more emotional issues, but they're far-fetched ones. They do play a role in the story though, and bring a nice bit of conflict in! (I feel sadist) I loved the flow of the story, the way it was told, all that jazz. It really was a beautiful fluff!

I was a bit confused as to why Ellie's BFF was so pissed at her though. I mean, everyone keeps a secret, and the emails were something personal to Ellie. I didn't see WHY Quinn was so angry! Or why she was angry that Ellie was surprised about Quinn and Devon, especially after Quinn made fun of Devon before. Quinn was a...rather awkward character.

Seriously, perfect summer read! Especially beach-side with ice cream. Really. And if you're a fan of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, you're going to love This is What Happy Looks Like! (Which is the perfect title.)

Oh. And favorite quote?

"Nothing's all that scary if you can see it coming."

I'm a fan of the deep and meaningful quotes. (I slap them on my wall. Makes a giant collage)

Pages: 416

Genre: Contemporary

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Poppy

Release Date: April 2, 2013

Rating: 4.5--> 4 stars

Week of a Fiction Freak

HELLO HELLO. Yeah, I renamed this since it had such a BORING name. And made a banner. 

I like it! Anywho, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE TEAM PERRY TOMORROW IN THE YA CRUSH TOURNEY GUYS! Then head back to this link to enter to win a signed copy of UNDER THE NEVER SKY. 

It's been a great week for books!

Huh. They all look color-schemed.

Author
Venom by Fiona Paul
Thin Space by Jody Casella

Publisher
FML by Shaun Davis Hutchinson
(Not shown) Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Giveaway
Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green
When You were Here by Daisy Whitney

Bought
Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey
and...

I GOT A NEW PHONE!

I traded with Fiona for the paperback of Venom (now I have the ARC, the hardback, and the paperback, ALL SIGNED!) and oh my gosh, you GUYS. It is SO gorgeous! I got Thin Space through Jody who was SUPER sweet and got me an ARC! You guys, I am extremely excited for this and I ADORE the cover!

FML was unsolicited and I'm not sure if I'll review it. It doesn't sound like my type of book and it's gotten a ton of negative/mixed reviews. I read Dirty Little Secret already and absolutely ADORED it. 

Okay, so I actually DON'T know how Truth or Dare got into my mailbox since I never remembered winning it and it was addressed to my mom...? But I'm not complaining! I got Where She Went from Kimberly Sabatini's blog and am SO excited! It definitely sounds like something I'll love!

YES I HAVE ASHES ON THE WAVES. I AM SUPER STOKED TO READ THIS. Gorgeous cover, loved Shattered souls, love any retellings, ugh. This is like it was written for me lol. AND OMG YES A NEW PHONE. I AM SO HAPPY. And I love my lock screen. Hopefully it creeps out some of my friends (gorgeous pic though.) 

Weekly Recap

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

Waiting on Wednesday

Nameless by Lili St. Crow

Born of Illusion by Teri Brown

Mind Games by Kiersten White

Mind Games by Kiersten White

Goodreads Blurb

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. 
Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.
In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

I had absolutely no idea how much I absolutely loved this. Seriously. Look at my tweets.
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345205363882196994
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345204604650283008
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345200520987828227
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345197273782816768
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345190705213362176
And there were a ton more actually. But they're all pretty much the same.

Walking in, I was a bit skeptical since there were more than enough mixed reviews to make me a bit anxious. But I really shouldn't have worried! Mind Games absolutely blew my mind--and that's a complete understatement.

For a Sci-fi/Supernatural book, Mind Games definitely has some of the most broken characters I've met. They were all so fleshed out--though I do wish we met more "students" besides are heartbreaking sisters and Eden (Annie's friend).
Fia was by far my favorite of the two sisters. She was loyal, smart, and she didn't have to depend on her perfect instinct all the time. She knew what she had to do, when she had to do it, and knew what was unreasonable. I loved her stubborn nature, but her bitterness just broke my heart clean in two. She sacrificed so much for Annie and it definitely wasn't without consequences. She was the broken one, the one that needed saving--but how do you save someone who doesn't want to be saved?
Annie, while not a bad character, just didn't click with me as well as Fia. She was so much more...rude, I guess, and I don't think she fully understood exactly how much Fia was sacrificing and exactly what she needed.

As for the romance, we don't really focus on it, but I adored James so much. He cared so much about Fia and knew exactly what to do and say to comfort her. He may have been an asshole, but he's a sweet one who has all the traits of an arrogant, swoony, love interest.
There's no romance for Annie yet, but I'm pretty sure Adam is her guy. We don't really learn much about him, but he's a very...interesting character.
Kiersten  White did a brilliant job creating characters who matched our heroines personality perfectly. Fia had someone who she could find comfort in, but could understand her pain, while I feel like Adam's cheery personality would definitely help Annie start accepting the fact that she couldn't protect her sister 24/7 and that her little sister's already so much more grown up than herself.

The plot was wonderfully paced and while, I realized suddenly, nothing much happens, you just can't help but get addicted to the pages, and just keep on reading. There's something about the way White writes that just pulls you straight in until the end--where you're still going to be begging for more. What does happen keeps me on my toes though and it definitely sets up the sequel wonderfully! I can absolutely NOT wait!

I absolutely loved how Kiersten White chose to tell this story too. We alternate between the past and the present so that we get to fall in love with our characters from the beginning as well as understand them a bit more. It really is heartbreaking how they evolved into the people they were now.

My only complaint is that I would've loved more plot and more focus on their gifts and how they got them, but that's really about it--it didn't affect my reading enjoyment at all!

Stunning, beautiful, and absolutely breathtaking, Kiersten White lives up to her expectations with Mind Games! Heartbreaking characters, a kickass plot, and enchanting writing, I'm not quite sure how this book isn't loved by everyone!

Pages: 237
Genre: Sci-fi/Supernatural
Series: Mind Games #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: Feb 19, 2013
Rating: 7/5 Stars

Born of Illusion by Teri Brown

Goodreads Blurb

Anna Van Housen is thirteen the first time she breaks her mother out of jail. By sixteen she’s street smart and savvy, assisting her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, and easily navigating the underground world of magicians, mediums and mentalists in 1920’s New York City. Handcuffs and sleight of hand illusions have never been much of a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping her true gifts secret from her opportunistic mother, who will stop at nothing to gain her ambition of becoming the most famous medium who ever lived. But when a strange, serious young man moves into the flat downstairs, introducing her to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, he threatens to reveal the secrets Anna has fought so hard to keep, forcing her to face the truth about her past. Could the stories her mother has told her really be true? Could she really be the illegitimate daughter of the greatest magician of all?

So when Annabelle from Sparkles and Lightning recommended this to me, I was a bit unsure about it. I mean, it reminded me a lot, a LOT, of DIVINERS by Libba Bray and I wasn't the biggest fan of it. But she did convince me so I requested it via Edelweiss...and WOW.

Seeing things from a "charlatan's" point of view was interesting--seeing how Anna did her tricks and how her lifestyle was like. She made for an interesting character and I found it interesting how she was pulled between wanting to lead a normal life and wanting to show off her magic tricks, wanting to do both, but knowing that was almost impossible.

The biggest part of this book, really, was the relationship between herself and her mother. It seemed to be a mix of love, hate, jealousy, and greed, but it turned out to be so much more than that. It's definitely something a lot of readers can relate to, that love/hate relationship. I enjoyed it and it definitely came to play near the end and I have a feeling that it'll be a very significant part of the sequel! (Not sure if there is one, but if there isn't, my my, that's a lot of unanswered questions!)

The romance bit definitely was a bit disappointing. It felt much like insta-love, the way the two meet and their reaction. There's literally an electrical charge between them too. Literally. When the l-word came into play, I honestly just rolled my eyes a bit, I'll say that. Otherwise it was pretty sweet! And I loved Cole.

The plot was perfectly paced and I was instantly drawn to this world of conmen and magic. The plot was thick with distrust and there were so many things that just shocked me! ESPECIALLY that ending! While I expected part of it, the other part pretty much blew my mind. There are a lot of subplots that capture your interest and they just built up the suspense until the ending scene. Which I loved!

We don't really learn much about the Society for Physical Research and I found that a tad disappointing, but the way that this story is told fully makes up for that. Born of Illusion is a tale of magic, mystery, and intrigue that will keep you on your toes until the very end! I'd recommend it for fans of Mysteries and HisFics! Especially if you're a fan of In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters!

P.S. while reading this, we were talking about the Roaring Twenties and Reconstruction. Perfect timing!

Pages: 352
Genre: Historical/Paranormal
Series:Born ofIllusion #1
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Rating: 3.5--->4 stars