Publisher: Harper
Pages: 384
Source: Publisher

Phoebe Hall is attempting to adjust to a new life. Her once successful career as a bestselling author is in jeopardy when she is accused and found guilty of plagiarism. Her personal life is not much better, her long-time boyfriend abruptly leaves before the accusations, and Phoebe doesn't know who to turn to. When her agent suggests that she change her plans and keep a low profile until the media storm calms down, Phoebe is elated when her friend Glenda offers her a teaching job at a small-town university in Pennsylvania. Phoebe retreats to Lyle College, and never expects to become involved in a media frenzy once again. A young girl, in Phoebe's class mysteriously disappears and is found drowned in the river that boarders the college. One year previously, the girl's boyfriend disappears and no one has heard from him since. Lyle College has a strict policy that no fraternities or sororities be allowed. When the administration hears about a Secret Society they set out to quickly shut it down. When it becomes clear that the Sixes may have a connection to the drowned girl, Phoebe uses her research skills to assist Glenda, the president of the college. Things take a turn for the worst when Phoebe begins to uncover their secrets, her home begins to be targeted by the Sixes and Phoebe is not sure what they will do next. It is clear that Phoebe has been warned to keep her distance. Just when Phoebe thinks she has a lead, she is quickly thrown off course.

The Sixes is a page-turner, it's engaging, entertaining, and well-worth the read. I was skeptical of everyone, and questioned all the secondary characters. I trusted no one, except Phoebe. I really enjoyed Kate White's previous novel Hush, and would recommend this one as well. Honestly, Hush was a great read. The characters are full of intrigue and well developed. Kate White does an excellent job of engaging the reader and keep them guessing throughout. Phoebe will stop at nothing in her investigation. As she is threatened, and endangered she still continues with her search. It really makes readers question her character, she's not a detective, she's a writer and at what point will she step back. Phoebe does get involved in a romance and readers are not sure where the relationship is going. While I wanted to enjoy the romance aspect, I couldn't because I couldn't trust anyone. I felt like I was in the dark until the end. If you're looking for a good mystery/thriller I would try this one out. It's not very scary, but full of mystery.

Publisher Harcourt
Pages: 352
Source: Personal Ebook

Elly is sixteen years old, and pregnant. After returning to the US from Kenya she has been running wild, drinking, doing drugs and skipping school. Her boyfriend Lam is two years older than her but encourages her wild ways. When she discovers she's pregnant, she didn't worry right away. She never expected that she would carry the baby to term, she assumed she would miscarry. She continued her ways, until she realized that the pregnancy was real and she needed to deal with the situation. Her missionary parents were livid with her, they planned to return to Kenya, and Elly was given two choices. She could return to Kenya with them- without the baby, or move to California with her sister and give the baby to her. Sarah had miscarried three times, and would love to raise the baby with her husband. A stubborn Elly decides to marry Lam and remains up in the air about what to do. Both sets of parents are not thrilled but agree to allow them to marry. Elly will join Lam and his parents at the family summer camp and assist with the children. Their struggles escalate when Lam tries to convince Elly to give the baby to his parents who are still grieving the loss of their second child. Lam becomes distant, and Elly throws herself into camp life and begins to enjoy working with the children. Elly is constantly under the scrutiny of her in-laws, Lam is never around and her parents have gone to Kenya.

Pregnant Pause is a heartbreaking novel, a cautionary tale that demonstrates that endings are not always happily-ever-after. Elly's character is very annoying when the book begins, but by the end she redeemed herself in my eyes. Clearly, Elly is a teenager and becoming pregnant hasn't suddenly matured her. Lam is continuing her immature ways, and Elly tries to mostly ignore him. This book does not glamorize pregnancy in any way. The parents really bothered me, really, really bothered me. Both sets of parents tried to manipulate the teenagers into doing what they wanted. It seemed like Elly didn't matter anymore, Elly was a rebel and would always be in their eyes. Elly's parents never tried to guide their daughter, they set out their options and that was that, no further discussion. The parents were trying to do what was best for them, Elly would have to deal. Elly's parents continually talk about the children in Kenya and how they are needed, while Elly is trying to wrap her mind around why her parents don't think she needs them anymore. I would love for a second book because the ending was not at all what I was expecting, I do not want to give away any spoilers but the ending was fantastic. I was in a complete shock, and my disgust for the other characters grew immensely.

Publisher: Hyperion
Pages: 352
Source: Personal Copy

Sophie Mercer is sixteen years old, and has already attended nineteen different schools in nineteen different states. Her mother is desperately trying to allow Sophie to have a normal high school experience but the problem is that Sophie is not like the other students; she was born to a warlock father, and human mother. Her powers are too tempting to resist however, she hasn't perfected a spell and attracts attention. Usually, she is discovered for who she is. Her father is not actively in her life, but she does speak to him occasionally. When a love spell goes wrong on prom night, Sophie is sent to Hectate Hall where she must stay until she is eighteen years old. She is banished to a reform school for prodigium students. This is the first time Sophie will live among witches, warlocks, faeries, and shape shifters and they are astounded that she knows so little about who she is, or who her father is. On her first day of school she is singled out and clearly doesn't fit in. Within her first few minutes on school property, a handsome boy saves her from a werewolf when Sophie is caught off guard and can only muster 'bad dog.' Her roommate is the only vampire on campus, and a group of three witches try to convince Sophie to join their coven. When Sophie turns down their offer, they quickly become her enemies. Sophie is not looking forward to the next two years.

Hex Hall is a fast, fun, entertaining read. Sophie is a very sarcastic character, and I really enjoyed her. She begins the novel very naive, and clueless. She is years behind the other students in her knowledge of prodigium but her knowledge doesn't grow too much throughout the novel. As Sophie learns about her past, it felt very patchy. I don't understand why she wasn't trying to seek out more concrete answers. The book doesn't have many twists or shocking moments; it seemed more about world and character building. Since it was a fast read, this didn't bother me too much. I would have liked more action. When characters are being attacked, I didn't really feel the fear of the other students. It seemed downplayed. This is the first book in the series, and I'm interested in the progression of the characters. This book does have some flaws, but they may be redeemed in the later books. Many YA novels have teenagers who seem wiser than their years, Sophie clearly is a teenager. I really enjoyed that aspect of her character. Overall, I enjoyed the novel but I'm curious about where Rachel Hawkins will go next. I think this was a great first novel. The ending certainly leaves you wanting more, giving me a lot of hope for the next book. If you're curious about this one, give it a try. I honestly enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to book Demonglass.

Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 336
Source: Personal Ebook

Clea Raymond is a seventeen-year-old photojournalist. She's constantly in the limelight; her mother is a high profile politician, and her father a world-renowned surgeon. Paparazzi have wrecked havoc on her social life. As difficult as that has been, her life comes crashing to a halt when her father goes missing. It has been a year since he went missing, and Clea cannot move on, she's constantly thinking about her father. Her mother has done the opposite; she's thrown herself into her career and quickly changes the subject when Clea brings up the situation. Clea visits an empty grave, and wonders if her father may be alive. For a year now, Clea has wanted to visit Brazil and investigate her father's disappearance. When a photojournalist job is pitched to Clea, she has to convince her mother to sign the parental authorization form. While it does come with a lecture, Clea is allowed to go as long as she goes with her friend/bodyguard named Ben. Before she sets out to Brazil, Clea notices something very strange in her pictures. Upon enlarging her photos she notices a man in each and every photo. It's even creepier when Clea explores her father's photos and noticed the same man in pictures with her. These photos really disturb her, and he begins appearing in her dreams. Every time she closes her eyes this man appears, the time frames shift and Clea becomes different women but he is always there. On her trip to Brazil, the man appears again, but this time he's living and running away from her. Clea eventually catches up to him, and notices her father's coveted watch on his arm. Clea should be scared but she's more intrigued, and attracted to this stranger- there is something about him that makes her feel comfortable.

Elixir was a really enjoyable read and I was pleasantly surprised. Elixir has great plot-twists, a captivating romance, a mysterious disappearance and the element of surprise. I didn't expect much from this book, and I had seen very mixed reviewed. I think Duff should have written under a pseudonym, she might have received a different reaction. Elise Allen is credited as a co-writer, and I think the two pair up well. I won't say that this book is written flawlessly, there is room for improvement but the entertaining aspect of the book had me hooked. I was actually counting down the page numbers, because I was getting worried about how it would end. I did find it weird that as a Senator's daughter everyone knew who Clea was, that was a little unrealistic to me. The secondary characters are memorable, and help build to the story. Elixir had me engaged and left me wanting more. I will be reading Devoted soon, because I need to know what happens next. Since I received the ARC, I went home and flipped through some pages because I needed to know where the book was going. Overall, Duff had me wrapped up in the romance, and love triangle, I was turning the pages as fast as I could to find out what would happen, and I hoped she would find her father alive.

Simon and Schuster
Pages: 448
Source: Publisher

Dr Luke Findley is recently divorced, he has returned to his childhood hometown in Maine to take care of matters for his ailing mother. When his mother passes away, Luke is all alone. His life in St Andrews has become routine, and comfortable but not entirely satisfying. His ex-wife and daughters have moved on. On a midnight shift Luke is shocked to find a young woman brought in by the police, bloodied and accused of killing a man, leaving his body in the woods. On a frigid night, Luke was expecting to treat frostbitten drunks; this was not on this radar. Immediately Lanore McIlvrae completely captivates Luke; inexplicably Luke wants to help. Lanny is not denying that she has murdered someone but she tries to explain herself to Luke. After convincing Luke to free one of her cuffed hands, Lanny pulls out a scalpel and plunges it deep within her chest. A distraught Luke is stunned to see her flesh heal before his eyes. Luke has no idea what she is, but he feels compelled to assist her. Luke doesn't have much time but he must make a decision. The police have gone looking for the body, and Lanny is in his care. A novel rooted in the paranormal, filled with horror and suspense. Lanny's history is filled with alchemy, deceit, and romance.

The Taker is a fascinating read, full of gothic mystery and intrigue. Alma Katsu is an incredible writer, enchanting her readers with a haunting tale. The Taker spans centuries and continents as we learn who Lanny really is, and what her story is. Lanny is immortal, and the essence of the story is her love for Jonathan., a young man that was always deemed too good for her, a young man that captured her heart and tore at her core. It's hard to believe that this is Katsu's debut novel, her writing is flawless. The Taker is a book that is undeniably adult, for the open minded reader who is willing to step outside of their boundaries. In my opinion this book is not for everyone, and not for the squeamish. While I fell in love with the book immediately, half way through I became very nervous and wasn't expecting the obscurity of the novel. As the book shifted gears and became very dark and graphic I started to be turned off, and had to take a break. I knew I needed to come back when I had a few hours to devote to it and finish. While I adored the opening of the book, my adoration never truly returned for the characters. This was due to the malicious character's that began to unfold. I appreciate the novel for what it is; a work of art that is unquestionably filled with talent, and skillfully crafted.

Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 480
Source: Personal Ebook

Amor Deliria Nervosa, a disease so strong and powerful society has restructured its regulations around the disease. It has been sixty-four years since politicians have identified love as illegal. Scientists have perfected a cure, a cure that is administered at the age of eighteen rendering its patience incapable of feeling love or strong emotion. The life of a minor includes gender segregation, censorship, and media influence. The life of an adult is fear of the constant raids within the city. Lena is seventeen, weeks away from the cure and enjoying her last few weeks of the summer. Her mother was a victim of Amor Deliria Nervosa committing suicide to escape when the cure failed three times. The suicide is a family embarrassment that Lena has had to endure for many years. She's been living with her aunt for many years, and Lena is relieved that she will have the cure administer by the end of summer. When her best friend Hana shows signs of rebellion, Lena cannot understand why she is fighting the system. The cure is inevitable, and meant to harm no one. Lena is a product of her environment and trusts the rules implemented. When Lena meets Alex, she is pleased to find out that he is a cured college student living the life that was assigned to him. When Lena begins to recognize the signs of Amor Deliria Nervosa she is afraid, and confused. Her confusion is heightened when she learns that Alex has many secrets, dire secrets that could be deadly should the government uncover them. Lena must decide if she trusts Alex enough to fulfill his dream of them being together or a government that has been in power for sixty-four years. The Book of SHH states that victims of the disease will lose their mind and make hasty decisions. Lena must make her decision; for once it has been made she may never go back.

Delirium is an amazing dystopian that will have you on your toes afraid for the characters within the pages. When closing the pages readers will be blown-away, shocked and distressed. The main characters are sympathetic, real and multi-dimensional. The progression of Lena was well written. We begin the novel with her wholeheartedly believing in her environment and her beliefs do not change overnight. Lauren Oliver created a haunting story where emotion is lacking on every level. The cure has relinquished society to have the ability to have strong emotions. Parents lack the bonding with their children, their roles as parents solely include duty to the government. Every character in the story was well developed and intriguing. My Special Edition had me running to read the first few pages of Pandemonium. I'm not really sure how I can wait for the next one to come out; this book was that amazing. This is young adult dystopian at its finest. The hype for this novel is not unfounded in my opinion. I'm a reader desperately waiting for the sequel. I bought the Ebook buy a hard-copy is a must.

Publisher: Ballentine Books
Pages: 208
Source: Personal Copy

"Four-hundred and fifty degrees - the combustion point of paper."

Fahrenheit 451 depicts a frightening world where books have been banned. The very men who sought to extinguish fires are now setting fires. Books are illegal and will be burned upon retrieval. Bradbury portrays a world consumed with television, a world where censorship prevails and original thoughts are confined. Guy Montage is a book-burning fireman, a man whose life changes when he meets a young girl name Clarisse. Guy begins to want to see more than what's in front of him. While Guy is wrapped up in his confusion and begins to ask questions his fire chief tells him "if you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question or worry him; give him one." Guy begins step out of the box, so many of his people have stopped thinking and asking questions, focusing only on material things. Guy's wife Mildred is no acceptation to the rule; she will hear nothing of what Guy believes. When Guy begins hiding books in his home, he knows Mildred would report him if given the chance. She has been thoroughly brainwashed into submission. Mildred lives vicariously through television programs, her life is almost meaningless. Government policy believes 'The home environment can undo a lot [they] try to do at school. That's why [they've] lowered the kindergarten age year after year until now [they're] almost snatching them from the cradle." People are lacking the quality of information, the leisure to digest and the right to carry out actions based on what they learn.

First, I would like to say that Ray Bradbury's writing is phenomenal. There are so many amazing quotes that can be taken from this book. While this book has been placed on many banned lists, this is a book that should be read. A powerful read that will surely remain with readers for a long time, a classic book that still resonates today. The reality is much closer to the truth than we would like it to be, many parallel's can be drawn between our world and this fictional world. We have filled our world with technology, and some would argue that we are more removed from society than ever before. Of course, this would depend on how the technology is being used from person to person. There is no question that not everyone uses technology to be more informed, simply more entertained. Themes that are explored in this book are censorship, individuality, illiteracy and suicide, among many more. Society has no sense of reality. Bradbury will cause you to stop and contemplate. Where are we, and where are we going? If you treasure your books, you will want to read this one. Simply, a must read.

Publisher: Sourcebooks
Pages: 544
Source: Publisher
Matilda has been summoned to come home to England after the death of her husband, the German Emperor. Their only heir did during childbirth, and now Matilda has no purpose. She is well aware that she is another pawn in her father's political game, and worries about her future and duty. While at home in England and waiting for her father to drop the ball and tell her who she will marry next, she befriends her stepmother Adeliza. Adeliza is a few years younger than herself, and both find true companionship, forming a bond out of loyalty to the king. Matilda stands by Adeliza to comfort her as each month her hopes of providing an heir to the king is crushed. Unless Adeliza can provide an heir for the thorn, Matilda is the only living heir. Much to her displeasure she is soon married to Geoffrey of Anjoy, a man much younger than her with good political ties. Their marriage is tumultuous and Matilda wanted for nothing more than an annulment. When it becomes clear that once would not be granted, Matilda and Geoffrey seek to provide an heir for the English crown and fight for the dowry that Matilda was promised but Henry refuses to uphold. The noblemen who once swore allegiance to Matilda quickly defy Henry's wishes and crown her cousin Stephen when the time comes. Matilda refuses to walk away quietly, she wants everything she was promised and a crown upon her son's head. Adeliza's true loyalty lies with Matilda while her new husband's allegiance is to Stephen.

Lady of the English is an excellent read, a novel that will appeal to both historical fiction fans and those who are looking for an entertaining read. Elizabeth Chadwick concentrates on the relationships and conflicts between characters as well as social conventions and the duty that comes from title and family. Both Matilda and Adeliza are central characters that I deeply rooted for. Matilda is a strong female character who is adamant that her father's wishes be attained. Adeliza is caught between her loyalty to Matilda and the love and devotion she has for her new husband. Both are substantial characters. I quickly read through this one, not wanting to put it down. I really don't like when historical novels are mostly about romance, and Chadwick does not do this. She will remain one of my favourite historical fiction writers. Elizabeth Chadwick quickly draws her readers into her world, and captures their attention until the end.There is a reason why Elizabeth Chadwick is one of the most favored historical fiction authors of our day, her descriptive prose and extensive research shines through in each of her novels. Historical fiction that is readable and comprehensive full of political intrigue and fascinating characters.

Little Brown and Company
Pages 352
Source: Publisher

'I Am J' is an emotional, poignant, well crafted coming-of-age read. High school struggles, life's difficulties, and relationships are always tough when growing up. J is overwhelmed with life, on the cusp of graduating and dealing with self-acceptance. Having unsupportive parents makes everything even more complicated. J was born Jennifer, a female, daddy's little girl and her parents only child. All her life she struggled with wanting to be like the boys, wanting to be a boy. For as long as she can remember she was always more involved with the boys. For years J has been trying to make his way in the world as a man. Hiding underneath oversized t-shirts, layers of clothing, and always afraid of the reactions of others. His Puerto Rican Mother and Jewish father are convinced that he will outgrow this, determined to ignore this behavior; his father blames his mother for coddling him too much. As a result his father is rarely home and his mother pressured him about school. His father would prefer if he would just live as a lesbian, that is something he could accept. J is seventeen and feels completely misunderstood -a kiss gone wrong with his best friend Melissa leaves him more alone than ever. His parents are focusing on his education, but J can't go back to his old school. He can't accept the stares, the torment and the isolation. Finally, he sets out to seek support and has decided to do this with or without his parents' consent. He'll soon be eighteen and able to receive testosterone injections. Fed up of constantly hiding, he transfers to a new school for transgender and gay students and begins seeing a therapist, a mandatory measure in order to be approved to receive the injections.

I Am J is not a novel I would have chosen for myself, and I am so happy that I was given a copy for review. Once in awhile you are given a book that is outside your comfort zone but completely blows you away. Beam's story offers great insight into the life of a transgender teen. She puts the transgender teen into your family and gives realistic reactions from both sides. She doesn't sugar coat a difficult subject. J is a very angry, very alone character, and trapped in a body he doesn't believe should be his. Disgusted by what God gave him. His parents are unrelenting and won't accept what's right in front of them. What happened to the unconditional love a parent has for their child? Shouldn't his parents accept the inevitable? As J struggled to do what is best for him, and continue to further his education many normal questions become stumbling blocks. How do you fill out a college application, when you are not sure what gender to fill out? What name to put on the application? How do you choose which bathroom to go into when you are in public? What do you do when a pretty girl is attracted to you? Young Adult literature has really begun to tackle some very interesting topics. I was relieved when J began to have supporters in his world, when he began to grow confident and stop hiding. This one comes highly recommended, a great emotional read.

Publisher: Random House (Spiegel & Grau)
Source: Netgalley
Pages: 304

'Next to Love' is a moving novel about war, love, friendships and society spanning from 1944 to 1964. At the heart of this novel are three friends in a small Massachusetts town. Gracie, Babe, and Millie have been friends since the first day of grade school. All grown up, and making their own life choices each girl struggles with love when it is clear that war is imminent. All the good men are signing up to 'fight the good fight' and these women must standby waiting for their return. Gracie marries her beloved Charlie and dutifully lives under the roof of her powerful and wealthy father-in-law while Charlie is away. When the war breaks out she is a young wife and new mother. Millie marries Pete and before she knows it, he is gone off to war, but she is ecstatic to learn she is pregnant. Babe is hoping that Claude would ask her to marry him, but he runs off to camp with the promise to marry her one day. She drops everything and travels to visit Claude at training camp to marry him before he is sent off to war. Babe is an independent, unconventional thinker and begins working at Western Union to assist on the home front. As each message arrives, she is panicked that one would be word that Claude has not survived. Guilt sets in when she has to have bad news delivered to those around her on a daily basis. Each of these young women strives to find a place in their new surroundings. When the war is has ended not all the men return home, and those who do return home are not the same men that left their small towns.

The concept of this book was really interesting told from each woman's perspective. Letters home from the men gave a glimpse at life on the frontlines. Rather than dealing with those who have gone off to war, the novel focuses more on those who have been left behind. While the book covers three women, Babe is certainly the heart of the story. Despite the different perspectives I really only enjoyed Babe's story. Often I was skimming to focus more on Babe's story. At times I felt like the other characters were choppy and the novel didn't flow well. I was confused at the beginning and felt that the book was jumping around from character to character and I didn't really know what was happening. I believe this novel would have been much better if it would have been longer. The characters needed more time to develop. Despite the flaws, I did enjoy the book. The novel really picked up when some men returned home. All-in-all I would recommend this book but with hesitation. I think this book had a lot of potential but it lacked in character development and flow or it should have focused more on Babe or less on Millie and Gracie.