Rumors that Ruined a Lady by Marguerite Kaye

Title: Rumors that Ruined a Lady
Author: Marguerite Kaye
Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: October 22, 2013
Received From: Netgalley

Synopsis: SPOTTED: LONDON'S FAVORITE FALLEN HEIRESS, TAKING UP WITH THE ROGUE MARQUIS!
Amongst the gossip-hungry ton, no name has become more synonymous with sin than that of Lady Caroline Rider, cast out by her husband and disowned by her family. Rumour has it that the infamous Caro is now seeking oblivion in the opium dens of London!
There's only one man who can save her: notorious rake Sebastian Conway, Marquis of Ardhallow. Soon Caro is installed in his country home, warming his bed, but their passion may not be enough to protect them once news of their scandalous arrangement breaks out.

Review:
I love historical romance novels. They are so different from my typical YA reads so they add some variety to my reading schedule. I have read a couple lately that are composed of flashbacks to when the man and woman first met and I really like that style. It shows that these fictional characters go through rough patches even after they get together. Rumors that Ruined a Lady is one such novel.

 Caroline and Sebastian knew each other before the start of the novel and so the book is littered with flashbacks of when they met previous times. Each flashback brings more clarity to their situation and there are just enough to explain everything but not too many that reading it become laborious.

Caroline has been married for about five years when her loser of a husband kicks her out and her dick of a father disowns her (I hate them both). The whole book is basically her getting up the guts to stand up to them and find a way out of her horrible arrangement. And it doesn't hurt that she has a handsome friend in Sebastian. Unlike many other romances I have read there are a lot more painful consequences and at the end of the book we get a resolved ending but there is still some trepidation on what will happen. I kind of liked that semi-open ending though I would not like if all the books I read had them.

I think Rumors that Ruined A Lady is a different look at a historical romance which brings up some thoughts about the marital laws of that time period and how unfair they were.

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Title: The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion  
Release Date: December 18, 2012
Received From: Bought  

Synopsis: When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government "rehabilitation camp." She might have survived the mysterious disease that's killed most of America's children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.
Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.
When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she's on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her-East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can't risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.
When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

 Review:
I loved this book. I had heard so many good things about it and I thought it sounded interesting but now I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner. I read Alexandra Bracken's first book Brightly Woven and loved it so I was excited to try this new series!

One thing that is different about this book is the fact that the government/leaders are not the only bad guys. EVERYONE is a bad guy. From the bounty hunters to a secret group that wants use the kids to even other kids. Everywhere you look there is a new threat to be discovered and to hide from.

When Ruby was a child she was able to trick the camp into thinking she was a green. Which basically means she is harmless. But once they discover that she isn't a green she has to run for her life. She meets up with the greatest people you will ever meet (:P) Liam, Chubbs, and Zu are amazing characters and I would totally read a prequel with just their adventures.

They are all running to a mystical camp that is supposed to be a safe haven for kids. But of course nothing is as it seems. I loved getting to know this world and all the amazing characters. Liam, Chubbs, and Zu all have their different personalities and various traits that will endear you to each one in turn. There is even a little bit of a romance.

As I mentioned before this book is harrowing and it continues to get more and more intense until the final pages which will have you yearning for the next book. (Which lucky for you is already out.)

I really enjoyed The Darkest Minds and am excited to read the next installment Never Fade. 

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

Title: This Song Will Save Your Life
Author: Leila Sales
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Release Date: September 17. 2013
Received From:  Publisher in return for an honest review

Synopsis: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.
Told in a refreshingly genuine and laugh-out-loud funny voice, THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE is an exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together.

Review:
I loved Leila Sales' first book Mostly Good Girls which my best friend introduced me to. While I haven't read Sales' second book I was still really excited to read This Song Will Save Your Life. 

I think most people deal with the feeling of wanted to be accepted. Especially in high school or middle school. I know I struggled with it a lot, and still do. But when you find those people who understand you and your weird loves it is a wonderful thing. Elise realizes this throughout this wonderful book of self discovery.

I really enjoyed watching Elise come into her own. She changed so much from the beginning of the book to the ending. While I did not really like her relationship with Char I can see why she would fall for him.

This Song Will Save Your Life is an important book for teen and other people who are suffering with finding thier place in the world. Especially if you have hobbies that are different than the other people who are around you. I found it to be fun but also to have a good message that made me think about my identity and how it was tied to others. Leila Sales has really outdone herself with this new book.

Changes...

Hi guys,
So I am going to be starting a new schedule here on A Reader's Adventure. Hopefully it will keep me accountable and posting more often. Starting next week I will be posting at least 3x a week.
Tuesdays will be new releases or just plain YA book reviews. Wednesday will be waiting on Wednesday posts, and Thursday will alternate between YA book reviews or Romance book reviews. I will try to post on Sunday what will be going up that week so you know what to look out for.

Also some Mondays will be middle grade Mondays where I review a MG book I have read, or it will be a mystery book I have read. This will not be weekly but if there is a review on Monday it will be either of those two things.

Finally I wanted to see if there was anything you guys would like to see, be it discussion posts or more book reviews, whatever. I'm not necessarily going to do all of them but I would love suggestions!

Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando Giveaway

Everyone has heard about the what can happen when you get your new roommate. Sometimes they are awesome and other times they are your worst nightmare well Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando which came out in late 2013 is a new book that explores that relationship. 

The countdown to college has begun.
When Elizabeth receives her freshman-year roommate assignment at the beginning of summer, she shoots off an email to coordinate the basics: TV, microwave, mini-fridge. She can't wait to escape her New Jersey beach town, and her mom, and start life over in California.
The first note to Lauren in San Francisco comes as a surprise; she had requested a single. But if Lauren's learned anything from being the oldest of six, it's that you can't always get what you want, especially when what you want is privacy.
Soon the girls are emailing back and forth, sharing secrets even though they've never met. With family relationships and childhood friendships strained by change, it suddenly seems that the only people Elizabeth and Lauren can rely on are the complicated new boys in their lives...and each other.
With humor and heart, Sara Zarr, National Book Award finalist for Story of a Girl, and Tara Altebrando, acclaimed author of The Pursuit of Happiness, join forces for a novel about that time after high school, when everything feels like it's ending just as it's beginning.

In honor of Roomies I am going to share my freshman roommate story and courtesy of Hachette I have a chance for you to win a copy of Roomies down below.

My freshman roommate experience was not that bad. I was going to be living on an engineering floor in my dorm so I figured my roommate was going to be a fellow engineer. Luckily I was right and both my roommate and suite mate were both engineers. When I first got my assignment obviously I did not know my roommate and so I reached out so we could decide our room colors etc. It was very pleasant and I was excited to start school.

Neither of us was from Boston so we relied heavily on each other for the first couple of months. We ate dinner together and talked to each other, mostly about our classes. We made a list at the beginning of the semester outlining who would clean the bathroom and when and everyone followed it pretty much to the tee, the only issue was with my suite mate which I will get to in a bit. My roommate joined the dance team and so she was gone a lot which I liked because it meant I got to have the room to myself. Overall after getting used to living with another person it was a good relationship.

Now, to my suite mate. She had her own room attached to ours and she shared a bathroom with us. She had to be reminded more than my roommate to clean it but she did her part. For the most part we all got along and it was good, until the second semester. I don't mean to sound fatalistic it honestly wasn't that bad, but during the second semester my suite mate got a boyfriend at our school. Before that both my roommate and my suite mate had long-distance boyfriends but all that changed. Suddenly we couldn't go take a shower because she was in the shower with her boyfriend, and I who shared a wall with our suite mate was being woken up at dawn to the noise of well... I mean go ahead do that, but don't do it so loud when I am trying to sleep please?

But I cannot complain, I had a pretty good experience compared to lots of people. Both my roommate and my suite mate were nice and we had no big issues.

If you are interested in seeing how Elizabeth and Lauren's roommate situation turns out be sure to check out Roomies. And if you are interested in meeting the authors be sure to see if they are coming to your city!

• January 12, 2014 – New York, NY: McNally Jackson [venue link]
• January 15, 2014 – Salt Lake City, UT: The King's English [venue link]
• January 16, 2014 – Provo, UT: Provo Library [venue link]
• February 4, 2014 – San Francisco, CA: Books Inc, Opera Plaza [venue link] 
• February 5, 2015 – Petaluma, CA: Copperfield's Books [venue link]

Now for that giveaway. 

I have one copy of Roomies to giveaway to a U.S. address (sorry no P.O boxes) 

This giveaway will only last for two days so be sure to sign up!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Erased by Jennifer Rush

Title: Erased (Altered #2)
Author: Jennifer Rush
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Received From: Netgalley

Synopsis: They thought they had escaped. They were wrong.
After fleeing the Branch with Sam, Cas, and Nick, Anna is trying to make sense of the memories resurfacing from her old life. At the same time, she's learning how to survive in hiding, following Sam's rules: Don't draw attention to yourself. Always carry a weapon. Know your surroundings. Watch your back.Then a figure from Anna's childhood reappears. Is it a Branch setup, or could it be the reunion Anna has hoped for? Uncertain of where her loyalties lie, Anna must fight to learn the truth -- before she is betrayed again. Ultimately, the answers hinge on one question: What was the real reason her memories were erased?Jennifer Rush delivers a thrilling sequel to Altered in a novel packed with mysteries, lies, and surprises that are sure to keep readers guessing until the last page is turned.    

Review:

If you like thrillers that will keep you guessing and you like hot boys than this series is for you. If you have not read Altered yet then you should stop reading this review and get on that because it is awesome. Now on to Erased.

I had forgotten how much I had enjoyed Altered so while I was excited to read Erased I was not as thrilled as I should have been because it was AWESOME. This is a really fast read because there is no dead time. things just keep happening and like Anna I never knew who to trust. Should she trust the boys? What if they were changed in the facility? And what about Trev? All these thoughts went through my head and while I was right in some aspects in others I was totally wrong.

I think this is the last book in this series but I could be wrong. Even if it is I think it had a great ending that did not give away too much. That is not saying that I would not read another book about Anna and her boys if Jennifer Rush decides to write another one.

Speaking of the boys I like how  we get to know more about them and their pasts in Erased. The flashbacks kept me on my toes and I liked understanding their personalities even more than before. I also liked getting to know more about Anna's past and what happened to lead to their current predicament.

Overall this is a great series and it is supremely underrated. Go pick up your copy today. You will not regret it!

Waiting On Wednesday: Cress by Marissa Meyer

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is

Title: Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: February 4, 2014

Synopsis: Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.
In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.
Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.
When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

Why I'm Excited!:
Cress is the third book in the Lunar Chronicles series. The first two are Cinder and Scarlet. All three books are fairy tale retellings that take place in a very different future. I loved both Cinder and Scarlet so I cannot wait to find out what happens to them as well as meet Cress! There are four books in this series so Cress is not the end.

Starry Nights by Daisy Whitney

Title: Starry Nights
Author: Daisy Whitney
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Received From: NetGalley

 Synopsis:Seventeen-year-old Julien is a romantic—he loves spending his free time at the museum poring over the great works of the Impressionists. But one night, a peach falls out of a Cezanne, Degas ballerinas dance across the floor, and Julien is not hallucinating.
The art is reacting to a curse that trapped a beautiful girl, Clio, in a painting forever. Julien has a chance to free Clio and he can't help but fall in love with her. But love is a curse in its own right. And soon paintings begin to bleed and disappear. Together Julien and Clio must save the world's greatest art . . . at the expense of the greatest love they've ever known. 

Review:
I was awestruck by Starry Nights, it was unlike anything I had read before. I read Daisy Whitney's The Mockingbirds and The Rivals and I adored them so I was super excited to read Starry Nights. I knew it was going to be completely different but I was still looking forward to it.

If you have ever wanted to travel to Paris, and or are a big art fan then Starry Nights is for you. I am not the biggest art enthusiast but reading Starry Nights made me want to learn more about the pieces of art mentioned.

Julien and Clio's relationship is very different from the relationships in most other books. At first I thought it was going to be a relationship that only existed in Julien's mind but was pleasantly surprised to find out about who Clio really was.

The secondary characters really fill out the story. They add dimension and interest to an already very different story. Without them the story would not be nearly as good as it was.

If you like capers then you might think that this book is not for you, but when you learn that Julien and Clio must travel all over the world to break a curse? I think everyone will like at least some aspect of this book. It is a little on the slow side but it was so beautiful that I think that is the only way it could be written. You should definitely pick up Starry Nights as well as Daisy Whitney's other books they will leave you spellbound. And that cover? YES.

Bout of Books Goals

This is my goal post for the Bout of Books Read-a-thon. I really hope this will help me to get a good foundation for my blog since I am starting school on the 13th! I will be updating this everyday so check back to see what I have accomplished!

My Goals

• To read 14 books at least.
• Or failing that to read 4000 pages
• Schedule reviews for all the books I read

Books to Read

I tried to do a good mixture of review books/my books/and genres

1. Finish Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
2. Finish Cress by Marissa Meyer
3. Finish Erased by Jennifer Rush (ereader)
4. Finish Going Rogue by Robin Benway (ereader)
5. Independant Study by Joelle Chabonneau
6. Solving for Ex by Leigh Ann Kopans (ereader)
7. A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean
8. Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare
9. Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally
10. Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce
11. Ink by Amanda Sun
12. Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken
13. Learning to Play Gin by Ally Carter
14. Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano

Extra books:
Keeper of the Lost Cities: Exile by Shannon Messenger
Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally
Scorched by Mari Mancusi

Updates

Monday
Number of books I've read today: 2
Total number of books I've read: 2
Books:
Erased by Jennifer Rush
Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Tuesday
Number of books I've read today: 0
Total number of books I've read: 2
Books:

Wednesday
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 3
Books:
Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare

Thursday
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 4
Books:
Prep School Confidential by Kara Taylor

Friday
Number of books I've read today:
Total number of books I've read:
Books:

Saturday
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 5
Books: Going Rogue by Robin Benway

Sunday
Number of books I've read today:
Total number of books I've read:
Books:

Final!
I completely failed but I did get a lot of reading done which was the point!
I read the following books:
Erased by Jennifer Rush
Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally
Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare
Prep School Confidential by Kara Taylor
Going Rogue by Robin Benway

Bout of Books!

Since I don't start school until the thirteenth I am able to participate in the Bout of Books readathon this week!

More about Bout of Books!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I am super excited! Be sure to check out my goals post. Are you participating?

Happy 2014!

 http://www.happynewyear2014.co/

Happy 2014!

Hi guys! I know I was the worst blogger ever in 2013 and I sincerely apologize. I had a lot of stuff going on and was just not in the mood to blog. 

That being said I am super excited about 2014 here on the blog. I will strive to make this the best year yet as a thank you to all of you who have stuck around this long. I really appreciate it. 

So, I look forward to what this year has in store and hope you have a great year as well!