The Best Books Ever

The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die By  April Henry Published on June 11th 2013 Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Source: ARC from publisher She doesn’t know who she is. She doesn’t know where she is, or why. All she knows when she comes to in a ransacked cabin is that there are two men arguing over whether or not to kill her. And that she must run. In her riveting style, April Henry crafts a nail-biting thriller involving murder, identity theft, and biological warfare. Follow Cady and Ty (her accidental savior turned companion), as they race against the clock to stay alive. I loved the opening chapters of this book, as we meet Cady, who has no memory of who she is or why she's being held captive by men who want to kill her.  The scenes are quick and short as she slowly comes to and gets an understanding of her surroundings, and tries to figure out how to get herself out.  Watching Cady try to understand the situation only to have her escape be undermined ...

The Wall By  William Sutcliffe Published on June 4th, 2013 Published by Walker Childrens Source: Publisher for Review Joshua lives with his mother and step-father in Amarias, an isolated town, where all the houses are brand new. Amarias is surrounded by a high wall, guarded by soldiers, which can only be crossed through a heavily fortified checkpoint. Joshua has been taught that the Wall is the only thing keeping his people safe from a brutal and unforgiving enemy. One day, Joshua stumbles across a tunnel that leads underneath the Wall. The chance to catch a glimpse of life on the other side of The Wall is too tempting to resist. He's heard plenty of stories about the other side, but nothing has prepared him for what he finds . . . Set in a tense reality closely mirroring Israel's West bank, this deeply affecting parable of a boy who undertakes a short journey to another world lingers long after completion To begin with, I have to admit that I am pi...

Neptune's Tears By Susan Waggoner Published on June 25, 2013 Published by Henry Holt and Co Source: Publisher for Review London, 2218 A.D. Seventeen-year-old Zee is an intern empath. She’s focused on her job, poised for a great career—until one day an attractive patient undoes her hard-earned calm. As an empath, she cannot afford such distractions, but neither can she stay away from David, even when she discovers he’s one of a mysterious alien race. As London comes under attack by anarchist bombings, and as Zee struggles to get a handle on her unusually strong psychic abilities, David starts pulling away. Although Zee’s sure he’s attracted to her, David has secrets he cannot share. But it’s too late for Zee. She’s losing her heart to the gray-eyed alien boy, and she’s determined to follow him—no matter how far it may take her. Too short.  That sums up this book pretty well for me.  I read this book in an hour and a half while waiting at an appointment....

You Look Different in Real Life By  Jennifer Castle Published on June 4, 2013 Published by Harper Teen Source: Edelweiss For the rest of the world, the movies are entertainment. For Justine, they're real life. The premise was simple: five kids, just living their lives. There'd be a new movie about them every five years, starting in kindergarten. But no one could have predicted what the cameras would capture. And no one could have predicted that Justine would be the star. Now sixteen, Justine doesn't feel like a star anymore. In fact, when she hears the crew has gotten the green light to film Five at Sixteen, all she feels is dread. The kids who shared the same table in kindergarten have become teenagers who hardly know one another. And Justine, who was so funny and edgy in the first two movies, feels like a disappointment. But these teens have a bond that goes deeper than what's on film. They've all shared the painful details of their lives wit...

This week, I wanted to talk about coming of age stories .  It's kind of a staple of YA literature, charting the growth from childhood to adulthood, and all of the trials and tribulations that come with that.  Check out our selections and let us know what you think in the comments. My pick this week is TUCK EVERLASTING . I've always loved this book, because it's simple and unpretentious in its delivery, and I agree with its theme that eternal life would be more of a curse than a blessing. Young Winnie must decide whether to immortalize herself to be with the cute "everlasting" boy she's met, or remain mortal and let him go, which means demonstrating maturity beyond her childish impulses. It's a fantastic read. If somehow you haven't experienced this one yet, be sure to check it out. Melissa Landers - Alienated  (February 1, 2014; Disney Hyperion)  This week's BBE is a suppose to be a favorite coming of age story. The first one that popped ...

Awaken By  Meg Cabot Published on July 2, 2013 Published by Point Source: Publisher for Review Death has her in his clutches. She doesn’t want him to let go. Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera knew by accepting the love of John Hayden, she’d be forced to live forever in the one place she’s always dreaded most: the Underworld. The sacrifice seemed worth it, though, because it meant she could be with the boy she loves. But now her happiness — and safety — are threatened, all because the Furies have discovered that John has broken one of their strictest rules: He revived a human soul. If the balance between life and death isn’t fixed, both the Underworld and Pierce’s home back on earth will be wiped away. But there’s only one way to restore order. Someone has to die. I love books that have to do with mythology, the underworld and especially the story of Hades.  Awaken is the last book in a series by Meg Cabot where that is the focus.  I have to say, af...

Have you ever gone just a little too far? Lexie Banks has. Yep. She just had mind-blowing sex with her stepbrother.In her defense, she was on the rebound, and it’s more of a my-dad-happened-to-marry-a- woman-with-a-super-hot-son situation. But still, he’s been her best friend and confidant for better part of the last few years…and is so off limits. It’s a good thing she’s leaving in two days for a year abroad in Rome.But even thousands of miles away, Lexie can’t seem to escape trouble. Raised Catholic, she goes to Confession in hopes of alleviating some of her guilt…and maybe not burning in hell. Instead, she stumbles out of the confessional right into Alessandro Moretti, a young and very easy on the eyes deacon…only eight months away from becoming a priest. As Lexie and Alessandro grow closer, and when Alessandro’s signals start changing despite his vow of celibacy, she doesn’t know what to think. She’s torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn’t ...

Thanks to AToMR Tours , we're spotlighting a brand new New Adult contemporary romance/suspense novel, Epiphany, by Christina Jean Michaels.  Keep scrolling to check out a special excerpt from the story! Epiphany By  Christina Jean Michaels Published on July 19th 2013 “I had my first psychic dream when I was nine. Psychic implied power, and powerful wasn’t a word I’d use to describe myself. I couldn’t foretell the future or conjure visions at will, but I couldn’t think of a more fitting word to describe what I sometimes saw in my dreams.” For 23-year-old Mackenzie Hill, tossing her life down the garbage disposal is easy after a painful incident shatters her life. Her heart is bleeding, and moving to Watcher’s Point is a chance to start anew, only she isn’t prepared for the guy who walks out of her dreams and into the flesh. Literally . . . because she’s been dreaming about this sexy stranger for years. Mackenzie is even less prepared to face the dark nature of...

There are only 3 weeks left until Google Friend Connect and Google Reader disappear.  If you are looking for a good Google Reader replacement (or improvement in my mind), I highly recommend Blog Lovin'. You can click on our Blog Lovin' link to the side or read any of these articles on how to save your entire Google Reader subscription list via Blog Lovin': How to Move Your Google Reader RSS Feed to Bloglovin’ Bloglovin as Google Friend Connect Replacement My new favorite reader: a Bloglovin’ tutorial Follow ABM on Bloglovin Bye Bye Google Reader, Hello Bloglovin’ (All links were taken from the Bloglovin' site) I hope that you decide to stick with us via Networked Blogs, Blog Lovin or any other RSS feed.  We love our readers and want you to be around for awhile!

I am so excited to be participating in the book blast to celebrate the release of A.R. Kahler's THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS: ACT TWO today! Whenever I saw the info for this one, I was like A) YES YES GRABBYHANDS and B) Why haven't I heard of this book before?!?  It looks really awesome, so I am excited to present to you a GUEST POST from Mab, Ringmaster of the Cirque des Immortels, some information about this second book in the series and a couple of awesome giveaways to share, to help spread the word about its release in Kindle serial format. Keep reading for more awesomeness! *** GUEST POST from Mab – Ringmaster Extraordinaire and Circus Fashionista Hello loves, A few months have passed since we did our last tour, and oh, how I've missed you all. This week, I am pleased to announce the next installment in our little show. Although it pains me to admit that we will not be doing a full blog tour, I am sure the tale ACT TWO weaves will keep you entertained. So man...

Poison By  Molly Cochran Published on December 2012 Published by Simon and Schuster Source: Publisher for tour Amazon ~ B&N ~ IndieBound ~ Book Depository After the riveting—and romantic—events of Legacy , Katy has won Peter’s heart and is now claiming her place in the magical world. Though half the students at her boarding school come from witching lines, the use of magic is expressly forbidden at Ainsworth, so as to keep the witching world hidden from the blue-blooded preppies, aka Muffies, who also walk the halls.      But the Muffies have at least a notion of magic, because Katy catches them staging a made-up ritual—and to her astonishment, the girls collapse at Katy’s feet and fall into comas. When Katy is blamed, she becomes desperate to clear her name and finds herself battling all odds to harness her growing magical powers in order to save the Muffies and dispel the Darkness once more Poison is the second book in this...

The Wizard of Dark Street By  Shawn Thomas Odyssey Published on July 26th 2011 Published by Egmont USA Source: Publisher **A 2012 Edgar Award nominee** and **A 2011 Agatha Award Nominee** Oona Crate was born to be the Wizard’s apprentice, but she has another destiny in mind. Despite possessing the rare gift of natural magic, Oona wants to be a detective. Eager for a case to prove herself, she wants to show her uncle—the Wizard of Dark Street—that logic is as powerful as magic. But when someone attacks the Wizard, Oona must delve even deeper into the world of magic to discover who wanted her uncle dead. Full of magic, odd characters, evil henchmen, and a street where nothing is normal, The Wizard of Dark Street will have you guessing until the very end. Give me Oona Crate any day! I absolutely loved this book! It was a fantastic ride through a magical (or magic-less) world with twists, turns, and sudden drops. Oona Crate possesses Natural Magic, but doesn't want i...

Thanks to  TLC Book Tours , we're pleased to present a review for Blood Money , a new thriller by Erika Mitchell. Make sure to  check out the rest of the tour stops  to see other reviews! Blood Money By  Erika Mitchell Published on February 4th 2013 Published by Champagne Books Source: Finished Copy for Blog Tour On the surface, Iraqi-born Azzam Abdullah is nothing more than the unremarkable head of accounting for what is, by all appearances, an innocuous global conglomerate. What's not so innocuous is the fact that Sun Corp is one of the biggest terrorism financiers in the world. After years of informing on Sun Corp's secret deals to the CIA, an unfortunate confluence of events brings Azzam's covert treachery to light. When Azzam is forced to flee London for America, Sun Corp's ruthless CEO decides to use a woman from Azzam's past to flush him out. In a furious race against a heartless zealot's deadline, Azzam is forced to decide between the...

Thanks to  TLC Book Tours , we're pleased to present a review for The Geneva Option , a new mystery/thriller by Adam LeBor. Make sure to  check out the rest of the tour stops  to see other reviews! The Geneva Option By  Adam LeBor Published on May 28th 2013 Published by Harper Paperbacks Source: ARC for Blog Tour Yael Azoulay does the United Nations' dirty work. From the caves of Afghanistan and the slums of Baghdad to the world's corporate boardrooms, Yael's job is to broker the secret deals that oil the wheels of superpower diplomacy and big business. When a suspicious death at the UN headquarters in Manhattan is covered up, Yael decides that the ends no longer justify the means and she goes rogue. Events quickly spiral out of control as Yael is forced on the run in the streets of New York and Geneva. Hunted by the world's intelligence and law enforcement agencies, Yael must ultimately learn that salvation means not just saving other's lives bu...

Here at The Best Books Ever, we are pleased to participate in the book blast for Katlyn Duncan’s SOUL TAKEN which released this week on June 4th! To help spread the word about this awesome first book in the author’s new series The Life After , I have a GUEST POST from Katlyn in which she shares Top 10 Fun Facts About SOUL TAKEN . Don't miss the EXCERPT included in the post, which will definitely want to make you read more to find out what happens next! AND there’s also a GIVEAWAY included for an eBook Kindle copy of the book to three winners, so be sure to check it out below! *** About the Book Title: SOUL TAKEN (The Life After #1) Author: Katlyn Duncan Publisher: Carina UK Release date: June 4th Formats: eBook After-life just got a lot more complicated Maggie is a Soul Collector. It’s her job to transport souls from the Living Realm to the After – but during a mission to find a stolen soul, she ends up stuck in a teen mean girl’s body. Trapped, Mag...

Siege and Storm By  Leigh Bardugo Published on June 4th 2013 Published by Henry Holt and Co. Source: ARC from Publisher Darkness never dies. Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long. The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm. From Sarah... Here'...

Welcome to the Best Book Ever Hop hosted by... US (!!) and I am a Reader, Not a Writer! So what is the Best Book Ever Hop?  Well on our site, we have an awesome Best Book Ever feature.  Each Thursday a group of authors and bloggers weigh in on what their favorite books are in a different genre (vampires, faeries, mysteries, animals, bad boys, anything!)  We are on our second year of the feature and many of your favorite authors and bloggers have participated in the past.  Want to check out all of the previous Best Book Ever weeks?  Go here ! So what are we giving away?  Well, if you are from the US- you can pick from this lovely stack below (Which has one of my new favorite contemporary books ever- How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True) If you are an International reader- you will get a book pick of up to 10 USD from the Book Depository! a Rafflecopter giveaway   Now go hop on and find more great Best...

*Disclaimer* Universal Productions and Partners Hub are providing this prize pack to one reader. I did not receive any sort of compensation for this post other than getting to post something non-book for once ;) So The Purge is a movie from Universal that is coming out this week- it has a pretty interesting premise:  (and on an odd note, while I was writing this post- I saw the trailer and it CREEPED ME OUT! ... which if you know me doesn't take much, but still!) In an America wracked by crime and overcrowded prisons, the government has sanctioned an annual 12-hour period in which any and all criminal activity-including murder-becomes legal. The police can't be called. Hospitals suspend help. It's one night when the citizenry regulates itself without thought of punishment. On this night plagued by violence and an epidemic of crime, one family wrestles with the decision of who they will become when a stranger comes knocking. When an intruder brea...

The River of No Return By  Bee Ridgway Published on April 23nd, 2013 Published by Dutton Adult “You are now a member of the Guild. There is no return.” Two hundred years after he was about to die on a Napoleonic battlefield, Nick Falcott, soldier and aristocrat, wakes up in a hospital bed in modern London. The Guild, an entity that controls time travel, showers him with life's advantages. But Nick yearns for home and for one brown-eyed girl, lost now down the centuries. Then the Guild asks him to break its own rule. It needs Nick to go back to 1815 to fight the Guild’s enemies and to find something called the Talisman. In 1815, Julia Percy mourns the death of her beloved grandfather, an earl who could play with time. On his deathbed he whispers in her ear: “Pretend!” Pretend what? When Nick returns home as if from the dead, older than he should be and battle scarred, Julia begins to suspect that her very life depends upon the secrets Grandfather never told her. Soon enou...