REVIEW: PRIDE & PREJUDICE by Jane Austen

Title: Pride & Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
Series: -
Genres: Romance, Classics, Comedy, Drama
Publisher: The Modern Library Classics
Source: Paperback
Pages: 278

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BLURB:
First published in 1813, "Pride and Prejudice," Jane Austen's witty comedy of manners - one of the most popular novels of all time - tells the story of Mr and Mrs Bennet's five unmarried daughters after the rich and eligible Mr Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr Darcy, have moved into their neighbourhood. "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." So begins the novel, that features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship in a series of eighteenth-century drawing-room intrigues.
This brilliant novel is a must-read of classic literature and will delight readers of all ages.

REVIEW: OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon

Title: Outlander

Author: Diana Gabaldon
Series: Outlander #1
Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Romance
Publisher: Arrow Books
Source: Paperback
Pages: 864


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BLURB: 
The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.
Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

VIDEO: JUNE TBR of HannahCassie

RESEÑA: TE LO DIJE por Megan Maxwell

Título: Te lo dije
Autor: Megan Maxwell
Serie: -
Géneros: Chick-Lit, Contemporary, Romance
Editor: La Máquina China
Fuente: Edición de bolsillo
Páginas: 408

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SINOPSIS: “Si regalaran un diamante por cada disgusto que da la vida, sería multimillonaria”, pensó Victoria cuando encontró a su novio liado con su mejor amiga el día antes de su boda. Y tenía razón, porque a pesar de sus gafas de Prada, de sus bolsos de Chanel, de sus zapatos de Gucci y de todos los Carolina Herrera del mundo colgados en su armario, Victoria sólo era una mujer amargada que vive en la mejor zona de Madrid.
En medio de este caos emocional, su empresa le ha dado dos meses para ir a Escocia, localizar a un conde de nombre impronunciable y convencerle de que debe firmar un contrato de cesión del castillo de Eilean Donan para rodar un spot publicitario de una marca de relojes. Dos meses o estará de patitas en la calle y perderá su flamante estilo de vida.

Con un fracaso amoroso a cuestas, una maleta llena de ropa de marca, y una misión empresarial, Victoria, acompañada por su hermana Bárbara la alternativa, se encamina a las Highlands en busca del conde McKenna. Allí solo ve un lugar lleno de lluvia, de paletos y de vacas. Ni rastro del conde.

Y lo peor de todo; Niall, el que se considera la mano derecha del invisible aristócrata y al que Victoria se refiere con los apelativos de cromañón, paleto y bestia, tiene un plan muy bien trazado sobre cómo tratar a una española gruñona.

Te lo dije es una novela divertida, carcajeante a veces, salpicada de escenas emotivas capaces de hacer suspirar. Una novela con muchas posibilidades de provocar un nudo en el corazón.

REVIEW: TALES FROM THE SHADOWHUNTER ACADEMY by Cassandra Clare

Title: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments Novellas
Genres: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Source: ebook
Pages: 671


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BLURB:
The New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling collection of short stories chronicling the adventures of Simon Lewis as he trains to become a Shadowhunter is now available in print for the first time with ten brand-new comic illustrations!

Simon Lewis has been a human and a vampire, and now he is becoming a Shadowhunter. The events of City of Heavenly Fire left him stripped of his memories, and Simon isn’t sure who he is anymore. So when the Shadowhunter Academy reopens, Simon throws himself into this new world of demon-hunting, determined to find himself again. Whomever this new Simon might be.

But the Academy is a Shadowhunter institution, which means it has some problems. Like the fact that non-Shadowhunter students have to live in the basement. At least Simon’s trained in weaponry—even if it’s only from hours of playing D&D.

Join Simon on his journey to become a Shadowhunter, and learn about the Academy’s illustrious history along the way, through guest lecturers such as Jace Herondale, Tessa Gray, and Magnus Bane. Written by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman, these moving and hilarious short stories are perfect for the fan who just can’t get enough of the Shadowhunters.

May Bookhaul and Unboxing of HannahCassie

Waiting on Wednesday: This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. Today we are waiting for This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab!

Urban Fantasy by V. E. Schwab? Well why not? Let's give it a try!

By the way I've seen two different publication dates... June 7th and July 5th... probably because it's by different publishers but just so that you're aware of this.

Publication date: June 7th, 2016

Publisher: Titan Books Ltd

REVIEW: THE HEALER by C. J. Anaya

Title: The Healer
Author: C. J. Anaya
Series: The Healer #1
Genres: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal
Publisher: Beau Coup LLC
Source: Kindle Edition
Pages: 265

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SYNOPSIS: #1 Hot New Release in Multicultural Folk Tales
#2 Hot New Release in Folk Tales & Myth Collections
Top 10 Amazon Bestseller in Teen & Young Adult Country & Ethnic Fairy Tales & Folklore

A girl, a prophecy, and two warring gods equals destiny!

Hope Fairmont longs for a normal teenage life, but with a gift like hers, normal equals healing illnesses and injuries instantly. Keeping a secret like that isn’t easy, but a small town is the perfect place for her to heal those who can’t heal themselves, and an even better place for her father, James Fairmont, to hide his daughter from the rest of the world.

Life takes an unexpected turn when two handsome strangers move into town and begin unearthing other secrets concerning Hope's future and past, revealing to Hope that her gift for healing may be the fulfillment of an ancient, Japanese prophecy gone wrong.

Staying away from these mysterious newcomers would be the smart thing to do, but Victor's gentle, easy manner, and Tie's mixed signals and strange mood swings draw her hopelessly closer to revealing the secret she and her father have been so desperate to hide.

Hope's life is complicated further with visions of a previous life and the arrival of a supernatural demon sent to assassinate her before she learns what she is truly capable of.

With the support of her father, the fiery loyalty of her best friend Angie, and the child-like love of Kirby, a ten-year-old patient, Hope must fight against the forces of a relentless demon god while unwinding the tangled pieces of her past, proving to herself and those she loves that destiny isn’t determined by some cosmic reading of the stars, but by the individual choices one makes.

REVIEW: THE DUFF: DESIGNATED UGLY FAT FRIEND by Kody Keplinger

Title: The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend

Author: Kody Keplinger
Series: -
Genres: Romance, YA
Publisher: Little Brown/Poppy
Source: Audiobook
Pages: 280


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BLURB:
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone

INTIMIDATING TBR TAG

NEW TEAM MEMBER

Today is a big day because our blog is welcoming a new contributor - Martyna! 

We are so excited and happy to expand out little team and also to expand our reviewing boarders because Martyna is a fan of classics as well as historical fiction books! So prepare my lovelies because boy oh boy this is going to be awesome! 

P.S. Martyna's first review is coming up on 23rd of May, are you excited? I know we cannot wait! 

 

Hi all I’m Martyna. 

Currently I am living under the Lithuanian sky! 

Unlike HannahCassie or Laura I’m already done with my studies (I have bachelor in English philology and a master’s degree in communication and marketing), so I already entered the adult world (not that fun).

I really love theater. 

I belong to a theater company called MINIMUM for almost 5 years now.

I also love cinema and of course reading! 

I’m also pretending to be a writer and have been fiddling with few projects myself for some time. Hope I’ll finish it eventually. 

That’s that and please enjoy the blog, I’m sure you’ll find everything you want here!

REVIEW: GIRL ON THE TRAIN by Paula Hawkins

Title: The Girl on the Train

Author: Paula Hawkins
Series: -
Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Source: Audiobook
Pages: 336


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BLURB:
The debut psychological thriller that will forever change the way you look at other people's lives.

EVERY DAY THE SAME
Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. Jess and Jason, she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

UNTIL TODAY
And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

MONTHLY RECOMMENDATIONS: Friendship Stories

Waiting on Wednesday: The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. Today we are waiting for The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker!

Second and last book of The Witch Hunter duology!

Publication date: June 14th, 2016

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

REVIEW: READY PLAYER ONE by Ernest Cline

Title: Ready Player One

Author: Ernest Cline
Series: -
Genres:YA, Science Fiction, Dystopian
Publisher: Random House NY
Source: Audiobook
Pages: 374


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BLURB:
In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the  OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

REVIEW: THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER by Renee Ahdieh

Title: The Rose and the Dagger
Author: Renee Ahdieh
Series: The Wrath and the Dawn #2
Genres: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Source: Paperback
Pages: 420

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SYNOPSIS: The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as "a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance."

I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.

While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.

Rory Gilmore Challenge

REVIEW: SCHOOL OF DEATHS by Christopher Mannino

Title: School of Deaths

Author: Christopher Mannino
Series:The Scythe Wielder's Secret #1
Genres:YA, Fantasy, Paranormal
Publisher: Muse it Up Publishing
Source: ARC
Pages: 270


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BLURB:
Thrust into a world of men, can a timid girl find bravery as the first female Death?

Thirteen-year-old Suzie Sarnio always believed the Grim Reaper was a fairy tale image of a skeleton with a scythe. Now, forced to enter the College of Deaths, she finds herself training to bring souls from the Living World to the Hereafter. The task is demanding enough, but as the only female in the all-male College, she quickly becomes a target. Attacked by both classmates and strangers, Suzie is alone in a world where even her teachers want her to fail.

Scythes hungry for souls, Deaths who subjugate a race of mysterious magicians, and echoes of an ancient war with Dragons.

As her year progresses, Suzie suspects her presence isn't an accident. She uncovers a plot to overthrow the World of Deaths. Now she must also discover the reason she's been brought there: the first female Death in a million years.

Books I Wish I Could Unread

REVIEW: INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows

Title: Incarnate

Author: Jodi Meadows
Series: Newsoul #1
Genres: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Library Physical copy
Pages: 374

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BLURB: New soul

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

No soul

Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

Heart

Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

REVIEW: UNRIVALLED by Alyson Noel

Title: Unrivaled

Author: Alyson Noel
Series: Beautiful Idols #1
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery, Triller
Publisher: Harlequin 
Source: ARC
Pages: 368
Release date: 10th of May, 2016

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BLURB:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël comes the first book in the Beautiful Idols series. With mystery, suspense, and an insiders-only look at Los Angeles that echoes Gossip Girl’s racy and real New York, fans of Pretty Little Liars and readers who crave pulse-pounding romance will love Unrivalled.
EVERYONE wants to be someone.
Layla Harrison wants to be a reporter.
Aster Amirpour wants to be an actress.
Tommy Phillips wants to be a guitar hero.
But Madison Brooks took destiny and made it her own a long time ago.
She’s Hollywood’s hottest starlet, and the things she did to become the name on everyone’s lips are merely a stain on the pavement, ground beneath her Louboutin heel.
That is, until Layla, Aster, and Tommy find themselves with a VIP invite to the world of Los Angeles’s nightlife and are lured into a competition. The prize, or rather the target? Madison Brooks.
Just as their hopes begin to gleam like stars through the California smog, Madison Brooks goes missing. . . . And all of their hopes are blacked out in the haze of their lies.

REVIEW: NEVER, NEVER by Colleen Hoover

Title: Never, Never

Author: Colleen Hoover
Series: Never, Never #1
Genres: YA, NA, Romance
Publisher: Hoover Ink
Source: Library Physical copy
Pages: 159

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BLURB: #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hopeless joins forces with the New York Times bestselling author of Mud Vein. Together, they have created a gripping, romantic tale unlike any other. "How odd to be made of flesh, balanced on bone, and filled with a soul you've never met." Charlize Wynwood and Silas Nash have been best friends since they could walk. They've been in love since the age of fourteen. But as of this morning...they are complete strangers. Their first kiss, their first fight, the moment they fell in love...every memory has vanished. "I don't care what our real first kiss was," he says. "That's the one I want to remember." Charlize and Silas must work together to uncover the truth about what happened to them and why. But the more they learn about the couple they used to be...the more they question why they were ever together to begin with. "I want to remember what it feels like to love someone like that. And not just anyone. I want to know what it feels like to love Charlie."

REVIEW: DAY SHIFT by Charlaine Harris

Title: Day Shift

Author: Charlaine Harris
Series: Midnight, Texas #2
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery
Publisher: Orion
Source: Physical copy
Pages: 307

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BLURB: In Midnight Crossroad, Charlaine Harris “capture[d] the same magic as the world of Bon Temps, Louisiana, and [took] it to another level" (Houston Press). Now the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels returns to the one-traffic-light town you see only when you’re on the way to someplace else....
There is no such thing as bad publicity, except in Midnight, Texas, where the residents like to keep to themselves. Even in a town full of secretive people, Olivia Charity is an enigma. She lives with the vampire Lemuel, but no one knows what she does; they only know that she’s beautiful and dangerous.
Psychic Manfred Bernardo finds out just how dangerous when he goes on a working weekend to Dallas and sees Olivia there with a couple who are both found dead the next day. To make matters worse, one of Manfred’s regular — and very wealthy — clients dies during a reading.
Manfred returns from Dallas embroiled in scandal and hounded by the press. He turns to Olivia for help; somehow he knows that the mysterious Olivia can get things back to normal. As normal as things get in Midnight...

REVIEW: A GATHERING OF SHADOWS by V. E. Schwab

Title: A Gathering of Shadows
Author: V. E. Schwab
Series: Shades of Magic #2
Genres: YA, Fantasy, Fiction
Publisher: Titan Books
Source: Kindle Edition
Pages: 508

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SYNOPSIS: It has been four months since a mysterious obsidian stone fell into Kell's possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Prince Rhy was wounded, and since the nefarious Dane twins of White London fell, and four months since the stone was cast with Holland's dying body through the rift – back into Black London.

Now, restless after having given up his smuggling habit, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks as she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games – an extravagant international competition of magic meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries – a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.

And while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night will reappear in the morning. But the balance of magic is ever perilous, and for one city to flourish, another London must fall.

REVIEW: BLUE MOON by Alyson Noel

Title: Blue Moon

Author: Alyson Noel
Series: The Immortals #2
Genres: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Source: Library Physical copy
Pages: 284

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BLURB: Alyson Noël's bestselling Immortals series has been hailed as "addictive," "beautiful," "haunting," and "mesmerizing." In Blue Moon, Ever has a chance to bring her family back from the dead - but only if she's willing to sacrifice the guy she loves more than life itself.

Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him. As Ever's powers are increasing, Damen's begin to fade after he is stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life.

Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, where she uncovers not only the secrets of Damen's past - the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden - but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them - or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day....

Waiting on Wednesday: The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. Today we are waiting for The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood!

Sounds like it's time for some Contemporary YA + Romance! And again, we're not waiting for it anymore because it came out yesterday (lucky us)

Publication date: May 3rd, 2016

Publisher: Roaring Book Press

REVIEW: GOLDEN LILY by Richelle Mead

Title: Golden Lily
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Bloodlines #2
Genres: YA, Paranormal, Fantasy
Publisher: Penguin Group
Source: Paperback
Pages: 418

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SYNOPSIS:Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. Alchemists protect vampire secrets - and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she's been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California - tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formorly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age-old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and her sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi - the fiercest vampires, the ones who don't die. But it's her fear of being just that - special, magical, powerful - that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Braydon, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else - someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney's loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists - or her heart?

MAY TBR of Laura

MAY TBR

My apologies for being super absent on the blog during most of March/April :( I was very busy with studies and now I have a tiny "break" (meaning no exams or projects but I still have classes). I am planning on reading these 5 books for May: The Rose and the Dagger, A Gathering of Shadows, The Winner's Curse, The Secret Place, and The Healer!

I actually gave myself a heads-up because I finished AGOS in April lol and you'll get the review soon. I'M ALSO SUPER EXCITED ABOUT TRATD! I just got the book in the mail so I'll be starting it soon! Oh and I've heard wonders about The Winner's trilogy :D

Also, I am on vacation (visiting Ireland!) from May 1st to May 7th so everything will be queued. Have a great month readers!

Are there any books you want us to review in particular? If you'd like to suggest a book to Hannah and/or me to read for June please use the Contact Us tab above.