Review: The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow

Release date: February 25, 2014
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 382
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher provided for review
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

The Secret Diamond Sisters is definitely a book I would've loved in middle school and in early high school. At the time, I read a lot of books like The Clique and Gossip Girl. They're the kinds of books that are very much about wish-fulfillment for teenage girls and are so fun to read, but leave a very small mark behind. That's fine, and that's just the kind of read I need sometimes. That's exactly what The Secret Diamond Sisters is. The only thing is, though, that I'm older now. Even my high-fluff books seem to have less fluff than those books, and it's hard for my older self to read them without wanting to slap a little sense into the characters and start to scoff at what they say and think.

Peyton, Courtney, and Savannah Diamond have had difficult lives. Their father is not around, their mother is an alcoholic who'd rather spend their rent money on cheap booze, and they basically have to support themselves. So, when the tables drastically turn one day and the sisters are whisked off to Las Vegas and learn that their father is one of the richest men in America, they've got a lot to adjust to. And even as they try to cling to the roots of who they are and where they came from, the glamour and sparkle of Vegas can't help but call to them, pulling each girl towards intrigue, romance, and more secrets than they could imagine.

So, even though I think The Secret Diamond Sisters definitely skews towards the younger edge of YA, it's still a fun read. I mean, it's hard to read about the glitz of Las Vegas--where I have never been--and not be intrigued by the location and find some kind of enjoyment in the glamour of the uber-rich. It's appeal to me lies all in wish-fulfillment and getting some kind of view of a place I've never experienced, as I imagine is the case for a lot of teenagers who'd also be reading this.

But here's another problem, there's so little plot in this book that I found myself wondering, when I noticed I had 30 pages or so left, what exactly the point of the book was. The book basically starts with the girls learning about their father and heading to Vegas, but once they get there they do nothing but go to clubs, eat, and ache over boys. They shop once, and there's a hotel grand opening. Woo. But there's not rising action, no climax, nothing to keep you in your seat reading page after page so you can know what happens next. I never had a problem putting the book down in the middle of a chapter, in the middle of a page, heck, even in the middle of a sentence.

And this isn't to mention that most of what the characters do is kind of unlikable. The only characters I could say I remotely liked were Courtney and Brett. But Peyton cheats on her boyfriends and feels no guilt over that, then makes a bet with a guy about her sister. Savannah actually sticks to her guns in not sleeping with a guy but then kind of convinces herself she should have, and takes the advice from her friend that she should string along two guys until she could decide which she likes better. This doesn't even include the scheming of Madison, Oliver, and Damien.

When I picked up The Secret Diamond Sisters, I expected something that I'd be able to get lost in reading, enjoying a story because it's fun. And while I think that would be entirely possible for someone in middle school, it just wasn't for me. Most of us can't live lives that revolve around which boy we like that day, so it's hard to sympathize with characters who do--not to mention boring.

About the author:

Michelle Madow wrote her first novel, Remembrance, in her junior year of college. Remembrance is the first book in the Transcend Time Saga, a three part series about reincarnation and true love that Michelle successfully self-published. The series was inspired by Taylor Swift's "Love Story" music video. Michelle's upcoming YA trilogy, The Secret Diamond Sisters, about three sisters who discover they are the secret heirs to a Las Vegas billionaire casino owner will be published by Harlequin TEEN in Spring 2014.

Michelle graduated from Rollins College in 2010, cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the International English Honor Society Sigma Tau Delta. She received the Charles Hyde Pratt Award for Excellence in Creative Writing in 2010.

She lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she is writing more novels for young adults. She loves reading, spending time with family and friends, traveling, shopping, sunshine, Disney fairy tales, Broadway musicals, and spends way too much time on Facebook and Twitter (@MichelleMadow).

Dark Days Tour in New Orleans Recap + Giveaway

Just under a week ago, I was lucky enough to attend the Dark Days tour stop in New Orleans. Let me tell you, I was unbelievably excited to go. (I might've cried when I saw they were coming to NOLA... Might've. Sorry, I'm not sorry that I'm overdramatic.) I must say, I had just as much fun as I hoped I would!

The night started when I got to the bookstore--the lovely Octavia Books--around 5:15. I bought the books I

All 18 books I got signed. ;)

needed, and when I went to sit down, there were seriously at least 15 people already seated. I ended up somewhere near the middle of the room, with kind of a bad view (which isn't actually that important to me--so long as I can hear, which I could!) By the time 6 rolled around, there had to be 50 people there--and there were probably more, since I couldn't see them all. Octavia is a small store, so we were packed in, though, and that's the most people at a signing that I've been to.

Anyways, the event got started with an introduction of the authors and the girl who moderated, who was from one of the local high schools (and she did so well! I would've been dead if I had done that in high school, and my questions would have been terrible. Hers were awesome.) The first question she asked was about the authors intention in writing their books. Claudia Gray (Steadfast) wanted to write a book in which her heroine was very in charge of her power from the beginning, instead of coming into the power in the course of the story. Kiersten White (Perfect Lies) wanted to write about femme fatales, where women take things regarded as weakness and instead use them as strengths, and wanted to explore how far you could push someone until they snap. Tahereh Mafi (Ignite Me) didn't have a conscious intent as she was writing, but in retrospect realized it was about recognizing and exploring a girl who wasn't physically strong but had inner strength and could fight through her worst days to rise up and stand up for something she believes in--and was inspired by real women in her life. Sophie Jordan (Uninvited) was so intrigued by Davy because she's a typical hard-working teenager, but she is thrust into a new life, one in which she has to rediscover who she is and see if she believes what others say and believe she is. Veronica Rossi (Into the Still Blue) said she didn't set out with an intention for her book, instead, she was interested in opposites, but, like Tahereh, saw themes emerge later, and she really only sets out to write her favorite book.

There were a lot more questions and answers, but if I detailed it all this would be a very long post. Instead, what I've done is uploaded the audio! It's close to an hour long, but you can skip the first 19 minutes to get to what I've not covered here. In the end, their answers were very interesting, and definitely worth coming to the event, even if I couldn't see them. :) But seriously, the authors were awesome. There were SO many people with books to sign, and I was almost last, but they were still so nice and happy to chat and sign my piles of books.

Assembled with the audio are all of my pictures, including while the authors were talking and signing and pictures of the signatures in the books themselves. They loop, so there aren't really that many, I promise. :)

I have this habit of bringing my mom to signings with me, largely because she loves me and won't hate me for dragging her to things she's not especially interested in--plus she loves books (though not much YA). This time, I needed her to help carry around all of my books. In the end, I got 18 books signed, so I might've been falling down under the weight of them all if I'd had to have them. But having my mom also allows me not to have to worry about taking pictures when the authors are signing, since she does that, and I can focus on getting the most out of the short time. Seriously, bring your mom to signings, y'all. Best decision you'll ever make.

Also, a couple of random things! Ransom Riggs was there, which I had so hoped for after noticing that he was at the other stops, so I got my copy of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children signed and took one of the most awkward pictures ever. :) And I feel it's of much importance that I call attention to what Sophie Jordan wrote in my Uninvited ARC! I said multiple times how pretty much all of the books were mine (including multiple copies..) so I got a nice surprise in one book. ;) (It's kind of hard to read, but it says, "Rachel, the most awesome book-hogger ever!") :D

ANYWAYS, I didn't come away from this without anything to share with you all! And honestly you deserve a reward if you've actually read all of this. :) So, I've got a signed hardcover of Kiersten White's Mind Games and a signed ARC of Perfect Lies to give away to one US winner!

So, most of my normal rules apply here. US only. You must be 13 years of age or older to enter. Winner will be notified via the email provided through Rafflecopter--so make sure it's correct!--and will have 48 hours to respond or I will have to choose another winner. :) The giveaway runs through March 20th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday: The Jewel by Amy Ewing {33}

Title: The Jewel
Author: Amy Ewing
Release date: September 2, 2014

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty––because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence . . . and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

I'm really intrigued by this! The cover is, clearly, gorgeous, but the synopsis gives me the same kind of feel I got from The Selection. It's the kind of book I probably shouldn't love, but I also probably will. (So... How does a romance "erupt"? Just curious.)

So what are you guys waiting on this week? :)

Teaser Tuesday: The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow {59}

Title: The Secret Diamond Sisters
Author: Michelle Madow
Release date: February 25, 2014
Pages: 382

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in.

But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

My teaser, from p. 38 in the ARC:

Bernard led them to the end of the hallway and stopped at a golden double-door entrance to insert the key card into the slot. "Welcome to your new home," he said, pushing the door open and waving them inside.

Happy release day to The Secret Diamond Sisters! I'm about 100 pages in and enjoying it so far! Sometimes it's fun to read a book that's just fun, right?

I'll be visiting around and visiting back, so leave me links to your teasers! :) Happy Tuesday!

Review: Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor

Release date: February 18, 2014
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 400
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher provided for review
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

Critically acclaimed author Melissa Kantor masterfully captures the joy of friendship, the agony of loss, and the unique experience of being a teenager in this poignant new novel about a girl grappling with her best friend's life-threatening illness.

Zoe and her best friend, Olivia, have always had big plans for the future, none of which included Olivia getting sick. Still, Zoe is determined to put on a brave face and be positive for her friend.

Even when she isn't sure what to say.
Even when Olivia misses months of school.
Even when Zoe starts falling for Calvin, Olivia's crush.

The one thing that keeps Zoe moving forward is knowing that Olivia will beat this, and everything will go back to the way it was before. It has to. Because the alternative is too terrifying for her to even imagine.

In this incandescent page-turner, which follows in the tradition of The Fault in Our Stars, Melissa Kantor artfully explores the idea that the worst thing to happen to you might not be something that is actually happening to you. Raw, irreverent, and honest, Zoe's unforgettable voice and story will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.

Even after a couple of days of stewing over Maybe One Day, I still really can't decide exactly how I feel about it. There's a lot I liked, but I also felt a pretty big disconnect.

Every review of this book that I read seemed to mention how emotional the person was over the book, how it made them realize how precious our friends and family are. And... I cried once. Just a little bit--and I'm someone who bawls over anything and everything. With comparisons to The Fault in Our Stars, I expected to be a mess, but I just wasn't. And here's the thing: I can't tell if this is, in some ways, supposed to be my reaction--to some degree--or not. Zoe's reactions, for a long time, feel very stilted, as if she's in denial or it hasn't sunk in yet. But, once she comes to see, I think I should have been a mess then. Wasn't. This makes the book much appealing to me.

When Zoe's best friend Olivia, the girl she's spent every big moment of her life with, gets sick--really sick--she doesn't know how to handle it. This big event was never part of their plan. As Olivia goes through the ups and downs of illness, Zoe has to take each moment in stride; she has to deal with the impossibility of her best friend's death and how life could continue after. It doesn't help that she is suddenly strangely attracted to Olivia's crush Calvin, the biggest betrayal of all... How does a teenage girl who doesn't feel whole without her best friend deal with her best friend's illness?

Even though I was a bit disconnected from the story, Maybe One Day was still a pretty heart-breaking read. It's never easy to read or hear about such a subject, and it's all too easy to put yourself in Zoe or Olivia's shoes and imagine how such a situation feels--though it could never compare to the reality. Maybe One Day focuses heavily on how your life can change in just one moment--that's all it takes. One moment from perfectly normal to perfectly devastating. One moment from healthy to sick.

What is obviously the most appealing part of the story, and what makes up the foundation of the book, is Zoe and Olivia's friendship. The book's focus on the depth of their relationship and seeing how deeply ingrained into one another's lives they are is touching. And it's lovely to see that Zoe never really neglects her friendship with Olivia (despite one little thing...) over a boy.

So, even as I couldn't get as emotionally involved in Maybe One Day as I would have liked, there's still a lot to gain from the story. In a story of love and friendship in the hardest time of your life, that love and friendship shine bright, even in the saddest moments.

About the author:

Melissa Kantor is the author of Confessions of a Not It Girl, an ALA Booklist Best Romance Novel for Youth in 2004; If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince?, a YALSA Teens Top Ten Pick in 2006; The Breakup Bible, an ALA Best Books for Young Adults nominee in 2007; and Girlfriend Material. She is a teacher in Brooklyn, New York, where she lives with her family.

Stacking the Shelves {56}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? Mine's been good, fantastic really! I went to the Dark Days stop in New Orleans Friday night and had the BEST time. Like, the best. I'll have my recap up some time this week--with a giveaway!--so be looking for that. :) As a preview, these are all the books I got signed! Impressive, eh? Plus, those of us at the signing were the first to get to buy copies of Claudia Gray's Steadfast, which isn't out for another couple of weeks. 

Anyways, here's my week in books! :)

For review:

The Ring & the Crown by Melissa de la Cruz

A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier

A big, big thanks to Disney-Hyperion, HMH Kids, and Netgalley for these! :)

Purchased:

Mind Games by Kiersten White
Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

(at the signing!)
Steadfast (Spellcaster #2) by Claudia Gray
Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2) by Kiersten White
Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky #3) by Veronica Rossi

Won:

The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher
Thanks so much to Heidi at YA Bibliophile! :)

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - Review: Spellcaster by Claudia Gray
Tuesday - Teaser Tuesday: Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2) by Kiersten White
Wednesday - Waiting on Wednesday: The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross
Thursday - Let's Talk About... Why I Don't Have Ads on My Blog
Friday - Review: Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2) by Kiersten White

Books I read this week:
Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2) by Kiersten White
Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor
Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas

I'm currently reading:
The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow

So that's been my week! Been busy busy, but I think this week will slow down and I have every intention of spending all of next weekend reading. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

Review: Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2) by Kiersten White

Release date: February 18, 2014
Author info: Website | Twitter
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 232
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher provided for review
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.

The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.

But Annie's visions of the future can't show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia's first love, Fia knows he's hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

While I'm not sure I could say I think Perfect Lies is quite as good as Mind Games, I can assuredly say that it's a sequel that builds on what's so fun and intriguing about the first book. It's fast-paced and will keep you guessing. It's action-packed and just a little bit romantic. What's so fun, though, is seeing Annie come into her own as a character. We spent Mind Games seeing Fia kick butt and take names, and now Annie is given her chance to shine, albeit in a less flashy, less aggressive manner.

Continuing with the stream-of-consciousness narrative--though seemingly less frazzled for most of the novel this time around--Annie and Fia are separated, stuck on opposing sides. Even so, each girl is fighting to get back to her sister in her own way. Generally, the narrative makes sense. The only problem is the flashes backwards and forwards in time get a little confusing at times. I found myself having to check the beginnings of chapters to figure out where I was. Even so, the style of narration is really interesting, since one sister is working backwards in time while the other is working forwards, slowly bringing them to the same point in time and revealing information bit by bit.

But, like I said, what I loved here was seeing Annie finally have a voice. Fia left her with Lerner, so she's with people who seemingly care more about her. She's given freedom and tries to hone her abilities, feeling the need to be useful. Even as she's frustrated, that frustration motivates her. This makes for an Annie quite unlike the Annie of Mind Games. She's no longer willing to let Fia be the only one fighting to be together. (And let me tell you, Annie in the final scene? AMAZING. I wanted to high five her so badly!)

The only reason I say Perfect Lies may not be quite as good as Mind Games is that I didn't find the plot to be quite as intriguing. It felt like a lot of Fia and Annie sitting around thinking about the other and wondering, or mulling over past actions--not action. Even so, there's still quite a bit of action involved, no worries. I also didn't glean anything new from the world. There's one thing about the abilities that's sort of revealed, but it's kind of anticlimactic, since it's already something you'd suspect. But I didn't feel like there was anything added to what White had built for the first book, making the world kind of stagnant and a little flat.

Even so, I found Perfect Lies to be a solid sequel that fans of Mind Games will enjoy. It's still all about the sisters (which is awesome) and it's clear Kiersten White isn't afraid to kill some people (which is always fun!) It's a quick read that'll leave you sad that this duology isn't a trilogy!

About the author:

Kiersten White is the New York Times bestselling author of the Paranormalcy trilogy and the Mind Games series, as well as The Chaos of Stars. She has one tall husband and three small children and lives near the ocean, where her life is perfectly normal. Visit her at www.kierstenwhite.com.

Let's Talk About... Why I Don't Have Ads on My Blog

First, I want to establish that I see absolutely nothing wrong with having ads on your blog! I'm only talking about this to share my personal reasons for not having ads and because I'm curious about other's opinions. Okay!

In the time since I decided to buckle down and be a real blogger (figuratively), posting six days a week and making the blog a priority, my page views have gone up. Quite a bit. They're still modest, but they're consistent both in general number and in growth. With that, I've inevitably received multiple inquiries about putting ads on my blog. For a while, I considered it. Heck, who doesn't love the idea of making a little bit of money doing something they're already doing? I even did a sponsored blog post with Grammarly (though that was a bit different, since the idea and content were my own and Grammarly only wanted a one-sentence mention).

But, I came to realize I didn't want my blog to advertise anything but exactly what I decided to put there. While I could sell my own ads and control what was put up, that's a lot of work, and working with a third-party, which is less work, gives you very little control over what ads show up on your site. I blog because I love it. I blog because I love reading and sharing my opinions and talking to other people about the books that I'm passionate about. I don't blog to get free books, though that's kind of the best perk in the world. I certainly don't blog for money--in fact, I spend a lot more money on my blog than I probably could ever take in with ad revenue. And I imagine a lot of bloggers do use that ad money towards their blog, which is a good idea, actually.

I love that my blog is all mine. It's my little corner of the internet to put up exactly what I want and say what I feel, knowing absolutely no one else can control it. When it comes to social networks like Facebook or even Twitter, I don't feel that kind of freedom. Here, I know people are visiting because they want to read and discuss books. And honestly, that's kind of all I ever want to talk about. (Seriously, everyone I know gets bored listening to me talk about books.)

And I guess that's it. It's really the same reason why I've stopped doing a lot of promo events, except for things I'm personally really interested in or love. I don't run my blog to promote anything and everything. I don't want ads because this blog is mine. Everything here is here because that's where I put it and made the decision to put it here, and I want to keep it that way.

So what about you? What's your stance on ads? If you're a blogger, do you have ads on your blog? If you'd like to share, what do you do with the money? And if you're a reader, how do you feel about ads? Do you notice their presence, or is it a non-issue?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross {32}

Title: The Girl with the Windup Heart (The Steampunk Chronicles #4)
Author: Kady Cross
Release date: May 20, 2014

In 1897 London, a final showdown is about to begin.

London's underworld is no place for a young woman, even one who is strong, smart and part-automaton like Mila. But when master criminal Jack Dandy inadvertently breaks her heart, she takes off, determined to find an independent life, one entirely her own. Her search takes her to the spangled shadows of the West End's most dazzling circus.

Meanwhile, taken captive in the Aether, Griffin King is trapped in an inescapable prison, and at the mercy of his archenemy, The Machinist. If he breaks under the hellish torment, The Machinist will claim his powers and control of the Aether itself, and no one in either world will be safe-especially not Finley Jayne and her misfit band of friends.

Finley plunges headlong into the Aether the only way she knows how, by temporarily dying. But she cannot parry The Machinist's maneuvers for long. To defeat him for good, Griffin will have to confront his greatest fear and finally come face-to-face with the destructive power he wields.

Wheeeeeee! I got so excited when I remembered they'd released the cover for this last week, because that meant it was time to feature it! The first book in this series, The Girl in the Steel Corset, was one of the first books I ever got for review, almost three years ago, so this series is near and dear to my heart. That means I'm SO excited to see how it ends, but I'm also a little bit heartbroken to see it finishing up. Plus, every single one of its covers has been gorgeous and this one is no exception. These are the exception to my being a bit tired of pretty dress covers because they're so interesting. :D AND. A CIRCUS. IN THIS SERIES. IS GOING. TO BLOW. MY MIND.

So what are you guys waiting on this week? :)

Teaser Tuesday: Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2) by Kiersten White {58}

Title: Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2)
Author: Kiersten White
Release date: February 18, 2014
Pages: 232

Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.

The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.

But Annie's visions of the future can't show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia's first love, Fia knows he's hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

My teaser, from p. 86 in the ARC:

Then again, I still owe him for that kiss. I smash the bottom of my bottle to leave a jagged edge.

Time to meet an old friend.

Happy release day to Perfect Lies! :) I finished this yesterday and it was pretty good! I liked seeing Annie's character grow a lot.

I'll be visiting around and visiting back, so leave me links to your teasers! :) Happy Tuesday!

Review: Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

Release date: March 5, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 389
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

When Nadia’s family moves to Captive’s Sound, she instantly realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia senses a dark and powerful magic at work in her new town. Mateo has lived in Captive’s Sound his entire life, trying to dodge the local legend that his family is cursed - and that curse will cause him to believe he’s seeing the future … until it drives him mad. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl—Nadia—from a car accident come true, he knows he’s doomed.

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his family’s terrible curse, and to prevent a disaster that threatens the lives of everyone around them. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s new novel is sure to draw fans of the Hex Hall and Caster Chronicles series, and fans of the hit CW TV show The Secret Circle.

Spellcaster is one of those books that I'd written off. I saw a few reviews saying it wasn't that good, so I figured I'd just let it go by. So what changed? Well this Friday I'm off to the Dark Days tour stop in New Orleans, and Claudia Gray is going to be there! In anticipation, I figured I needed to give this a try and let me tell you, I'm so glad I did. No, Spellcaster isn't perfect, nor is it mind-blowingly different from a lot of other novels about witches. That doesn't change the fact that it's highly entertaining and wholly atmospheric, and I liked it.

The first chapter dumps you right into the story, not only introducing you to the two main characters but also giving a crash course in their situations. It's so nice not to see all of this information just mentioned; instead, you learn naturally. The type of witchcraft Gray creates here is really cool, too, with most spells Nadia does involving feelings and memories, tapping into the power of experience rather than physical items, which I really liked. There's a lot of aspects of the witchcraft that I really liked, actually--especially the idea of a Steadfast and the rules all witches must follow--and I hope there's more to see in books to come.

What I think I liked best in Spellcaster, though, is the atmosphere. Slowly but surely, Gray creates a deep sense of isolation in Captive's Sound. She weaves mentions of decaying buildings and grey skies into the story, giving a sense that those in Captive's Sound aren't so concerned with the outside world and that the outside world really isn't that concerned with them either. This makes the stakes feel higher, almost as if the whole world is crumbing around these people even as most of the events only concern the small town.

The romance did fall a little flat to me, though, and that is probably largely because there's not enough groundwork for it. Mateo "knows" he's going to fall in love with Nadia and they both, of course, feel a deep connection to the other. Even so, it evolves to love altogether too quickly, without enough real interaction between the two to justify it. Can we write it off as magic? :)

Nonetheless, I think Spellcaster is a very enjoyable read that you should probably reconsider if you've written it off--especially if you love Gothic-y settings like I do. I'm so glad I changed my mind, and am so looking forward to getting to Steadfast, the sequel, very soon.

About the author:

Claudia Gray is the pseudonym of Amy Vincent, a bestselling, New Orleans-based novelist. She is perhaps best known for her four-book Evernight series, which follows a girl named Bianca, who is sent to Evernight Academy, a boarding school for vampires.

Gray has also published Balthazar, a spin-off of the Evernight series about Bianca's vampire friend, and a stand-alone novel entitled Fateful, the tale of a young serving woman aboard the doomed ship Titanic, and a dark stranger who is pursued by werewolves. Gray's short stories have been featured in anthologies such as Immortal, Enthralled, and Vacations from Hell. Before working as a full-time novelist, Gray worked as a lawyer, a disc jockey, a journalist, and a waitress (a terrible one by her reckoning). She enjoys hiking, traveling, reading, and listening to music, but says she loves writing best of all.

Stacking the Shelves {55}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? Mine's been good! Though... I should probably stop buying books. It's that 1-click purchase on Amazon that's killing me, and good deals on ebooks! Not my fault in the least. :D

For review:

Sing Sweet Nightingale by Erica Cameron
The Ring & the Crown by Melissa de la Cruz
Strange Sweet Song by Adi Rule

A big, big thanks to Disney-Hyperion, St. Martin's Griffin, Spencer Hill Press, and Netgalley for these! :)

Purchased:

Angelfall by Susan Ee
Solving for Ex by Leigh Ann Kopans
Relic by Heather Terrell

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - Review: Her Dark Curiosity (Madman's Daughter #2) by Megan Shepherd
Tuesday - Teaser Tuesday: Panic by Lauren Oliver
Wednesday - Waiting on Wednesday: Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas
Thursday - {Cover Reveal + Giveaway) The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter
Friday - Review: Emerald Green (Ruby Red #3) by Kerstin Gier

Books I read this week:
Emerald Green (Ruby Red #3) by Kerstin Gier
Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

I'm currently reading:
Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2) by Kiersten White

So that's been my week! I doubt I'll get much reading done this week; I've got to have War & Peace read (and a paper written) for Thursday, so that's my life now. In other news, less than a week till the Dark Days stop in New Orleans! I'll have a recap of that and a giveaway sometime next week! :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

Review: Emerald Green (Ruby Red #3) by Kerstin Gier

Release date: October 4, 2013
Author info: Website | Facebook
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Pages: 464
Format: Ebook
Source: Purchased
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

Gwen has a destiny to fulfill, but no one will tell her what it is. She’s only recently learned that she is the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve, and since then nothing has been going right. She suspects the founder of the Circle, Count Saint-German, is up to something nefarious, but nobody will believe her. And she’s just learned that her charming time-traveling partner, Gideon, has probably been using her all along.

This stunning conclusion picks up where Sapphire Blue left off, reaching new heights of intrigue and romance as Gwen finally uncovers the secrets of the time-traveling society and learns her fate.

I started on this series way behind everyone else, but I believe I can honestly say it's one of my favorites. Because the three Ruby Red books take place over just a couple of weeks, they feel fast paced and immediate. Not only that, but I quickly fell in love with Gwen, Lesley, and everyone else involved. It's such a fun series that's surprisingly complicated and handles time travel in such an interesting way.

Beginning just after the end of Sapphire Blue, Emerald Green starts with heartbreak. Gwen has just learned that Gideon has likely been using her for his own gains and she, in regular teenage fashion, believes it to be the end of the world. But Gwen has larger problems, knowing she can't trust Count Saint-Germain as they grow closer to completing the circle--the repercussions of which no one will tell her. In a conclusion that will leave you guessing and enthralled, the Ruby Red trilogy comes to a close with a bang.

Gwen is almost annoyingly overdramatic, but there's just something so charming about her. Even though she's wallowing in sadness and crying at the drop of the hat, she's still determined to figure out what's going on at the Lodge. She's smart and fast-acting to a fault at times. And she just has the best comebacks--I'm always laughing out loud at what she says and her reactions.

We're still treated to the lovely friendship between Gwen and Lesley, which is just as strong as ever, and Lesley plays an important part in helping Gwen--and that's so refreshing to see a best friend just as present, even when the heroine gets her special ability. And, I believe I said this before, but Gideon still doesn't feel fully fleshed out--especially in comparison to Gwen and Lesley (a lot of the characters really). There a couple of moments where he shows some real personality, but for the most part he's just there to cause Gwen grief and to be the handsome love interest. It's not the biggest bother in the world, but it would be so awesome if out heroine had a hero who rivals or challenges her in some way.

Nonetheless, this series is ridiculously fun to read. From bouncing back and forth in time to Gwen's crazily funny lines, you'll enjoy yourself all the way through. No, it's not perfect--and I don't think any book in the series is--but that doesn't diminish the entertainment factor. It's also an interesting take on time travel that keeps you on your toes. Even as it's imperfect, if you like time travel and laughing, I completely recommend this series.

About the author:

Kerstin Gier started writing women's novels in 1995 when she found herself with a fresh teaching diploma in hand but without steady work. She is best known in the United States for her Ruby Red Trilogy, and her first book, Männer und andere Katastrophen (Men and Other Disasters), was recently made into a movie starring actress and singer Heike Makatsch. Her subsequent books have enjoyed great popularity in Germany as well. Her novel Das unmoralische Sonderangebot (The Immoral Deal) won the 2005 Best German-Language Romance Novel Prize from the Association of German-Language Romance Writers (DeLiA).

Gier, born in 1966, now works full-time as a freelance writer in a village near Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, where she lives with her husband, son, two cats, and three chickens.

{Cover Reveal + Giveaway} The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter

Today is the day! The cover of Gena Showalter's THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS is here! We're so excited to be able to share this with you as it joins an already stunning set! Ready to see it? Not quite yet! Let's take a look a the first two covers in the series!

First there was ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND...

Then came THROUGH THE ZOMBIE GLASS...

Now get ready to EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT!!!

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Official White Rabbit Chronicles website

On-sale date: Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Add it to your TBR:  Goodreads

Pre-order your copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

  Official book description:

I have a plan.

We'll either destroy them for good, or they'll destroy us.

Either way, only one of us is walking away.

In the stunning conclusion to the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, Alice "Ali" Bell thinks the worst is behind her. She's ready to take the next step with boyfriend Cole Holland, the leader of the zombie slayers…until Anima Industries, the agency controlling the zombies, launches a sneak attack, killing four of her friends. It's then she realizes that humans can be more dangerous than monsters…and the worst has only begun.

As the surviving slayers prepare for war, Ali discovers she, too, can control the zombies…and she isn't the girl she thought she was. She's connected to the woman responsible for killing—and turning—Cole's mother. How can their relationship endure? As secrets come to light, and more slayers are taken or killed, Ali will fight harder than ever to bring down Anima—even sacrificing her own life for those she loves.

About Gena:

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, the Angels of the Dark, the Lords of the Underworld, and the Otherworld Assassins series.  In addition to being a National Reader's Choice and RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, and have been translated in multiple languages.  She lives in Oklahoma with her family and menagerie of dogs, and truly believes love conquers all.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | The White Rabbit Chronicles Facebook

Giveaway Details:

1 complete set of The White Rabbit Chronicles (first 2 sent as soon as the giveaway is over and the winner will get the first hardcover of book 3 when it's available!) US/Canada only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday: Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas {31}

Title: Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Release date: September 2, 2014

Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien's only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan's Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn.

Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King's Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan's biggest threat - and his own toughest enemy.

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

This third novel in the Throne of Glass sequence, from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, is packed with more heart-stopping action, devastating drama and swoonsome romance, and introduces some fierce new heroines to love and hate.

OOHH, Y'ALL. I adored Crown of Midnight, plus I just love the title. :) September. Boo.

So what are you guys waiting on this week? :)