ARC Review (#27): Identity Theft by Anna Davies

Identity Theft
by Anna Davies
Expected Publication: April 30th, 2013
Source: Netgalley

Hayley is going to have the best year ever. After years of careful planning, she's ready to serve as student council president AND editor-in-chief of the newspaper. Ivy League, here she comes!
However, just before student council elections, someone creates a fake facebook profile for Hayley and starts posting inappropriate photos and incriminating updates. It must be the work of a highly skilled Photoshopper, but the attention to detail is scary. The embarrassing photos of "Hayley" in her bathing suit reveal a birthmark on her back--a birth mark Hayley has never shown in public. . . .

The situation escalates until Hayley's mother reveals some shocking information. Hayley isn't an only child: She has a twin sister who was adopted by a different family. And that's not all. Soon, Hayley discovers that her long-lost sister isn't just playing a prank--she's plotting to take over Hayley's life . . . by any means necessary.

So, I must say first off, that that description up there isn't right but it's the only one I can find.  Hayley isn't running for student council, she is running for this full ride scholarship to college.  I'm not sure where the student council part came from.

Hayley doesn't have many friends.  She focuses largely on schoolwork and it repeatedly described by people in the book as intimidating.  Her one guy friend, Adam, is also running for the same scholarship so they have this love hate relationship, but I liked their relationship.  Hayley discovers this facebook page that shows provocative pictures, and other types of pictures you wouldn't want a college to see if you were running for some big scholarship.  Hayley eventually figures out the biggest secret: she is actually a twin.

I loved the premise of an evil twin trying to take away the spotlight from her sister.  There is a lot of action and suspense woven throughout the book.  It always had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't wait to see what happened next.

I love what happened at the end.  I actually began to rethink that Hayley had a twin sister, and you'll see why if you read this.

Hayley is a pretty likable character.  You definitely get the sensation that she is intense.  But as the story progresses, she sort of unwinds, but not willingly.  Adam is great too.  He's a really nice guy and Hayley really doesn't give him enough credit.

Identity Theft is great if you want a story that keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat.  I would definitely check this out!

COVER REVEAL: Breaking the Reins by Juliana Haygert

Breaking the Reins
by Juliana Haygert
Expected Publication: August 2013

Horses, mansions, tea parties, and lies are twenty-year-old Hannah Taylor’s life. To others, her family and her relationship with Eric is perfect. But she knows the truth. She lives it.

After a fire takes her grandma’s life and kills her horse, Hannah’s immaculate life spirals out of control. Her father disapproves of her decision to run her grandma’s ranch instead of focusing solely on learning the family business; Animal Control brings her Argus, a mistreated horse that she can’t turn away even though she’s not ready for another horse; and her boyfriend, Eric Bennett, a world famous polo player, becomes possessive and authoritarian. Despite her best efforts to disguise it, Hannah grows wary of him.Then, Leonardo Fernandes struts onto the polo scene. A cocky rookie with a messy life of his own, he’s drawn to Hannah and isn’t afraid of showing it, even when Eric makes it clear she is his and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way. Hannah suffers for Eric’s jealousy. The abuse only gets worse when Leo steals the title of best polo player in the world from Eric.But the title isn’t enough for Leo. He wants Hannah too, and she can’t deny her attraction to him either. Somehow, she must find a way to break free from abusive Eric before he breaks every bone in her body.

WOW #26

The Infinite Moment of Us

by Lauren Myracle

Expected Publication: August 20th, 2013

For as long as she can remember, Wren Gray’s goal has been to please her parents. But as high school graduation nears, so does an uncomfortable realization: Pleasing her parents once overlapped with pleasing herself, but now . . . not so much. Wren needs to honor her own desires, but how can she if she doesn’t even know what they are?

Charlie Parker, on the other hand, is painfully aware of his heart’s desire. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie—at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be.And yet certain things are written in the stars. And in the summer after high school, Wren and Charlie’s souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them . . .Sexy, romantic, and oh-so-true to life, this is an unforgettable look at first love from one of young adult fiction’s greatest writers.

COVER REVEAL: Sacrifice – A Fall For Me Prequel by K.A. Last

Sacrifice (The Tate Chronicles #0.5)
by K.A. Last
Publication Date: May 2013

Seth’s heart is breaking. He knows his decision will hurt the one person he keeps breathing for, but he can’t take it anymore. He can’t be near Grace knowing she will always be just out of reach.

 Grace is oblivious to Seth’s turmoil. She loves him unconditionally, but not in the way he wants. They both know that in Heaven physical love is forbidden, and to break the rules is to defy everything they’ve ever been taught. When Grace and Seth are sent on a mission to save a young mother and her unborn child, Grace must face the fact that Seth won’t be returning home. She doesn’t understand Seth’s decision and hates him for it. But what neither of them realise is how big a part that single decision will play in shaping their entire future. What would you sacrifice for the one you love?

ARC Review (#26): The Last Academy by Anne Applegate

The Last Academy 
by Anne Applegate
Expected Publication: April 30th, 2013
Source: Netgalley

Curtis Sittenfeld's PREP meets THE SIXTH SENSE in this spine-tingling, unforgettable debut.

Camden Fisher arrives at boarding school haunted by a falling-out with her best friend back home. But the manicured grounds of Lethe Academy are like nothing Cam has ever known. There are gorgeous, preppy boys wielding tennis rackets, and circles of girls with secrets to spare. Only . . . something is not quite right. One of Cam's new friends mysteriously disappears, but the teachers don't seem too concerned. Cam wakes up to strangers in her room, who then melt into the night. She is suddenly plagued by odd memories, and senses there might be something dark and terrible brewing. But what? The answer will leave Cam--and readers--stunned and breathless, in this thrilling debut novel

The Last Academy took me by total surprise.  I never knew that what happened at the end would happen.  Yes, there were clues, but I never added it up to the end that came.  Applegate did great in making me think one totally different thing than what she ended up doing.

After Camden has a falling out with her best friend, her parents ship her off to boarding school.  She doesn't really understand why she is there or what she did.  She has no contact with her friends or family throughout most of her time at boarding school.  Camden is very shy and reserved but as the plot goes on, we see her develop and hop out of that shell, making and losing new friends at this boarding school, and meeting a boy, of course.

We don't see much of Camden's boy toy, we don't learn a lot about him, but at the end I see how he fit into the plot.  We needed him there so that Applegate could go on with the ending.

This plot was so unique.  It had so many aspects that I have never seen in any other book before.  There were so many ups and downs, twists and turns, and it was so exciting.  There was no point in the book that I wasn't questioning what was going to happen nest.  I came up with so many different reasons for what was happening, to have Applegate completely contradict what I just came up with.

The Last Academy is a great thrilling debut that everyone needs to read.  It is fantastic and I'm so glad i got to read it before it came out!

IMM #23 and STS #17

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BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: Drowing in you by Rebecca Berto

Book Info

Drowning in You
by Rebecca Berto
Publication Date: April 12th, 2013

Secretly crushing
Crushed by a tragedy
Charlee May’s been crushing on Dexter Hollingworth since she was fifteen. Five years later, a horrific skiing disaster at Mason’s Ski Lift Resort leaves her millionaire dad critically injured and her mom dead at the hands of Dexter operating the lifts. Charlee is suddenly the sole caretaker for her little brother while their world falls apart. 
Dexter couldn’t be more different from Charlee. He’s tattooed, avoids exclusive relationships and his Dad has a fair share of illegal dealings. With Dexter’s reputation, almost everyone believes he planned the Mason’s skiing disaster.
And after all these years he’s still crushing on Charlee May, the girl who’s too good for him.
When this cruel twist of fate ties Charlee’s family and Dexter’s reputation together, Charlee and Dexter wonder if their feelings are reciprocated, while Dexter discovers his dad is trying to steal the May’s millionaire fortune. 

But like an addiction, one look, one touch, one taste—they’re hooked no matter the consequences.

 Excerpt

Dexter

Mom’s still working at the hospital so my only choice is to walk. Twenty seconds into my escape, the first raindrop splatters on my eyelid. I shake it off and tip my head to the sky. Bloated, gray clouds hog the space above. I can’t remember it being blue in so long. This Melbourne winter isn’t much better than when I was a kid in Chicago. But we don’t even get snow here. It’s just freezing.

Freezing. The word escapes and I feel it. My bones are rattling. Looking down, I remember I put on my holey jeans and my black shirt with the rolled sleeves at my elbows. If I could do over my pitiful walk out of Dad’s and my argument, I would have grabbed my hoodie.

And that’s when everything gets fucked up. I give myself a handshake, tap my cheeks. Nope, I’m hot still. Not cold at all. Which means…I don’t want it to be true but—

I’m holding my fingers in front of my face. I stop at the corner of our street, a car vrooming past, another coming up, but I don’t hear them because it’s become quiet in my world. I feel my fingers trembling before I see them quiver and blur as my vision falters.

This is karma, I bet. I’m having a hypo attack ‘cause I’m diabetic, by which I’m essentially…what’s the word… What am I…?

My mind is looping already. It’s bad, I know. I was so wrung up arguing with Dad I didn’t notice it, but now I do. Trembling when his face came near had nothing to do with being scared.

I need sugar quick, like I do with every hypo. I pat my pockets down but I only feel my leg through the material, because, of course, I hate carrying my candy on me in case someone sees and asks what it is for.

Fuck my diabetes. I’m my own worst enemy. My body can’t even sustain itself. My blood sugar level is dropping, and it’s making my steps wobbly.

One of the cars approaching slows. Noises come from chatter inside. I refuse to look and give those shitheads the time of day since I know exactly what they’re looking for. But when I hear a snicker I start. I swear I know that voice. If I had to guess, I’d say it belongs to Robby. I haven’t seen him since before the Mason’s ski accident mess when he used to talk and hang with me in the group.

Lucky I decide to turn after all because an egg, followed by another, tumbles in the air in a direct line for me. I duck and they sail just over my hairline.

When another car slows, I’m ready to fucking lose it, even if it only backs up my new reputation as a killer. But my words are stumbling, smooshed, and not coming out of my mouth right thanks to my severely depleted blood-sugar level and the fact that my body’s in survival mode.

Then out of the window pops Darcy May’s head. I know that kid. He’s Charlee’s little bro.

Just my luck. That her mom was the only one to die at Mason’s. I’ve been wanting to kiss this girl since before I got my first tattoo, or my eyebrow ring. Before seeing her at the opposite end of the occasional party. All things considered, a rich, beautiful, kind-looking girl like Charlee would never bring home a guy like me. I’ve never spoken to her the way I want to. Why take the risk of getting rejected by the only girl I’ve ever really wanted? And even if she did want me, would she see me or me as the person as what I’ve done to her parents?

I know Charlee’s read the papers; she couldn’t have missed it.

Dexter Hollingworth was on shift as a lift operator when the overhead wires snapped on one of the lifts at Mason’s Ski Resort. No charges have been laid.

Charlee’s Audi hatchback stops beside me. Darcy pops his head back in and chucks a thumb at me then turns to whisper something to Charlee.

I take these rare moments when I still see her around to imagine her letting her blonde hair down and shaking it out across her face. About getting a hand into that hair and holding her to my chest with the other. I want to know what she smells like.

It’s as close as I deserve to get.

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