Britney's Review of No Safety in Numbers

                                                                                

 No Safety in Numbers by Dayna Lorentz
Publication Date: May 29, 2012
Summary: Life As We Knew It meets Lord of the Flies in a mall that looks just like yours.
A biological bomb has just been discovered in the air ducts of a busy suburban mall. At first nobody knows if it's even life threatening, but then the entire complex is quarantined, people start getting sick, supplies start running low, and there's no way out. Among the hundreds of trapped shoppers are four teens.
These four different narrators, each with their own stories, must cope in unique, surprising styles, changing in ways they wouldn't have predicted, trying to find solace, safety, and escape at a time when the adults are behaving badly.
This is a gripping look at people and how they can-and must-change under the most dire of circumstances.
And not always for the better.



My Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Review: I did enjoy this book, but it didn't quite have everything I wanted. I didn't not connect with any of the characters of really feel for them. I cared about them enough to not want them to die, but not much else. Well, except Marco. I hate him and would be happy if at the end of the series he didn't make it out of the mall. Like it said in the summary there are four different teens who tell the story, and I liked that part. I didn't feel trapped with one character the entire book, and instead it skipped around and that helped it move along. It's scary to think that something like this could actually happen. These people went to the mall on a typical Saturday but instead of ending up at home that night and sleeping in their own beds, they end up stuck in the mall for some reason they haven't even been told. People start acting in all kinds of ways, and a lot of these ways were not the best, and caused many problems. It's something that would actually happen though, if people were trapped in a mall of course they are going to start acting differently. I would have liked to know more about the bomb and how it got there and for what reason. I'm hoping those questions are answered by the end of the series.

Waiting On Wednesday - Jess #4

Waiting On Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. 

Sanctum by Madeleine Roux

Expected Publishing Date: August 26th, 2014

Summary: 

In this haunting, fast-paced sequel to the New York Times best selling photo-illustrated novel Asylum, three teens must unlock some long-buried secrets from the past before the past comes back to get them first. Featuring found photos, many from real vintage carnivals, Sanctum is a mind-bending reading experience that blurs the lines between past and present, genius and insanity, perfect for fans of the smash hit Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. 

Dan, Abby and Jordan remain traumatized by the summer they shared in the Brookline Asylum. Much as they'd love to move on, someone is determined to keep the terror alive, sending the teens photos of an old-timey carnival, with no note and no name. Forsaking their plan never to go back, the teens return to New Hampshire College under the guise of a weekend for prospective students, and there they realize that the carnival from the photos is not only real, it's here on campus, apparently for the first time in many years. 

Sneaking away from sample classes and college parties, Dan and his friends lead a tour of their own - one through abandoned houses and hidden places of the surrounding town. Camford is hiding a terrible past, and the influence of the asylum runs deeper than Dan ever imagined. 

Why I'm Waiting: 

I just got done reading the first book in this series and really enjoyed it. However, it left me with a ton of questions. I am really hoping that this book is able to answer them. Not only that, but I grew rather attached to the characters in the first book and I'm excited to see what other terrors they can get mixed up in. The idea that this book centers around a carnival seems even more interesting, especially when thrown in with the asylum settling. It seems like it could be really scary, and I can't wait to read it.  

Waiting on Wednesday - Britney # 6

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

My pick for this week is a bit different because there is not much information about it.

Remember Jamie Baker by Kelly Oram

Publication Date: Sometime this year, hopefully soon

Summary: There isn't one yet. 

Why Am I Waiting (especially if there isn't even a summary): This is the third, and maybe last book in the Jamie Baker series. I have loved the first two books in this series, and have been eagerly awaiting the third since the second I finished the second. The second book ended at a terrible and horrible cliffhanger and I need to know what is going to happen. Dear Kelly Oram, please release this book soon.

Jess' Review of Asylum

Asylum by Madeleine Roux
Published Date: August 20th, 2013
Summary: For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, New Hampshire College Prep is more than a summer program - it's a lifeline. An outcast at his high school, Dan is excited to finally make some friends in his last summer before college. But when he arrives at the program, Dan learns that his dorm for the summer used to be a sanitarium, more commonly known as an asylum. And not just any asylum - a last resort for the criminally insane.

As Dan and his new friends, Abby and Jordan, explore the hidden recesses of their summer home, they soon discover it's no coincidence that the three of them ended up here. Because the asylum holds the key to a terrifying past. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Featuring found photos of unsettling history and real abandoned asylums and filled with chilling mystery and page-turning suspense, Madeleine Roux's teen debut, Asylum, is a horror story that treads the line between genius and insanity.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Review: I really enjoyed this book, despite it not having as much "scary stuff" as I really imagined. The pictures included throughout the book certainly helped to add to the creepy factor, however. There is one particular picture of a little girl that is literally still creeping me out. But I read this book in about 2 hours flat. It's certainly a page-turner; you can't help but want to know what is going to happen to Dan, Abby, Jordan and all the other inhabitants of the asylum. It certainly was unpredictable too - a lot of the twists throughout this book, I never saw coming. Overall, I was really pleased with this book and would definitely read Roux's other work. I'm very interested in this genre of writing and I really did enjoy this book. I can't wait until the second book comes out. Hopefully it answers some of the big questions left by this book.

Top Ten Tuesday - Britney # 5

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is Ten Authors I Own The Most Books From.


1. Rachel Caine - 15 books, I own all of her Morganville Vampire Series. That is a 15 book series, and is the most amount of books I own by an author. This happens to be one of my favorite series, and I have my grandma to thank for introducing me to it.

2. Jennifer L. Armentrout/J. Lynn - 14 books. I own all her books that are published in physical form. These include Cursed, Frigid, White Hot Kiss, The Wait For Me Books, Covenant Series, Don't Look Back, and the Lux Series. She is my favorite author, so I will always buy her books.

3. Abbi Glines - 12 books. Here is a little confession Abbi is number three on this list but I haven't actually got around to reading any of the books I own. I have read the Vincent Boys and the Vincent Brothers and her Existence trilogy, but those are not in the 12 books I own by her. I do plan on reading the books I own by her soon.

4. Cassandra Clare - 10 books. No shock that Cassandra Clare is on this list, as I also buy all of her books. I own The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, and the Shadowhunter's Codex.

5. Sara Shepard - 10 books. At least I believe the number is 10. I used to buy all the Pretty Little Liars books, until I just got sick of the series and felt like it was dragging on. I haven't gotten rid of the books though, so they still count for this list. I also have one of the books from the Lying Game Series.

6. Kate Brian - 10ish books. Again I don't know the exact number at this moment. When Borders was going out of business I bought a ton of her Private and Privileged books, though I never read any of them. I have also read and own Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys and the Princess and the Pauper.

7. Richelle Mead - 8 books. I own all the Vampire Academy books, and two books from the Bloodlines series. I still need to get the three other books of the Bloodlines series :(

8. J.K. Rowling - 7 books. These 7 books would of course be the Harry Potter series.

9. Jennifer Estep - 6 books. The 6 books of the Mythos Academy series I own and love. It is another one of my favorite series.

10. C. C. Hunter - 5 books. C.C. Hunter has written one of my favorite series, The Shadow Falls Series. Those are the 5 books of hers that I own.

Jess' Review of Nearly Gone

Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano
Published Date: March 25, 2014
Summary: Nearly Boswell knows how to keep secrets. Living in a DC trailer park, she knows better than to share anything that would make her a target with her classmates. Like her mother's job as an exotic dancer, her obsession with the personal ads, and especially the emotions she can taste when she brushes against someone's skin. But when a serial killer goes on a killing spree and starts attacking students, leaving cryptic ads in the newspaper that only Nearly can decipher, she confides in the one person she shouldn't trust: the new guy at school—a reformed bad boy working undercover for the police, doing surveillance. . . on her.

Nearly might be the one person who can put all the clues together, and if she doesn't figure it all out soon—she'll be next.

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

My Review: I wanted to give this book 5/5 stars SO BADLY. But, the ending just didn't totally live up to the rest of the book for me. The "big reveal" of who the serial killer actually was and why they actually did it felt a little forced to me. Other than that, I absolutely LOVED this book. I'm a sucker for anything about serial killers; they are just so fascinating to me. Because of that, I could not wait to read this book. And it really did deliver. The mystery was one that had you hooked from nearly the first page and kept you guessing right up until the end. It combined romance with murder, mystery and awesome twists. I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to anyone. 

Top Ten Tuesday - Jess #3

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

My problem with this question (Top ten authors I own the most books of) is that I don't always buy my books. I borrow a lot of them from Britney. Also, I don't usually own a lot of books by the same author. But, if we're strictly going off of books that I, personally, own, my top ten authors would be:

1. J.K. Rowling: 7 books. I own the entire Harry Potter series, naturally.

2. Carolyn Keene: Approximately 90 books. I'm missing a few. Yeah, I actually own almost the entire Nancy Drew series. Like, every Nancy Drew book. I was mildly obsessed with them when I was younger.

3. Cassandra Clare: 15 books (If you count all the Magnus books separately. I did.) I own almost the entire Mortal Instrument series, plus her Shadowhunter's Codex and the Magnus Bane books.

4. John Green: 5 books. For Christmas two years ago, Britney got me the entire hardcover box set of John Green's books and I absolutely fell in love. Plus I also own Will Grayson, Will Grayson. That's the book he co-authored with David Levithan.

5. Meg Cabot: 4 books. Some of the Princess Diaries books and her All-American girl books.

6. Nicholas Sparks: 3 books. The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, and Dear John.

7. P.C and Kristin Cast: 8 books. I was a huge fan of the House of Night series a few years ago. I just sort of stopped reading them, so maybe I'll have to go back and see if I'm still into them.

8. Vince Neil, Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx: 2 books each. I own each other their personal autobiographies, plus I own The Dirt, the Motley Crue autobiography that the three of them, with Mick Mars, co-authored. Does this count? I'm running low of authors I own a lot of books by, so sure. It totally counts.

9. Sarah Dessen: 4 books. I'm not even gonna lie, I enjoy Sarah Dessen.

10. Christopher Pike: 8 books. The Chain Letter series was literally my favorite in middle school.

It's Monday! What are you reading? - Jess #2

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Journey in which you talk about books you have recently finished, books you are currently reading, and books you plan on reading next. 

Alright, so I know this is technically like, 8 hours late. But whatever. 

Recently finished: 

 

Currently Reading:

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Britney # 7

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Journey in which you talk about books you have recently finished, books you are currently reading, and books you plan on reading next.


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Currently Reading:

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Top Ten Tuesday - Britney #4

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by Broke and Bookish.

This week's topic is the Top Ten Characters I'd Want On A Deserted Island.

1. Hermonie Granger from Harry Potter - Hermonie is super smart, and can cast awesome spells. Whenever we are all ready to get off the island she can help with that.

2. Magnus Bane from The Shadowhunter Chronicles - He could throw us some wild parties, and get us anything we want simply by 'borrowing' it.

3. Aaron Warner from Shatter Me - Yummy Warner has to be on this list. He will be a great leader, and he will be great to look at.

4. Kenji Kishimoto from Shatter Me - How could my lovely Kenji not be on this list. With his superpower he can be a great scout. Kenji will also provide comic relief, and be my best friend. On top of all that Kenji is great at surviving and finding food.

5. Adrian Ivashkov from Vampire Academy/Bloodline - Another swoonworthy man I'm having with me. Adrian can also dreamwalk, so he can dreamwalk into like Sydney's dreams and get us some help.

6. Aiden St. Delphi from Covenant - My main man, Aiden. Aiden is a great survivor and a kick ass fighter. If we ran into any problems I know that Aiden could help us out.

7. Alex Andros from Covenant - Going along with Aiden I'd bring Alex. Firstly she'd be there to support Aiden and give him some love. Alex is also a wonderful fighter and that would come in handy.

8.  Noah Shaw from Mara Dyer - So I'm sure Noah would come in handy in many ways, but I'm bringing him as my eye candy on this island. Also in case we need to start populating the island I need to have Noah there to help me with that ;)

9. Carson McClain from All Lined Up - Another hottie for me to look at. Carson could also get the boys to play football for some much needed relaxing, and us girls on the island could sit and stare.

10. Dallas Cole from All Lined Up - I'm having Dallas for her sarcasm, and fun to be around attitude. Dallas and I would definitely be best friends so she has to come with me. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Britney #6

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Journey in which you talk about books you have recently finished, books you are currently reading, and books you plan on reading next.


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Waiting on Wednesday - Jess #3

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by: Breaking The Spine

Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver
Publication Date: March 3, 2015
Summary: New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver delivers a gripping story about two sisters inexorably altered by a terrible accident.
Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara's beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it's too late.
In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.

Why I'm Waiting: I am a huge fan of Lauren Oliver. I love reading her work and honestly cannot wait to read something else by her. Not only that, but this book sounds super intriguing. It sounds like it's going to be an awesome book by an awesome author; it just sucks that it won't be out for almost a year!

Waiting On Wednesday - Britney #5

Waiting On Wednesday is hosted by Breaking The Spine.


This week's pick is:

 All Broke Down by Cora Carmack

Publication Date: October 28, 2014

Summary: In this second book in New York 
Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack's New Adult, Texas-set Rusk University series, which began with All Lined Up, a young woman discovers that you can't only fight for what you believe in...sometimes you have to fight for what you love. 

Dylan fights for lost causes. Probably because she used to be one. 

Environmental issues, civil rights, education-you name it, she's probably been involved in a protest. When her latest cause lands her in jail for a few hours, she meets Silas Moore. He's in for a different kind of fighting. And though he's arrogant and not at all her type, she can't help being fascinated with him. Yet another lost cause.

Football and trouble are the only things that have ever come naturally to Silas. And it's trouble that lands him in a cell next to do-gooder Dylan. He's met girls like her before-fixers, he calls them, desperate to heal the damage and make him into their ideal boyfriend. But he doesn't think he's broken, and he definitely doesn't need a girlfriend to change him. Until, that is, his anger issues and rash decisions threaten the only thing he really cares about, his spot on Rusk University football team. Dylan might just be the perfect girl to help. 

Because Silas Moore needs some fixing after all. 

Why I'm Waiting:: Cora is one of my favorite authors, with her quick and funny books. Her characters are all super likable, and I always end up enjoying the books. I loved the first book of this series, and am excited that there will be more that take place at Rusk. Also here is a secret: I've loved Silas basically since the first time he opened his mouth in the first book of the series. 

Top Ten TV Shows - Britney #3

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by Broke and Bookish.

This week's topic is Top Ten TV Shows.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Britney #5

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Journey in which you talk about books you have recently finished, books you are currently reading, and books you plan on reading next.

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Currently Reading:

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Britney's Review of The Immortal Rules

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Published Date: April 24, 2012

Summary: To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness. 

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-out city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them-the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters. 

Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking for a legend-a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthristy creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And

 soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for again. 

Enter Julie Kagawa's dark and twisted world as an unforgettable journey begins. 

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

My Review: I enjoyed this way more than I thought I was going to. This book was unlike so many other vampire books out there, in that the vampires aren't  painted as good guys. The vampires are complete villains and the main character, Allie hates them. Then she herself ends up becoming a vampire, and the only life she has known is ripped away from her. Throughout the book Allie tries to remain in control and not become like the vampires she has grown up knowing, she doesn't want to feed off humans, and she certainly doesn't want to kill them. But acting like a human, and trying to fit in among her new group of human companions proves difficult almost immediately. 

I greatly enjoyed many of the characters that were in this book. Allie was just a bad ass, even before she became a vampire. This girl knows how to take care of herself, and doesn't need help from anybody. I also quite liked Kanin, and I hope as the series we get to see some more of him and learn more about his background. Caleb may be one of the most adorable book child that ever existed. He was kind to Allie from the moment he met her. And then there is Zeke. I'm not going to lie and say that Zeke is one of my favorite male characters ever, but I did quite enjoy him and I think I will grow to love him quite a bit in the next two books. Towards the end of the book was when he really began to grow on me. 

The ending was quite heartbreaking for me, and makes me want to read the next book as soon as I can in order to know what is going to happen. 

Waiting On Wednesday - Britney #4

Waiting On Wednesday is hosted by Breaking The Spine.

The pick for this week is:

Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Publication Date: October 7, 2014

Summary: Sometimes danger is hard to see...until it's too late. Brit Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Tenton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still  haunts her though, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants-but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage. In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence

 of a series of murders that have taken place there...and in uncovering this, she may become the killer's next target. But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an alley? BLACK ICE is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick's riveting romantic thriller set against the

 treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. 

Falling in love should never be this dangerous... 

Why I'm waiting on this book:

First off I loved the Hush Hush Series by Becca Fitzpatrick so I'm excited for anything she writes. Then the summary sounds totally fantastic. I have not read anything that sounds anything like this book at all. I cannot wait for this book to finally come out. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Britney #4

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Journey in which you talk about books you have recently finished, boos you are reading, and books you plan on reading next.

I was on vacation for the last week so I was unable to read as much as I would have liked.

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