Book Review: My Soul to Steal (Soul Screamers #4) by Rachel Vincent

Kaylee's life is more complicated than ever. Not only does she have to deal with helping Alec fit into current society while sorting out her mixed-up feelings about Nash but someone is killing off people in their sleep...add on the arrival of Nash's ex-girlfriend, Sabine, who also happens to be a mara, the living personification of a nightmare (she literally goes into people's dreams and feeds off of their deepest fears...awesome) it's a wonder Kaylee's even functioning.  It doesn't help that Sabine has decided to fight Kaylee for Nash, using every weapon at her desposal...which means we get to add on extreme lack of sleep to Kaylee's list of Why My Life is in Ruins. Can Kaylee deal with her personal dilemas and find out who is committing the terrifying murders without losing herself in the process?

This is definitely one of Vincent's most emotionally packed installments of her Soul Screamers Series, and that's saying alot.  You actually can feel Kaylee's physical and mental exhaustion seeping out from the pages. Vincent really pushes her main character to her limits.  We finally get to see what Kaylee Cavanaugh is really made of.

The Kaylee vs Sabine aspect of this novel was very intriguing but also a bit frustrating. There were definitely moments where I wish I could just shake both of them and tell them to knock it off, I mean people were dying here.  In the end I ended up feeling sympathetic to and even liking Sabine.  Hey if you were literally a living nightmare how would you feel and react?

I have also started questioning whether or not Nash and Kaylee are meant to be together. I know this is shocking but I'm gonna have to say I'm Team Tod.

In the end I give this book a 4 because while it was stress inducing, My Soul to Steal is a perfect addition to the Soul Screamers Series and a must read for all YA book lovers

In My Mailbox #1

This is a meme created and sponsored by The Story Siren, where book bloggers can share books they have bought, taken out from the library and/or received for review.

This is my first In My Mailbox and it's a good one.  Mostly eBooks I did receive my hardcover copy of Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Series #11) by Charlain Harris in the mail on Saturday...YAY!! You can still get it for $15.17 at Barnes & Noble and if you are a member...FREE Shipping holla!!

eBooks I downloaded include:

• The Strange case of Finley Jayne (Steampunk Chronicles #0.5) by Kady Cross (shown above on my nook)- This is the prequel to The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles #1) which will be released May 24th (you can watch the goosebump inducing trailer here) . I downloaded it for free at Barnes & Noble.
• The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto (unfortunately I couldn't show this on my nook too so book cover is below) - Released March 6th I got it for $1.99 at Barnes and Noble. 

• To Kill a Warlock (Dulcie O'Neil #1) by H.P. Mallory (again couldn't really show more than one book at a time on my nook so the book cover is below)- I downloaded this little gem for only $0.99 from Barnes and Noble.

Now I own a Nook so I go to Barnes and Noble for all my eBook needs but make sure to check Amazon for these deals too, usually if B&N has it for sale so does Amazon.

Inspiration: "I really am ruggedly handsome, aren't I?" - Richard Castle

My DVR: Castle - S3 Ep23 "Pretty Dead" (ABC @ 10 pm EST)

Joyful Tunes: We The Kings - Summer Lovin'

SDW Day 1- Keeping The Moon Giveaway

Sarah Dessen has been a favorite of mine for almost 8 years now, since I was a freshman in college and to celebrate the release of her 10th book What Happened to Goodbye (In stores TOMORROW!!) I will be giving away my top 7 favorite Dessen books (one for each day of this very awesome week which is being hosted by YA bibliophile and The Reading Housewives of Indiana).

Today's giveaway is one copy of Keeping The Moon, the very first Sarah Dessen book I have ever read, the one that started the obsession.

 Goodreads Description:
"Colie expects the worst when she's sent to spend the summer with her eccentric aunt Mira while her mother, queen of the television infomercial, tours Europe. Always an outcast -- first for being fat and then for being "easy" -- Colie has no friends at home and doesn't expect to find any in Colby, North Carolina. But then she lands a job at the Last Chance Cafe and meets fellow waitresses Morgan and Isabel, best friends with a loving yet volatile relationship. Wacky yet wise, Morgan and Isabel help Colie see herself in a new way and realize the potential that has been there all along"

This book had me literally laughing out loud and I absolutely fell in love with the small beach town of Colby, the Last Chance Cafe and the characters (especially Mira, Norman (aka love interest) and Morgan and Isabel.)  Keep an eye out for Colby and The Last Chance Cafe as well as Colie, they show up in her other novels (she tends to do this alot, which is one of the thousand reasons why I love reading her books).

It is the perfect beach read, it really gets you in the summer mood.  

Like all of her characters, you really grow with Colie and you learn with her the lessons of true friendship, love and self acceptance, that if you truly love yourself what other people think of you really doesn't matter. It's a major lesson we all have to learn (I'm still learning it) and each person Colie meets throughout her summer in Colby teaches her this lesson in their own special way.  It's a truly magical read that you will not be able to put down. 

Fav Quote from the book: "You should never be surprised when someone treats you with respect, you should expect it."- Isabel


That said I am spreading my love of this book by giving it away to one lucky reader. 

All you have to do is leave me a comment! It's so easy! You don't have to be a follower but it's always appreciated.

Some rules: 
1. US only.
2. Only one entry per person per giveaway.
3. All giveaways this week are open until 11:59 pm EST Sunday May 15.  Make sure to check back here after 10 pm EST on Monday May 16th to see who the winners are.
4. All winners will be selected at random

 Happy Sarah Dessen Week!! 

Follow Friday #7

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee's View, her featured blog this week is Al
from Magnet 4 Books, make sure you check her out and don't forget to follow follow follow.

FF featured question: Circle time! Time to share. What character in a book would you most like to be, what character in a book would you most like to date?

I either want to be Ella from Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine or Maggie Quinn from the Maggie Quinn: Girl vs Evil series by Rosemary Clement-Moore. 

Who I would like to date? Dean Winchester from the Supernatural Novels (which are based off of the Supernatural TV show on The CW) does that count?

 Happy Friday Everyone!!

Cinco de Mayo and the last day to enter Lisa Desrockers the Fourth of Many Contests-for-No-Reason

If you haven't yet read Lisa Desrocher's Personal Demons then you are seriously missing out because it's fantabulouso (Frannie is most definitely one of my fav heroines) but if you have read it then you are just excited about the July 5th release of book 2 Original Sin as I am. 

Lucky for us Lisa is giving away a signed ARC of OS along with a signed hardcover copy of If I Stay by Gayle Forman (EEEE!!!). 

Just scurry over to her blog http://lisadesrochers.blogspot.com/2011/05/fourth-of-many-contests-for-no-reason.html and leave a comment and you are golden.

Good luck and Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

Book Review: Dark Elite Series Books 1 & 2 by Chloe Neill

Firespell is the first installment in the Dark Elite series by Chloe Neill.  We meet Lily Parker a witty no none-sense girl who is sent to Chicago to attend St. Sophia's School for girls after her parents take a once in a lifetime trip to study in Germany. Lily is prepared for the bratty rich girls and tough course schedule but when she learns that she possesses the rare magical gift of Firespell and discovers that her parents may not be who she thought they were the only thing keeping her sane is her magical bff, Scout.

In book two, Hexbound, Lily has joined the fight against the Reapers with Scout and her rebel magic wielding friends,is finding more clues about her parents' past and is learning to control her powerful magic.  Add a potential relationship with a werewolf and a  strange relationship with her should be enemy Reaper, Sebastian, and this is a great addition to the Dark Elite series.

I gave this series a three because although I did find it highly entertaining it felt a bit young to me.  I would recommend this series to the younger side of the YA spectrum. If you are looking for a very quick, easy, action packed story with a funny heroine and entertaining side kick, I would definitely give The Dark Elite try.

Waiting on Wednesday #7: What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Goodreads Description:
 "Another town. Another school. Another Mclean. Ever since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her father have been fleeing their unhappy past. And Mclean's become a pro at reinventing herself with each move. But in Lakeview, Mclean finds herself putting down roots and making friends—in part, thanks to Dave, the most real person Mclean's ever met. Dave just may be falling in love with her, but can he see the person she really is? Does Mclean herself know?"

I am so psyched about this book, I just adore Sarah Dessen, she's one of the few, if not the only, non-paranormal/supernatural/fantasy authors I read obsessively.  Her books are funny, endearing and absolutely wonderful. What Happened to Goodbye will be available in stores on May 10 but if you need something to hold you over until then Dessen has posted the What Happened to Goodbye TV spot/trailer on her blog, http://sarahdessen.com/blog/.

Happy Hump Day Everyone!!

Waiting on Wednesdays is hosted by Breaking the Spine