Completed Challenges: 2010

100+ Reading Challenge

This year I made it my personal and challenge goal to read at least 100 books. I managed to surpass my goal and read 111 books. My list of books can be seen here. I hope to read even more in 2011! 

Read In 2010

It was my goal this year to read 100 books and I also joined the 100+ Reading Challenge. Not only did I make my goal, but I went over it. So, I decided to list the books I read in 2010 so that you guys can see what I've been reading.

1. The Long Walk by Stephen King
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
3. Meridian by Amber Kizer
4. Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
5. Immortal by Gillian Shields
6. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
7. Rampant by Diana Peterfreud
8. Captivate by Carrie Jones
9. The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore
10. Model Spy by Shannon Greenland
11. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
12. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
13. Gone by Lisa McMann
14. Ex-mas by Kate Brian
15. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
16. Numbers by Rachel Ward
17. The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks
18. North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
19. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
20. My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
21. Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey
22. Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon
23. Swoon by Nina Malkin
24. My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent
25. Firespell by Chloe Neill
26. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
27. Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine
28. Dove by Robin Lee Graham
29. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
30. Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti
31. Winter’s Child by Cameron Dokey
32. Going Bovine by Libba Bray
33. The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan
34. Winter’s Passage by Julie Kagawa
35. My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent
36. A Match Made In High School by Kristin Walker
37. Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison
38. Full Moon by Rachel Hawthorne
39. Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
40. How to Make a Bird by Martine Murray
41. Everlasting by Angie Frazier
42. Sea by Heidi R. Kling
43. 13 to Life by Shannon Delany
44. Mairelon the Magician by Patricia C. Wrede
45. The Magician’s Ward by Patricia C. Wrede
46. Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
47. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
48. The Uninvited by Amanda Marrone
49. Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt
50. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
51. When It Happens by Susane Colasanti
52. Take Me There by Susane Colasanti
53. The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott
54. The Espressologist by Kristina Springer
55. Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott
56. Flirting With Boys by Hailey Abbott
57. Other by Karen Kincy
58. The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade
59. Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson
60. The Other Boy by Hailey Abbott
61. The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
62. Discord’s Apple by Carrie Vaughn
63. Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
64. Echoes by Melinda Metz
65. Haunted by Melinda Metz
66. Trust by Melinda Metz
67. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
68. Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern
69. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
70. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
71. Brutal by Michael Harmon
72. The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz
73. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
74. The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) by Kody Keplinger
75. Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
76. Girl, Stolen by April Henry
77. Deception by Lee Nichols
78. By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters
79. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
80. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
81. I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak
82. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Wayne Josephson
83. Jane by April Lindner
84. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
85. Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs
86. Glimmerglass by Jenna Black
87. Firelight by Sophie Jordan
88. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
89. Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan
90. Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson
91. How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles
92. Branded by Keary Taylor
93. The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
94. Aces Up by Lauren Barnholdt
95. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
96. The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum
97. Reaper by Rachel Vincent
98. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
99. Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles
100. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
101. Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott
102. The Mind Readers by Lori Brighton
103. Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
104. Legacy of Lies by Elizabeth Chandler
105. Don't Tell by Elizabeth Chandler
106. You Wish by Mandy Hubbard
107. Promise by Kristie Cook
108. Deadly Little Games by Laurie Faria Stolarz
109. Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers
110. Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
111. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

The Best of 2010

This year has been amazing as far as books go. Therefore I decided to share my favorite books/series/authors of the year with you guys! These books weren't necessarily released in 2010, I just read them this year.

Meridian by Amber Kizer

This book was just so original and filled with overall awesomeness!




Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

This book was simply amazing. If you haven't read it yet I suggest you get on it! I have the second one but haven't read it yet, which is quite a shame.


The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa

These books are perhaps my favorite of the year. They are all extremely well written and take place in the most wonderful world.





Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

I always wondered what happened to the food tasters. This book not only answered my questions but had a perfect balance of adventure, magic, and romance.

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

AAHHH!!! I don't know why I love this book so much but it is just WONDERFULLY AMAZING!

---

I realize most of (all of) the above books are some kind of paranormal/magical book. So now we have my favorite contemporary books of the year.

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

This was the first (and so far the only) Sarah Ockler book I read and it was very very good. It reminded me of Sarah Dessen but more emotional and just a bit...more in the overall feel of the book.

 I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak

This book was sincere, funny, and gripping. It had a good message that was delivered in an amazing (and memorable) way.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

This book was the cutest. Why is this one of the best of 2010 you ask? Paris. St. Clair. That's why.

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

This was a wonderful contemporary fiction novel that did not sugarcoat anything. And for that, it's one of my favorites. 

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

I'm not sure if this is considered contemporary or not seeing as how part of it is historical. But! This book is truly great because of the characters and the writing is beautiful.

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Summary from goodreads.

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

February 15, 2011

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

When Violet Ambrose's morbid ability to sense the echoes of those who've been murdered leads her to the body of a young boy, she draws the attention of the FBI. She is reluctantly pulled into an investigation that will endanger more than just her secret...but her relationship and possibly her life as well.

--

I really liked the first in the series, The Body Finder, so I can't wait to see how the series continues.

Out With A Bang Reading List

The Out With A Bang Read-A-Thon is upon us and I thought it would be a good idea to make a list of the books I plan to read. My reading time will be a bit scarce but I still hope to get a lot read. Most of the books on my list are books that I've started but just haven't finished.

 

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh 

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

The Candidates by Inara Scott

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell 

Delirium by Lauren Oliver 

Review: Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott

(summary from goodreads)


Everyone thinks their parents are embarrassing, but Hannah knows she's got them all beat. 
Her dad made a fortune showcasing photos of pretty girls and his party lifestyle all over the Internet, and her mom was once one of her dad's 'girlfriends' and is now the star of her own website. 
After getting the wrong kind of attention for way too long, Hannah has mastered the art of staying under the radar . . . and that's just how she likes it. Of course, that doesn't help her get noticed by her crush. Hannah's sure that gorgeous, sensitive Josh is her soul mate. But trying to get him to notice her; wondering why she suddenly can't stop thinking about another guy, Finn; and dealing with her parents make Hannah feel like she's going crazy. Yet she's determined to make things work out the way she wants only what she wants may not be what she needs. . . . 
Once again, Elizabeth Scott has created a world so painfully funny and a cast of characters so heartbreakingly real that you'll love being a part of it from unexpected start to triumphant finish.


Review: This is one of the only books I've read by Elizabeth Scott, but I really enjoyed it, and after reading Something, Maybe I'm looking forward to reading more of Scott's work. 


The first thing about this book that caught my attention was  how wonderful of a contemporary novel it was. Scott told Hannah's entire story. It told about her family, romantic, and friendship problems. Not only were all of these things touched on, but they were brought up in a way that allowed you to see who the characters were.


The romance was a bit predictable as far as who Hannah was going to end up with, but it was still great to read about. My only problem with the book was that a lot of Hannah's issues had no closure at the end. Really the only thing that has a solid ending is her romance. You don't find out if Teagan ends up going back to college, you don't know if Hannah patches up her father/daughter relationship, and you don't get any closure on the situation with her mom (as far as Jose goes). 


Despite all of those things this was a great book that was a pretty easy read. It had substance to it (it wasn't just fluff) but it also managed to have a believable romance that was fun to read. 

Source: My personal library (e-book)

Published: March 24, 2009 by Simon Pulse 

In My Mailbox (16)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Summaries from goodreads!


For Review:

My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent (e-ARC via NetGalley)

Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can't just pretend nothing happened. But "complicated" doesn't even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn't just an ordinary girl. She's a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people's fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn't above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants.

* Thank you to harlequin and NetGalley for the e-ARC

Bought:

The Candidates by Inara Scott (e-book)

Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that's not just because of her average grades or her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia's mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just...happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt. So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to anyone, belieiving this way she can supress her powers and keep them hidden.

But when recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy show up in her living room to offer her a full scholarship, Dancia's days of living under the radar may be over. Only, Delcroix is a school for diplomats' kids and child geniuses--not B students with uncontrollable telekinetic tendencies. So why are they treating Dancia like she's special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make Dancia feel welcome.

And then there's her mysterious new friend Jack, who can't stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at the Academy and wants Dancia to help him figure out what. But Dancia isn't convinced. She hopes that maybe the recruiters know more about her "gift" than they're letting on. Maybe they can help her understand how to use it...But not even Dancia could have imagined what awaits her behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.

Christmas Presents:

Deadly Little Games by Laurie Faria Stolarz 

Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: They both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to sense things through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control and hurting people. Camelia's gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn't yet comprehend.

Before either teen has a chance to fully grasp these abilities, an unresolved family tragedy resurfaces in Camelia's life, irrevocably changing everything she cares about...

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl

London, 1838. Sixteen-year-old Liza's dreams of her society debut are dashed when her parents are killed in an accident. Penniless, she accepts the position of lady's maid to young Princess Victoria and steps unwittingly into the gossipy intrigue of the servant's world below-stairs as well as the trickery above. Is it possible that her changing circumstances may offer Liza the chance to determine her own fate, find true love, and secure the throne for her future queen?

Meticulously based on newly discovered information, this riveting novel is as rich in historical detail as Catherine, Called Birdy, and as sizzling with intrigue as The Luxe.

Airhead by Meg Cabot

EM WATTS IS GONE.

Emerson Watts didn't even want to go to the new SoHo Stark Megastore grand opening. But someone needed to look out for her sister, Frida, whose crush, British heartthrob Gabriel Luna, would be singing and signing autographs there-along with the newly appointed Face of Stark, teen supermodel sensation Nikki Howard.

How was Em to know that disaster would strike, changing her-and life as she'd known it-forever? One bizarre accident later, and Em Watts, always the tomboy, never the party princess, is no longer herself. Literally.

Now getting her best friend, Christopher, to notice that she's actually a girl is the least of Em's problems.

But what Em's pretty sure she'll never be able to accept might just turn out to be the one thing that's going to make her dream come true . . . .

NIKKI HOWARD IS HERE TO STAY.

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas/holiday season! Go forth and enjoy family and friend time! 

Review: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

(summary from goodreads)


“I’ve left some clues for you. 
If you want them, turn the page. 
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.” 

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions? 

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.


Review: I have heard amazing things about both Rachel Cohn and David Levithan so this book I was expecting to be amazing, and it was. It's such a fun book and it really gets you in the mood for Christmas time, even though Dash is pretty anti-Christmas.


I found both Dash and Lily to be very interesting characters. Both were very funny throughout the book, but at times, especially with Lily, the speech and word usage in dialogue just didn't seem like that of a 16 year old.


Now I must confess that I related much better to Dash than to Lily. Something about Lily just annoyed me at times. One thing I found unique about Dash was his obsession with words, especially when he tries to find the plural of words, like Wii and Macy's. 


The dares and the adventures that followed were absolutely wonderful to read. They had me laughing, thinking, and really getting into the story. Although, near the end some of the adventures/dares got a little far fetched and unrealistic, like the baby catcher and the sudden fame it brought. Note, if you've read the book that last sentence wil (most likely) make sense; if you haven't, then you probably think I'm crazy.


Overall, this is such a cute and fun book that it will make even the most joyless person excited about Christmas. So be on the lookout, everyone, for suspicious red notebooks lurking in bookstores!

Source: ARC won from Random Buzzers

Published: October 26, 2010 by Knopf Books for Young Readers 

Waiting on Wednesday (15)

Waiting on Wednesday was started and is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Summary from goodreads!

Exile by Anne Osterlund

April 28, 2011

Exiled. From the weight of others' expectations, the responsibilities of being crown princess, and the pressure to marry, Aurelia is finally free to travel the kingdom and meet the people of Tyralt. If only Robert, her expedition guide, would stop pestering her about her safety and just kiss her.
But then their journey erupts in a fiery conflagration, and with both of their lives and the fate of the kingdom at stake, she and Robert must determine whether they have the strength, and the will, to complete their mission. And face the darker side of exile.

--

I read Aurelia when it first came out in 2008 and always wondered it there was going to be a sequel. I'll have to go and re-read the first one because I hardly remember it, except that I liked it. So hopefully this will be a good follow up to it. 

Review: The Mind Readers by Lori Brighton

(summary from goodreads)


Cameron Winters is a freak. Fortunately, no one but her family knows the truth …that Cameron can read minds. For years Cameron has hidden behind a facade of normalcy, warned that there are those who would do her harm. When gorgeous and mysterious Lewis Douglas arrives he destroys everything Cameron has ever believed and tempts her with possibilities of freedom. Determined to embrace her hidden talents, Cameron heads to a secret haven with Lewis; a place where she meets others like her, Mind Readers. 

But as Cameron soon finds out some things are too good to be true. When the Mind Readers realize the extent of Cameron’s abilities, they want to use her powers for their own needs. Cameron suddenly finds herself involved in a war in which her idea of what is right and wrong is greatly tested. In the end she’ll be forced to make a choice that will not only threaten her relationship with Lewis, but her very life. 


Review: The first thing that I noticed about this book was that it was different from most YA books. Now I know that's vague, but I have my reasons for thinking it.


One thing that made it different was the fact that the story was about Cameron and her abilities and it stayed on that topic. In the beginning of the book there was a murder, but the book didn't revolve around the murder. It was a way to show Cameron's ability which led to us meeting Lewis. This was different because usually in YA an event that happens early on in the book is what the entire book revolves around, like solving a murder, but it was used to build characters in The Mind Readers. 


I also found the romance between Cam and Lewis realistic. I think that they "fell in love" a bit quickly but it was what came after that that was realistic. After they actually went on a date and hung out Cameron saw they were actually different. *Slight Spoiler* And I was pleased to see she was strong enough to not change her beliefs of right and wrong to be with him. 


Overall this was a very good book. It was different from many paranormal YA books and put a new twist on mind readers. It also managed to be realistic in the areas of everyday life. The ending was, in my opinion, a cliff hanger, and I definitely hope there's a sequel.

Source: E-Book from author (note: this book only comes in e-book format)

Published: December 7, 2011

Out With A Bang Read-A-Thon

The Out With A Bang Read-A-Thon will be hosted by The Bookish Type and Book Savvy and is running December 29 - 31. It is meant to help finish off the debut books many of us still have to read but you don't have to read just debuts. To learn more and to sign up you can go here or here. 
This is going to be my first read-a-thon so hopefully I'll get a lot read! 

Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

(summary from goodreads)


Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all . . . including a serious girlfriend. 

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Stephanie Perkins keeps the romantic tension crackling and the attraction high in a debut guaranteed to make toes tingle and hearts melt.


Review:
I'm sure you've already heard all of the mazing things about this book and let me assure you that they are all true. This is possibly one of the best books I've read this year!


One of the best things about this book was the characters. They were FLAWED! This made them INTERESTING! St. Clair. Besides being wonderful he is short and does not have good teeth. This may seem random but it is a flaw that makes him wonderfully relate-able. He was also afraid of heights. Can you name any other fictional male characters who are openly afraid of heights?!  And Anna! She also doesn't have good teeth! All of the characters were wonderful and interesting and different from each other. They had their own problems and stories which made them so much fun to read. 


I loved how this book took place over an entire year. Most books simply cover a few months, but this story was made more real by the fact that it took a year to unfold. What made the romance so realistic was that Anna and St. Clair were just friends for a long time and that made them really get to know each other before they were actually "in love". 


I'm sure there are many other absolutely amazing aspects to this book that I'm simply forgetting at the moment, but trust me, you want to read this book. Don't let the title fool you into thinking it's a cheesy romance. Because it's not. It is a great contemporary novel by an amazing debut author who I can't wait to read more from.

Source: My personal library

Published: December 2, 2010 by Dutton 

In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. In My Mailbox is on a bit of a break until 2011 but I felt the need to share just the same.

For Review:

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton (e-ARC)

Bought:

Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott (e-book)

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

Dark Secrets: Volume 1 by Elizabeth Chandler

Won:

The Fortune of Carmen Navarro by Jen Bryant (ARC) 

Thank you to Harper Collins, Random Buzzers, and NetGalley. 

Finally!

As I'm sure you've all noticed I have been severely lacking in the posts/reviews this week. This is due to the wonderful educational institution know as school. Note the sarcasm. Thankfully I am not FINALLY free!

However, my teachers seem to hate me because they have decided to not only make me study for finals, I have them after Christmas break grrrr, but also do a lot of homework. Once again, grrrrr.

But I will be writing reviews and putting them up as well has getting back to my favorite thing, reading! So look forward to many a review in the very near future.

In My Mailbox (14)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. Summaries from goodreads!


For Review:

The Outside Boy by Jeanine Cummins 

A poignant debut novel of an Irish gypsy boy's childhood in the 1950's by the author of the bestselling memoir A Rip in Heaven.

Ireland, 1959: Young Christy Hurley is a Pavee gypsy, traveling with his father and extended family from town to town, carrying all their worldly possessions in their wagons. Christy carries with him a burden of guilt as well, haunted by the story of his mother's death in childbirth. The peripatetic life is the only one Christy has ever known, but when his grandfather dies, everything changes. His father decides to settle down temporarily in a town where Christy and his cousin can attend mass and receive proper schooling. But they are still treated as outsiders.

As Christy's exposure to a different life causes him to question who he is and where he belongs, the answer may lie with an old newspaper photograph and a long-buried family secret that could change his life forever...

Outside In by Maria V. Snyder (e-ARC via NetGalley)

Me? A Leader? Okay, I did prove that there's more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion - between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we're free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again - while still touching base with Riley, of course. He's the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there's outside and then there is Outside. And something from Outside wants In

The Mind Readers by Lori Brighton (ebook)

Cameron Winters is a freak. Fortunately, no one but her family knows the truth …that Cameron can read minds. For years Cameron has hidden behind a facade of normalcy, warned that there are those who would do her harm. When gorgeous and mysterious Lewis Douglas arrives he destroys everything Cameron has ever believed and tempts her with possibilities of freedom. Determined to embrace her hidden talents, Cameron heads to a secret haven with Lewis; a place where she meets others like her, Mind Readers.

But as Cameron soon finds out some things are too good to be true. When the Mind Readers realize the extent of Cameron’s abilities, they want to use her powers for their own needs. Cameron suddenly finds herself involved in a war in which her idea of what is right and wrong is greatly tested. In the end she’ll be forced to make a choice that will not only threaten her relationship with Lewis, but her very life. 

*Thank you to Penguin, Harlequin, NetGalley, and Lori Brighton! 

Bought:

Vanished: Volume 1 (When Lightning Strikes & Code Name Cassandra) by Meg Cabot 

A gift…or a curse?

Jessica Mastriani has never liked attention. All she wants is to make it to high school graduation like any ordinary girl. But when Jess is struck by lightning, she becomes anything but ordinary: suddenly she has the ability to locate missing children.

Now Jess is getting noticed in all the wrong ways and by all the wrong people. The media is obsessed with her and her story. The FBI is tapping her phone. And what’s going on with sexy senior Rob? Soon Jess learns the hard way that not everyone who is lost wants to be found….

With no one to trust, it's up to Jess to decide what to do with her new power—before it’s decided for her.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (ebook) 

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler (ebook)

Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart. She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her "boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.

Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again? 

Won:

The Synthesis (Powerless#1) by Jason Letts (PDF/ebook) 

Mira Ipswich couldn't have ever known the startling difference that separates her from the rest of humanity. But when she discovers a strange anomaly in the midst of her seclusion, her parents are forced to reveal she exists in a world where everyone is imbued with a wondrous natural gift. Everyone except herself that is. Accompany Mira as her attempts to fit in among peers and understand her inconceivable condition embroil her with the dangerous forces threatening her homeland. Protected by nothing more than her imagination and ingenuity, you'll never find a superhero more like you. 

*Thank you to A Life Bound by Books and Confessions of a Bookaholic for the contest.