ARC Review ~ When by Victoria Laurie

When
By Victoria Laurie 

Rating: 4.6


'Why am I seemingly the only person on earth who can see these numbers? Why did fate choose me for such a cruel gift? 

It's a question I've asked myself a million times, and I'm still looking for the answer. I think there may not be one, because knowing when someone will die has never changed anything. I've never saved anybody or given them more time. 

I'm just the messenger.'

Small black gravestones against a pale white landscape...

Etched onto people's foreheads are little black numbers only Maddie Fynn can see. 

Far from being lucky in nature, these numbers are people's death-dates. Just by looking at someone - either in person, or through a photo - Maddie can tell how long they have left to live. Years, months, weeks...days. 

But not everyone wants to know what the future holds.

Knowing when people are going to die is horrible enough. But having to tell them is even worse. 

In order to make money to support her and her mother, Maddie takes on clients - selling her 'death readings' to the curious, the desperate, the hopeful. And it all goes relatively well...until the day her abilities get her into a whole world of trouble. 

Because a client's son has gone missing. 

And the date he was last seen? The exact date Maddie gave. 

She knows the when...but not the how or why.

The law enforcement are on the case, and there's no room for supernatural abilities in their law books. As more and more young people keep disappearing and turning up murdered, all roads seem to lead to Maddie.

Each of the victims is connected to her in some way. But who's pulling the strings?

And what - or who - do they want?

A tangle of mystery and layered emotions, When is a book to look out for.

If you love a good mystery - with a touch of the paranormal, and a romance that doesn't overpower the plot - then When is definitely for you. Be sure to grab your copy of When when it's released on January 13th 2015...and join Maddie on her race against the clock!

**A big thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book**

Teaser Tuesday ~ Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Hosted by: MizB at Should Be Reading

It's Teaser Tuesday! Teaser Tuesday is when I pick up one of my latest reads, choose a random page, and share two terrific teasers from it with all of you. So strap on your seat-belts & prepare yourself for teasers that are sure to blow you away!

This week's teasers come from Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. Red Queen is the first book in the Red Queen Trilogy, a thrilling new fantasy series. Red Queen will be released on February 10th 2015 by Orion Publishing. 

Music Monday ~ The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Hosted by: Total Book Geek

It's Music Monday! Time to pick a book & pair it with some winning tunes...

This Monday's pick is Katja Millay's Sea of Tranquility. You can check out my full review of the book here.

Sea of Tranquility is a deeply emotional & intriguing YA novel about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances. Today I will be sharing a few of the songs from the playlist I've put together for this fantastic book.

Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers Review

Mortal Heart (His Fair Assassin #3) 
By Robin LaFevers

Rating: 5


'"Your love cannot change a man or a god. All it can do is open a door, create a new path for him to choose. One that has not been open to him before. That is what the power of your love can offer him - all of that, and no more. 

(...) Your love makes him happy. Whether it will give him the courage to step through that door remains to be seen."'


Without freedom, even the walls of a home can turn into those of a prison.

Annith has lived as a novitiate at the convent of St. Mortain for as long as she can remember. Many of her friends and fellow novitiates have come and gone, leaving the convent's confines to serve Death and fulfil their destinies. 

Everyone except for Annith.

Annith knows in her heart that she is destined to serve as Death's handmaiden, outside of the convent's walls. So when the abbess tells her that she is to be groomed to take on the role of Seeress, Annith is devastated. A life spent locked away inside the convent seems like the cruelest kind of punishment, after all of the years she's spent training to be the perfect assassin. 

Sometimes we need to take our fate into our own hands.

Praying that Mortain will guide her on the right path, Annith sets out - leaving the convent behind to find the answers to the burning questions surrounding her past and the mysterious workings of the convent.

A journey filled with hellequins, unexpected alliances, bitter truths, and difficult decisions lies ahead. Annith must find the strength to save those she loves...no matter the cost. 

The truth can be deadlier than any poison or blade. 

Mortal Heart is an emotional and thrilling finale to what has been a deeply captivating series. Robin LaFevers has worked her storytelling magic once again, to produce a book that you will not be able to put down. 

Steampunk Saturday: Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger

Waistcoats & Weaponry (Finishing School #3) 
By Gail Carriger 

Rating: 5


'"Sovereign, sovereigns, or seduction," said Sidheag calmly, before Sophronia could stop her.

Dimity nodded in agreement. "It's our second lessons after the school motto: Ut acerbus terminus."
Felix looked confused. "What does it mean?"

"'To the bitter end,'" said Sophronia.'


Return to a world of steel-bladed fans and floating dirigibles.

As Sophronia continues her second year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy, the Empire's premier school for proper young killing machines, who knows what adventures await her?

From waltzing lessons held on thin planks high up in the air, to being taught the finer points of flirtatious looks, Sophronia and her friends are sure to learn everything there they need to know in order to become the finest of young ladies. 

But no number of handkerchiefs, scented oils, and sewing shears will be able to prepare them for what is ahead.

Prepare for pack politics and train theft.

When Sidheag takes off on a daring journey to return to her werewolf pack in Scotland, Sophronia and the gang accompany her. They stow away on a mysterious train, only to discover an enemy they never wished to come face to face with again - and a secret that threatens the very foundations of society. 

A secret that could very well throw London, and the world, into chaos. 

Nothing's really what it seems...

Working against the clock, Sophronia and the gang must decide who is friend and who is foe, whilst dealing with tea, top-hats, metal dogs, and world domination. 

Waistcoats & Weaponry is the latest thrilling book in the Finishing School series and will have you wishing you could attend Mademoiselle Geraldine's, too! 

Keen Cover Friday ~ Illusionarium by Heather Dixon

Hosted by: Keepbooked

It's Keen Cover Friday! Keen Cover Friday is when we post a book cover that totally attracts and captures our eyes the moment we laid them on that cover and one that might make others swoon over its beauty just as much as we did. 

And this week's eye-catching book cover belongs to Heather Dixon's Illusionarium. 

Illusionarium is a YA fantasy steampunk novel and is due to be released on May 19th 2015 by Greenwillow.

Totally Hooked On: Nocte by Courtney Cole

Nocte (The Nocte Trilogy #1) 
By Courtney Cole 

Rating: 5+


'It wasn't the odd sketches of people with their eyes and faces and mouths scratched out, it wasn't the odd and dark poems, it was one phrase.

Put me out of my misery.

Scrawled over and over, filling up two complete pages. I've watched him like a hawk ever since. He smiles now, encouraging me to forget it, like it's just his outlet. He's fine now. 

He's fine.

If I had a journal, I'd scrawl that on the pages, over and over, to make it true.'


Sometimes two halves don't make a whole.

Eighteen year-old Calla Price is one half of the Price twins. Her other half, Finn, is crazy. 

In so many ways they're connected, practically the same person. But the worse Finn gets, the more their connection starts to become more like a noose for Calla. Calla's deep, abiding love for him is the only thing stopping her from telling their parents the whole truth. 

From showing them Finn's private journal and the terrible things scrawled between its pages.

She's his protector, his friend, his conscience. But can she save him from himself? Or will he drag her down with him?

Dare me. Love me. Break me.

Dare DuBray is Calla's lifeline. With him, she feels safer - like she's truly living, truly free for the first time in a long time. Being with him is easy. He as the ability to heal Calla, one day at a time. 

But he also has the ability to destroy her.

You can only run from your past for so long. And as Dare's past starts to catch up with him, Calla will be forced to decide between loving Dare, or saving Finn.

Secrets...everyone's got 'em. 

Laced with bitter truths and terrible secrets, Nocte is an addictive NA blend of thriller and mystery elements. Be prepared for a book that will lure you in, make you question everything, and then turn everything you think you know inside-out! 

Thursday Quotables ~ Trust Me, I'm Lying by Mary Elizabeth Summer

Hosted by BookshelfFantasies

It's Thursday Quotables today! Thursday Quotables is all about sharing a favorite quote, line, or passage from your reading each week. You know it's a good read when you come across a bunch of memorable quotes!

Today's quote comes from Trust Me, I'm Lying by Mary Elizabeth Summer. Trust Me, I'm Lying is a YA mystery thriller whose main female protagonist, Julep Dupree, is a practised liar, con artist, and master of disguise. 

There were so many great quotes to choose from.  But I settled on a quote that I think really showcased Julep's character...

Waiting On Wednesday ~ Undeniably Chosen by Shelly Crane

Waiting On Wednesday is here! 

Hosted by Breaking the Spine, Waiting on Wednesday is a chance for me to showcase some of the books sitting on my overflowing to-read list...so you can add them to your steadily growing to-read lists! 

This week's pick is Undeniably Chosen by Shelly Crane. Undeniably Chosen is the fifth YA paranormal romance book in the Significance series. 

The book's official release date hasn't been set yet, but the author has said she's aiming for it to be released towards the end of 2014. 

The original pairing from the previous books in the series, Caleb and Maggie, got their happy ending. Undeniably Chosen focused on their daughter, Ava Jacobson, and her relationship with the handsome Seth Watson. 

Their bond aside, Ava and Seth are from warring sides (very Romeo and Juliet-esque!) which adds new complications. The Watsons and the Jacobsons have a long and bitter feud. Can Ava and Seth kind a way to stay together without everything falling apart?

Teaser Tuesday ~ Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hosted by: MizB at Should Be Reading

It's Teaser Tuesday! Teaser Tuesday is when I pick up one of my latest reads, choose a random page, and share two terrific teasers from it with all of you. So strap on your seat-belts & prepare yourself for teasers that are sure to blow you away!

This week's teasers come from Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick. Black Ice is a standalone YA romance thriller, set in the mountains of Wyoming.