Review: (ARC) Illuminate by Aimee Agresti

My Rating: 5 Stars
Date Read: January, 2012
Challenge: 2012 Debut Author Challenge

Published March 6, 2012 by Harcourt Children's Books

Hardback, 544 pages

Summary from GoodReads:

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit. As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?
Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew.

My Review:

I am so sad that it took me so long to read this book!! But all of a sudden, school and work decided to keep me extra super busy, and reading had to take a backseat :( but now things have started to slow down again, and I can sort of catch up with everything.

I was so lucky to be able to win this awesome book in a giveaway on Aimee Agresti's website. And it came with this really pretty angel wing necklace.. Alright, now on to the actual review ;)

Illuminate was my very first 2012 debut (WOO!) and honestly, it set the bar pretty high. It was one of those enchanting books that kept you wondering what was going to happen until the very end. (And then some)

Haven was a good main character, because she came across as a real person. She has so many insecurities at the beginning of the book, but the farther along the story gets the more she embraces those insecurities and she becomes a strong, confident person.

And, okay, we can't forget about the swoon worthy boys *Wink-wink* Let's start with Lance. He's that super sweet boy next door type, and I couldn't help but falling in love with him, just a little. *SIGH*

And Lucian. Ah, he's the overly complicated one. I had mixed feelings about him through the whole book, and even now, after I've finished with it, I STILL can't decide how I feel about him. I really hope that we will see more of him in the books to come.

Okay, to sum it all up, and not get too into spoilers, I think it's safe to say that I really liked this book. Once it hits shelves you absolutely HAVE to rush to the store and get it. Seriously.

I can't wait to see what kind of adventures that Haven and the gang get into the next time around.

Review: First Date by Krista McGee

My Rating: 5 Stars

Date Read: January 2012



Publication Date: January 10, 2012 by Thomas Nelson
Paperback, 336 pages




Summary from Goodreads:
The orphaned daughter of missionaries, Addy is quite content to stay in the shadows and never draw attention to herself. But when she's selected for a reality TV show to try to become the President son's prom date-a show she didn't audition for-she's suddenly in America's spotlight.


The lights, the make-up, the competitions, and the blogs discussing every move she makes all make Addy incredibly uncomfortable. But through her time at The Mansion, Addy comes to realize that first impressions aren't always right, that hiding out may not be what God had planned for her life, and that her faith should affect everything she does. It may just be that her selection wasn't random at all and that she's on this show "for such a time as this."


My Review:

Okay this book was too dang cute! And it didn't take me very long to read once I started it. And I love the cover, too!!


Addy does NOT want to be on The Book Of Love. Especially since she will be competing against 100 other girls for ONE date with Jonathon (AKA the President's son) She even tells him and all the viewers, that she doesn't want to be there (in one of those stress induced wacky moments) though later on in the story she regrets what she said. She goes because she knows that God wants her there for a reason. She only wishes she knew what that reason was.

I kind of loved the premise of the book. I mean, I was never a fan of The Bachelor, I always rolled my eyes at it, but this book caught my attention. It had all of the Drama, but none of the inappropriateness that some dating reality shows have.

I admired Addy for the same reason that everyone watching the show did. She didn't change to try and impress anybody. She might have thought about it a few times, but she always stayed true to herself. She didn't have to be fake to make everybody love her.

Jonathon was funny and sweet, and I wish that I could have learned more about his character.

This was a great story, it's something that readers of all ages will enjoy. It is one that I can picture as a Disney Channel or Hallmark movie. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books by Krista McGee :D



**I received this book for free from BookSneeze, in exchange for an honest review**

We Have A New Winner!

Okay, I never heard anything back from the winner of the Happy New Year 2012 blog hop, so now we have a new Winner. Congratulations to....

BROOKE!!

I've sent an e-mail, and you will have 72 hours to respond

2012 New Year's Eve Giveaway Hop Winner

First of all, I want to say THANK YOU! to everyone who entered. I'm hoping to be able to participate in another Blog Hop really soon. Okay, and the winner iiiiiiis.............

Bookaholic Anonymous!!

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Thanks for Hopping, and happy reading!