The Alchemy of Forever (Incarnation #1)
by Avery Williams
Publication Date: 3 January 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Format: Ebook, bought
Challenge: 2012 Debut Author Challenge
Rating: 4/5
Buy the Book: Amazon US/UK|B&N|Book Depo

Seraphina has been alive since the 1300's, made immortal when the boy she was beginning to love back then, Cyrus, saved her from death with a strange liquid - a method of alchemy that lets them swap bodies with any human being. But now, in modern day America, Sera has decided that she can no longer bear the weight of stealing people's lives so she can keep living on. So she decides to run away from Cyrus and end her stolen existence once and for all. Her plan goes awry when she accidentally takes the body of a dying teenager and feels forced to take over her life. When the lines between Sera and Kailey's identity begin to blur, Sera finds a reason to desire to live once more. But she can't shake the guilt of having taken Kailey's life, even if she was dying. And what if Cyrus finds her?

The Alchemy of Forever has to be one of my favorite reads of 2012 so far. It was the first time I had read a story involving reincarnation and it definitely made me fall in love with the concept. It was a quick, easy and enjoyable read and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
The story follows the main character, Seraphina who becomes an Incarnate at the hands of the alchemist's son Cyrus. His love for her turns into obsession and leads him to keep her captive over hundreds of years until, they reach present day, and Sera is able to escape the cult of Incarnates Cyrus has created. On a mission to end her miserably long life Sera accidentally takes on the body and life of a girl she tries to save from death. Stuck inside this new body and surrounded by Kailey's loving family and friends, Seraphina must decide whether to continue running from Cyrus, or to try and hide from him in Kailey's world.
I found Seraphina to be a very likable as well as a relatable character because even though she is over a hundred year old, she is still flawed in some ways. She isn't perfect and she makes some bad decisions along the way but, all the while she is always trying to do the right thing. Her years on earth haven't made her selfish in any way, which I found surprising when compared to her fellow Incarnates. I very much enjoyed following her story and as a character I found her very well rounded. The character of Cyrus was very well written and he is one creepy dude! I loved how sly and scary he came across and through that you could understand Seraphina's desire to escape his evil clutches. 
With the book being so short the rest of the characters aren't explored as much as I would have liked them to have been, and I think that works against the story in a way. I hope that in the second book we get to hear/see a little bit more of the Incarnates and some of Kailey's family and friends.There were some small issues that were brought up but they weren't fully explored, and at the end I was left wondering what had happened with those issues. I hope that maybe they set up for book 2. 
Overall I enjoyed The Alchemy of Forever. I was looking for a quick read and I definitely found it in this book. The pacing was really good. I was never wondering when the story was going to pick up again. The characters were enjoyable and I am very excited to see what happens in the next installment. 

Waiting On Wednesday

Arise(Hereafter #2)
by Tara Hudson
Publication Date: 5 June 2012
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pre-Order:Amazon US/UK|B&N|Book Depo

Amelia—still caught between life and death—must fight for every moment of her relationship with the human boy Joshua. They can hardly even kiss without Amelia accidentally dematerializing. Looking for answers, they go to visit some of Joshua’s Seer relatives in New Orleans. But even in a city so famously steeped in the supernatural, Amelia ends up with more questions than answers…and becomes increasingly convinced that she and Joshua can never have a future together.Wandering through the French Quarter, Amelia meets other in-between ghosts, and begins to seriously consider joining them. And then she meets Gabrielle. Somehow, against impossible odds, Gaby has found a way to live a sort of half-life...a half-life for which Amelia would pay any price. Torn between two worlds, Amelia must choose carefully, before the evil spirits of the netherworld choose for her. |Goodreads|

The Selection (The Selection #1)
by Kiera Crass
Publication Date: 24 April 2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pre-Order: Amazon US/UK|B&N|

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.|Goodreads|

Why am I waiting on these?

These books not only have beautiful covers but their stories both sound too captivating not to covert! Hereafter is on my bookshelf and I'll definitely make time to read it before Arise releases. I'm excited about the continuation of the series because it is a very unique story line.  The Selection is a 2012 releases that I absolutely cannot wait for! It sounds so thrilling and magical but dark and twisted at the time. Luckily the wait isn't too long. This one is certainly going on my wishlist! 

What are you waiting on this week?

*Bloggers leave links & I'll follow back* 

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Here's what I got this week:

Follow Friday!

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Alison Can Read & Parajunkee.This week's question is:

Q: Have you ever looked at a book’s cover and thought, 'this is going to horrible' but was instead pleasantly surprised? Show us the cover and tell us about the book.

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.|Goodreads|

The book I was most skeptical about when I started reading it was Fallen by Lauren Kate. It was my first shot at an angel story and I was not so sure if I would enjoy it. About halfway through I almost gave up because it definitely was not working for me, but then my best friend Gillian (over at Bookworms Conner) convinced me to carry on and I'm really glad I did. I ended up completely hooked on the series and I devoured Torment and Passion, and I cannot wait for Rapture to be released later this year!

Thanks for checking out my blog and for the follow!

*Bloggers leave links & I'll follow back!*

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight
by Jennifer E. Smith
Publication Date: 2 January 2012
Publisher: Headline (UK)
Format: Paperback, Review Copy
Rating: 4/5
Buy the book: Amazon US/UK|B&N|Book Depo

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A. Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it. |Goodreads|

What can be better than a quick contemporary read with adorable characters and the sweetest love story ever? Well, not much actually. They say dynamite comes in small packages and that is exactly the case with The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight.
This novel has to be one of the cutest contemporary reads out there. It's such a quick read as the story is set over a twenty-four period, so it's not going to take you forever to get into it. In it we meet Hadley, a young American girl who has just missed her flight by four minutes. She is on her way to London to attend her father's wedding to a British women whom Hadley is not too fond of, even though she has never met her. Still coping with the divorce of her parents Hadley is emotionally lost and cannot comprehend the fact that her father is getting remarried. In the airport Hadley meets Oliver, a young British college student returning to London for a family affair and, over the course of the journey they unknowingly change each other's lives. 
I really enjoyed being part of the journey of realization that Hadely goes on without her even realizing it. Meeting Oliver, talking to each other about their pasts and reliving some of their childhood memories had a very strong emotional effect on both characters. It was endearing to read about how each had of them had been affected by their different circumstances, and I loved seeing how one airplane flight changed two people. Hadley matures greatly over the course of the story and Oliver develops a better understanding of himself as well as his family. The fact that they both end up falling for each other was just the cherry on top of a very cute cupcake!
The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight was a very quick read and it was the perfect break from a slight over load of Paranormal fiction I had been experiencing. The plot development was flawless and even the secondary characters were well explored. 
I would highly recommend The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight as a fun, sweet, quick read to anyone who has a couple of hours to spare. It was an extremely rewarding read and the story stays with you long after you've turned the last page!

Waiting On Wednesday: Creepy Covers!

Ten by Gretchen McNeilPublication Date: 18 September 2012Publisher: Balzer + Bray Pre-Order: Amazon US/UK|B&N|Book Depo

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives – an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school's most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off the from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn't scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?|Goodreads|

This Is Not a Test
by Courtney Summers
Publication Date: 19 June 2012
Publisher: St Martins Griffin
Pre-Order: Amazon US/UK|B&N|Book Depo

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually wantto live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?|Goodreads|

Why am I waiting on these?

Not only are these covers super creepy but the stories sound like fantastically scary reads. I am dying to get hands on these books and I can't wait for them to be released! This Is Not a Test intrigues me because Courtney Summers is known for tackling contemporary stories with a dark side, with much success so I'm really excited to see how she pulls of a Zombie tale. Ten sounds like the perfect scary story and, with her success with Possess, I'm looking forward to reading Gretchen McNeil take on the classic plot line of teens trapped and being knocked off by a mystery killer.

What are you waiting on this week? 

*Bloggers leave a link I'll follow back!*

Review: Crossed by Ally Condie

Crossed (Matched #2)
by Ally Condie
Publication Date: 1 November 2011
Publisher: Penguin
Format: Paperback, Review Copy
Rating: 4/5
Buy the Book: Amazon US/UK|B&N|Book Depo

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.
Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.|Goodreads|

I was fortunate enough to be able to read Matched and Crossed straight after each other and I'm so glad that I did. Having been left with a major cliffhanger in the first book, I was very anxious to continue Cassia's story in Crossed. With good pacing and alot of action, Crossed is the perfect sequel, complete with yet another annoyingly tantalizing cliffhanger!
The story continues straight on from where Matched left off, which I liked because there was no guessing as to what had happened between each book. Cassia and Ky are separated from each other at the end of Matched, and Crossed is all about them finding each other as well as themselves. Both characters change and grow immensely in this installment of the trilogy and that was just as exciting as their expedition through the canyons, on their way to find the rebellion against The Society known as The Rising.
Crossed is written from both Cassia and Ky's perspectives in alternating chapters. This technique doesn't always work in novels but in Crossed, it fit in perfectly with the story. We get to fully discover Ky as a character but still have Cassia's side of the story too, which is an aspect of Crossed that I enjoyed.
Throughout the story we meet new characters that are completely different to those in Matched and each brings a new dimension to the story. I liked the mystery of Indie, the innocence of Eli and the darkness of Vick. The setting of the story also takes a drastic turn compared to the setting in Matched and it showed that were some dark parts of the seemingly 'perfect' world in which the characters live. The pacing, overall, was good. It did slow down in the middle but soon after it picked up again. The writing was very descriptive and all the characters were engaging and evolved throughout the book.
Be warned though, there is yet another cliffhanger at the end of Crossed and I cannot wait to read the next installment of the series. Crossed has made me an even bigger fan of Ally Condie and I look very much forward to discovering how she wraps up the trilogy.