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July has been a really great month! I turned 20, my kitten, Mia, turned 1, and I read a crap-ton of books (aka 14)!  :) The first book I finished this month was All I've Never Wanted by Ana Huang. I really enjoyed this book and you can can check out my review HERE .  Rating: 4/5 stars I read this entire book in one sitting- I could not put it down! I absolutely loved the story and the characters. Kris was sweet and brave and North was protective and swoony! Overall, I had a complete blast reading The Academy by Emmaline Andrews! Rating: 5/5 stars Hard to Be Good by Laura Kaye was a short novella that I definitely enjoyed reading. Rating: 4/5 stars The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak was really fun, sweet, and entertaining and you can read my full review HERE . Rating: 4/5 stars Where You Least Expect by Lydia Rowan was a quick and cute little romance story that I really liked, but didn't quite love. Rating: 3/5 stars I've been really excited for Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and...

Title: Everything, Everything Author: Nicola Yoon Publisher: Delacorte Books Publication Date: September 1, 2015 Synopsis: This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she’s ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more.  My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, ha ve not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla. But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly. Maybe we can’t predict the future,...

I love books. And I love pictures. So it makes sense that I would love pictures of books! Today I want to showcase a few of my bookstagrams that I'm quite proud of. Picked this little inspirational piece up today! #VeryGoodLives #JKRowling #CommencementAddress 🎓 A photo posted by Kristen (@kmichelle1) on Apr 16, 2015 at 10:20pm PDT Day Nine of May #BookPhotoChallenge: Other Worldly #Alienated #MelissaLanders #galaxyshoes A photo posted by Kristen (@kmichelle1) on May 10, 2015 at 8:01am PDT #TheChaosOfStars by @authorkierstenwhite arrived today!! ⭐😄 #Books #Reading #BookHaul #Stars #Bookstagram A photo posted by Kristen (@kmichelle1) on Jun 10, 2015 at 10:05pm PDT I really enjoyed #RedQueen by @VictoriaAveyard! It was a fast paced and entertaining read! 👑 A photo posted by Kristen (@kmichelle1) on Jul 18, 2015 at 9:35pm PDT Books let you travel the world. 📚🌍 A photo posted by Kristen (@kmichelle1) on Jul 20, 2015 at 9:06am PDT -Kristen ♥

Title: The Stellow Project Author: Shari Becker Publisher: Skyscape Publication Date: June 23, 2015 Synopsis: When a killer storm unexpectedly hits Manhattan, seventeen-year-old Lilah Stellow’s dad insists that she and her younger sister, Flori, take refuge at their cabin in the mountains. But instead of joining them with the experimental drug that keeps Lilah alive, he disappears just as news reports name him as a prime suspect in an act of ecoterrorism. As days pass without her medicine, Lilah finds herself teetering on the edge, caring for her sister, and growing increasingly certain they’re being watched. In her search for answers, Lilah is thrown into the center of a mystery involving an off-the-grid research facility and finds herself drawn in by Daniel, an intriguing boy who is the son of the lead scientist. As she dares to seek answers, Lilah slowly realizes that even the best intentions can go horribly wrong. ©2014 Bird on a Wire Photography About the Author: Shari Becker ...

Title: Hourglass Author: Pauline C. Harris Publisher: Fire and Ice YA Books Publication Date: March 11, 2015 Synopsis: Jude Sprocket has been a pirate her whole life. Taken in by a man who found her alone on a distant planet at the age of seven, all she has to remember of her past life is the loss her hand - the vague memory of a race through the woods and a bloody aftermath. Now, her father recently dead, seventeen-year old Jude has inherited his spaceship - Hourglass. Determined to get off Earth and continue her father's legacy of piracy, she assembles a crew and takes to the stars. But more than abandoned ships and hidden treasure await Jude in the vast void of space. She's haunted by dreams of a distant land, children hiding in the shadows, and a little girl she somehow feels the need to find. When Jude and her crew stumble across an uncharted planet, curiosity gets the better of them and they land, unaware of the dangers that wait. Suddenly, Jude's worst nightmare...

Title: A Friendly Engagement Author: Christine Warner Series: Friends First, #1 Publisher: Entangled Publication Date: June 23, 2015 Synopsis: What's a little engagement between friends?  Omar Esterly is married to his job. But when Omar sets his sights on a potential, family-oriented client, his confirmed bachelorhood becomes a problem. Fortunately, his friend and employee, Devi Boss, has the perfect plan... Okay, so it wasn't exactly Devi's plan to become her friend's fake fiancée. Lies aren't her style. However, Omar offers her a big, beautiful raise - enough to track down the missing father she's never known - and Devi reluctantly agrees to the whole engagement hoax...  This was supposed to be a no-strings-attached win-win for both Devi and Omar, but when they cross the line between friendship and...well, something more, Devi realizes she's made a huge mistake that just might cost her both job and friend - falling for her fiancé. About the Author: ...

Title: The Heartbreakers Author: Ali Novak Series: The Heartbreaker Chronicles, #1 Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire Publication Date: August 4, 2015 Synopsis: "When I met Oliver Perry, I had no clue he was the lead singer for The Heartbreakers. And he had no idea that I was the only girl in the world who hated his music." Stella will do anything for her sick sister, Cara—even stand in line for an autographed Heartbreakers CD...for four hours. She's totally winning best birthday gift this year. At least she met a cute boy with soft brown hair and gorgeous blue eyes while getting her caffeine fix. Too bad she'll never see him again. Except, Stella's life has suddenly turned into a cheesy love song. Because Starbucks Boy is Oliver Perry – lead singer for the Heartbreakers. And even after she calls his music crap, Oliver still gives Stella his phone number. And whispers quotes from her favorite Disney movie in her ear. OMG, what is her life? But how can Stella even th...

Title: Anya and the Shy Guy  Author:  Suze Winegardner Series:  Backstage Pass, #4 Publisher: Entangled Crush Publication Date: July 14, 2015 Synopsis: Anya Anderson doesn’t just need a big break, she needs any break. Living on the streets doesn’t leave a girl many options, so when she scores a gig reporting on the Seconds to Juliet tour, she jumps at the chance to earn enough money to sleep somewhere safe. And the paycheck will get bigger—and keep her off the streets for good—if she can dig up dirt on Will Fray, the irritatingly hot “shy guy” of the band. Problem is, Will Fray isn't who everyone thinks he is. In fact, he’s not Will at all. Matt, Will's identical twin, is actually the guy onstage, reluctantly covering for his brother while he’s in rehab. To make matters worse, Matt’s being shadowed by a cute reporter with troubled eyes determined to get the scoop. On him. And he's having trouble finding the willpower to keep his distance… But if the secret gets out, it...

Title: Sweet as Sin Author: J.T. Geissinger Series: Bad Habit, #1 Publication Date: July 14, 2015 Synopsis: Twentysomething Kat Reid is loving life as an in-demand Hollywood makeup artist. She has absolutely no interest in rock ’n’ roll, but in order to pay the mortgage, she agrees to work on the set of a rock video for the world-famous rockers known as Bad Habit…which brings her face-to-face with Nico Nyx, lead singer of Bad Habit and Adonis in the flesh. However, the fiercely independent Kat isn’t impressed by the hard-living, womanizing rock star. But when Nico’s model girlfriend shows up to the set drunk and Kat is tapped to replace her as the video’s sexy bride, her combustible chemistry with Nico suddenly threatens to consume the set. Nico feels it, too—and becomes determined to win Kat over, body and soul. Yet behind his rock god swagger, Nico hides a dark secret. Can he rock Kat’s world forever, or will he just break her heart? About the Author:  J.T. Geissinger is an awa...

  Title: Every Last Breath Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout Series: The Dark Elements, #3 Publisher: Harlequin Teen Publication Date: July 28, 2015 Synopsis: Some loves will last ‘til your dying breath Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust. Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction. Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the tru...

Title: All I've Never Wanted Author: Ana Huang Publication Date: June 9, 2015 Synopsis: The Scions were the four richest, most powerful guys at Valesca Academy, and they ruled the school with iron fists. Everyone wanted to date them or be them...everyone, that is, except Maya Lindberg, who just wanted to avoid them until she could graduate.  She almost succeeded, until an ill-advised outburst on her part put her right in the Scions' path. Just like that, one became her fake boyfriend, one her unwanted matchmaker, one her guardian angel, and the one she couldn't stand the most? Yeah, he's her new housemate. A Young Adult romantic comedy that explores what happens when a girl gets everything she never asked for, including a puppy, a new wardrobe, and, possibly, even true love. Review: All I've Never Wanted was cute and entertaining and just the kind of book I was in the mood for. The most engaging part of the story for me were the characters. We have quite a prett...

Title: Fractured Memories Author: Jo Schneider Series: Jagged Scars, #1 Publication Date: May 20, 2015 Synopsis: Sixteen year old Wendy never knew the world before the Starvation. She’s learned to put her trust in her knives, and her confidence in her fighting ability. When the Skinnies attack her compound, she’s the lone survivor. Injured and near death, Wendy is rescued and nursed back to health by mysterious strangers. Her saviors offer her a place among them, but trust has never been one of Wendy’s strengths, and suspicion soon leads to evidence that these people might be the group who killed her family. The decision to get her revenge, and take the settlement down from the inside out is easy. Keeping her distance from those she must befriend in order to make it happen proves to be much more difficult. About the Author: Jo Schneider is the author of Babes in Spyland, New Sight-YA fantasy out April 2014, wearer of a black belt in Kempo and always in search of the next cool plac...

Title: How to be a Mermaid Author: Erin Hayes Publication Date: July 7, 2015 Synopsis: All Tara ever wanted was to be a mermaid. So she takes a year off between high school and college to don a fake tail and tour aquariums across the country in a professional mermaid troupe. Everything’s great until she meets a gorgeous real-life merman named Finn. Suddenly, what she thought was a dream turns out to be a nightmare — she’s turning into a mermaid herself. For real. Yet when she returns to the sea to seek out Finn and reverse her transformation, she finds herself in the middle of an impending war between the land and sea. Tara may have always wanted to be a mermaid, but now it’s sink or swim. In order to survive, she has to learn how to be one, too. About the Author: Sci-fi junkie, video game nerd, and wannabe manga artist Erin Hayes writes a lot of things. Sometimes she writes books, like the fantasy mystery novel Death is but a Dream, the sci-fi middle grade book Jacob Smith is Incr...