"The Dead List" by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Genre: YA Thriller/ Mystery
Format: Wattpad
Publication: April 15, 2015 by JLA
Cover Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Thoughts: The Dead List is a precious gift from the Awesome One (also known as Jennifer L. Armentrout or JLA) to all of her fans. It was published a few months ago on the site Wattpad and it's FREE for however long the Awesome One so feels inclined for it to be.

But for real, on to the review. I'm a huge JLA Fangirl (in case you couldn't tell) and there's a reason for that. She cranks out novels like nobody's business and they never disappoint. They're always good and delicious and leave you wanting more. The Dead List is no different.

Meet Ella:  She's your average high-school girl, who's just trying to move on with her life after a mutual break up with her boyfriend/ best-friend. But someone doesn't want Ella to move on. Someone knows about Ella's tragic past, and they're not about to let her forget. After narrowly escaping an attack herself, Ella watches on the sidelines as her peers start to disappear, only to show up dead later. But then she starts to notice a trend. Something... or someone actually, connects them all. Someone who Ella failed when she was young and naive. And now someone out there wants revenge on all of those involved.

Here's the thing: If you like those 90's campy pyscho killer horror flicks (like Scream), you will love The Dead List. Of course, there's great character development and the plot has plenty of twists and turns, but what I really loved was the nostalgia of it. It's no secret that I love cheesed horror films and the 90's, so this was like getting a Godivia Chocolate Cheese Cake (because they're boss) AND a glass of your favorite wine!

Bottom Line:  I would definitely recommend this book, and I would also tell you to read it ASAP. Because while JLA hasn't mentioned taking it off Wattpad anytime soon, why would you wait and chance it?

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

"Black Ice" by Becca Fitzpatrick

Genre: YA Thriller/ Mystery
Format: Paperback ARC; 390 pages
Publication: October 7th, 2014 by Simon & Schuster
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars
Links: Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depo, B&N

From Goodreads: Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late. 

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage. 

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target. 

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally? 

BLACK ICE is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…

My Thoughts: First of all, I want to give a HUGE thank you to my Book BFF and fellow GReep, Anna (from Annaberry Reads) for being so awesome and trusting me to borrow her very own ARC copy of this book!

Black Ice ended up being amazing. I loved it. I even loved it MORE than Becca's first series, Hush, Hush. It was just this gripping, page turner, that I could NOT put down. Seriously, I stayed up until 3:00 am on a work day to read it. My boss was not a happy camper, but I didn't regret it.

I'm not going to lie, when I first started reading it I had my doubts.While I loved the premise and the plot itself, the MC, Britt, was just plain DUMB. She made very stupid, cliche horror movie, decisions. I found myself cringing at her idiocy and rolling my eyes at her inability to be self sufficient. BUT, and this is a big but, it worked. Somehow, the amazing Becca Fitzpatrick made me fall in love with this clueless teenager. And of course, Britt ends up coming into her own and her character gets stronger as this story goes on, redeeming herself from her earlier flaws.

What about the mystery, you ask? Well, it totally kept me guessing until the last possible second when you see how the clues start coming together. The whole time you are questioning EVERYONE, and feeling sorry for Britt because you start to think maybe you could have Stockholm Syndrome too, and you completely understand where she's coming from.

Simply put, Black Ice was one of the best thrillers I have read in quite some time. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery or just YA in general.

My Rating: