The Ex Games by Jennifer Echols

THE BLURB:
Brace yourself for the battle of the exes....
Hayden and Nick used to be a hot item, but their brief affair ended with a highly publicized breakup. Now the two are "just friends," excluding the occasional flirtation.
When Hayden wins the girls' division of a local snowboarding competition, Nick is unimpressed, claiming that Hayden wouldn't have a chance against a guy. Hayden calls Nick's bluff and challenges him to a head-to-head boarding contest. Their mutual friends quickly take sides, the girls on Hayden's and the boys on Nick's, making for an all-out battle of the sexes. This friendly competition is bound to get heated -- and they might end up igniting some old flames.

The Review:

The Ex Games. This was truly a fun read. Every expectations I had with this book were met. 

The story is about Hayden (Hoyden? *winks*), who believes that she was one with the mountains. She is a girl who loves nothing more than skiing. That is, after she and her ex-boyfriend broke up. Enter Nick, the funny and the hottie ex-boyfriend. Even after four years, she never want him to know she still likes him, in love even. But now that Valentine's coming and both of his friends are paired up with both of her friends, that's when she decided Chloe and Liz is on to something. Not that she'd object. So when everything seemed to be working out perfectly, an unexpected rivalry between Nick and Hayden has begun and they're too worked up that they take it on a different level of competition---snowboarding. With everything that's happening, plus the sudden snowboarding competition with Nick, Hayden just doesn't know what to do. Only that, without them noticing, some old flame starts to ignite in ice. ;) 

I loved how this book had been an entertaining read for me. I laughed (yes, like, LOLed) with Hayden and Nick's banters, giggled with their affection, annnd heartened with the girls' friendship (wish I have two bestfriends like Chloe and Liz, too!). I relished the story all too much! Jennifer Echols is really an expert in writing enjoyable romantic-comedy books such as this one.

Forgive My Fins (Fins #1) by Tera Lynn Childs

THE BLURB:
Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush. 
Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life. 
When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she finds out that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

The Review:

Forgive My Fins. This is a novel perfect for summer reads. I admit, it is my first time to read one about mermaids. Usually, my to-reads comprise mostly of paranormal, magical, and realistic fiction because reading about mermaids makes me feel like its third grade all over again (Little Mermaid? Hello?). BUT, it is safe to say that this particular story has me craving for more (of Quince!), despite myself. 

Here, we meet the main character, Lily Sanderson, a half-mermaid and the crown princess of Thalassinia. Her father, the King, allowed her to live like a normal girl on land just like her mother, a human, did. Being a mer, she seeks for someone to bond with for-life, and be her future King. Apparently, she's hoping that that someone is her crush, a natural swimmer, Brody Bennett. Quince Fletcher, her archnemesis and neighbor who decided to spend his life ruining Lily's, has become more and more pervasive lately. Lily planned to kiss Brody (the symbol of bonding for life), so that they could go back to Thalassinia and leave the exasperating Quince behind. But things didn't worked out as smoothly as she planned, for that moment she bonded, she's mistaken Quince as Brody. Thus, leaving her bonded with Quince for life. Lily would do anything to get separated from Quince; Even if she drags him to Thalassinia with her and ask the King to concede their separation. She never knew how she really feels toward Quince until her request was granted. Lily never thought how close true love is, when it's right it front of her eyes---mocking her. ;)

I liked this mermaid tale so much. The writing is very clever; Lily's "fishy phraseologies" and "sea slangs" never fail to amuse me. The underwater palace, Thalassinia, was described vividly in a way that makes it easy to imagine it impeccably. Plus, the love story is sooo cute. Quince always teases and bugs Lily in this the-more-you-hate-the-more-you-love kind of way. Soooo, if you haven't marked this one as to-read yet, then you'd better! Forgive My Fins is far too charming and quirky to be missed!

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

THE BLURB:
When Wayland North brings rain to a region that's been dry for over ten years, he's promised anything he'd like as a reward. He chooses the village elder's daughter, sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, who is a skilled weaver and has an unusual knack for repairing his magical cloaks. Though Sydelle has dreamt of escaping her home, she's hurt that her parents relinquish her so freely and finds herself awed and afraid of the slightly ragtag wizard who is unlike any of the men of magic in the tales she's heard. Still, she is drawn to this mysterious man who is fiercely protective of her and so reluctant to share his own past.
As Sydelle discovers North's dark secret and the reason for his interest in her and learns to master her own mysterious power, it becomes increasingly clear that the fate of the kingdom rests in her fingertips. She will either be a savior, weaving together the frayed bonds between Saldorra and Auster, or the disastrous force that destroys both kingdoms forever.

The Review:

First, I'd like to say that this book didn't disappoint me. There are lots of YA fiction nowadays that seems oh-so-good to read at first, but when you're finished, you find out it was actually just an 'okay' book. Brightly Woven, isn't one of those.

 The main character of the story is Sydelle Mirabil, the best weaver in their water-deprived village. They all believe that the rain can be coaxed by the finest wizards of the Wizard Guards. But when it proved ineffective, they all lost hope. Enter Wayland North, a wizard who brought the rain in with him. He went traveling to search for proofs of the King's murder. A war is approaching between the ruling family's kingdom for the throne right of the deceased King. Sydelle's father demanded that she help North get to the Provincia to tell the Queen about the war. When North discovered who the culprit is throughout their journey, it is up to him and Sydelle to save their own Villages, and their own families.

I have to say that I'm glad for reading a book so thrilling, amusing, and fascinating. Plus, Wayland North is just so.....utterly charming. Definitely a must-read!