MONDAY
Monday, November 28, 2011
In My Mailbox- November 28, 2011
MONDAY
Book Review- The Scorpio Races
I finished reading The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater for an Around the World ARC Tour very early this morning.
From Goodreads:
It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.
Bah! This book was so hard for me to get into. It did get a little better at the very, very end, but not enough for me to change my overall opinion. And I so liked the Wolves of Mercy Falls series too! I had high hopes for this one, but man! were they dashed!
First, the book was just too gory for me. Yes, I know the premise is of these dangerous water horses. But there was too much senseless killing and blood everywhere.
And while that is a kind of action, I guess, I felt like the book lacked the kind of action that keeps my attention. It just felt so sllooww to me. I didn't really care about what was happening.
Now, that's not to say that I didn't like the characters, because I did. While the plot was horrible to me, the characters were enjoyable. I liked Puck's relentlessness (is that a word?) I liked that she was trying to save her family and wouldn't let anyone keep her down. And I liked Sean. He seemed like a good ole boy with a good heart.
But unfortunately, that wasn't enough to keep me liking the book.
I gave the book a rating of 3/5.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 110
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 89
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 89
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
From Goodreads:
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.
Bah! This book was so hard for me to get into. It did get a little better at the very, very end, but not enough for me to change my overall opinion. And I so liked the Wolves of Mercy Falls series too! I had high hopes for this one, but man! were they dashed!
First, the book was just too gory for me. Yes, I know the premise is of these dangerous water horses. But there was too much senseless killing and blood everywhere.
And while that is a kind of action, I guess, I felt like the book lacked the kind of action that keeps my attention. It just felt so sllooww to me. I didn't really care about what was happening.
Now, that's not to say that I didn't like the characters, because I did. While the plot was horrible to me, the characters were enjoyable. I liked Puck's relentlessness (is that a word?) I liked that she was trying to save her family and wouldn't let anyone keep her down. And I liked Sean. He seemed like a good ole boy with a good heart.
But unfortunately, that wasn't enough to keep me liking the book.
I gave the book a rating of 3/5.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 110
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 89
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 89
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Book Review- Everneath
I just finished reading Everneath by Brodi Ashton for an Around the World ARC Tour.
From Goodreads:
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.
She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.
Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.
As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...
The first thing I did when I finished this book was to go see if there was a sequel. And yay! This is the first book in a trilogy! I want to read the next book NOW!.
I do have to admit though, that it was hard for me to get into the book at first. It was kind of slow and I got confused with the whole Everneath and Everliving and what had happened. But then when everything was discovered about Jack, I was hooked.
Oh Jack. And I have a new crush. Jack. The boy was a best friend but had a reptuation. But has always loved you. Sigh. I loved that he never gave up on Nikki. So sweet! And Cole wasn't too bad either. Yes, he used Nikki but there was some feeling there, even though he is not supposed to feel anything. I wonder what will come of this in the next book.
The ending was a surprise to me. It shouldn't have been, because thinking back, I should have seen it coming. But I didn't. Oh sadness. And I want to know what is going to happen next!
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.
Everneath will be released on January 24, 2012.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 109
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 88
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 88
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
From Goodreads:
She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.
Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.
As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...
The first thing I did when I finished this book was to go see if there was a sequel. And yay! This is the first book in a trilogy! I want to read the next book NOW!.
I do have to admit though, that it was hard for me to get into the book at first. It was kind of slow and I got confused with the whole Everneath and Everliving and what had happened. But then when everything was discovered about Jack, I was hooked.
Oh Jack. And I have a new crush. Jack. The boy was a best friend but had a reptuation. But has always loved you. Sigh. I loved that he never gave up on Nikki. So sweet! And Cole wasn't too bad either. Yes, he used Nikki but there was some feeling there, even though he is not supposed to feel anything. I wonder what will come of this in the next book.
The ending was a surprise to me. It shouldn't have been, because thinking back, I should have seen it coming. But I didn't. Oh sadness. And I want to know what is going to happen next!
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.
Everneath will be released on January 24, 2012.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 109
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 88
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 88
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Waiting on Wednesday- November 23, 2011
Perception (Clarity #2)
by Kim Harrington
Publication Release Date: March 1, 2012
From Kim Harrington's website:
Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.
Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.
But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?
One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Book Review- Cinder
I just finished reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer for an Around the World Book Tour.
From Goodreads:
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
I love fairy tales. Always have, always will. And I love Cinderella (hello, my wedding theme this past June was Cinderella's carriage..although the carriage in this story was really a beat up orange car which doesn't exist in this world anymore.) But anyways. Even though this type of book wouldn't normally interest me, I knew I had to read it since it was based off one of my favorite princess stories.
I have to admit. I had to look up was a cyborg was. I had no idea! This book is so out of what I am used to. But it held my interest. I loved looking for ways of how this story matched up to the Cinderella story that I grew up with. We had the evil stepmother and the stepsisters, although only one was evil. You had Cinder working an unglamorous job and pretty much slaving away for the step mother. I'm not really sure who the fairy godmother would be. Maybe the closest would be the android that was a close friend to Cinder. There was the shoe that fell off (with the foot). And of course you had the prince. But aside of that you have an evil Queen from another planet and a horrible disease plaguing Earth.
There was a major surprise at the end. Well, at least I think it was supposed to be a surprise, but I figured it out right from the beginning. But it leaves for a nice cliffhanger. This book is the first in a quartet and I will definitely be picking up the next book!
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
Cinder will be released on January 3, 2011.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 108
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 87
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 87
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
From Goodreads:
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
I love fairy tales. Always have, always will. And I love Cinderella (hello, my wedding theme this past June was Cinderella's carriage..although the carriage in this story was really a beat up orange car which doesn't exist in this world anymore.) But anyways. Even though this type of book wouldn't normally interest me, I knew I had to read it since it was based off one of my favorite princess stories.
I have to admit. I had to look up was a cyborg was. I had no idea! This book is so out of what I am used to. But it held my interest. I loved looking for ways of how this story matched up to the Cinderella story that I grew up with. We had the evil stepmother and the stepsisters, although only one was evil. You had Cinder working an unglamorous job and pretty much slaving away for the step mother. I'm not really sure who the fairy godmother would be. Maybe the closest would be the android that was a close friend to Cinder. There was the shoe that fell off (with the foot). And of course you had the prince. But aside of that you have an evil Queen from another planet and a horrible disease plaguing Earth.
There was a major surprise at the end. Well, at least I think it was supposed to be a surprise, but I figured it out right from the beginning. But it leaves for a nice cliffhanger. This book is the first in a quartet and I will definitely be picking up the next book!
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
Cinder will be released on January 3, 2011.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 108
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 87
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 87
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
Monday, November 21, 2011
In My Mailbox- November 21, 2011
In My Mailbox: Here's what came in my mailbox this week
MONDAY
TUESDAY
FRIDAY
Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Sunday Salon- November 20, 2011
Nothing much happened again this week. But I am sooo glad to be on Thanksgiving break. It's going to go by too fast though. But then only 3 weeks til Christmas break!
I finished and reviewed the following book in the past two weeks:
I fulfilled items in the following challenges in the past two weeks:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 95, 105, 106, 107
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 85, 86
2011 Debut Author Challenge: 27
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 85, 86
I am currently reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer and up next is Everneath by Brodi Ashton.
Book Review-Dear Bully
I just finished reading Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell Their Stories edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones.
From Goodreads:
You are not alone
Discover how Lauren Kate transformed the feeling of that one mean girl getting under her skin into her first novel, how Lauren Oliver learned to celebrate ambiguity in her classmates and in herself, and how R.L. Stine turned being the “funny guy” into the best defense against the bullies in his class.
Today’s top authors for teens come together to share their stories about bullying—as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, and as perpetrators—in a collection at turns moving and self-effacing, but always deeply personal.
This book is too hard for me to review, really. Every author's story is true and since the stories are so short (only 2-5 pages really), I can't really review anything.
I can say that this is such a very important book. I think this should be MANDATORY reading for kids. Probably around sixth grade or so. Kids need to know that bullying is not okay and that they're not alone. And the book would show them that things do get better.
Reading all of the stories, I thought back to my childhood. I can only think of one time I was bullied. After a sleepover in fifth, several of the girls started calling me "Cat" and meowing at me. I remember crying in school and my teacher being so nice to me. It only lasted a few months and I am still friends on facebook with the girls. To this day I have no idea what it meant and have no want to really find out. So I'm one of the lucky ones, I think. But there shouldn't be "lucky ones". Everyone should be free from bullying!
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 107
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 86
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free from Reviewer Rewards in exchange for an honest review.
From Goodreads:
Discover how Lauren Kate transformed the feeling of that one mean girl getting under her skin into her first novel, how Lauren Oliver learned to celebrate ambiguity in her classmates and in herself, and how R.L. Stine turned being the “funny guy” into the best defense against the bullies in his class.
Today’s top authors for teens come together to share their stories about bullying—as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, and as perpetrators—in a collection at turns moving and self-effacing, but always deeply personal.
This book is too hard for me to review, really. Every author's story is true and since the stories are so short (only 2-5 pages really), I can't really review anything.
I can say that this is such a very important book. I think this should be MANDATORY reading for kids. Probably around sixth grade or so. Kids need to know that bullying is not okay and that they're not alone. And the book would show them that things do get better.
Reading all of the stories, I thought back to my childhood. I can only think of one time I was bullied. After a sleepover in fifth, several of the girls started calling me "Cat" and meowing at me. I remember crying in school and my teacher being so nice to me. It only lasted a few months and I am still friends on facebook with the girls. To this day I have no idea what it meant and have no want to really find out. So I'm one of the lucky ones, I think. But there shouldn't be "lucky ones". Everyone should be free from bullying!
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 107
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 86
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free from Reviewer Rewards in exchange for an honest review.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Book Review- Second Hand Heart
I read Second Hand Heart by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
From Goodreadds:
Vida is 19 and has never had much of a life. Struggling along with a life-threatening heart condition, her whole life has been one long preparation for death. But suddenly she is presented with a donor heart, and just in time. Now she gets to do something she never imagined she'd have to do: live.
Richard is a 36-year-old man who’s just lost his beloved wife, Lorrie, in a car accident. Still in shock and not even having begun the process of grieving, he is invited to the hospital to meet the young woman who received his wife’s donor heart.
Vida takes one look at Richard and feels she’s loved him all her life. And tells him so. Richard assumes she’s just a foolish young girl. And maybe she is. Or maybe there’s truth behind the theory of cellular memory, and maybe it really is possible for a heart to remember, at least for a time, on its own.
Second Hand Heart is both a story of having to learn to live for the first time, and having to learn to live all over again.
Okay, I really hate having to do this. But this book just did not do it for me. When I read the premise, I jumped at the chance to read it. I thought it would be emotional and pull at my heart strings, but unfortunately, it did far from that.
I couldn't care less about Vida. First of all, she's 19 but the writing style made her seem so much younger (and not just because she was sheltered. I think its because it was way too simplified). I didn't find her to be a sympathetic character at all. I got no emotion from her. And her relationship with Richard was creepy. I get the whole "memory" thing since she got his deceased wife's heart. But still. It turned me off completely.
I dunno. I guess I was just expecting something that would be either a tearjerker or something that would be heartwarming. And this wasn't it.
I do have to say however that I liked that the author brought light to the issue of organ donation. I am such a big believer in this and can't imagine why someone would choose not to help others live if they were able. And I think organ donation needs as much spotlight as it can get. So bravo to the author for that!
I gave the book a rating of 2.5/5.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 95
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.
From Goodreadds:
Richard is a 36-year-old man who’s just lost his beloved wife, Lorrie, in a car accident. Still in shock and not even having begun the process of grieving, he is invited to the hospital to meet the young woman who received his wife’s donor heart.
Vida takes one look at Richard and feels she’s loved him all her life. And tells him so. Richard assumes she’s just a foolish young girl. And maybe she is. Or maybe there’s truth behind the theory of cellular memory, and maybe it really is possible for a heart to remember, at least for a time, on its own.
Second Hand Heart is both a story of having to learn to live for the first time, and having to learn to live all over again.
Okay, I really hate having to do this. But this book just did not do it for me. When I read the premise, I jumped at the chance to read it. I thought it would be emotional and pull at my heart strings, but unfortunately, it did far from that.
I couldn't care less about Vida. First of all, she's 19 but the writing style made her seem so much younger (and not just because she was sheltered. I think its because it was way too simplified). I didn't find her to be a sympathetic character at all. I got no emotion from her. And her relationship with Richard was creepy. I get the whole "memory" thing since she got his deceased wife's heart. But still. It turned me off completely.
I dunno. I guess I was just expecting something that would be either a tearjerker or something that would be heartwarming. And this wasn't it.
I do have to say however that I liked that the author brought light to the issue of organ donation. I am such a big believer in this and can't imagine why someone would choose not to help others live if they were able. And I think organ donation needs as much spotlight as it can get. So bravo to the author for that!
I gave the book a rating of 2.5/5.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 95
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Book Review- Triangles
I just finished reading Triangles by Ellen Hopkins for a Crazy Book Tour.
From Goodreads:
In this first adult novel by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the unforgettable Crank trilogy, three female friends face midlife crises in a no holds-barred exploration of sex, marriage, and the fragility of life.
Ellen Hopkins has made her mark as the wildly popular author of several novels for young adults—every one of them a New York Times bestseller, and every one a hard-hitting exploration of tough-to-tackle topics. Now, in Triangles, Hopkins brings her storytelling mastery and fearlessness to take on the challenges of adult dramas.
In this emotionally powerful novel, three women face the age-old midlife question: If I’m halfway to death, is this all I’ve got to show for it? Holly, filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom, sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. Andrea, a single mom and avowed celibate, watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So what if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband? Then there’s Marissa. She has more than her fair share of challenges—a gay teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts. As one woman’s marriage unravels, another one’s rekindles. As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s is reconfigured into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all three of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness before it is through.
I have several of Ellen Hopkins' YA novels but haven't had the chance to read them yet. I have heard great reviews about them, so I was eager to read her first adult novel. And while at first, it took me a little while to get used to the format of the book (prose), I soon learned to just read it straight like it was a normal novel and then I got through it so much easier.
This book definitely isn't for the faint of heart. There are a lot of hard topics--sex, infidelity, sex, teenage pregnancy, sex, diseases, sex, homosexuality, and more sex. And while that makes it sound like a trashy novel, it so wasn't. I found it to be really thought provoking. And kind of depressing. It seems like everyone cheats or is cheated on at some point. But it really makes you think.
The book is filled with drama, so if that's your thing, then definitely check it out. I found myself engrossed in the book and while it left me feeling kinda down, I somehow enjoyed that. I enjoyed reading the mess that was the lives of these three women. I'm not really sure what that says for me. But I can't wait to read more by Ellen Hopkins!
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 106
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 86
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Crazy Book Tours.
From Goodreads:
Ellen Hopkins has made her mark as the wildly popular author of several novels for young adults—every one of them a New York Times bestseller, and every one a hard-hitting exploration of tough-to-tackle topics. Now, in Triangles, Hopkins brings her storytelling mastery and fearlessness to take on the challenges of adult dramas.
In this emotionally powerful novel, three women face the age-old midlife question: If I’m halfway to death, is this all I’ve got to show for it? Holly, filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom, sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. Andrea, a single mom and avowed celibate, watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So what if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband? Then there’s Marissa. She has more than her fair share of challenges—a gay teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts. As one woman’s marriage unravels, another one’s rekindles. As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s is reconfigured into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all three of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness before it is through.
I have several of Ellen Hopkins' YA novels but haven't had the chance to read them yet. I have heard great reviews about them, so I was eager to read her first adult novel. And while at first, it took me a little while to get used to the format of the book (prose), I soon learned to just read it straight like it was a normal novel and then I got through it so much easier.
This book definitely isn't for the faint of heart. There are a lot of hard topics--sex, infidelity, sex, teenage pregnancy, sex, diseases, sex, homosexuality, and more sex. And while that makes it sound like a trashy novel, it so wasn't. I found it to be really thought provoking. And kind of depressing. It seems like everyone cheats or is cheated on at some point. But it really makes you think.
The book is filled with drama, so if that's your thing, then definitely check it out. I found myself engrossed in the book and while it left me feeling kinda down, I somehow enjoyed that. I enjoyed reading the mess that was the lives of these three women. I'm not really sure what that says for me. But I can't wait to read more by Ellen Hopkins!
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 106
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 86
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Crazy Book Tours.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Mailbox Monday- November 14, 2011
MONDAY
FRIDAY
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Book Review- The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
I just finished reading The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin for an Around the World ARC Tour.
From Goodreads:
Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.
Ok, so first things first. I have a new crush. His name is Noah Shaw. Yum! He is just the first of the many characters that I loved in this book (although the only one I have a crush on). I just knew that he was going to turn out to be a jerk (with his past and his yumminess and all). But I was so wrong and so glad that I was wrong! And Mara. I loved her! She was so full of spunk and has such sarcastic thoughts and things to say! And her chemistry with Noah was perfect! I loved how she gave him such a hard time at the beginning and didn't just immediate fall into him. And their banter just made for such a great read! Then you add Jamie into the mix...such a great friend. I just wish his character didn't disappear about halfway through. I enjoyed him. And don't forget Mara's brother's: Daniel and Joseph. I've always wanted an older brother to take care of me like Daniel took care of Mara. And Joseph was such a funny kid--wise beyond his years. So all of the characters made the story that much more enjoyable for me.
I was instantly wrapped up in Mara's world. What was real and what wasn't? And why were the deaths happening? And what happened on that awful night in the asylum? I got so engrossed into the story.
I do have to say that the last quarter or so of the book left me kind of confused. I was left questioning a lot of things and I don't know if I missed somethings but I just didn't get some of it. But that didn't make me enjoy it any less. The ending has a 2 pretty big twists. One I saw coming right before it happened. But the one at the very, very end, I didn't see at all (although I think that maybe I should have). Anyways, the book ended on a HUGE cliffhanger. Which makes me crave the next book right away!
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 105
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 85
2011 Debut Author Challenge: 27
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 85
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
From Goodreads:
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.
Ok, so first things first. I have a new crush. His name is Noah Shaw. Yum! He is just the first of the many characters that I loved in this book (although the only one I have a crush on). I just knew that he was going to turn out to be a jerk (with his past and his yumminess and all). But I was so wrong and so glad that I was wrong! And Mara. I loved her! She was so full of spunk and has such sarcastic thoughts and things to say! And her chemistry with Noah was perfect! I loved how she gave him such a hard time at the beginning and didn't just immediate fall into him. And their banter just made for such a great read! Then you add Jamie into the mix...such a great friend. I just wish his character didn't disappear about halfway through. I enjoyed him. And don't forget Mara's brother's: Daniel and Joseph. I've always wanted an older brother to take care of me like Daniel took care of Mara. And Joseph was such a funny kid--wise beyond his years. So all of the characters made the story that much more enjoyable for me.
I was instantly wrapped up in Mara's world. What was real and what wasn't? And why were the deaths happening? And what happened on that awful night in the asylum? I got so engrossed into the story.
I do have to say that the last quarter or so of the book left me kind of confused. I was left questioning a lot of things and I don't know if I missed somethings but I just didn't get some of it. But that didn't make me enjoy it any less. The ending has a 2 pretty big twists. One I saw coming right before it happened. But the one at the very, very end, I didn't see at all (although I think that maybe I should have). Anyways, the book ended on a HUGE cliffhanger. Which makes me crave the next book right away!
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 105
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 85
2011 Debut Author Challenge: 27
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 85
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
The Sunday Salon- November 13, 2011
So I just realized I didn't do the Sunday Salon for last week. Oops! So this will be two weeks worth. Last weekend was my dad's 60th bday so the hubby and I went home to surprise him. My brother and I got a limo and we took the family out to a nice dinner. It was fun!
I finished and reviewed the following book in the past two weeks:
I fulfilled items in the following challenges in the past two weeks:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 80, 102, 103, 104
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 64, 82, 83, 84
2011 Debut Author Challenge: 27
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 62, 82, 83, 84
2011 YA Contemporary Challenge: 14, 18
I am currently reading The Unbecoming Maya Dyer by Michelle Hodkin and up next is Triangles by Ellen Hopkins
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Book Review- Wherever You Go
I finished reading Wherever You Go by Heather Davis for a Teen Book Scene review.
From Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Holly Mullen has felt lost and lonely ever since her boyfriend, Rob, died in a tragic accident. The fact that she has to spend most of her free time caring for her little sister and Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather doesn’t help. But Holly has no idea that as she goes about her days, Rob’s ghost is watching over her. He isn’t happy when he sees his best friend, Jason, reach out to help Holly with her grandfather—but as a ghost, he can do nothing to stop it. Is his best friend really falling for his girlfriend?
As Holly wonders whether to open her heart to Jason, the past comes back to haunt her. Her grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob. Could the messages he has for Holly be real? And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side?
Told from the perspectives of Holly, Jason, and Rob,Wherever You Gois is a poignant story about making peace with the past, opening your heart to love, and finding the courage to move forward into the light.
I had a hard time getting into this book. I think it might be because of the fact that the perspectives of the story kept jumping around. There is Holly's point of view in the first person. There is Rob's point of view in the second person. And there is Jason's point of view in the third person. Personally, I didn't like reading in second person AT ALL. It was just too off putting. And I think that since there were all of these different viewpoints, that I couldn't connect with any of the characters.
Holly bugged me somewhat. She seemed so cold and distant. I get that her boyfriend died. But she didn't really seem sad to me, just emotion-less. I never really felt that she loved Rob. And then the scenario with her mother. Argh! I get that in today's economy, teenagers often times have to take care of younger sibling while parents are at work. But she really did seem too much like she was the parent. And when her mom stepped in to actual be a parent, I wanted Holly to give more attitude to her mom to ler her really know how much of a burden was being placed on her.
I liked Jason. He seemed sweet. But also a little distant. I liked that he seemed to care so much for Holly and wanted to make her happy. But I also think it's kind of odd to move in on your deceased best friend's girlfriend only 6 months after he'd passed away. Maybe that's just me.
And then there's Rob. His story was an interesting one. I didn't see it coming. I think a whole story could really be told about the reason behind the crash. And I think that could be an important story. Unfortunately, this story didn't go into it that much.
And finally, there's Aldo, Holly's grandfather who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. I really enjoyed him. I think he was the most sympathetic character of the whole book. I really felt for him. I felt so sad for him when he was struggling and almost trapped inside his brain. And I loved when he was so engaged while doing things on his "list". Such a sweet old guy.
This story was definitely a character-driven one. I'm not too keen on the whole multiple-perspectives, but if you are, then give this book a try.
I gave this book a rating of 3/5.
Wherever You Go will be released on November 15, 2011.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 80
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 64
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 62
2011 YA Contemporary Challenge: 14
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.
From Goodreads:
As Holly wonders whether to open her heart to Jason, the past comes back to haunt her. Her grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob. Could the messages he has for Holly be real? And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side?
Told from the perspectives of Holly, Jason, and Rob,Wherever You Gois is a poignant story about making peace with the past, opening your heart to love, and finding the courage to move forward into the light.
I had a hard time getting into this book. I think it might be because of the fact that the perspectives of the story kept jumping around. There is Holly's point of view in the first person. There is Rob's point of view in the second person. And there is Jason's point of view in the third person. Personally, I didn't like reading in second person AT ALL. It was just too off putting. And I think that since there were all of these different viewpoints, that I couldn't connect with any of the characters.
Holly bugged me somewhat. She seemed so cold and distant. I get that her boyfriend died. But she didn't really seem sad to me, just emotion-less. I never really felt that she loved Rob. And then the scenario with her mother. Argh! I get that in today's economy, teenagers often times have to take care of younger sibling while parents are at work. But she really did seem too much like she was the parent. And when her mom stepped in to actual be a parent, I wanted Holly to give more attitude to her mom to ler her really know how much of a burden was being placed on her.
I liked Jason. He seemed sweet. But also a little distant. I liked that he seemed to care so much for Holly and wanted to make her happy. But I also think it's kind of odd to move in on your deceased best friend's girlfriend only 6 months after he'd passed away. Maybe that's just me.
And then there's Rob. His story was an interesting one. I didn't see it coming. I think a whole story could really be told about the reason behind the crash. And I think that could be an important story. Unfortunately, this story didn't go into it that much.
And finally, there's Aldo, Holly's grandfather who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. I really enjoyed him. I think he was the most sympathetic character of the whole book. I really felt for him. I felt so sad for him when he was struggling and almost trapped inside his brain. And I loved when he was so engaged while doing things on his "list". Such a sweet old guy.
This story was definitely a character-driven one. I'm not too keen on the whole multiple-perspectives, but if you are, then give this book a try.
I gave this book a rating of 3/5.
Wherever You Go will be released on November 15, 2011.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 80
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 64
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 62
2011 YA Contemporary Challenge: 14
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Mailbox Monday- November 7, 2011
MONDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
My (not so) Storybook Life- Elizabeth Owen--contest win from BookTrib
Book Review- Between the Sea and Sky
I just finished reading Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore for a Bloomsbury blog tour.
From Goodreads:
For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.
I have always loved mermaid stories. There's just something so magical about a world under the sea. So I was very excited to read this book.
First off, I have to say that I am a little torn about what age this book is for. I mean, its definitely YA. But I can't decide if its for a younger teen or older teen. It's written in a very simplistic tone, so that makes me think its written for the younger teen but then it talks about a drunken man and a little abuse so that makes me think of older teens. I don't know.
Anyways, I liked Esmerine. I liked that was curious but still kept the love for her home. I do NOT get what she saw in Alandare. I know they were friends when they were younger but I feel he was so cold to her when they met up again years later. I know it explained why he was that way, but I still don't get it. If I were her, I would have been so turned off against him. Oh well.
The ending was predictable in one way, but it was sweet and happy. Meaning, I knew the end result but I liked how the characters wrapped it all up!
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 104
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 84
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 84
*FTC Disclosure: This book was given to me for free by Bloomsbury USA for a honest review.
From Goodreads:
I have always loved mermaid stories. There's just something so magical about a world under the sea. So I was very excited to read this book.
First off, I have to say that I am a little torn about what age this book is for. I mean, its definitely YA. But I can't decide if its for a younger teen or older teen. It's written in a very simplistic tone, so that makes me think its written for the younger teen but then it talks about a drunken man and a little abuse so that makes me think of older teens. I don't know.
Anyways, I liked Esmerine. I liked that was curious but still kept the love for her home. I do NOT get what she saw in Alandare. I know they were friends when they were younger but I feel he was so cold to her when they met up again years later. I know it explained why he was that way, but I still don't get it. If I were her, I would have been so turned off against him. Oh well.
The ending was predictable in one way, but it was sweet and happy. Meaning, I knew the end result but I liked how the characters wrapped it all up!
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 104
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 84
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 84
*FTC Disclosure: This book was given to me for free by Bloomsbury USA for a honest review.
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