Book Review- Cloaked

Early this morning I finished reading Cloaked by Alex Flinn for a Star Book Tours review.

From Goodreads:

Johnny works after school in a shoe repair shop in a swanky hotel in Miami. He loves shoes and is talented; he even aspires to be the next Manolo Blahnik. But the real reason that he is working so hard is because his dad left when he was a baby and he needs to help his mom pay the bills. At least he has his friend, Meg, who works at the hotel coffee shop, to keep him company. 

When beautiful Princess Victoriana comes to stay at the hotel, Johnny is thrilled when Victoriana invites him to her suite. There she tells him that her brother has been turned into a frog, and that she needs his help finding him in the Florida Keys. Johnny thinks she is crazy and does not believe her,

until she gives him a magical cloak that immediately transports him to another location. Armed with the cloak and a magical earpiece that can help him talk to other transformed humans Johnny sets out to save the Prince ...

 
When I read that this book was a retelling of various fairytales, I couldn't wait to read it.  But it was only okay for me. 
 
On the one hand, I liked that the  story used fairytales I had really only ever heard of, but didn't know too much about.  And it was fun to read the sort of modern day twist to them.
 
But the some of the plot was too corny.  And it was way too predictable.  I figured out almost the whole story before it happened.  And the characters were just okay too.  I think I liked the side character of Meg more than I liked the main character of Johnny.
 
But hey, I want a pair of Gianni Marco shoes! :)
 
I gave this book a rating of 3/5.
 
Cloaked will be released on February 8, 2011.
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 137
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 104
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 97
 
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Star Book Tours.

Friday Fill-In- October 15, 2010

Friday Fill-in

1. Wow, it's amazing that it is already the middle of October.
2. I love it when my boyfriend tells me I'm beautiful.
3. My favorite way to start a day is sleeping in.
4. I told him I wanted to carve one and he walked in the door holding a pumpkin.
5. I look out my window and see our parking lot.
6. My kindergartners is what I've been thinking about lately.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to see Cirq, tomorrow my plans include driving up to Gainesville and going to the Gator game and Sunday, I want to have fun at Food and Wine at Epcot with friends!

Friday Finds- October 15, 2010

Here are my finds for the week:

Steel- Carrie Vaughn

When Jill, a competitive high school fencer, goes with her family on vacation to the Bahamas, she is magically transported to an early eighteenth century pirate ship in the middle of the ocean. (From Goodreads)

Between Here and Forever- Elizabeth Scott

Abby accepted that she can’t measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.

Until the accident.

Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby’s life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.

She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she’d never seen.

Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could... (From Elizabeth Scott's website)

Book Review- Mockingjay

I just finished reading the final installment in The Hunger Games Series, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.

From Goodreads:

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost.
 
Mockingjay was my favorite book of the series, which surprises me since I tend to like the first book the best.  While I tried to avoid all reviews of Mockingjay so the ending wouldn't be spoiled, I did hear that this book was sad.  And so in my head I immediately knew the ending.  And the whole time I was reading the book, I kept waiting for it to happen.  But I was so wrong.  Without saying why, I didn't think the book was THAT sad.  I mean, it was, but really the whole series is kind of sad.  Anyways, the book shocked me which is always nice.
 
Once again, the book played out beautifully in my head.  The action was written so clearly that it was like a movie playing. 
 
 And this time, I could visualize the characters.  But I have to admit that its because I cheated.  I heard that The Hunger Games was going to be made into a movie so I googled who many people would pick to play the characters and I formed an image in my head.  Katniss grew on me in this book.  While she was still tough, I think we got to see a softer side of her too. 
 
And the whole Team Peeta vs. Team Gale situation.  In the first book I was torn, but leaning slightly towards Peeta.  In the second book I was definitely Team Peeta.  And then in this book, I was torn in half again, but when Peeta hands Katniss the can of lamb stew (those of you that have read the series and this book will get it), I decided that Teem Peeta won out.
 
I can't wait to see The Hunger Games be turned into a movie.  I think it will be a huge hit and I think the books will translate nicely to the screen.  (Although, does anyone know if there is going to be a separate movie for each book, or is the whole series going to be one movie?)
 
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 136
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 103
 
*FTC Disclosure: I won this book from a contest from Tales & Treats.

Wednesday Wordle- October 13, 2010

Here is a screen shot of my Wordle for the week (Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from words that is seen on my blog)

Waiting on Wednesday- October 13, 2010

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Iron Witch
by Karen Mahoney
Publication Release Date: February 8, 2011

From Karen Mahoney's website:

FREAK. That’s what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna’s own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

Teaser Tuesday- October 12, 2010

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
Grab your current read.Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

My two teasers:
 

"I obediently take a step forward and wince as I become aware of the pain behind my right knee.  The adrenaline rush that overrode the sensation has passed and my body parts join in a chorus of complaints."~pg 101, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mailbox Monday- October 11, 2010

Mailbox Monday: Here's what came in my mailbox this week

THURSDAY

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else- Erin McCahan--contest win from Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf











SATURDAY

Cloaked- Alex Flinn--review for Star Book Tours

Book Review- Catching Fire

I just finished reading Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.

From Goodreads:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

This was the second book in The Hunger Game series by Suzanne Collins.  Once again, its an action-packed story.  It was still mostly plot based but I did get a little bit more feel of the characters.

I started to like Katniss more in this book.  She still seems a little distant but she seemed more real to me in this book.  And I'm definitely Team Peeta.  I love his character and his personality.  I do have to say that usually when I'm reading a book, I can see the characters clearly in my mind.  But I can't really see any of these characters.  I don't know if there wasn't a really good description of them in the book, or if my mind just can't pick up on it but they're kind of faceless.

This book was once again written so well.  The description of the world that Katniss and Peeta live in is so well described that I can easily see this part in my mind.  And the way the action is written, its like a real movie (with featureless characters) flowing through my mind. It's great! 

The ending left me a little confused.  Without giving it away---I don't think I fully get what happened at the end.  And the very last sentence of the book--huh??  Did it mean ever, or just now that there is an uprising?  I'm so glad I have Mockingjay to dive into!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 135
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 102

*FTC Disclosure: I bought this book.

The Sunday Salon- October 10, 2010

The Sunday Salon

Yesterday was another sad day for Florida football.  Every year, one of my best friends, who lives in Colorado now, flies in and we go to a Gator game.  Yesterday we drove up to Gainesville to watch the Gators play LSU.  We had fun shopping before the game (I can never have too many Gators shirts!!).  And then our seats were awesome---19 rows up on the 45 yard line.  They were great!  But unfortunately, the team couldn't pull it together and we lost--again--for the second week in a row.  Yikes!  This could be a rough season.  But I still bleed Orange and Blue!

I finished and reviewed the following books this week: 

The Candidates (Delcroix Academy #1) by Inara Scott

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins












I fulfilled items in the following challenges this week:
A to Z Challenge: I ( I can't find an author that I'd enjoy whose last name starts with an "I" so I am counting this book since the author's first name starts with an "I")
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 133, 134
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 100, 101
2010 Debut Author Challenge: 36
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 96
 
I am currently reading Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins and up next is Cloaked by Alex Flinn.