Marie Loves Books

Review: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

2012-01-26T13:05:00.000-08:00

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Hex Hall #2
Release Date: March 22nd, 2011 by Hyperion
Details: 359 pages, hardcover
Genre: Young Adult > Paranormal
Source: Bought
Summary (Goodreads):

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

Amazon* || Goodreads || BookDepository*

OMG. OMGGG. I literally just finished this book. And my head is in a fuzzy daze like Sophie's must be right now.

As if Sophie's life couldn't get any more complicated... well, it can. Poor Sophie, she's such a strong and hard headed girl. Because of all the epic things that happened last year, Sophie was pretty much sentenced to spend the summer in England with her dad. Except not really in England. More like, off to the side in the middle of nowhere England. The house they stay at? It has much significance and is pretty darn creepy. On the upside, she got to bring Jenna with her and Cal came along for... reasons.

It's really hard to write a review and gush and vent without spoiling it.

Jenna is always the awesome Jenna she is and I'm so jealous of the friendship her and Sophie share. Which makes me mad about all the accusing that was going on last year since Jenna is so kick ass. Seriously, those witches were missing out. We get to know Cal a little better in this novel, which is great because he's pretty darn awesome himself. In fact, I could have dealt with a little more Cal if you ask me! Sophie's dad wasn't as horrible as you would assume, sure there's still that jerk factor that he couldn't once talk to Sophie, but he's a pretty decent guy. Archer does make an appearance, a few of them. All of them pretty swoon worthy. And I can't help but feel bad for the guy. He's in such a crappy situation.

Daisy and Nick? I didn't like them from the beginning. They seemed, off. Daisy was beginning to grow on me but Nick? I don't know, he just seems like a jerk.

And Sophie. I wish she would just say what she needs to say sometimes when she SHOULD say it. You know? It bothered me that she kept things from Jenna even though she had reasons to, but maybe if she just sat Jenna down and made her listen it wouldn't be such a big deal. Jenna cares about her and Sophie should understand that. You know? I wish she hadn't kept things from her dad either, I know that it could had been super bad but maybe if she had him understand too, the whole situation wouldn't had been so bad. I feel bad for Sophie, having to go through so much more than she already has gone through in her life. In addition to her complicated could-had-been love life. And trust me, there's a lot of "whaaaat? OMG whaaaat?" moments as far as that goes on Demonglass. And as always, her snarky sarcasm really keeps you entertained. Like really, if Sophie was a real person, could she be my best friendddd?

The ending is an INSANE cliffhanger. Like, I think I'm having an anxiety attack insane. I can not wait for Spellbound, even if two months is too much time to wait. I'm sad Sophie's story will be over, I just hope that she finds the peace she needs.

It sucks that we miss people like that. You think you've accepted someone is out of your life, that you've grieved and it's over, and then bam. One little thing and you feel like you've lost that person all over again.

"Wow, Cross. I think you missed your calling. Screw ______: you should clearly be writing Hallmark cards."

Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

2012-01-24T13:33:00.000-08:00

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Everneath #1
Release Date: Jan 24th, 2012 by Balzer + Bray
Details: 370 pages, hardcover
Genre: Young Adult > Paranormal
Source: Publisher for review (Thank you Balzer + Bray!)
Summary (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...

Amazon* || Goodreads || BookDepository*

I really wanted to LOVE Everneath, I did, really. Because for one, I love Greek Mythology. For two, I love retellings. And for three, LOOK AT THAT COVER! IT'S GORGEOUS! But I just... didn't.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, because I did. I just didn't LOVE it like I thought I would and I'll tell you why. Nikki wasn't the most pleasant of characters to be around. After the feeding she sort of shut herself out from everyone at school. Which didn't really make much sense since wasn't the whole reason why she returned to the Surface was to say goodbye? I understand that she felt the distance between her and her friends, but half the time it didn't seem like she made an effort. Nikki had bi-polar thoughts; one minute she would be optimistic and try to make the best of her six months, then out of nowhere she would get low and gloomy and blah. She was pretty much blah the majority of the time and I mean, if I had six months left, I know I wouldn't be the happiest of people but I would at least not be all... blah.

So Nikki's gone for six months and she suddenly, out of thin air, comes back. No one's really freakin out, her dad didn't attempt to chain her to the house and demand questions and her boyfriend/ex boyfriend Jack? He's totally acting like it's cool she just vanished one day and now she's suddenly back. It was kinda just... unrealistic. To me at least.

I don't know where to put this, so I'll just start randomly talking about Cole. I thought he would be one of those characters I really hate in the beginning then somewhere through out the story he'd redeem himself and I'd fall madly in love with him. No. Not really. If you see my notes on Goodreads the majority of them consists of me calling Cole stupid. Cause he was and he was just everywhere. Like dude, don't you have a life, or someone to snack or something? GTFO! He wasn't a horrible guy, just not my favorite. And really Nikki? Is it that hard to see how Cole feels about you?

Another blogger (I wish I could remember who!) mentioned in their review that once they got to the point where the book tells you why Nikki went through with the feeding that it was hard to buy. And I agree, it was. There were so many other options.

What I did like was how the author described the Everneath. I mean it sounded sort of creepy but cool at the same time. I like the twist in the whole Everneath thing but how it still pretty much stayed on the lines of the Persephone/Hades myth. I liked how it wasn't just a Persephone/Hades myth but a retelling of other myths too. Ones I haven't heard of, so that's always interesting! Also, how cool is it that their high school gets to take a mythology class? Uh, so unfair!

I LOVE Jack. My heart literally broke for him several times. The way he still cared about Nikki, the way he'd do anything for her. His persistence is getting her to open back up to him after not even knowing where she was or why... poor guy, he went through so much and ugh, Nikki sometimes just really frustrated me when it came to Jack! I loved the romance between Jack and Nikki, I wish we got to know more about how they were together. It looked like they had a really sweet story to tell. I also really liked Mary, my heart broke for her too, she deserved better than that!

And finally, I liked how Everneath switched from present day and the past, both with countdowns. That really did build the anticipation!

"That's what's bothering you? Yes, we broke up."
"Does she... know that?"
Jack smiled. "I hope so. She was there."

LOL! Sounds like something my best would say.

Secret Cupid Swap!

2012-01-23T00:13:00.001-08:00

Join the Secret Cupid Swap! Cause who doesn't want something to open on Valentines Day? (:

Sign ups close on January 27th!

SOPA 24 HOUR BLACKOUT!

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

Starting now (01-18-12) @ Midnight Marie Loves Books will be joining a number of others who have decided to participate in the 24 hour Internet blackout as a petition against SOPA.

For more information on SOPA and why it will hurt the internet click here.

Review: Want To Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

2012-01-12T12:12:00.000-08:00

Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman
Release Date: August 1st, 2011 by Scholastic
Details: 336 pages, hardcover
Genre: Young Adult > Contemporary
Source: Bought on Amazon for Kindle
Summary (Goodreads):

Abby and Luke chat online. They've never met. But they are going to. Soon.

Abby is starting high school—it should be exciting, so why doesn't she care? Everyone tells her to "make an effort," but why can't she just be herself? Abby quickly feels like she's losing a grip on her once-happy life. The only thing she cares about anymore is talking to Luke, a guy she met online, who understands. It feels dangerous and yet good to chat with Luke—he is her secret, and she's his. Then Luke asks her to meet him, and she does. But Luke isn't who he says he is. When Abby goes missing, everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don't, they'll never see Abby again.

Amazon* || Goodreads || BookDepository*

Want To Go Private? is a very realistic and scary look at what teens today are prone to face while online. Abby is starting high school and she's not excited about it, not like her best friend Faith is.

I felt for Abby during her transition into high school. It was easy to relate how she was feeling as far as Faith "ditching" her for all these new friends and activities. And yeah I could say well why didn't Abby just join her instead of being so bitter about everything, but I know how hard starting high school and feeling alone is. So when Luke shows up, I didn't really question why she was spending all her time talking to him or why she was doing the things she was doing... she finally had someone she considered a friend. Someone who "understood" and "listened" to her. Sarah does an amazing job with Luke, he was believable. He said all the right things to Abby and at the right time. Luke was obviously not my favorite character. The way he manipulated Abby and lied to her was really frustrating, especially when it was SO easy to see.

So many times I wished Abby would just stay away from Luke and go on another date with Billy. Poor Billy. He was patient and supportive and really there for her, but it was just so hard for he to see. But I loved Billy's character. Another character I really could not stand was Abby's sister. I know sisters are suppose to be annoying and a pain but she was REALLY annoying and SERIOUSLY a pain. Every scene with them together literally made me thankful I don't have a sister.

Want To Go Private? is not a light read. It's dark, scary, completely realistic and it's graphic. I'm no newbie to the internet or to chat rooms and meeting people online (every friend I have in San Francisco I met online, but this was back in the AOL days, before webcams and such) and I'd like to think I know it all, but having situations that you know are real and that do happen in your face... how much you know or experienced doesn't make it easier when you see it happening to someone else. I'm glad that this book is published and that it's out in the world, maybe someone will pick it up and read it before something like this happens to them.

As for myself, I'm one of those this-could-never-happen-to-me people. Except, it never really could. To me the internet is a whole other world, I'm free to play pretend (which I did, at 13 I was really 16 and my name was Anna Mae and I lived in Arizona), be whoever I want to be and no one would know the difference. I guess that's sort of how predators look at it too, except for me it was to keep my identity safe and to distance myself from my real life. Like Abby, growing up was hard for me and being online was my escape.

I don't really recommend this book to anyone over maybe 18 years old, but I do highly recommend it to the much younger crowd (even if there are a lot of super graphic scenes, I think that's what makes it the scariest).

The Standalone Reading Challenge

2012-01-11T14:01:00.000-08:00

I decided to participate in the Standalone Reading Challenge this year because I had semi resolved to do it anyway. While I don't mind series and all that, sometimes it can get a little tiring. So I thought... why not focus more on standalone's for awhile? The Standalone Reading Challenge is hosted by iceybooks.com and ilikethesebooks.com for more information click here!

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Fracture by Megan Miranda
Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala
In Honor by Jessi Kirby
Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale
Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
The Story of Us by Deb Caletti
Touched by Cyn Balog
The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker
In Too Deep by Amanda Grace
Dead to You by Lisa McMann
All These Lives by Sarah Wylie
One Moment by Kristina McBride
The Storyteller by Antonia Michaleis
Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook
Unbreak My Heart by Melissa C. Walker
Lucid by Ron Bass, Adrienne Stoltz
Revived by Cat Patric
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern*
Trancendence by CJ Omololu
Wide Open by Deborah Coates

Yay! I'm pretty excited about this :)

*I know this title doesn't really count but I'm just finding an excuse to HAVE to read it since everyone's been RAVING about this title!

2012 Debut Author Challenge!

2012-01-11T13:42:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the year again, where I sign up for the Debut Author Challenge. I signed up last year and didn't do so well due to working at Disney (I was lucky if I found time to sleep, sad but worth it!). I hope to do much better this year! The Debut Author Challenge is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren!

~~Switched by Amanda Hocking~~ (yay for counting this one Kristi!)
~~Everneath by Jodi Ashton~~
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
Temptest by Julie Cross
Fracture by Megan Miranda
The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams
Slide by Jill Hathaway
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
The Other Life by Suzanne Winnacker
Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale
Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf
What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang
Storybound by Marissa Burt
Embrace by Jessica Shirvington
Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown
Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

I feel like I'm missing some... but for now, this is my 2012 Debut Author Challenge list. So many amazing titles coming out this year! What are some of your picks? Do we have any in common?

Review: Switched by Amanda Hocking

2012-01-10T13:20:00.000-08:00

Switched by Amanda Hocking
Release Date: July 12th, 2010 by Createspace
Re-released on: Jan 3rd, 2012 by St. Martin's Griffin
Details: 304 pages, paperback
Genre: Young Adult > Paranormal
Series: #1 is the Trylle Trilogy
Source: Bought on Amazon in paperback & Kindle
Summary (Goodreads):

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy finds out her mother might've been telling the truth. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of.

Amazon* || Goodreads || BookDepository*

Switched is another book that has been collecting dust on my shelf that I should had read earlier. Now I'm kicking myself for waiting so long because now I have to wait until February when it's going to finally be re-released (and sadly not at the original price I bought Switched for).

Wendy never understood why her mother hated her so much or why she was convinced that Wendy was a monster. Everything pretty much changes on Wendy's 6th birthday when her mother tries to chop her into pieces in the kitchen. Now, years later, she's living with her aunt and her older brother Matt. Both love and care for Wendy fiercely (Matt a little too fiercely if you ask me). But when Finn, the new boy who can't seem to stop staring at Wendy shows up, she finally learns the truth behind her mother's accusations. And is brought to where she belongs -- Trylle where her rightful place is next to the queen.

I liked Wendy, she was a strong character who only wanted a place to belong. I found her to be a little impulsive, a little foolish and completely stubborn but she has a good heart and she strongly stands for the things she believes in. She doesn't like being pushed around or told what to do, so I felt her frustration when she's put in a palace with all this absolutely ridiculous rules. I think her decision in the end wasn't a wise one, but I can understand why she did it. The thing that frustrates me the most about Wendy is that she refuses to see how powerful she CAN be and just cowers away pretending that no one knows what they're talking about without hearing anyone out.

I really liked Rhys too, though I'm not really sure if I was suppose to. He played a pretty big part in the story and for some reason I always saw him as 10 in my mind when in reality he should be the same age as Wendy. In a world like Trylle it was nice to see someone... normal. I absolutely LOVED Finn! He was mysterious and indifferent because he was loyal to his job and his duty and when he let his guard down it was just ahh!

It sucks how the Trylle community is... based on class and ranks and jobs. How they view others and how they view each other. And how royalty can only be with royalty. I'm eager to see what happens next and how Wendy's relationship with her real mother plays out. I'm sure Elora has a few hundred juicy secrets that need spilling!

"You really shouldn't let him cook for you," Finn advised, looking at me for the first time. "He gave me food poisoning once."
"You cannot get food poising from an orange!" Rhys protested and looked back at him.

*** I know there's a new cover, but this is the cover I read from and for some reason, I feel like I'd be dishonest to myself if I posted the new cover *shrugs*

Goodbye 2011, hello 2012!

2012-01-09T02:41:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

2011 was a very busy year for me and in a way, I'm sad it was because for the first 7 or 8 months of the year I was unable to read and review books (the Disney College Program is no joke yo). But I did manage to get things back up and running with the last half of the year. While 2011 was an amazing year full of new friendships, Disney magic, and many many accomplishments, I'm excited to see what more I can accomplish and discover in 2012!

So my book blogging resolutions are as follows:

Read at least 50 books this year

My goal is to write 2 reviews a week so that makes 96 books a year. If I read at least 50 then that's about half. This is making so much more sense in my head. But either way, yes, at least 50 books this year because even though 2012 won't be as busy as 2011, it's still going to be pretty darn busy.

Clean up Google Reader

There are a lot of random blogs that don't even have to do with books on my Google Reader. I have no idea. I always put this off cause I'm always so lazy to click on almost every single one of my 300 subs to figure out who is who and what is what. But this needs to change!

Spend more time talking to all of you!

I read a lot of blog posts but I don't comment. I'm glad I'm not the only person with this problem! When I first started book blogging, I would post everywhere! And tweet everyone! And now I'm like... blah. So I hope to leave more comments and tweet more people!

Figure out a different blogging schedule

I usually blog Sun-Fri and sometimes Sat. Two of those days being book review days. My husband suggested that I only do one book review a week... but that would only be four reviews a month! Somehow that doesn't sit too well with me. But blogging Sun-Fri is a little much, especially with me going to two different schools this semester...

Change the blog theme

This is something that makes me cry a little on the inside every time I bring it up with myself. But it's something that I think has to be done. While I do LOVELOVELOVE my Wizard of Oz theme and while it does reflect something I'm most passionate about, I know I need something more... I don't know... what's the word I'm looking for? Something different. I haven't decided if I'd make it Wizard of Oz-ish still or something without images *paws at layout* it's not you!

Review books within 48 hours

I have the hardest time doing this! This was on my resolutions list last year and while I tried, it was hard sometimes (like I still don't have a review up of Stay and it was one of my favorites of 2011). But I'm going to try to review a book before I have a chance to forget what the book is about/how I feel about it.

Actually attempt to complete challenges

I love joining challenges. I love being challenged! But I don't always complete them. I do a pretty darn good job most of the time, but it would look SO much better if I could see every single one crossed off!

Make more review vlogs

I know it kinda doesn't make sense to review something then do a vlog review at the same time... but I know some people who watch my channel don't come to my blog. The only problem with this is that I get so tounge-tied and I trip over my own words (why do you think I only do IMM? No need to explain! Most of the time anyway). But I'd like to do more on my channel too.

Read classics

Because really, I'm tired of not knowing who Emma or Jane Austin is!

As far as my book blogging resolutions go, those are pretty much it. As for real life resolutions, I don't have many...

Stop drinking soda
Eat healthier
Make more time for writing
Be more organized
Improve GPA
More more time for arts & crafts
Be the change I want to see in the world

What are some of your resolutions?

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

2011-12-29T13:35:00.000-08:00

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: Sept 29th, 2011 by Dutton
Details: 338 pages, hardcover
Genre: Young Adult > Contemporary
Series: No
Source: Bought on Amazon
Summary (Goodreads):

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Amazon* || Goodreads || Bookdepository*

Three things:

This book takes place in San Francisco -- Castro District (whoot whoot)
CRICKET BELL IS TOO DAMN CUTE FOR WORDS
I'm convinced Stephanie Perkins is set to torture her readers slowly and painfully

With that said, do I really have to state that I LOVE LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR?!

Lola has this pretty nifty quirk where she can't wear the same outfit twice. And it's not like you know, an outfit really. She dresses in these really awkward -- but cool -- glittery costumes everyday. I admire that, I wish I was that creative and had that much energy. She lives in the Castro District which is (if you ask me) one of the best places in San Francisco that I don't think gets enough credit. She has two cool dad's (although I really liked Andy more) and shes pretty much lived next to the same family her whole life. Now Lola isn't perfect, she's had a rough time growing up but she's still a really good kid and she stays positive. But she dates a douchebag who made me want to punch him every three pages. Really hard. In the face. With a bat. Just sayin.

Remember Anna and Etienne? They make an appearance in this book. Lots of them. And they're still as disgustingly cute as ever!

Can we talk about Cricket? Cause I'd really really like to. Cricket is too cute for words. Saying too cute for words is such an understatement when it comes to Cricket Bell. He's creative, he's kind, he's completely utterly selfless, he's supportive, he's got his own really cute quirks and the way he is when he's around Lola, is just so #$%^&* (I don't think there are words for it). They have this cute but awkward we've liked each other since we were kids thing going on that's so innocent and real that sometimes it just makes you want to hit Lola with the bat. Sometimes. Okay, for most of the book. But in a good way, cause you know, you only want what's best for her! And it's not Max!

This review is so spoilery and so not like my other reviews, but it's okay cause I don't fan girl over lots of books.

Everyone talked about how they loved this book more than Anna and I have to say, while I did love this book I'm not sure if I love it more than Anna. I would really hate to have to decide between Cricket and St. Clair because they both made me melt.

But I will say this, the family dynamic in this book was probably one of the very first in YA that made me tear. Seriously, it was only like a sentence long, but it was really touching.

If you haven't read either of Stephanie Perkins books, you must be living under a rock and you should go read them, NAO. And if you can't, I'll be giving one a way on Valentines Day (my favorite holiday and a fitting one for her books) AND it's signed! So look out for that (:

"I've never seen anyone do what you can do, " Andy says. "And from such a young age. I'll never forget when you fixed our toaster with that coat hanger when you were, what, five years old? Your parents must be so proud of you."
Cricket shrugs uncomfortably. "I guess."

"He's good, Lola. He's really good." Anna says at last.
"Has he considered therapy?" St. Clair asks, and Anna elbows him in the ribs.

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Waiting on Wednesday (22)

2011-12-28T12:29:00.000-08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Slated by Teri Terry

Release Date: May 3rd, 2012 by Orchard Books

S u m m a r y :

Sixteen-year-old Kyla has been 'slated': all of her past memories erased, her entire personality wiped blank. She has been assigned a new name, a new date of birth and even new parents. The government that did this to her claim she was a terrorist, and that she has been given a second chance. But Kyla knows that the government has been lying. Without her memories, how will Kyla ever find the truth? And if her old self is really and truly dead, then what are the terrifying images that still haunt her dreams?

[ via Goodreads ]

Reason for waiting:

Anything that has to do with memories being erased and "starting over" is something that never fails to intrigue me!

Review: Winterling by Sarah Prineas

2011-12-27T14:24:00.000-08:00

Winterling by Sarah Prineas
Release Date: Jan 3rd, 2012 by HarperChildrens
Details: 256 pages, hardcover
Genre: Middle Grade
Series: Book #1 in the Winterling series
Source: Amazon Vine (thank you Amazon Vine!)
Summary (Goodreads):

With her boundless curiosity and wild spirit, Fer has always felt that she doesn’t belong. Not when the forest is calling to her, when the rush of wind through branches feels more real than school or the quiet farms near her house. Then she saves an injured creature—he looks like a boy, but he’s really something else. He knows who Fer truly is, and invites her through the Way, a passage to a strange, dangerous land.

Fer feels an instant attachment to this realm, where magic is real and oaths forge bonds stronger than iron. But a powerful huntress named the Mor rules here, and Fer can sense that the land is perilously out of balance. Fer must unlock the secrets about the parents she never knew and claim her true place before the worlds on both sides of the Way descend into endless winter.

Amazon* || Goodreads || BookDepository*

Winterling is about a girl named Fer (short for Jennifer) who lives with her grandmother (who happens to be a healer), doesn't know anything about what happened to her parents and is convinced she doesn't belong here.

And like all her young girls her age who just want answers and want to know where she belongs, she's incredibly incredibly stubborn.

So stubborn that she happens to find a mysterious pond of water and out of curiosity touches it, resulting in her opening "The Way". And she was on to something, she doesn't belong here.

I can see why a lot of people consider Winterling to be a fantasy novel, but I didn't really think of it like that. I considered it more to be a paranormal one. The story starts in our world but ends in another. And in that other world is magic, secrets, creatures and power hunger fakers. I really liked Fer, I admired her dedication to staying true to who she was. Someone who didn't want to kill, someone who knew right from wrong and even if the Lady tried to corrupt her, she stopped it. I liked Rook, he seemed conflicted with himself. And I mean, he's a Puck, why wouldn't he be even if this girl he stumbled on saved his life, he still has good reason to guard himself. But I still enjoyed his company.

The only thing I didn't really like about the book was that the point of view switches from Fer to Rook without much of a warning and sometimes it's a little hard to know who's head you're in. But other than that, I enjoyed Winterling and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

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☃ Review: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

2011-12-22T12:30:00.000-08:00

Release Date: Oct 26th, 2011 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Details: 272 pages, hardcover
Genre: Young Adult > Contemporary
Series: No
Source: Library eBook (:
Summary (Goodreads):

“I’ve left some clues for you.

If you want them, turn the page.

If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares is the perfect book to get you in the holiday spirit. The book follows Dash, a complex boy with an odd sense of humor and Lily, a girl who's over protected and just wants some company. Both are ironically going to be alone for Christmas with no plans and no sight of their parents who would rather go vacationing then spend time with their kids.

It all starts with a red notebook in a bookstore in NY. Around Christmastime. I loved how Lily pushed Dash to tell secrets he never really told anyone and I loved how Lily was more daring and slowly came out of her protective shell. Dash and Lily brought out a side of each other that was fun to watch and entertaining!

This read was romantic, a little cheesy, realistic and humorous. I really wish I could say more, but I read it back in October and my mind is fuzzy (I really should start writing reviews within 24hrs of finishing a book) and I wish it wasn't so I could fully express just how much I really really loved this book. I wish I hadn't waited a year to read it. So if you haven't read it yet, you should. Like, right now.

When people say right person, wrong time, or wrong person, right time, it's usually a cop-out. They think that fate is playing with them. That we're all just participants in this romantic reality show that God gets a kick out of watching. But the universe doesn't decide what's right or not. You do. - Dash

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

2011-12-21T18:02:00.000-08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

All These Lives by Sarah Wylie

Release Date: June 5th, 2012 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

S u m m a r y :

Sixteen-year-old Dani is convinced she has nine lives. As a child she twice walked away from situations where she should have died. But Dani’s twin, Jena, isn’t so lucky. She has cancer and might not even be able to keep her one life. Dani’s father is in denial. Her mother is trying to hold it together and prove everything’s normal. And Jena is wasting away. To cope, Dani sets out to rid herself of all her extra lives. Maybe they’ll be released into the universe and someone who wants to live more than she does will get one. Someone like Jena. But just when Dani finds herself at the breaking point, she’s faced with a startling realization. Maybe she doesn’t have nine lives after all. Maybe she really only ever had one.

[ via Goodreads ]

Reason for waiting:

A girl who thinks she has nine lives while her sister is dying of cancer? Sounds interesting. I'm curious to know how she plans on getting rid of her extra lives!

Review: Her Christmas Pleasure by Karen Erickson

2011-12-20T14:50:00.000-08:00

Her Christmas Pleasure by Karen Erickson
Release Date: Nov 28th, 2011 by Carina Press
Details: eBook
Genre: Erotica
Series: #2 in The Merry Widows series
Source: NetGalley (thank you NetGalley!)
Summary (Goodreads):

Damien Morton is madly in love. Unfortunately, it's with his best friend's widow, Lady Danver. Damien is not worthy of Celia. Or so he thinks. Desperate to escape his feelings for her, he plans to leave the country at the first of the year. Celia treats him as a family friend and nothing more—until they share a heated kiss beneath the mistletoe...

Celia is shocked by the passions that surge within her at her dear friend's kiss. One touch and one taste aren't enough to satisfy her cravings, and she is startled into action. Damien has stirred something inside her that she never expected to experience again, and she must have more. Full of shameless desire and emotions newly discovered, she decides to pursue Damien and won't be deterred. Will she be able to convince him to stay—both in her heart and life—forever?

Her Christmas Pleasure was a quick and sweet read. Celia and Damien have a one of a kind friendship and you can tell they have been friends for a long time and care about each other very much.

Damien was an interesting character, a perfect gentlemen and very careful when he was around Celia. Which was nice, it's always good to have a close friend like that. Even though he yearned for Celia, he was very loyal to his extended family and to his deceased best friend by keeping his distance and convincing himself that nothing could or should be. Celia was a typical emotional woman, and sadly there isn't much else to say about her. She wasn't a horrible character, but sometimes you just wanted to shake her and force her to calm the hell down! Ironic these two are perfect for each other.

Her Christmas Pleasure was an enjoyable read with steamy scenes and a tale about two best friends who deserve to be more.

☃ Monday Movie Review: A Christmas Story

2011-12-19T14:18:00.000-08:00

A Christmas Story
Released: Nov 18th, 1983
Studio: Warner Bros
Run Time: 94 mins
Source: Bought
Summary (IMDb):

Ralphie, a young boy growing up in the '40's, dreams of owning a Red Rider BB gun. He sets out to convince the world this is the perfect gift. But along the way, he runs into opposition from his parents, his teacher, and even good 'ol Santa Claus himself.

A Christmas Story is one of those movies that I grew up watching every holiday season.

Ralphie dreams of owning a Red Rider BB Gun and decides to ask for one for Christmas. The only problem is, his parents are completely against this idea. As is his teacher... and even Santa. Through out Ralphie's journey on how to convince his parents that they're wrong, that he won't shoot his eye out, we go through the motions of his life. His bullied walks to school, the silly things kids do on playgrounds, and his life at home with his family.

While I do enjoy watching this movie every holiday season, there really isn't much to say unfortunately. What I do love about it is Ralphie's constant in my head commentary and his little brother being wrapped in so many layers of clothes that he can't put his arms down!

Do you have any must watch holiday movies?

Monday Movie Review: The Secret of Moonacre

2011-12-05T12:35:00.000-08:00

The Secret of Moonacre
Released: Sept 21, 2010
Studio: E1 Entertainment
Run Time: 103 minutes
Source: Netflix
Summary (IMDb):

When 13 year old Maria Merryweather's father dies, leaving her orphaned and homeless, she is forced to leave her luxurious London life to go and live with Sir Benjamin, an eccentric uncle she didn't know she had, at the mysterious Moonacre Manor. Soon Maria finds herself in a crumbling moonlit world torn apart by the hatred of an ancient feud with the dark and sinister De Noir family. Maria discovers that she is the last Moon Princess and, guided by an unlikely mix of allies, she must overcome her family's pride in order to unearth the secrets of the past before the 5000th moon rises and Moonacre disappears into the sea forever.

My husband was randomly browsing Netflix and the cover image of this movie caught my eye. So we settled on watching it. Right from the very beginning, I was hooked! There's always something enchanting about a moon princess, even if I don't really know what that means.

When Maria is forced to leave her home and stay with an uncle she never knew she had, she's more than unhappy. She doesn't know where she is or who this man is and most importantly; she doesn't know what's up with that strange white horse, those bandits in the forest she's being told she can't go into or why the stars on her bedroom ceiling are moving! All she knows is that there is something very strange going on and her uncle seems to know, but isn't telling her.

Maria is your typical curious little girl who dives head first into danger just because someone told her not go there. She's brave and adventurous and pretty darn sneaky! I absolutely loved Maria, even if every time she set foot into the forest it made me cringe. I also loved her dresses (they had a sort of Wicked Musical Emerald City feel to them) and her bedroom! Oh my, how I would love a magical bedroom like that one!

Robin was also another character I really liked, from the very beginning he catches your attention, or maybe it was just me... he sort of reminded me of Rufio, but his costume was much better (Robin's, not Rufio's). The more he has to set out to capture Maria, the more you can sort of sense he doesn't want to... which makes you wonder why not? His father seems to be obsessed with seeking revenge, it's strange to wonder why Robin didn't follow in those footsteps. Even if his father seems a bit... loopy about it all.

All the characters in this movie were fantastic. There was humor, magic and secrets. I absolutely enjoyed it and I personally think it deserves more attention! If you're in the mood for a light movie about magic, then I suggest you give this a try (plus it's on Netflix right now)!

I didn't know this movie was a sort of retelling of a book -- "The Little White Horse" by Elizabeth Goudge, never heard of it but definitely going to get it out now!

In My Mailbox (41)

2011-12-04T14:22:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren!

WON

You Have Seven Messages by Stewart Lewis

BOUGHT

The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

BLACK FRIDAY

Funko Flying Monkey plushie
POP! Flying Monkey figurine
POP! Wicked Witch figurine

*Thank you to Random Buzzers

What did you get in your mailbox?

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

2011-12-01T12:29:00.000-08:00

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi
Release Date: Nov 15th, 2011 by HarperCollins
Details: 352 pages, hardcover
Genre: YA
Series: Book #1 in the Shatter Me series
Source: Amazon Vine (Thank you Amazon Vine!)
Summary (Goodreads):

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Amazon* || Goodreads || BookDepository*

I don't go completely fan girl over a lot of books, in fact I can only think of about 4 that I have and now Shatter Me is added to that list.

Shatter Me was not what I was expecting. It was nowhere near what I expecting. This book took me by complete surprise, grabbed me, threw me around and would not let me go. Seriously. Every time I would set this book down to try to get something else done I would end up just picking it right back up. It was insane.

Shatter Me is about a girl named Juliette who was sent away by her powers because she's different. The world around her is crumbling and one day a boy she vaguely remembers is thrown into her cell, everything changes after that.

Juliette was a fantastic protagonist! She was witty, brave and no matter what Warner offered her she never lost sight of the fact that she didn't want to be a monster. She still had faith in humanity after everything others put her through. She has a good heart and a gentle soul and that's what I really liked about her. That even though life beat her down, she still saw the good in things and in people. Adam was completely swoon-worthy. He wasn't one of those I just like you because guys. You could tell Adam really really cared about Juliette and why he did and how fiercely he does care. Not to mention Adam and Juliette have some rather steamy oh-it's-gettin-hot-in-here scenes. Rawr! While I'm not a huge fan of villains in YA novels, I felt bad for Warner. I honestly think that he's a bit misunderstood, a bit power hungry and maybe a bit on the not-all-there side. But maybe if he just sat down and chilled for a minute and thought this through, he could be an alright person lol. Kenji was an interesting character that I would like to know more about and he was the perfect amount of comic relief in the novel.

I think the novel was paced perfectly. We spent a lot of time with Juliette while she was in solitude reflecting on her own thoughts and got a feel for how she was feeling about herself, about her situation and about her past. We spent a good amount of time with her with Warner and saw what she was capable of and how that made her feel. Everything blended together, helps in the wild ride you take with Juliette and even though the book left me wanting to know more, I felt incredibly satisfied when I turned that last page.

Shatter Me is an addicting read filled with action, suspense, secrets and a super steamy love. Yes it does have a slight X-Men feel to it, but honestly, I enjoyed it. I haven't read anything like this in YA yet!

"Go to hell."
He works his jaw. Walks to the door. "I'm working on it."

"You can make yourself invisible?" Adam looks more irritated than interested.
"Just blew your mind, didn't I?"

(Hey! That's my line lol!)

Waiting on Wednesday (20)

2011-11-30T12:48:00.000-08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Winter Room Collection (bindup):
The Twelve Dates of Christmas & The Ex Games
by Catherine Hapka & Jennifer Echols

Release Date: January 3rd, 2012 by Simon & Schuster

S u m m a r y :

Billy Elliot meets The Golden Girls in this inspiring true story of a woman who learned that it’s never too late to live the life you want. As a young girl, Vicki Riordan found her calling as a tap dancer and at eighteen she opened her own studio. But Vicki soon decided to put her tap shoes into early retirement to focus on marriage and start a family. When her marriage abruptly ended and Vicki was left with no means to support herself and her two young sons, she returned to her passion and began teaching adult tap. The Tap Pups program was born and at the age of sixty-two, Vicki opened what has become the largest adult tap studio in America.

Vicki has gone from teaching seventeen adults to 500. Her students range in age from twenty-one to eighty-nine (with an average age of fifty-seven), and thanks to the Tap Pups program many have transformed and reinvented themselves at a point in life when the expectation is that they should be slowing down. Tap has made them confident in their bodies and themselves and has joined the women of Vicki’s community into an unbreakable sisterhood.

Encore Performance is ripe with themes that readers everywhere can relate to: love, family, friendship, living your dream, keeping hope alive in difficult times, and so much more. Vicki’s story celebrates the importance of remembering your true passion, going after it with courage, and proving that it’s never too late to live the life you want.

[ via Goodreads ]

Reason for waiting:

I'm a sucker for bindups and I'm always on the look out for YA winter-ish books. This one caught my attention and I'm bummed it won't be out until January! But I'm really looking forward to it. And I love the cover!

Review: Unnaturally Green by Felicia Ricci

2011-11-29T15:00:00.000-08:00

Unnaturally Green: One girl's journey along a yellow brick road less traveled by Felicia Ricci
Release Date: Sept 20th, 2011 by Felicia/Ricci
Details: 286 pages, paperback
Genre: Memoir
Source: Author (Thank you so so much Felicia!)
Summary (Goodreads):

Ever wonder what it's like to perform in a megahit musical (when you have little idea what you're doing)? From her audition to closing night -- to every moment in between -- Felicia takes you behind the scenes of her first professional show (ever!) as she understudies the lead character of Elphaba in Wicked's San Francisco company.

As she leaps professional hurdles, she faces personal challenges as well: falling in love after heartbreak (with a spatula-wielding muscle hunk), living far away from home (in the worst neighborhood of all time), confronting her overachiever demons (and an all-consuming fear of failure), and learning, time and again, what it means to be green.

Hop into the mind of a total newbie as she gazes at professional theater's Man Behind the Curtain, in all his naked glory. Who could look away?

Amazon || Goodreads

As you might know, I'm a huge huge fan of the musical Wicked (in fact I've seen it a total of 14 times in the last 2 years). Felicia was our Elphaba standby in San Francisco when they were here from 2009 - 2010 and although I never had the pleasure of seeing Felicia on stage as Elphaba, I was a huge fan of the blog she kept up while she was here. As a fan of a production and cast, you're always curious to know if they're normal people like us (okay, tell me I'm not the only one who thinks this!) and what is it that they do on their free time.

Unnaturally Green covers all those, and more. Felicia takes us on her journey to becoming the green girl from the very beginning up until her very last day in San Francisco. While I was lucky enough to see Behind The Emerald Curtain (while it was hosted by the amazing Nicolas Dromard) and to tour backstage (as you can see here -- which is one of my most viewed posts, yeah I don't know), there still a lot to be curious about and Felicia does a great job with taking you step by step with how everything comes together.

And maybe it's just me but I totally squealed when there was any scene having to do with Nic or Neka or Etai or Eden lol.

Unnaturally Green is a great read for those who are fans of not just Wicked but theater as well and are curious to know what life is like on and off stage. Felicia's memoir is full of humor and laugh out loud funny moments (like the conversation with her and Neka about her... problem lol) and rich memories.

Monday Movie Review: Sweet November

2011-11-28T12:30:00.000-08:00

Sweet November
Released: Feb 16th, 2001
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Run Time: 119 minutes
Source: Netflix
Summary (IMDb):

Nelson is a man devoted to his advertising career in San Francisco. One day, while taking a driving test at the DMV, he meets Sara. She is very different from the other women in his life. Nelson causes her to miss out on taking the test and later that day she tracks him down. One thing leads to another and Nelson ends up living with her through a November that will change his life forever.

Sweet November had that sort of resemblance to older romance movies like You've Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle.

Nelson is having a pretty crappy day, but he also kind of comes off as a total workaholic about to have a meltdown. He loses his job, his girlfriend leaves him, and to top it all off... he meets this strange (and can I just say how beautiful Charlize's eyes are?) girl named Sara who just won't leave him alone. He doesn't really understand why she wants to help him so bad (when he insists he doesn't need any help -- but clearly he does) but he goes along with it.

I sort of have this problem with Keanu Reeves... he seems so... emotionless all the time. Sure, it worked for Matrix but I mean, man. I don't know, is it just me? I'm not saying Nelson sucked, but sometimes he was just... awkward. Sara was a fantastic character, she was full of life and everything she did was with all she had left. I admired how much she loved life. Chaz was also a great supporting character, his friendship with Sara was unique and one of a kind. I wish I had a friend like that in my life.

I loved that this movie was filmed in San Francisco, it's kind of cool to see what SF was like back then because even if it's only been 10 years (even though I feel like this movie was filmed way before 2001), SF has changed, a lot. It was also nice pointing out streets and beaches and places and me and my husband trying to shout out the location first lol. It wasn't one of those films where they say they're from a city and they're really nowhere near that city. No, this film was literally filmed in San Francisco, at least the majority. The credits say there's some filmed in Daly City (which is pretty much South City -- South San Francisco -- so technically it's sort of still SF area) and San Rafael, but it's still pretty much San Fran.

There really isn't much to say about Sweet November except that it was a cute romance about how just one month and one person can completely change your life and make you see things that you were blind to seeing before.

In My Mailbox (40)

2011-11-26T22:06:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren!

Thank you to Amazon Vine and Abrams Books!

Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T10:01:00.000-08:00

I didn't want to title this post a day of thanks or a month of thanks because really we should be thankful everyday. But because life can be unpredictable (read: kick us when we're least expecting it), it's sometimes hard. I'm glad there's a day, a month a year that we are all brought together with our families to share their presence (and food) and reflect on what's really important in life.

I have so much to be thankful for this year, so so much.

The chance to work my dream job and finally be able to experience Walt Disney World
All the amazing (and not so amazing) people I got to meet and work with
Making the most amazing and loving friends from around the world
My adorable and frustrating husband who makes me feel like I'm the best person in the world, even after 7 years
My family, even if I don't know what the heck is going on these days
My baby Jay, for still being my sunshine and still wanting belly rubs even if he's growling
My babygirl Meez, even if you're not with us anymore, we'll all still be thinking of you this holiday season. We love you and miss you ♥
My baby Boq, thank you for keeping me company the last 2 years, sleep well little one
For making Yelp Elite
For making Amazon Vine
For the YouTube monetize invitation
For books! Oh you are my world ♥
For the amazing followers of this blog, thank you for not making me feel like I'm uncool for loving books, you guys are awesome
For Disney for talking me into never giving up to reach my dream
For my cafe game for helping me doze off to sleep every night
For my space heater because MAN it is freezing!
For Starbucks, you give me a sense of comfort
For candles and their ability to soothe me
For life and all the things it gives and throws

I'm going going to do a giveaway, for all of you!

All you have to do is tell me 5 things you are thankful for. It can be anything. But I prefer to hear the smaller things in life you're thankful for (like flip flops or for spring to be here already or your favorite Starbucks drink). Winners will be picked on NOVEMBER 30TH. Not sure what the prize will be yet, but I'm thinking a copy of Shatter Me? (:

Waiting on Wednesday (19)

2011-11-23T12:38:00.000-08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison

Release Date: February 14th, 2012 by EgmontUSA

S u m m a r y :

Penelope (Lo) Marin has always loved to collect beautiful things. Her dad's consulting job means she's grown up moving from one rundown city to the next, and she's learned to cope by collecting (sometimes even stealing) quirky trinkets and souvenirs in each new place--possessions that allow her to feel at least some semblance of home.

But in the year since her brother Oren's death, Lo's hoarding has blossomed into a full-blown, potentially dangerous obsession. She discovers a beautiful, antique butterfly pendant during a routine scour at a weekend flea market, and recognizes it as having been stolen from the home of a recently murdered girl known only as "Sapphire"--a girl just a few years older than Lo. As usual when Lo begins to obsess over something, she can't get the murder out of her mind.

As she attempts to piece together the mysterious "butterfly clues," with the unlikely help of a street artist named Flynt, Lo quickly finds herself caught up in a seedy, violent underworld much closer to home than she ever imagined--a world, she'll ultimately discover, that could hold the key to her brother's tragic death.

[ via Goodreads ]

Reason for waiting:

As someone who has been diagnosed with OCD, it's always interesting to read books with characters that also have OCD tendencies (hoarding is one that I'm working on kicking). It also features an interesting murder mystery, can't go wrong with that!

Review: A Year Without Autumn by Liz Kessler

2011-11-22T11:17:00.000-08:00

A Year Without Autumn by Liz Kessler
Relase Date: October 11th, 2011 by Candlewick Press
Details: 304 pages, hardcover
Series: No
Source: Vine ARC (thanks Amazon Vine!)
Summary (Goodreads):

Jenni Green’s family vacation has finally arrived! Even though she has to deal with her annoying little brother, her slightly overbearing dad, and her very pregnant mom, she gets to spend a week with her bestest friend in the world, Autumn. But twelve-year-old Jenni’s world turns upside down when she takes an old elevator to visit Autumn and discovers that everything has changed: not only is her friend in a different condo, but tragedy has struck Autumn’s family, Jenni’s mother has had her baby, and everyone is a year older. When Jenni realizes that the elevator caused her to skip a whole year, she tries to go back, but soon finds that fixing things won’t be as easy as pressing a button. How can she alter the past and keep her family and Autumn’s from falling apart? With honesty and insight, Liz Kessler explores how the bonds of family and friendship can endure through time.

Amazon || Goodreads || BookDepository*

I saw this at B&N awhile back and kept passing by it. So I was pretty excited when it came up on Vine.

Jenni lives a pretty normal life. Well normal compared to her friend Autumn who's parents are artists and a tad bit out there. But Jenni has always been quiet and safe, while Autumn was the opposite. When Jenni takes an elevator that has never worked til today, her whole world is flipped upside down and she has no idea what's going on. It takes her awhile to figure it out, and once she does, you're in for a ride.

It was interesting to see where the author would take us with every floor that Jenni took. How much of her world would change and how one accident can make that much more of a difference.

I found the concept of the mystery elevator to be kind of creepy (I'm not a fan of elevators). The idea of time travel and an alternate universe is always interesting to read about and this is no exception.

Jenni learns what it is to be a friend and to stand up and speak out.

Media Monday: Spotify

2011-11-21T12:29:00.000-08:00

One of my recent obsessions is Spotify (I wasn't sure if this would go under Media Monday or Friday Finds...)

I don't know why my screenshot's always end up so tiny... but if you've living under a rock (like I have), you might not know what Spotify is.

Basically, Spotify is a music player. It has the interface of iTunes but it works like imeem, if any of you remember that site. You basically find tracks and make play lists for them. It's pretty fun, but it might just be because I like being organized like that. The only disappointment I have with this is that not all tracks I like are on the database. I'm sure as time goes on they will add more since I assume Spotify is fairly new.

Another cool thing about it is that you can sync it to your Facebook (like everything else in this world...) and share your recently played songs with your friends page. You can't however stream it on your phone if you don't pay for a special type of membership. You get a 14 day free trail though and while it is pretty cool to take your play lists with you, the streaming quality could be better. Most songs do smoothly play but other songs tend to skip.

I really like the idea of this, I just hope that they're still working on adding more old school tracks too! :)

In My Mailbox (39)

2011-11-20T17:24:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren!

FOR REVIEW:

A Year Without Autumn by Liz Kessler
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Unnaturally Green by Felicia Ricci
Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
After The Snow by S.D. Crockett

GIFTED:

Torn by Erica O'Rourke
Die For Me by Amy Plum

WON:

Every You Every Me by David Lavithan

BOUGHT:

Destined by Jessie Harrell
Merlin by T.A. Barron
Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins
Stork (Stork #1) by Wendy Delsol
Unearthly (Unearthly #1) by Cynthia Hand
Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson
Sweep, Vol 2 (Wicca #4-6) by Cate Tiernan
Wicked (Wicked Years #1) by Gregory Maguire
Son of a Witch (Wicked Years #2) by Gregory Maguire
A Lion Among Men (Wicked Years #3) by Gregory Maguire

NETGALLEY:

Dearly, Departed by Lisa Habel
Pure by Julianna Baggott
Me@You.Com by KE Payne
Deliciously Sinful by Lilli Fiesty
Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione

*Thank you to Harper, Random Buzzers, Felicia Ricci, MacMillan, Amazon Vine, NetGalley and my homie JD!

Book Blogger Crisis: Taking breaks

2011-11-18T01:31:00.000-08:00

I have been taking a lot to weeks off lately and to me I kind of see it as unexceptionable since I did take the 7 months off while I did the Disney internship, but at the same time, it's my blog. I can do whatever I want!

Please tell me I'm not the only one who feels guilty for taking a few days off from their blog *sad face*.

November is such a stressful month (sidenote: I can NOT believe Thanksgiving is next freakin week, WHERE did the year GO)! Next week I'll be starting school back up at my normal college and I'll be enrolling in my previous community college (for a humanities and French class). Then there's the holidays coming up, Thanksgiving (I hate family holidays, by the way) and getting ready for Christmas. I always feel like the time in between Thanksgiving and Christmas is never long enough to enjoy or get ready for the holidays.

Daylight Savings has been messing with me, big time. No matter what time I sleep, it seems like getting up before noon is just impossible. I don't know WHAT is going on. The change of time + this getting dark early stuff + the cold is just not a good combo for me. Thank goodness Black Friday sales start at midnight, then I can spend the rest of the morning sleeping and not have to get up at an insane hour like 4AM just to get an external hard drive.

I'm currently reading Shatter Me and omgosh, it's making my life so difficult, seriously! Every time I put it down to do something else (that didn't get done that I was suppose to do), I pick it right back up because it's so good. I need to write my pending reviews before I read any more because I already know my brain will turn into mush once I'm done. And that's never a good thing!

Husband and I will be picking up our Christmas tree for our room today, I decided the tree will be teal and silver/white this year. I think it'll come out pretty. I'll post pictures when it's all done. We had a really pretty red/white one this one year. Then my mom either threw out or lost my Christmas tree (it's the small ones, mine was in my closet during the holidays. We're going to have this one next to the dresser). Boo.

How are you guys doing out there? Anyone else stressing/freaking out about doing a million things at once plus getting ready for the holidays?

Waiting on Wednesday (18)

2011-11-09T13:19:00.000-08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

Release Date: March 1st, 2012 by Sourcebooks Fire

S u m m a r y :

I slowly opened my eyes. The sun speared its first bright rays of golden orange into the sky and I leapt from the cliff, with the sorrowful knowledge that no matter what the outcome, at least part of me would die that day...

Violet Eden is dreading her seventeenth birthday dinner. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. The one bright spot is that Lincoln will be there. Sexy, mature and aloof, he is Violet’s idea of perfection. But why does he seem so reluctant to be anything more than a friend?

After he gives her the world’s most incredible kiss – and then abandons her on her front doorstep – Violet is determined to get some answers. But nothing could have prepared her for Lincoln’s explanation: he is Grigori – part angel and part human – and Violet is his eternal partner.

Without warning, Violet’s world is turned upside down. She never believed in God, let alone angels. But there’s no denying the strange changes in her body ... and her feelings for Lincoln. Suddenly, she can’t stand to be around him. Luckily, Phoenix, an exiled angel, has come into her life. He’s intense and enigmatic, but at least he never lied to her.

As Violet gets caught up in an ancient battle between dark and light, she must choose her path. The wrong choice could cost not only her life, but her eternity...

[ via Goodreads ]

Reason for waiting:

I've been waiting for this since its release last year oversea's. I'm so excited it's now going to be released in the U.S! I saw Kristy (thestorysiren) had gotten a snazzy cover like this one as a review copy and I kinda really like this simple cover. I hope they keep it!

The book itself sounds really really interesting. I'm always curious about angel books, they're always so different like how a lot of Dystopia's have completely different world's and rules, I like how it's the same way with angel books!

Review: Beastly by Alex Flinn

2011-11-08T12:10:00.000-08:00

Beastly by Alex Flinn
Release Date: October 1st, 2007 by HarperTeen
Details: 304 pages, hardcover
Series: Nope
Source: Bought
Summary (Goodreads):

I am a beast. A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog, but a horrible new creature who walks upright – a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I’m talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It’s no deformity, no disease. And I’ll stay this way forever – ruined – unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and a perfect life. And then, I’ll tell you how I became perfectly beastly.

Amazon || Goodreads || BookDepository*

I finally got around to reading Beastly. In honor of NaNoWriMo (and the fact I'm writing a re-telling) I decided to make November re-telling month. With that, Beastly was up first. Because I put it off for so long. This was another one of those won't-watch-the-movie-til-I-read-it things but to be honest, the movie didn't look all that interesting. I just thought they casted weird people. I'm not a Vanessa H or Olsen hater but I don't know, the Olsen part sort of bothered me.

Anyway!

Kyle was a jerk. I mean he was a jerk. Like I wanted to reach through the flippin pages and strangle him. It's so sad that his mindset was passed down from his father, who was an even bigger ass. I thought this would be your typical boy is a jerk and pisses off a witch and blah blah blah, which it was, but you couldn't help but feel bad for Kyle. His dad completely judges and ignores him and you could tell all he wanted was just a little bit of attention. And maybe if he had gotten that, he wouldn't had been such a jerk.

I loved Linda. She was sweet and caring and optimistic. Her father was also a flippin ass though, probably the biggest ass of a parent I've seen in a re-telling so far. How do you treat the only daughter you have like that? She cares for you, puts up with you and you just treat her like trash? And poor Linda, she shouldn't have to feel guilty for anything when it comes to her father, ever!

I also loved Kyle's teacher Will. He was a pretty great character to be around. He cared about Kyle even though he hardly knew him and didn't judge him. He always gave him the advice he needed and was just what Kyle needed in his life. The maid as well, she was also a really great character.

Beastly had a lot of similarities to Disney's Beauty and the Beast. I haven't read the original tale so I can't really compare. It did have it's distinct differences like Kyle grew obsessed with growing flowers and I thought that was a pretty symbolic thing. Before his transformation he never cared for things and especially not silly things (his words, not mine) like flowers. And I think the fact that he cared SO MUCH for his garden was what really made me feel for him, it was really the only thing he had.

While I wasn't completely impressed with Beastly, I did enjoy the journey. But I still won't see the movie lol!

*BookDepository links to my affiliate page, support giveaways on this blog!

Monday Movie Review: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thieft

2011-11-07T13:16:00.000-08:00

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Released: February 12, 2010
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Run Time: 120 minutes
Source: Bought (well, my brother bought)
Summary (IMDb):
A teenager discovers he's the descendant of a Greek god and sets out on an adventure to settle an on-going battle between the gods.

I admit, it took me a really long time to watch this movie. Only because I had planned to read this book, once upon a time, sometime after I had finished Twilight and I never got around to it. And I don't really like watching the movie before reading the book. But my husband decided it was about time I let that go and just watched the darn movie.

I love Greek Mythology. I mean, I LOVE it. As a child I was often seen reading almost every book on Greek Mythology I could get my hands on. I loved how there was a god or goddess for everything you could think of; beauty, knowledge, war, harvest, the underworld (I liked the idea of an underworld so much more than the idea of Hell)... it was interesting, especially coming from a Roman Catholic upbringing. I loved the stories and the tales. I was obsessed with watching Hercules and Xena, I just found it all fascinating.

Percy Jackson is based on the book (series) by Rick Riordan about a boy named Percy who's the son of Poseidon, and a demigod. After being attacked at a school field trip and being accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt, Percy is whisked away by his good friend Grover (who isn't who he thought he was) into a demigod training camp. It is never really explained in the movie why everyone thought Percy stole the lightning bolt but he goes on this epic journey to clear his name along with Grover and Annabeth, the daughter of Athena.

I enjoyed Percy Jackson, I liked every scene where they ran into a new god or goddess. I especially liked the scene with Persephone and Hades, wasn't one I was really expecting. The idea of the Lotus Casino was both intriguing and really really creepy. And I felt for Percy, his home situation with his mom and how troubled he must have felt finding out his dad is a god and not really understanding what that means. The frustration of being raised as a mortal and not with the advantage that the other demigod kids had. The determination that Percy had to clear his name and free his mother was admirable.

However, I felt that there were a lot of things that were either left out, grazed over or watered down. I can't really pin point what it is, but something about the movie just threw me off. While I did enjoy it, I didn't love it. I didn't feel that sense of a complete story is what I guess I'm trying to say.

I guess that's where reading the book comes in, right? :) I might as well get to it, I'm curious to know what happens next in Percy's adventure!

Personal: Phobias!

2011-11-02T13:09:00.000-07:00

It has come to my attention that I have been neglecting my blog for a bit of time. Last week it was because my mom decided to unpack my entire apartment which was in 3 large boxes before I could even wake up (so yes, waking up and seeing the contents of your apartment scattered EVERYWHERE in your parents house is not an ideal way of waking up). She seems to like to do this, you know, stress people out. So I spent most of last week finding my stuff, doing laundry, finding a place to put things (which currently is the floor) and trying not to go ape shit.

This week is slightly different, I was making calls and fixing things (like my student loan) and I had put off setting my dentist appointment for a few weeks. I need to have two cavities filled and if filling cavities means getting a shot in my mouth, I usually wait til like, I don't know, a year later. I don't have a phobia of needles, I get my blood drawn all the time (my mom is nuts). But when it comes to needles in my mouth, that's a different story.

My previous dentist did this thing, where he would flap my cheek while he was shooting my gums. Not only was this super uncomfortable and I wanted to be like "yo doc, the hell you doin" but it was also annoying. So one day, he's flapping my gums and he slips and he stabs the inside of my cheek. OHDEARGOD. I screamed and started bawling on the spot. And all he did was leave the room, he didn't apologize, he didn't do anything, he just left. His assistant was at my side in an instant (I love her, she was amazing) and she was hugging me and patting my hair down and talking to me. Eventually when he did return I was pissed (this was back when I was a teen and I was just a mess back then) and I was screaming at him. He honestly didn't seem to care that he just stabbed me. So the last time I went to him for a cavity filling was before Thanksgiving, years ago and I was freaking out. They tried everything; a blanket, laughing gas... I would still freak out and all he could say was "can we hurry this up, I have a long drive to make for Thanksgiving". Oh screw you!

Anyway, since then I've kinda had this strange phobia of needles in my mouth. Like I know not everyone will slip and stab me but as soon as that needle comes near my mouth I honestly just freak the hell out. I have a new dentist now who specializes in people scared of the dentist (and they are amazing and patient people) and I haven't had a cavity in 3 years but now, I do. And tomorrow is my appointment. And I am scared shitless. They are giving me Valium, which everyone is saying will calm me down, but I don't know. I hope they're right. I mean, I can't really be mad at myself, I did go 3 years with no cavities. I just wish, I dunno, there was a different way to do this? The cavity I mentioned earlier, they shot with this sand stuff to clean it out so I didn't need to be numbed. Apparently they can't do that this time :\

So this week I've basically been freaking out.

My husband will be in the room with me tomorrow though and he's going to let me bring my Moogle (if you play Final Fantasy you know what that is). But I'm still, really just, freaking out right now...

This is Halloween... Halloween... Halloween!

2011-10-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

Hope you all are having a wonderful and safe Halloween night filled with candy and fun!

Halloween Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-29T15:37:00.000-07:00

The winner of the Halloween Giveaway is...

Kristy Nicole!

Congrats Kristy! And thank you to everyone who entered (:

-------------

As you guys can probably tell, I ended up taking this week off from blogging (which was a bit of horrible timing since it's almost Halloween and I'm nowhere near finishing my challenge, but I'll live). I think I overwhelmed myself a bit by jumping back in and trying to take on everything I didn't have time for in Florida. Whoo, I need to listen to my husband a bit more and slow down when he thinks I should.

I'll be back and hopefully a bit more organized next week.

Halloween Giveaway!

2011-10-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of Halloween and my challenge which is proving to be a challenge, I've decided to do a giveaway (: I know I probably should had announced this sooner, but honestly, I didn't know what to give away! But now I do, yay! Prizes include:

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (paperback)
The Mediator by Meg Cabot (paperback)
Halloween goodies!

This will run from today (OCTOBER 22nd) to OCTOBER 29th. All you have to do to win is 1) Be a follower 2) Tell me your favorite thing about Halloween or Autumn and 3) What's your favorite paranormal read. Good luck!

Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

2011-10-20T16:37:00.000-07:00

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Released Date: March 2nd, 2010 by Hyperion
Details: 323 pages, paperback
Series: Book #1 in the Hex Hall series
Source: Bought
Rating: 5 out of 5
Summary (Goodreads):

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Amazon || Goodreads || BookDepository*

Hex Hall is about a girl named Sophie who's half witch and has no idea how to control herself. Well that's not really true. But she gets herself into trouble with her magic all the time which is why she's sent away to Hex Hall. And from there, things get a little... strange.

I loved Sophie. She was loyal, sarcastic, strong and determined. She stood up for herself and for her only friend (and roommate) Jenna, a young outcast Vampire. She went through a lot of crap at Hex Hall and she learned more about herself and her past than she probably needed to know. I loved Jenna, she seemed like a really sweet girl. I hated the coven witches, they're your typical I-must-have-what-I-want mean girls but with magic. Archer, I don't know how I feel about him... I don't really have an opinion I guess. I kinda wished the Faeries were friendlier.

Hex Hall had a lightweight mystery to it, and maybe it would had been more epic if I hadn't jumped ahead and read the synopsis for Demonglass and ruined it for myself. But either way, I found myself interested in the books that Sophie was researching in hopes that she would figure out who was behind all the accidents because it surely couldn't had been Jenna (even though that girl has a knack for being at the wrong place at the wrong time)! There was a secret I wasn't expecting towards the end of the book and that just blew me away.

I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. I've heard so many great things about it over the last year and I've had my eye on it since its release. I have no idea why it took me so long to read it, it's definitely on my favorites list!

And, does anyone happen to know why there's a black cat on every cover? I was hoping it would be mentioned somewhere in the book... lol

Just before I could do something super lame like spread my arms wide and burst into the chorus of "Colors of the Wind," I heard a voice say, "Why aren't you in class?"

*BookDepository links to my affiliate page, support giveaways on this blog!

Waiting on Wednesday (17)

2011-10-19T12:23:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams

Release Date: January 3rd, 2012 by Simon & Schuster

S u m m a r y :

Seraphina’s first love made her immortal…her second might get her killed. Incarnation is a new series that introduces a fresh mythology perfect for fans of bestselling series like The Immortals by Alyson Noel and Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

After spending six hundred years on earth, Seraphina Ames has seen it all. Eternal life provides her with the world’s riches, but at a very high price: innocent lives. Centuries ago, her boyfriend, Cyrus, discovered a method of alchemy that allows them to swap bodies with other humans, jumping from one vessel to the next, taking the human’s life in the process. No longer able to bear the guilt of what she’s done, Sera escapes from Cyrus and vows to never kill again.

Then sixteen-year-old Kailey Morgan gets into a horrific car accident right in front of her, and Sera accidentally takes over her body. For the first time, Sera finds herself enjoying the life of the person she’s inhabiting—and falls for the human boy who lives next door. But Cyrus will stop at nothing until she’s his again, and every moment she stays, she’s putting herself and the people she’s grown to care for in great danger. Will Sera have to give up the one thing that’s eluded her for centuries: true love?

[ via Goodreads ]

Reason for waiting:

I'm all for novels having to do with immortals (that aren't vampires) and this sounds like a fresh new twist on immortals! And the idea of taking over bodies? That sounds interesting.

Review: Seers by Heather Frost

2011-10-18T11:51:00.000-07:00

Seers by Heather Frost
Release Date: October 4th, 2011 by Bonneville
Details: 330 pages, hardcover
Series: Book #1
Source: NetGalley (Thank you NetGalley & Bonneville!)
Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary (Goodreads)

For Kate Bennett, surviving the car wreck that killed her parents means big changes — and even bigger problems. As she begins to see auras and invisible people, Kate must learn to trust Patrick O'Donnell, a handsome Guardian, or risk her life being overrun with Demons. She soon realizes that both she and her heart are in big-time trouble.

Amazon || Goodreads || BookDepository*

o0.| My Thoughts |.0o

Seers is about a girl named Kate who survives an accident, but her parents don't. She's left living with her grandparents (which are the cutest things EVER) and her twin sisters. But that's not all, Kate can see auras and she has a best friend who knows this secret (I don't know how I would ever bring this up to another human being). She also has a boyfriend (who I personally think is a douchebag) and she's trying her best to get her life back on track.

Seers kinda feels like de ja vu, doesn't it? And at first I felt that way, until Patrick comes strolling in. Mysterious, handsome, what-the-heck-is-he-doing-here (because we met him in the first chapter) Patrick. But Patrick wasn't just mysterious in the fact that Kate didn't understand why he was there, but it's a mystery for the readers too because... what the heck happened to you Patrick?! Along with Patrick, you get Toni. Ah, Toni... misbehaved, hilarious and just *sigh*. I reallyyy liked Toni. He was the humor, and he's horrible at following rules.

Seers took me by complete surprised, I thought I was in for a familiar ride but I was wrong. Kate does a pretty good job of handling herself even though she doesn't really know what she's doing. The concept of the guardians was an intriguing one, just like Kate, I was eating up everything Patrick had to tell about his experience and what this all was. And Kate's grandpa? He totally kicks butt, I LOVE him! Finally a story where the adults are present and a pleasure to be around!

While I did love the characters and I really liked the plot, for some reason I didn't LOVE this novel. I really wanted to, but I just didn't. I am completely looking forward to the next novel though!

Media Monday: How Did We End Up Here by B44

2011-10-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

I don't have a review today, I haven't been running into much media lately but I have been replaying this particular song lately...

It reminds me or the AOL days. I spent a lot of time on AOL in high school, I still think the concept was pretty cool. You had everything you needed -- web browser, email, chat rooms, instant messaging... and I spent a lot of times in chat rooms. I made some really cool friends (that I'm honestly still really close friends with today) and had some really good times.

Winter and the holidays are around the corner and that's when I feel the biggest urges to play music like this (that were on my playlist in 2001 with Winamp, holla!) to remind me of all the cold nights I spent on AOL wrapped in my fleece blanket IM'ing and laughing the night away with my friends.

Do any of you have music that brings you back to times like that? What are they? :)

Friday Finds: RusticGoth on ETSY

2011-10-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

Friday Finds is a new weekly feature where I post things I find around the internet. I spend a lot of time aimlessly clicking around Goodreads, Amazon and Etsy so I thought I'd share some of the random things I find here with all of you :)

I don't usually buy art prints, mostly because I have nowhere to show them off when I'm at my parent's house but I couldn't resist shopping RusticGoth's Etsy shop. This is one of the prints that hooked me immediately! I'm a sucker for anything Wizard of Oz and I love her take on it. I've been eyeing her shop for almost a year now I believe and I always come back to her Wizard of Oz prints. So I finally gave in and bought one during one her many mark down sales last week. I'll definitely add it to my In My Mailbox when I finally get my print in.

She doesn't just have Wizard of Oz, there's a few Alice in Wonderland's and other art's.

Etsy (in case you haven't heard of it yet) is a great place to find handmade products. There's anything from jewelry to bath salts to fudge! It's also a great place to buy supplies for crafts and projects. I can literally spend hours on Etsy just searching random things and come up with some amazing shops!

Review: The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell

2011-10-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell
Release Date: Sept 6th, 2011 from HarperCollins
Details: 328 pages, hardcover
Series: No, but I'm hoping :)
Source: Amazon Vine (Thank you Amazon Vine!)
Rating: 5 out of 5!!
Summary (Goodreads):

Twelve princesses suffer from a puzzling (if silly) curse, and anyone who ends it will win a reward. Reveka, a sharp-witted and irreverent apprentice herbalist, wants that reward. But her investigations lead to deeper mysteries and a daunting choice—will she break the curse at the peril of her own soul?

Amazon || Goodreads || BookDepository*

o0.| My Thoughts |.0o

As with Breadcrumbs I was expecting a light fluffy read with The Princess Curse about mythology and retelling but again, that is not what I got. Reveka is a very young herbalist apprentice who dreams of having her own herbery. In order to do this, she sets off to break the curse to be rewarded. Even though Reveka is very young, she's had her own share of struggles which is what I think makes her so brave.

Reveka was a very refreshing character. For someone her age, she was very mature and sneaky! I loved that she had goals and she wouldn't let anyone stop her. She has a good and pure heart and even put in the situations she was put in, she still tried to see the best of everything. I really liked Lord Dragos and I wish we knew more about him. He didn't seem threatening or violent, just sad and lonely. Another character I wish we knew more about is Alethe. I absolutely was NOT a fan of Lacrimora. Every scene she was in was just... ugh!

It's hard to review this without giving too much away!

The Princess Curse is a wonderful weaved story of the Persephone/Hades myth and the Twelve Dancing Princesses. The descriptions of the Underworld were both beautiful and haunting as was the way the world works, how spirits are either locked in or wander around and how sometimes they vanish. I absolutely enjoyed this read and I enjoyed Reveka's journey and her determination to wake up the sleepers and save the Underworld. Even though this is suppose to be a middle grade/tween novel, it certainly didn't read like one.

The only thing I didn't like was the creepy scene where the sleepers would wake up and scream "Don't go!" when the princesses' light went out. Seriously, it had me checking my windows at night lol.

o0.| Favorite Quote |.0o

The Princess had spies? I was impressed. I wanted spies.

"Ridiculous boy can't keep his mouth closed," my master muttered. "Is he setting up housekeeping for moths?"

*BookDepository links to my affiliate page, support giveaways on this blog!

Review: Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

2011-10-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Release Date: August 1st, 2011 by Kensington
Details: 350 pages, paperback
Series: Mythos Academy #1
Source: Bought on my Nook
Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary (Goodreads):

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .

Amazon || Goodreads || BookDepository*

o0.| My Thoughts |.0o

Touch of Frost completely surprised me. I started off not really liking the book, mostly because all Gwen did was complain. About how she had no friends, about how her mom died, how much she hated her school, how she didn't believe anything going on... just everything. In my head I was chanting "shut up, shut up, shut up". Seriously, the girl annoyed me. It wasn't until after 100 pages that things started to pick up. I also liked how there wasn't this strong romance thing going on. I mean there was romance going on all around Gwen but not with Gwen herself which was a nice breath of fresh air! I love the scenes with Gwen and Logan the most, it's hard to explain but it kinda gives you this gooey feeling... in a good way!

I loved the characters! Daphne took awhile to warm up to, but you could tell she was a lot sweeter than she let people see. And Logan! Ohh Logan! He's definitely got that bad-boy-I-could-care-less swag going on but I'm really interested in getting to know him better, I'm a sucker for a legit bad boy with secrets. And can I just say Morgan totally got what was coming to her? And Jasmine? I'm usually not a fan of a mean girl but this girl gave me chills!

I'm a big fan of mythology. When I was younger I did nothing but read up on Greek Gods and Goddesses (and... stars... yeah, I was a nerd, so what?) so this aspect totally interested me. I wasn't a fan of the whole modern day myths and their scandalous stories, but you know... it kinda works. They're just like normal, stuck up, spoiled kids just with you know... the power to kill. It's kinda like Mean Girls meets Xena.

I'm really looking forward to what happens now that Dawn has seriously pissed off the evil and what's up with Logan.

*BookDepository links to my affiliate page, support giveaways on this blog!

Friday Finds: Creepy Cute Crochet

2011-10-07T12:21:00.000-07:00

Creepy Cute Crochet by Christen Haden

Goodreads || BookDepository*

I came across this book sometime last year or the year before that browsing the Amazon bargain link. I've always been curious about crochet and as a kid I would watch (and sometimes help) my grandma with whatever epic project she was working on and she made it look so easy!

When I moved back from Florida, I was running around Michaels looking for a new project to start and I was giving my husband anxiety from picking up too many different things (lol) so he went back to when I had first mentioned I wanted to learn crochet and convinced me to put everything back and focus on that. So I did and gosh it's hard!!

But I am determined to learn how to crochet and eventually make these cute little guys. It's always amazing to see a plushie completely crochet. There's a really talented girl on Etsy who makes Nintendo ones that are really good.

Do any of you crochet?

I'd love some beginner tips! My chains always end up looking uneven :(

*BookDepository links to my affiliate page, support giveaways on this blog!

Review: Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

2011-10-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
Release Date: September 27th, 2011 by HarperCollins
Details: 313 pages, hardcover
Series: No
Source: Amazon Vine (Thank you Amazon Vine!)
Rating: 5 out of 5
Summary (goodreads):

Once upon a time, Hazel and Jack were best friends. They had been best friends since they were six, spending hot Minneapolis summers and cold Minneapolis winters together, dreaming of Hogwarts and Oz, superheroes and baseball. Now that they were eleven, it was weird for a boy and a girl to be best friends. But they couldn't help it - Hazel and Jack fit, in that way you only read about in books. And they didn't fit anywhere else.

And then, one day, it was over. Jack just stopped talking to Hazel. And while her mom tried to tell her that this sometimes happens to boys and girls at this age, Hazel had read enough stories to know that it's never that simple. And it turns out, she was right. Jack's heart had been frozen, and he was taken into the woods by a woman dressed in white to live in a palace made of ice. Now, it's up to Hazel to venture into the woods after him. Hazel finds, however, that these woods are nothing like what she's read about, and the Jack that Hazel went in to save isn't the same Jack that will emerge. Or even the same Hazel. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," Breadcrumbs is a story of the struggle to hold on, and the things we leave behind.

Amazon || Goodreads || BookDepository

o0.| My Thoughts |.0o

I was expecting a pretty light and fluffy read since this was more a children's book than anything but, that is not what I got. Hazel frequently lets her imagination run wild and as a child, she shouldn't feel so out of place because of it. But she does. The only person who could ever understand is her best friend Jack, who's imagination also runs just as wild. I felt bad for the things Hazel had to go through and I felt frustrated when her mother wouldn't understand and I panicked right along with her when Jack disappeared.

The book has a bit of a slow start, but you do get the background stories for everyone involved. But once Hazel ventured out into the unknown in search of Jack, that's when things got really good. Stepping into a fairy tale forest should be enchanting, shouldn't it? For Hazel, it wasn't. It was horrible and confusing and scary. And nothing seemed to make sense! I admired her determination to find Jack and how hard she pushed herself even after knowing Jack might not want to come back.

I loved the references to many other fairy tales in this book and I loved the scary parts that made you think of the button eyed mom in Caroline.

And this might be a bit spoilery, but I also loved how the queen asked Jack if he'd like a Turkish Delight before whisking him away lol.

I've never read The Snow Queen and the only thing close to it I can imagine is Narnia but either way, I absolutely enjoyed this read and I enjoyed joining Hazel on her epic adventure!

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

2011-10-05T13:09:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Hushed by Kelley York

Release Date: December 6th, 2011 by Entangled Publishing

S u m m a r y :

He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her.

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

[ via Goodreads ]

Reason for waiting:

This sounds like some messed up stuff. I already don't like this Vivian character but I'm so curious to see just how much more I can not like her. And Archer, what's his deal? And how will he get Vivian to back off? Ooh, sounds suspenseful!

Review: The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

2011-10-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle
Release Date: Sept 6th, 2011 by HarperTeen
Details: 432 pages, hardcover
Series: Stand alone
Source: Publisher (Thank you HarperTeen!)
Summary (Goodreads):

Anyone who’s had something truly crappy happen to them will tell you: It’s all about Before and After. What I’m talking about here is the ka-pow, shake-you-to-your-core-and-turn-your-bones-to-plastic kind of crappy.

Sixteen-year-old Laurel’s world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel’s life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss—a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.

Amazon || Goodreads || BookDepository

o0.| My Thoughts |.0o

The Beginning of After is a slow paced novel that follows Laurel and her coming to terms with the loss of her family.

Laurel was easy to like. She's ambitious, she has a great and supportive family, and she's a good person. We don't get to spend much time with her family and getting to know them before the accident, but we do get to know them through Laurel and how she remembers them. Castle does a great job of making you feel the grief that Laurel felt every time something reminded her of her parents or her brother and you couldn't help but just ache with her.

I don't really know how to feel about David, I get that he's suffering too, just in his own way but what he said to Laurel after prom was just... wrong. But at the same time I couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy too.

Every scene with Masher got me. I'm such a sucker for dogs in books.

There's not much else to say without giving away the story, but it's a great read about a girl who goes through a traumatic experience and how she heals.

Media Monday: Castle Crashers

2011-10-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

Media Monday is a new weekly feature I'm trying out. It use to be called Monday Movie Review but I found that I would like to review other things like TV shows and from time to time video games (even though has almost nothing to do with books, but I really want to share this week's with you)!

Castle Crashers is a cute little video game available for Xbox360 and through the Playstation Network. My husband is always on the look out for cute video games like this that he think I might like so we'll have a game to play together.

He totally won with this one!

You start off at a level that isn't too hard and complicated. Some of the boss fights can be a little tricky like the ice man since you're sliding all over the place because the palace is made of ice or the final boss because he just doesn't die but other than that, it's a pretty easy game that shouldn't take too much effort. It also features real time battles which I really like. I'm not a fan of the Final Fantasy type battles where you don't actually see if you your opponent or not.

Through every stage, you find pets that assist you in something. My favorite is the giraffe because he helps boost my experience. Another one I like is my husband's eagle who helps you find food. There are plenty of different pets to find that help you do plenty of different things.

There are also a lot of different characters to unlock, it's always fun to see which one you unlocked and to see what their power is. Mine is the blue one and he deals with ice mostly. My husband is currently using one that looks like an opponent who has the power to throw buzz saws.

If you're looking for a mini game to play, I would suggest Castle Crashers. I have to warn you, it can get a bit addicting :)

*Images were found via Google

In My Mailbox (38)

2011-10-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren!

FOR REViEW:

In The Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton (Thank you Kersten!)
I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler (Thank you Sourcebooks!)
If I Tell by Janet Gurtler (Thank you Sourcebooks!)
The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell (Thank you Amazon Vine!)
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (Thank you Amazon Vine!)

BOUGHT:

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

What did you get in your mailbox?

Seasonal Event: Halloween 2011!

2011-10-01T12:01:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again! Halloween! I'm excited it's finally going to cool down and all the pretty autumn things are near like the changing of leaves, the smell of earthy candles, cold nights (perfect for snuggling under a blanket and reading), limited edition caramel apple EVERYTHING, Halloween candy and being one step closer to the holidays :)! Last year I gave myself a Halloween challenge and I plan on doing the same this year. Hopefully I'll get through more than I did last year!

The Mediator by Meg Cabot
~~Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins~~
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
Unnaturally Green by Felicia Ricci
The Brightest Kind of Darkness by P.T. Michelle
~~Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep~~
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Dark Souls by Paula Morris
Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter
~~Seers by Heather Frost~~
The Secret Circle by L.J. Smith
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

So that's my list for this year! At the end of the month I might be doing a little giveaway, we'll see (:

I would love for you all to join me! Are you planning on doing a challenge? If you are, let me know what books you're planning on reading!

It's Banned Book Week!

2011-09-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

Banned Book Week, yay!

A week every year that we focus on books that have either been challenged or banned. Last year I was really into it and gave away 3 books. Last year we all did SPEAK LOUDLY and I still believe in that. I wish I had more time to hold another giveaway this year or to read more challenged books, but this year life got in the way. I am however, giving in and reading Harry Potter because I haven't (but I've been to Harry Potter World and loved it) and what better time than now to do it?

I appreciate that these days a lot of books in the Young Adult genre are things that are controversial and subjects that weren't always talked about. I'd like to think that the Young Adult genre is becoming more open minded about subjects. But of course, not everyone is going to share this opinion. Unfortunately there are still some people that think that some subjects shouldn't be talked about, shouldn't be discussed. That if we just ignore it, it'll somehow prevent it from happening. And that's not true. I think that if it's ignored, it is more likely to happen and not only will those victims feel lost but they will have nowhere to turn.

So in honor of Banned Book Week, enjoy the freedom to SPEAK LOUDLY and the freedom to read whatever you want!

Review: Tackling Tumblr by Thord Daniel Hedengren

2011-09-29T12:08:00.000-07:00

Tackling Tumblr by Thord Daniel Hedengren
Release Date: September 13th, 2011 by Wiley, John & Sons inc
Details: 288 pages, paperback
Source: Amazon Vine (Thank you Amazon Vine!)
Summary (goodreads):

You'll learn how to maximize the full potential of this amazing blogging and lifestreaming platform as you create your first post, make your Tumblr blog unique, create your own custom themes, and more.

Introduces you to the exciting world of Tumblr, the popular web publishing platform
Walks you through posting quotes, links, photos, audio, and more
Addresses finding and installing themes, using a comment system on your Tumblr site, and integrating third-party content
Demonstrates how to create your own custom theme, network in the Tumblr community, and modify your Tumblr themes with HTML and CSS
Explains ways to integrate Tumblr with other services, including Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr

Amazon || Goodreads

o0.| My Thoughts |.0o

Tackling Tumbler does a good job of explaining every step of starting your own Tumblr account. It also spends a chapter explaining all the different theme's available, which is exactly what I was hoping for! But for someone like me who is familiar with setting up a Tumblr account, the beginning chapters weren't things that were new information.

What I really liked about this book was that the last few chapters were dedicated to explaining step by step how to build your own theme. Tackling Tumblr does a good job of explaining CSS, even for CSS beginners like me!

If you're looking for a good resource book about starting your own Tumblr, I would definitely give this one a try.

Waiting on Wednesday (15)

2011-09-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Release Date: September 29th, 2011 by Dutton

S u m m a r y :

[ via Goodreads ]

Reason for waiting:

Do I really need to state a reason?

Anna and the French Kiss is one of the BEST books I've EVER read so of course I'm excited for Stephanie's newest novel! That and it takes place in San Francisco (where I'm from), what' s there not to be excited about??

Review: Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

2011-09-27T12:51:00.000-07:00

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey
Release Date: September 20th, 2011 by HarperTeen
Details: 336 pages, hardcover
Series: No
Source: NetGalley (Thank you Netgalley and HarperTeen!)
Summary (goodreads):

When her boyfriend, Danny, is killed in a car accident, Wren can’t imagine living without him. Wild with grief, she uses the untamed powers she’s inherited to bring him back. But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy she once loved.

Wren has spent four months keeping Danny hidden, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school and somehow, inexplicably, he can sense her secret. Wren finds herself drawn to Gabriel, who is so much more alive than the ghost of the boy she loved. But Wren can’t turn her back on Danny or the choice she made for him—and she realizes she must find a way to make things right, even if it means breaking her own heart.

Amazon || Goodreads

o0.| My Thoughts |.0o

Cold Kiss was one of the titles I was excited to read this summer but... it wasn't at all what I thought it would be.

Being my first actual zombie book I didn't really know what to expect. The story starts off with Danny already being back and Wren unsure about her actions. It was a little confusing to understand, I guess I expected it to start off after his accident or something. You get a peak of who Danny use to be but I didn't feel like that was enough. Wren reflected on the things he did not so much who he was. As for Wren, I liked her as a character and I felt for her during the times she struggled with what she did. There was a bit of a paranormal aspect thrown in but you don't get any explanation as to what it is or anything about it. Wren herself doesn't know a thing about it either, just that she has it. Her mom keeps it a secret and never really reveals anything through out the whole book, which bugged me. Gabriel comes out of nowhere and somehow he "knows her secret". The romance between Gabriel and Wren kinda left me with "wtf?!" it just seemed so rushed. But I will admit, I did like Gabriel's character.

The suspense of wondering what Wren will do kept me turning the pages, and I do think that this is a heartfelt book about loss but other than that, there wasn't much else. Half the time I didn't really understand where the story was going.

Waiting on Wednesday (14)

2011-09-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Oz: Ozma of Oz by Eric Shanowner, Skottie Young

Release Date: September 21st, 2011 by Marvel Enterprises

S u m m a r y :

Dorothy Gale plunges into adventure again, this time with a talking chicken named Billina. Dorothy and Billina are washed off their sailing ship to face drowning, starvation, and screaming Wheelers, strange men with wheels instead of hands and feet. The multiple Eisner Award-winning and New York Times bestselling team of Shanower and Young returns to Oz with this comics adaptation of L. Frank Baum's third Oz book.

[ via Goodreads ]

Reason for waiting:

Ozma of Oz is the third graphic novel in the Oz comic book series. I collected all of the comic books for the first series before I realized they were coming out with the hardcover graphic novel. So after that I just started waiting for the graphic novels. The comics are really hard to find once the month is over anyway.

Plus Ozma is a character you don't really hear much about... unless you've watched Return to Oz.

A bit of a change...

2011-09-13T18:34:00.000-07:00

I was scrolling through free read on my Nook earlier and I found some really interesting free/$.99 ones that picked up.

I know that this is my blog and I can post whatever I want on it but... I don't know, every time I post an erotica book review, I always feel like the young adult reviews kinda glare at it, like it doesn't belong here. Does that make sense? And while I don't want to make a whole other blog just for erotica reviews, I don't really feel writing posting them here either. I've thought about making it known in the blog title and maybe cutting the page so that you can easily scroll passed it if you want, but... ah, I don't know. On the other hand, maybe making a whole new blog for just romance and erotica wouldn't be such a bad idea either.

What do you guys think?

In My Mailbox (37)

2011-09-12T22:47:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren!

I was hoping to make a video this week buuuuuuuuuut since I'm in the middle of unpacking, my room is a bit of a mess, so hopefully I get everything put away so I can go back to making videos! So this week, you get pictures, yay!

FOR REVIEW:

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa (Thank you HarlequinTeen!)
The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle (Thank you HarperTeen!)
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu (Thank you Amazon Vine!)
Tackling Tumblr by Thord Daniel Hedengren (Thank you Amazon Vine!)

BOUGHT:

Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern
Hatter by Daniel Coleman
Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

NETGALLEY:

Eve by Anna Carey
You Are My Only by Beth Kephart
Saving June by Hannah Harrington
Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten! by Trisha Speed Shaskan

These aren't all the books I've gotten since my last IMM, but the ones I got while in Florida are still packed away in boxes and luggage and just everywhere! Haha. So when I find them, I'll probably break them up into different IMM's cause there's just wayyyy too many of them!

So, what did you get in your mailbox?

Review: Illusions by Aprilynne Pike

2011-09-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

Illusions by Aprilynne Pike
Release Date: May 3rd, 2011 by HarperTeen
Details: 375 pages, hardcover
Series: Book #3 in the Wings Series
Source: Bought from Amazon.com
Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary (goodreads):

Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.

But just as life is returning to normal, Laurel discovers that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail.

Amazon || Goodreads

o0.| My Thoughts |.0o

Illusions takes place right after Spells with Tamani deciding to take matters into his own hands.

There was a good amount of action in this book just like with the others except this time there's something iffy going on and Tamani is determined to find out what it is. The chapters alternated views between Laurel and Tamani and I loved that. A peak inside Tam's mind? Yes please! There's still an endless war between David and Tam (and I don't see why Laurel doesn't just get over it and admit that she should be with Tam!) and it gets pretty hot and heavy in this book!

I don't know what to make of Yuki and sometimes I don't even know what to make of Chelsea. The ending of this books leave us with a big huge cliffhanger. And I can not wait to see what happens in the next book!

Sorry this review is a lot shorter than my usual ones, I read this months ago and just now got around to reviewing it. But I did enjoy this addition to the series!

Waiting on Wednesday (13)

2011-09-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Every you, Every me by David Levithan

Release Date: September 13th, 2011 by Knopf Books

S u m m a r y :

In this high school-set psychological tale, a tormented teen named Evan starts to discover a series of unnerving photographs—some of which feature him. Someone is stalking him . . . messing with him . . . threatening him. Worse, ever since his best friend Ariel has been gone, he's been unable to sleep, spending night after night torturing himself for his role in her absence. And as crazy as it sounds, Evan's starting to believe it's Ariel that's behind all of this, punishing him. But the more Evan starts to unravel the mystery, the more his paranoia and insomnia amplify, and the more he starts to unravel himself. Creatively told with black-and-white photos interspersed between the text so the reader can see the photos that are so unnerving to Evan, Every You, Every Me is a one-of-a-kind departure from a one-of-a-kind author.

[ via Goodreads ]

Reason for waiting:

Wow. Just, wow. Sounds incredibly interesting. But as much as I like my thrillers, I don't know how I'd feel about pictures in the book. I'm sure it'll help to understand the story but I'm sure I'll be one of those people who skip the pictures, somehow lol!

Review: Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

2011-09-06T12:36:00.000-07:00

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
Release Date: June 28th, 2011 by Simon Pulse
Details: 454 pages, hardcover
Series: No
Source: S&S Galley Grab (Thank you S&S!)
Rating: 5 out of 5
Summary (goodreads):

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.

Amazon || Goodreads

o0.| My Thoughts |.0o

When people said this novel was emotional and heartbreaking, I couldn't imagine why. The idea of what it's based on is so taboo and on all sorts of level's of wrong. Yes, I admit, I went in with a very closed mind.

And I was wrong.

Though the idea is wrong and taboo, you can't help but find yourself cheering Lochan and Maya on. You can't help but find yourself wishing there was a way that they could be together and that they could celebrate their love openly and how unfair it is for them. Forbidden will grab at your heart and tug.

Of all the characters, I loved Lochan the most. He's so much stronger than he gave himself credit for. Selfless, protective, caring, he cared for his siblings even though he didn't have to. If anything happened to any of his siblings he would be there, in a heartbeat. The way an older brother should be. You could tell just how much he loved and cared for his family. He protected Maya the only way he knew how and there are no words that could express just how selfless and amazing that is. I wish he had a happier ending, because he definitely deserved one.

Of all the characters, I hated their mother the most. When one of the kids where hurt, she didn't bother to stop by or check up on them. When she did stop by the house, she would complain about spending time with her own children. It was sickening. How could someone treat their own children so cruel? How could someone really care that less about their own babies? She literally made me sick. She should be ashamed of herself, leaving all that responsibility to Lochan and then having the nerve to talk bad about him when her own mental state is fucked up. At least his father went places instead of hiding behind powerful people! Oh dear goodness she made me so angry! And how dare she try to protect Maya from Lochan, how dare she NOW care. I'm sure the only reason why she did was because it would serve her some attention too. Freakin attention whore. God I hate her!

Don't let the premise of the novel drive you away from reading this novel. It's an epic story about a messed up family trying to get by, a taboo but beautiful love and the sacrifices that sometimes just happen. It's a story I guarantee you will never forget.

P.S. Is it just me or did anyone else think that the book ended a little suddenly? Or did I miss something?

TV: Once Upon A Time

2011-09-03T18:34:00.000-07:00

I recently came across this post from The Norwegian Book Girl. There are SO many new shows coming out this Fall and it's surprising! I haven't watched TV in awhile... maybe since '09? I mean I catch up with Glee every now and then online and I catch up with Gossip Girl when the new DVD's hit the black friday sales (lol) but I don't actually sit down and watch TV like I use to. It's kind of sad...

I keep telling myself I'll watch Pretty Little Liars but I never get around to it, I caught an ending glimpse of it once in the break room at work, but that's about it :\. I'm excited for The Lying Game, though I need to read the book first (and how crazy is it that this book just came out and it already has a TV show?!). I'm also excited for The Secret Circle.

But the one I'm most excited for is Once Upon A Time.

Based on fairytales with a twist! I'm excited to see where this will go. What really caught my attention was a promo picture they had for Snow White. Ooh!

What Fall TV shows are you excited for? Do any of you still watch TV as much as you use to?

Review: But I Love Him by Amanda Grace

2011-09-01T08:51:00.001-07:00

But I Love Him by Amanda Grace
Release Date: May 8th, 2011 by Flux
Details: 245 pages, paperback
Series: No
Source: Bought through Amazon.com
Rating: 5 out of 5
Summary (goodreads):

Tonight was so much worse than anything before it. Tonight he didn't stop after the first slap.

At the beginning of senior year, Ann was a smiling, straight-A student and track star with friends and a future. Then she met a haunted young man named Connor. Only she can heal his emotional scars; only he could make her feel so loved — and needed. Ann can't recall the pivotal moment it all changed, when she surrendered everything to be with him, but by graduation, her life has become a dangerous high wire act. Just one mistake could trigger Connor's rage, a senseless storm of cruel words and violence damaging everything — and everyone — in its path.

This evocative slideshow of flashbacks reveals a heartbreaking story of love gone terribly wrong.

Amazon || Goodreads

o0.|| My Thoughts ||.0o

After reading Stay by Deb Caletti I didn't think I was ready to handle another book on abusive relationships so quickly. I didn't think I had the strength to get so emotionally involved in a another intense book. But I picked it up anyway and I devoured it.

But I Love Him is told in reverse order (I know everyone's mentioned this in their reviews, but trust me, it's important) and in between certain dates, we get a glimpse of the present, where Ann is laying bleeding and broken on the floor.

I'll admit, at first this reverse order stuff confused me. I was constantly flipping back pages just to make sure I wasn't... I don't know. I don't know what I was thinking but let's just leave it as for awhile, I was confused. After the first 50 pages it starts to make sense and everything starts to pick up. I agree that an opening like the one this book has definitely grabs you. You want to know why Ann is broken on the floor. You want to know why she let it get this far and you want to know if she'll get revenge on Conner. No? Was it just me? It couldn't had just me who thought that!

As the story unfolds or folds or whatever it's doing, you start to see the insane parts of their relationship first but you also feel the struggle that Ann has to deal with. Why she feels the need to stay when she knows deep down inside Conner can't be saved. But it's not told in an annoying-she's-so-stupid way. You can feel her concern, her panic and her hope for him. The thing that sets this book about this subject apart from all the others is the detail, the detail and being right there with the character. While all the other books based on abusive relationships take place after the relationship, this one pulls you right in there with Ann from the very first page.

Amanda Grace stated in an interview in the back of the book that she wanted to show that Conner wasn't a bad guy, just a broken one and I think she achieved that. In the beginning of the book I hated Conner, to witness what was going on was sickening and stupid but towards the end when you start to see the good sides of Conner you can't help but just feel bad for him. He never asked for this life or this responsibility. But it still doesn't give him the right to take it out on Ann.

Abusive relationships are like that; full of fun and butterflies and intensity in the beginning then the next thing you know you're spiraling out of control and you don't know when everything started going wrong. I love that there are so many YA titles being released this year based on abusive relationships, I think this is an issue that hasn't been focused on that really needs to be.