Thursday, February 28, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

I started reading Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler yesterday and finished it a few minutes ago. And I have to admit that I truly enjoyed reading this. Probably more than Twenty Boy Summer since that one had sad undertones beneath its awesome exterior. Anyway, the novel's main protagonist is called Hudson and the entire novel is told in her POV.

I do have to admit something here, the cover is what sealed the deal for me to get this book. Yes, I am a sucker for cute covers. Anyway, I really liked Hudson for some reason. I felt really bad for though since she gave up and is constantly giving up a lot of things because she wanted to make sure everyone around her was happy. No one even bothered to ask her what she wanted and when she suddenly decided to go after what she wants almost everyone around her decides that she's just being selfish. Anyway, I just felt bad for her. I didn't really like her mom that much since I felt like she kept on dictating what she should and should not do and didn't even bother to ask her daughter what she wanted. And don't get me started on her best friend, Dani, who was just so jealous of her and suddenly decided to drop dead on their so called friendship. Other than that I really  liked the novel and Hudson.

Moving on to the two boys in her life, Will and Josh. My head spun around these two. I really liked them both and I think both of them were kinda' good for Hudson even if one of them had a hidden agenda but other than that I think Will and Josh helped her grow. I especially liked her interactions with Josh. Obviously, I'm on Josh's side at this point. I don't know. There's just something about him and Hudson that just pulled  me in. They made me feel  giddy with their subtle flirting or whatever it is that you'd want to call it.

Overall, I am so glad that I had this book reserved at Fullybooked. It was definitely worth reading. I enjoyed every bit of it even if I didn't really connect with some of the characters. And that's probably because I disliked them quite a bit. I really liked Hudson's little brother, Bug. He was just so adorable and he's very smart too for his  age. Kara, Hudson's ex-best friend confused me at the beginning but I really started to warm up to her towards the end. She meant well it's just that Hudson never really gave her a chance. I think that's the problem with Hudson though. she refuses to let other people explain. I think she prefers hiding rather than facing the truth head on. Anyway, the writing style is awesome, no dull moments whatsoever and cutesy cupcake references at the beginning of each chapter just made my mouth water. I'd probably try making some of those right now. Honestly, I judged this book by its cover and I'm so glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's a fun, quirky and light read that I wouldn't mind reading again and again.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

COVER REVEAL: WAIT FOR YOU BY JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT



What do early readers have to say about WAIT FOR YOU?
“J. Lynn creates a wonderful cast of characters that will make you laugh, swoon, and cry. Cam stole my heart.” – Cora Carmack, NYTimes and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of LOSING IT

“For the love of all that is Cameron without a shirt on! Wait for You will have you laughing out loud, fanning yourself and anxiously waiting to know what will happen next.” – Molly McAdams, NYTimes and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of FROM ASHES and TAKING CHANCES

“I don't think I have ever read a NA Contemporary novel with as much depth as this one. It really moved me and by the end I was just speechless over how inspirational and uplifting it was as well as being sexy and cute and funny and emotional.” - K Books

“Wait For You is uniquely different from anything else J. Lynn's written but it might possibly be her best work yet.” – Jenuine Cupcakes

“For all of you in love with Aiden and Daemon, PREPARE YOURSELVES! Your heart will have to expand a little more for Cam.” Total Bookaholic

“For the love of all things CAM, this book deserves more than 5 stars.” – Mundie Moms

“I cannot even begin to explain how much I adored this perfectly crafted contemporary.” – Shortie Says

Excited? Ready to see the cover for WAIT FOR YOU? 


Synopsis

Some things are worth waiting for…

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn't need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing…

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet…

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?
And some things are worth fighting for…

WAIT FOR YOU is available now!





J. Lynn, also known as Jennifer L. Armentrout, is the USA TODAY Bestselling author of the adult romance Gamble Brothers’ series, the young adult Lux Series and award winning Covenant Series. She pretty much writes everything—contemporary, paranormal, and fantasy. All of her books have one thing in common no matter the name or genre: kissing… and stuff. When she’s not busy writing, which is never, she’s usually hanging out with dog Loki, watching reruns of The Walking Dead, or procrastinating on the Internet. You can find out more about Jennifer by visiting the following websites:







Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday #12

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger’s most anticipated books.



SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS:

First she lost her heart. Then she lost her mind. And now she’s on a road trip to win back her ex. This debut novel’s packed with drama and romance!Rosie’s always been impulsive. She didn’t intend to set her cheating ex-boyfriend’s car on fire. And she never thought her attempts to make amends could be considered stalking. So when she’s served with a temporary restraining order on the first day of summer vacation, she’s heartbroken—and furious.



To put distance between Rosie and her ex, Rosie’s parents send her on a cross-country road trip with responsible, reliable neighbor Matty and his two friends. Forget freedom of the road, Rosie wants to hitchhike home and win back her ex. But her determination starts to dwindle with each passing mile. Because Rosie’s spark of anger? It may have just ignited a romance with someone new…

Expected Date of Publication: May 7th 2013 by Simon Pulse

WHY I CAN’T WAIT 

For some reason, stories about ex's appeal to me. And this seems to be interesting. I haven't really read any of the authors books but I'm willing to try. :)

BOOK REVIEW: Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

I finished reading Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler a few hours ago. This is meant to be part of my usual contemporary reads after reading a bunch of dystopians or paranormals. I usually shift to contemporary so as not to get tired of reading the same genre again and again. Anyway, I've heard great things about this novel and so I had it and Bittersweet reserved for me at FullyBooked.

I won't go into the summary of the story since I might just end up spoiling the entire novel but I just have to mention that it's about three friends. A boy called Matt, his sister, Frankie and Anna, their next door neighbor. Anyway, Matt and Anna sort of had a relationship but just when he was about to tell Frankie about it he dies. Anyway, I really liked Anna. For some reason, I liked the fact that she tried her very best to be strong for everyone especially Frankie. She's definitely a friend worth keeping. Her loyalty towards Matt and Frankie was definitely something that I admired. I really liked her for being an awesome friend even if Frankie did something cruel. Anyway, she's possibly one of those strong characters throughout the novel. And frankly, I just wanted to be there for her since no one seemed to even bother to ask her whether she's okay or not. Everyone just assumed that she was and she never complained or anything.

Then there's Frankie. To be totally honest, I found Frankie to be very superficial. I know for a fact that she was just trying to cope with her loss but she just seemed superficial to me. I really wanted to strangle her when she did what she did to Anna. Personally, I think Anna deserved someone better than her but alas, Anna is such an awesome person and I guess friendship really does prevail most of the time.

I really enjoyed reading this.  I thought I was going to get tired of it at some point but I never did. I really liked most of the characters. Matt and Frankie's parents, Red and Jayne, were probably two of my favorite characters in the novel. I really liked how perceptive Jayne was. Somehow, she always knew when something was up. And as for the Twenty Boy Summer title, it's titled as such because of the dare between Anna and Frankie. There were two constant boys throughout the novel though, Sam and Jake. I really liked Sam. I think he's an awesome listener and is probably the only person who even bothered to ask whether Anna is okay or not. Anyway, I think I devoured this novel. I thought it was going to be one of those sappy teen love novels but apparently it is something more. It made me cry. It made  me laugh. And for some reason it made me think that life is too short for us to let every opportunity pass us by. It was about letting go, moving forward and friendship. Anyway, I'd definitely recommend this to everyone.

RATING: 4.5/5 STARS

Monday, February 25, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: Sever (The Chemical Garden Trilogy #3) by Lauren DeStefano

I've been waiting for Sever for an entire year now and I'm so glad I finally got myself a copy. To be honest, I didn't like Fever as much as I liked Wither. But not enough for me to not read the last book so as soon as I found a copy I got it for myself. Anyway, the story picks up a few weeks after the second novel. I really enjoyed reading this one. I think I experienced Middle Book Syndrome in Fever and that's probably the reason why I didn't enjoy it as much.

I have to admit that this is now my favorite in the series. I think this is the an awesome conclusion to Rhine's journey throughout the series. I think she did a lot of growing up as the story progressed. I really liked her more. I love the fact that for some reason her affection for both Linden and Gabriel did not waver. I still liked Linden for her more though. The mysteries surrounding everyone were somehow answered. Though I still don't get the connection of the heterochromia to the cure but whatever. If you don't look at it in a medical student, nurse or geneticist's POV then I guess it won't even mean that much. Anyway, I can't say much about Rhine or everyone else for that matter without spoiling anything but I can assure you that I loved Rhine. A lot. I loved the tender moments between her, Linden and everyone else for that matter.

My love for Linden knows no bounds. Honestly, I really prefer him over Gabriel. I just love his innocence but I think I loved him more when he finally stood up to his father. He was emotionally  broken and yet he tried to be strong for his wives. Anyway, my heart just broke when he... Not saying anything because it will definitely spoil the book. I think it was one of the most heartbreaking events in the entire novel.

And lastly, the appearance of Rhine's twin, Rowan. For some reason, I still don't know what to say about him. I'm kinda' in the middle between like and dislike towards him. I was expecting someone who wasn't easily manipulated but for some reason Vaughn just had him. 

Overall, I think this is an awesome conclusion to the entire series. I think everyone got the ending that they deserved as far as I'm concerned. This isn't exactly one of those action packed series with a kick ass heroine but I did enjoy it. It's  more on the drama and sci-fi side though. I loved the tender moments between the characters especially  Linden and his wives, Rhine and Cecily. I love how protective he's become and that he's finally learned how to step up to his father. I also liked Reed, Vaughn's eccentric brother, who helped everyone until the very end. Anyway, for me this deserves a 5/5 star rating since it was just an awesome conclusion to the entire series.

BOOK REVIEW: Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi

I finally got around to posting my review on Unravel Me. I finished reading this a few days ago but was just too lazy to actually post something. Plus, I needed the story to sink in. It was truly awesome. Everything that happened, the revelations it was truly a work of art. Anyway, again the novel is told in Juliette's POV and picks up a few weeks after the events from the first book.

I have to be honest here. Juliette kinda' annoyed me in this installment. I wanted to strangle her the entire time. I missed the old Juliette. She was mopey, selfish, childish and just full of negativity that I just wanted to smack her  for  some reason. It's either she contemplated on how miserable her entire life is or cry. I seriously wanted her to grow up and she doesn't even bother to think of the consequences of her actions. Honestly, the only thing she's ever thought of was me, myself and I. I think her pessimism kinda' got old as the story progressed and I just wanted her to grow up and think that the world does not revolve around her. And the fact that she couldn't make up her mind with regards to who she really wants. She craves physical attention and I understand that but I think she could have handled things differently.

Moving on to Adam, well, Adam is still Adam and I think he's still pretty cool. He was just a bit mopey for some reason but will get to why he is the way he is at some point. Or not. Might end up spoiling the story so I'll think about it. But anyway, I still like Adam since he seems more level-headed than Juliette even if he was a bit mopey. And the revelations and everything. He handled it pretty well considering how big those revelations were.

Lastly, there's Warner. After reading Destroy Me which is told in Warner's POV I think I came to love or at least understand Warner a bit more. I think he's just a lonely boy who is misunderstood and needs to be loved. For some reason, I sorta fell for Warner in this one. I think he seemed  more human and a human who values life for some reason. He was still mean though so yeah, still on Adam's side at this point.

Don't get me wrong. Despite the fact that I've said  some negative things regarding our heroine I still think this book is awesome. I think Juliette is the only person that kinda' pissed me off for  some reason. I liked all of the characters especially Kenji. He had a bigger role in this installment and I think he's the only one who actually told Juliette to suck it up because the world doesn't revolve around you. I really loved him for some reason. Overall, the writing is as awesome as ever. The surprises and revelations just kept on coming. I was hooked. I didn't want to put it down. It was action packed and fast paced. I didn't even realize that I was already done with it in a few hours. And that cliffhanger at the end. I need the third book now. I just hope Juliette does grow up by the time the third book comes out.

RATING: 4/5 stars 

PS: The only reason I'm giving it 4/5 stars is because of Juliette.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Stacking the Shelves #12

Stacking the Shelves is a new meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews, which is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Got a couple of books this week. Sorry! I'm just too lazy to post anything lately.


Sever (The Chemical Garden Trilogy #3) by Lauren DeStefano

Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi

I've already finished reading Unravel Me and I'm currently reading Sever. I will post a review when I'm not that lazy anymore. Haha.
Got these earlier today.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

What did you guys get this week?

Monday, February 18, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: Everneath (Everneath #1) + Neverfall (Everneath #1.5) by Brodi Ashton

Everneath (Everneath #1) by Brodi Ashton

Technically, I've read the ebook version of Everneath by Brodi Ashton last year. So, this would be my second time reading this novel since my partner in crime, Cathy, gave me a paperback of it for Christmas. And so, I decided to re-read it again in preparation for its sequel Everbound.
My love for this book has no bounds. Honestly, I would never get tired of reading this novel and I am so glad that my friend actually got it for me. I would have bought it myself but she gave it to me anyway so Yey! Again, the ending simply broke my heart. I think Jack and Nikki's love is truly an epic one. Anyway, I wouldn't delve into this further since my thoughts regarding this book hasn't changed. Here's my original review of the novel.

RATING: 5/5 stars

Neverfall (Everneath #1.5) by Brodi Ashton
As  some of you might know I'm a sucker for novellas especially of novels that I liked.  And since Ms. Ashton released a novella told in Cole's POV then definitely decided to read it just to fill in the gaps before I star Everbound. The novella is called Neverfall and sadly it's only available as an ebook. Not that I have anything against ebooks. I just prefer reading actual books instead of the usual e-readers or in my case iBooks.

For some reason the novella made me like Cole more. I think reading through his voice just made him seem more human. And I think as much as he tries to deny that he has feelings I'm positive that he has now. I think he'd do anything for Nikki even if he taunts her every now and then. I really felt his pain as I  read this. I also liked the loyalty of his friends towards him. And his soft spot was just to die for. He made me feel giddy and I think I fell in love a little with our resident "Mean Guy". The glimpses of his humanity turned me to mush for some reason. 

Neverfall is a really short novella which made it really easy to read but for some reason it made me feel like I was reading an actual novel. Seriously, I think it was well-written for a novella. I really liked the rare display of Cole's humanity and his love for his band mates and Nikki. Anyway, I think this is an awesome bridge for Everbound. I'm currently reading it btw.

RATING: 4/5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: The Royal Treatment (Princess for Hire #2) by Lindsey Leavitt

Yesterday and today I got a lot of reading done. I managed to finish two books and one novella and I'm currently reading another one. So yeah, I'll be posting three reviews tonight. I'll be starting with The Royal Treatment (Princess for Hire #2) by Lindsey Leavitt though. This book is just adorable! I know its target population are the middle grade readers but seriously this novel is just ADORBS! I've read the first one in the series last year and I absolutely loved it. Anyway, this is again told in Desi Bascomb's POV.

To start with, I think Desi matured in this novel even if she's still a kid in more ways than one. I think she understood her magic more as the story went on. I also loved the fact that she's learned how to trust her instincts and yet be empathic towards her clients and friends alike. I liked Desi more in this sequel since she really did a lot of growing up. I felt really bad for her though during the last part since her supposedly "mentor" and client left her hanging when things got rough. In the end, I think her experience from that job made her a better person.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It has been compared a couple of times to The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot. I haven't exactly read that one yet but I've seen the movie so yeah, I could definitely say that there are some similarities. This is definitely a quick read that would be enjoyed by kids in middle school. The entire book is quite easy to understand. No complicated sentences at all. It's definitely the type of material that you could just breeze through. Something you should pick up when you just want to relax and laugh. Overall, I really enjoyed this more than the first one since this had a lot of surprises especially towards the end. One word to best describe this would be CUTE!

RATING: 5/5 stars

Saturday, February 16, 2013

NOVELLA REVIEW: Elixir (Covenant #3.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I've put Elixir on hold a month ago when I finished reading Deity because I wanted to read this as soon as I get my hands on Apollyon. Unfortunately, I've been having Aiden St. Delphi withdrawals so I needed my dose of Aiden for the time being. Haha. Anyway, I've been really excited to read this the moment I got my hands on it since it is told in Aiden's POV and yeah, wouldn't that be so awesome?

This is only a novella by the way so it's quite short but I can assure you that this is just as awesome as the novels. I think I fell in love a bit more with Aiden if that is even possible. It was actually a bit difficult for me to read this since it shows the torments and pain that Aiden has been experiencing during that time. I really wanted to give him a hug since he was just so miserable. Don't get me wrong, I did like this novella quite a lot and I'm glad I got the paperback but it was just so hard for  me to read this because of everything that he and Alex had to go through. I did like his relationship with Deacon more in this novella. I really liked the fact that for some reason they were more open to each other during this time. Anyhow, I don't want to spoil Elixir for anyone who hasn't read this yet but yeah, it's a MUST read for fans.

It was well-written even if it is quite short. I think the other characters (Lea and Luke) were given more depth for some reason. I did like the fact that everyone stood by Aiden and Alex towards the end of this novella. Anyway, two thumbs up for  Jennifer L. Armentrout for writing this.

Rating: 5/5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Soul Screamers Vol. 1: My Soul to Lose • My Soul to Take • My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers 0.5, 1, 2) by Rachel Vincent

I am so excited to review Soul Screamers Volume 1 by Rachel Vincent since this is a first in this genre. I've seen this a couple of times on Goodreads, I just haven't gotten around to reading it since it's quite long. Yeah, I'm chicken sh*t like that. Plus, my shelf space is kinda' limited so yeah, getting seven books would be a bad idea. Anyhow, I didn't know an Omnibus edition has been published already so when I saw this I decided to buy volumes 1 and 2 since both are already available. Volume 3 will be published some time in July while the seventh book will be out on March, I think. The novel is told in Kaylee Cavanaugh's POV.

First and foremost, you have to look at that cover. Isn't it awesome? It's so gorgeous! So when, I saw it on The Book Depository I just couldn't resist getting it for myself. Anyway, the story or rather stories center around Kaylee. A girl who happens to have a "Screaming Problem". So, let me start with My Soul to Lose, which is the prequel novella to the entire series. On the first page, I honestly thought she was one of those typical teenagers who had insecurity issues and technically she does but not in an annoying kind of way. She has this "Screaming Problem" as I've mentioned earlier. I won't go into details since I might just end up spoiling the entire series but I really felt bad for her. She thought she had panic attacks and got locked up and no one even bothered to tell her the truth. I just felt really bad for her. Then moving on to the first novel which is My Soul to Take, I think she turned out okay for a character who was locked up in a mental institution. She ended up being okay and selfless and I really admire her for that. Yes, she became angsty at some point but I think she deserves to have a bit of anger in her system after everything they hid from her. I didn't get annoyed by her though. I really liked the way she developed as a character with a little help from her boyfriend, the jock, Nash Hudson who happens to have talents of his own. I really liked Nash btw. Yes, he's a jock but he wasn't an ass like the typical jocks who think they own the entire school. I did find it funny that he had no car whatsoever. Haha. I really like them together though since their talents actually go hand in hand.

And lastly, My Soul to Save which is the second book in the series, I really enjoyed reading this a lot since it had a lot of Kaylee-finding-out-what-she-can-really-do-with-her-gifts moments. Which I think is awesome btw. I also liked that she's not a whiner. I really hate whiny heroines. Again, i really enjoyed reading this part of the series.  And again, Nash is just awesome. I love Nash. He was just so supportive and protective of Kaylee. And I just can't help but swoon. Plus, their steamy scenes together. Wow. Just wow. I did have some problem with Tod, the reaper's, attitude towards their entire predicament. I didn't know what to think then. Anyway, I don't want to spoil the series for any of those who haven't read it yet. I really enjoyed it though and I am going to continue reading this once Volume 3 is released.

Overall, I'm glad I got the Omnibus edition instead of the 7 books. The omnibus has these novellas that have been printed for the first time so yeah, that is awesome. I really love the covers as well. I don't know why but covers with female models just seem to draw me in. I am so not a lesbian though. I really think this is a well-written series even if it is quite long. It wasn't really action packed or anything. More on the paranormal genre but I really liked it. I wasn't bored at all. Proof of that is that I've managed to finish 570 pages in almost a day. I must admit though that this is a new concept  for me so the thought of Soul Screamers a.k.a. B******* is new and I really didn't know what I was getting into when I decided to pick up this series. I  wouldn't mind reading Rachel Vincent's other novels though. Anyway, I can't wait for Volume 3 to come out.

RATING: 5/5 stars

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday #11

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger’s most anticipated books.
 
 
 
 SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS:
 
Fate isn’t something to mess with… and now, neither is Alex.

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back.

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex’s power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex’s connection to Seth isn’t the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole “an Apollyon can’t be killed” theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer… or she might become the God Killer herself.
  
 
Expected Date of Publication: April 9, 2013 by Spencer Hill Press
 
WHY I CAN’T WAIT 

I love this series and I love Jennifer L. Armentrout. Plus, I'm still experiencing Aiden St. Delphi withdrawal because I am so in love with him at the moment. And I just can't wait to see what happens after the events from Deity and Elixir.
 

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: The Shadow Girl by Jennifer Archer

First of all, I would like to say thank you to A.G. Howard for sending me a signed ARC (This comes out on April, BTW.) of  The Shadow Girl by Jennifer Archer. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect from this one when I found out that I won it from A.G. Howard's giveaway so I didn't really know what I was getting into. I did read the synopsis on Goodreads but for some reason it was still a bit vague for me so I was pretty much intrigued and excited at the same time. Anyway, the novel is told in Lily's POV.

To start with, Lily is a 17-year-old girl who has been hearing another voice, Iris, in her head since she was  4. She's pretty much normal except  for the voice thing. Honestly, this voice thing kept me thinking the entire time I was reading the novel. I didn't know whether she's supposed to be insane, a clairvoyant, a ghost or whatever. I pretty much wanted to spoil myself by reading the ending the entire time. Haha. Anyway, I did like the fact that she didn't doubt her sanity in the story. Plus, the fact that she didn't exactly exhibit any signs of abnormality in the entire novel is just awesome. I really felt bad for her though. She lost her dad and her mom just kept on lying to her. I get that she was just scared of losing her girl and everything. I was just a bit disappointed in her. I think she should have believed in her daughter's love a bit more. Anyway, I loved Lily. She wasn't the typical whiny teenager with all these angst. And the fact that she wanted to find out everything even if it meant searching for the truth on her own makes her all the more awesome. She didn't really depend on anyone. She was pretty much independent even if she was sheltered her entire life. I think she is one of those well-written characters that I just can't hate. And I have to be honest, I'm biased when it comes to female characters. It's very rare for me to like heroines for some reason.

Moving on to Ty Collier. The boy who suddenly came into Lily's life. He's pretty much a mystery up until the last half of the novel. He is actually another one of the reasons that kept me hooked. I wanted to find out how he was connected to everything. Anyway, I liked the mystery surrounding this character. I know mysterious guys are pretty much cliche in novels but I think sometimes a good book just needs a good mystery guy. I don't want to delve too much into his character since I might end up spoiling the novel. Just read the novel when it comes out. Haha.

Lastly, there's Wyatt. Wyatt is Lily's best friend but he does not know anything about Iris. I liked Wyatt. I was rooting for him the entire time (not that I wasn't smitten by Ty) since he reminded me so much of my best friend. I have a guy best friend and he's very protective. I loved the fact that he was there for Lily whenever she needed her. I think he's very real as a character. Guy best friends are supposed to be like him in real life not just someone who happens to be the female character's best friend who ends up becoming her boyfriend just because he's a guy. Again, I don't want to say more because I might end up spoiling the novel. Ugh! I suck at reviewing books especially the ones I liked. I hope I give justice to this one though.

Anyhow, I'm  so happy I got to read this before it came out. I think it was well-written. It's not exactly something you'd call fast paced but it wasn't slow either. I think the pacing of the novel was just right for this type. I was expecting a typical paranormal YA novel but it was more than that. It was more paranormal/sci-fi/mystery/drama. I was seriously hooked. I liked the fact that  the mystery behind Lily and Iris' existence was not revealed until the very end. I was biting my nails the entire time I was reading. I ended up finishing this at 5am because I seriously needed to find out the Why's, What's and How's of everything. Anyway, if you're looking for a paranormal/sci-fi/drama/mystery novel then you should definitely read this. This is my first Jennifer Archer novel and I must say that I would definitely read her other works as well. It kept me hooked and intrigued the entire time I was reading. It was like I badly needed to put the pieces of the puzzle together. And something like that is definitely A.W.E.S.O.M.E.

RATING: 5/5 STARS


Monday, February 11, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Admittedly, it took me awhile to decide whether I should read Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. I've been thinking about reading this for quite some time now since I wanted to again get out of my comfort zone. I got out of my comfort zone by reading the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy a year ago and for some reason I don't really find myself regretting that decision. So, I think it's about time I read something different from my usual reads. The novel is told in the perspectives of Maya and Lochan. Both are siblings btw.


To start with, I really liked and feel bad for both Lochan and Maya. I think they both grew up too fast and didn't even get to experience a decent childhood. They have absentee parents. Their parents separated a few years back. Their dad got married, moved away and didn't even bother giving child support while their mom is an awful person and mother who neglects them all the time. Anyway, I feel bad for the both of them since they had to grow up at such a young age and be the "adults of the house". In some ways, I think the fact that they grew up in a very unconventional family setting contributed to the way they see each other. They were never exactly like siblings. They always felt more like the mother and father of the younger kids and for some reason I guess that manifested in their relationship as they grew up. 

This is really not my comfort zone so forgive me if I might seem negative at some point. Don't get me wrong though, this is definitely a decent read. I've thought about reading this for quite sometime now since I figured that I could read BDSM stories so why not Incest or something along those lines. And I have to say that this is definitely not my cup of tea. I think the entire situation was just too much for me and I ended up reading this longer than I wanted to. I don't really know. I just can't make myself read this in one sitting. I found it really difficult to put myself in their shoes. The situation was just too painful for me since from the very start I knew that they could never have the happy ending that they wanted. Anyway, I do think that they truly needed each other and that's probably why things happened. The entire story was just too heartbreaking for me. The ending literally shattered me into a gazillion pieces. 

Overall, I think the writing style is awesome. It was beautifully written and totally captivating. It was just something totally out of my comfort zone. Therefore, it's something that I wouldn't be re-reading any time soon. The beginning of the novel started a bit slow for me though but as the novel progressed I got engrossed in the story even if I still couldn't read this in one sitting. The entire situation was just too dire and heavy and my heart, actually, it's my brain that couldn't take that much since the hypothalamus controls our emotions, just couldn't take everything in. Anyway, the ending was heartbreaking. Literally turned me into mush. I hated their parents for abandoning them like that. I especially hated their mother. She is the most repulsive creature on the planet. And to think that I usually have a soft spot for mothers. She has all these children just because she couldn't keep her legs closed for a couple of years and just dumps them when she doesn't need them anymore. She blames everything on the kids even if she was just being pathetic. It's not even the kids fault that she couldn't enjoy her childhood. Anyway, I can't even consider her a person. That's how much I hate her. 

RATING: 3.75/5 stars

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Stacking the Shelves #11

Stacking the Shelves is a new meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews, which is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Got a couple of paperbacks and ebooks for my iBooks this week.


  
Catching Jordan (Hundred Oaks #1) by Miranda Kenneally


Soul Screamers Vol. 1: My Soul to Lose | My Soul to Take | My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers #0.5, 1, 2) by Rachel Vincent


Soul Screamers Vol. 2: My Soul to Keep | Reaper | My Soul to Steal (Soul Screamers #3, 3.5. 4) by Rachel Vincent

Measuring Up by Nyrae Dawn
Thomas & January (Sleepless #2) by Fisher Amelie 

Callum & Harper (Sleepless #1) by Fisher Amelie 
 Who I Kissed by Janet Gurtler

How to Ruin Your Summer Vacation (How to Ruin #1) by Simone Elkeles

Taking Chances (Taking Chances #1) by Molly McAdams

52 Reasons to Hate My Father by Jessica Brody

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

Shattered Souls (Souls #1) by Mary Lindsey

That's it. What did you guys get?

Friday, February 8, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: Hallowed (Unearthly #2) + Radiant (Unearthly #2.5) by Cynthia Hand

HALLOWED (UNEARTHLY #2) BY CYNTHIA HAND

I bought a paperback of Hallowed by Cynthia Hand a few weeks ago since I've been meaning to read this since last year. I really loved Unearthly and have been patiently waiting for its sequel to be released in paperback since hard bounds are just too pricey and heavy. I think this series made me see angels in a different light. Not necessarily a bad thing though. Anyhow, the story is again told in Clara's POV.


To be honest, I was actually expecting a lot from this book since I did like the first one very much. What I wasn't expecting was the fact that I would be very frustrated with Clara. I really tried to like her. Really, really tried. I really didn't want to hate her since she was so awesome in the first book but she almost made me want to give up on the novel. I get that she's going through a tough time but seriously she acted like a brat who bitched about how frustrating her life is. She didn't even try to look around her and think that maybe not everything is about her "complicated" love life. Honestly, she was confused as ever. She's with Tucker and yet she also gets frustrated with Christian or something. Okay, so before the fans hate me or something I do get that she and Christian are connected in this oh so angelic way but c'mon she has to make up her mind at some point, right? And when she found out that *SPOILER* so yeah, won't mention what that is all she did was either mope around or push everyone away. She could have handled it better instead of being Miss Gloomy Bitch and all. I also felt like the only constant thing that she did in this book is lie or keep secrets and that kinda' got old for me towards the end. Bottom line is I missed the old Clara.

Then of course, there's Tucker Avery. Honestly, I think her relationship with Tucker was a bit dry for me. Yes, they're a couple blah blah blah but I felt like they lacked the spark that was once there when they were just bantering back and forth. I did like the fact that Tucker tried to be there for her and everything but still their relationship lacked the luster that was once there. I just don't know why. But I still like Tucker even if he did have a smaller participation in this book.

And lastly, there's Christian Prescott. I think Christian really amped up his game in this one. He was always there for Clara even if Clara insists that the only reason he's there is because of their "Purpose". I did feel bad for him the entire time I was reading since I felt like he became Clara's punching bag the whenever she was frustrated or something. He wasn't even doing anything bad to be honest but somehow Clara had this bitching streak which for some reason really annoyed me. I'm sorta leaning towards Christian at this point. Haha.

Overall, I still enjoyed reading this novel even if I felt like Clara was the most frustrating character ever. To be honest, she was just immature and I wanted to just strangle her from time to time and tell her to just shove it and grow up. I also felt like she didn't deserve either Tucker or Christian who just wanted to be there for her. She kept on pushing them both away. I'm actually surprised that neither budged which takes a lot of patience in my opinion. She was unpleasant most of the time to be honest and I really got frustrated with her. Another character that I wanted to strangle is Angela. Seriously, the girl has jealousy issues which I feel like is so contradictory to her character since she's supposed to be an angel blood. Other than that, I still liked this novel and I would definitely read Boundless. The writing is awesome. Very easy to read and understand. The pacing was not fast or slow but just right. I really just got so tired with Clara and her bitch phase. It kept me on the edge since the revelations and surprises just kept on coming. I did feel awful after Clara's *SPOILER* just read it, because I can't even begin to imagine if something like that were to happen to me. I'd be devastated. Anyway, I may not have loved this as much as the first one but it's still pretty much a decent read.

RATING: 3.5/5 stars

RADIANT (UNEARTHLY #2.5) BY CYNTHIA HAND

My friend Jona sent me a copy of Radiant which is a novella that bridges the events from Hallowed and Boundless a few weeks ago. I actually almost read it then since I had no idea that this was supposed to be Unearthly #2.5. Haha. But hey, I did stop you know? Well anyway, this is very short and is told in alternating POV's between Clara and Angela. Oh yeah, it's also set in Italy.

So for some reason, I liked Clara here a bit more than in Hallowed. I think the old Clara is starting to come back even if she still has a lot of issues with everything. I did get frustrated with Angela for some reason. Honestly, she was just so insecure. I just wanted to strangle her. And I didn't like the fact that she ratted on Clara just because she was having a fit. Clara's her friend no matter what and she should have thought of her when she blabbed her secret. I did enjoy uncovering some interesting trivia regarding a certain angel that you'd get to know in Hallowed. Anyway, I did like the fact that we got to see a glimpse of Angela's so called secret boyfriend.I enjoyed reading this novella though. It was just a short read and is definitely an awesome bridge to Boundless.

RATING: 4/5 stars

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Thursday, February 7, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: Stealing Parker (Hundred Oaks #2) by Miranda Kenneally

I honestly can't believe that I waited for Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally for three weeks just to end up reading it in a couple of hours. Seriously, I couldn't even make it last a day or two. That's not necessarily a bad thing though. What I'm trying to say is I just couldn't put this book down. Anyway, this is a companion novel to Catching Jordan and the events in this novel takes place after the events from the previous book. Some familiar characters pop up every now and then but this is a whole different story from the former. The novel is told in Parker's POV.

To start with, Parker is really different from Jordan. Jordan is one of the boys. Parker is not and she has a very different reputation as well. I think the only common denominator between the two is that both are from Hundred Oaks, both are athletes, Parker used to be a softball player while Jordan is the quarterback of the men's football team, and both are pretty girls with a slightly problematic home life. I honestly like them both even if they're very different but I think Jordan still wins this round. For some reason, Parker  annoyed me a quite a bit. She has this tendency to just keep to herself even if there are times when it's actually easier to come clean or something. And she did have this self-destructive way of handling her problems. Well, to each her own as some people might say. I guess that's the point of this entire novel anyway. For her to realize that sometimes she just needs to suck it up and go on with her life. I did like the fact that she's not a dumb chick. She is the class valedictorian after all. But other than that I actually liked Parker and for some reason I could actually feel for her. Not that I was once the school slut or anything. 

Then there's Brian, the new assistant coach, who happens to be very young and hot. I think hormones got the best of Parker at this point. To be honest, I actually rooted for him at some point but then he ends up becoming controlling and the fact that I felt like he only lead Parker on, so yeah, bye bye. He did have some redeeming qualities. He did what he had to do to save his and Parker's butt when everything fell apart.

And lastly, we have Will a.k.a. Corndog. I know right? Captain of the baseball team, class salutatorian, hot guy blah blah and you end up being called Corndog. I laugh every time they call him Corndog. No one even bothers to call him Will in the entire book. I think only his parents did. Honestly, the very first thought that came to mind when Corndog opened his mouth was that he's going to be one of these adorable douchebags in the novel but as the story goes I just can't help but fall in love with him. I was like how can Parker be so blind? Choose him! He's obviously better for you. He was sweet, charming and funny and everything that you could possibly ask for in a boyfriend. Obviously, I was smitten.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this as much as Catching Jordan even if Parker managed to annoy me from time to time. But that aside, I really enjoyed the dynamics between the characters. Their interactions either left me happy, sad, stunned and other emotions that I didn't even know I was capable of feeling. I liked Parker's best friend, Drew as well. He had some issues going on but he still managed to keep up appearances. I also like the fact that our favorite characters from its predecessor made cameos. Sam, who is now a member of the baseball team for some reason, Jordan, Marie, Carrie, JJ, Carter, Ty even Kristen. I like that we actually know what's going on with the characters that we learned to love and hate. And that their worlds are actually parallel to one another. I loved the ending BTW. Anyway, I liked the fact that everything was kept simple, fun and easy to read even if there were some risque scenes in the book itself. I also like the fact that Miranda Keneally always has more complex issues behind the sappy love stories that she writes. Like for instance this book tackles issues like inappropriate relationships, identity crisis and being yourself. For me, it tells us that it's okay to be yourself and to be happy and that sometimes what other people think is not necessarily important. I'd probably recommend this to more mature audiences. I really love the Hundred Oaks Series and I would definitely continue reading this. I actually pre-ordered Things I Can't Forget already from TBD. Yes, I am that excited. 

Rating: 5/5 stars

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: Catching Jordan (Hundred Oaks #1) by Miranda Kenneally

So, I finally got around to reading Catching Jordan by Miranda Keneally. I've been meaning to read this since last year because of all the hype on Goodreads I just couldn't find the time to do so and I always got sidetracked from ordering it on TBD but I finally did it. And yes, it deserved all the hype that it got from last year. The novel is told in Jordan Woods' POV who also happens to be the Quarterback of the boys football team. What can I say? She's just that awesome.


To start with, Jordan is definitely one of the boys. I can probably relate to that on some level and yes, her best friend also happens to be a boy which I can also relate to. She's pretty, she's tall and her dad is the great Donovan Woods who happens to be a pro-football player so yeah, she is somehow pressured to do her best when it comes to football even if her dad doesn't really support her or something. He has his reasons though. Trust me on that one. Anyway, she's probably the girl of every boys dreams but then again she's oblivious when it comes to girly girl things and all that stuff since she's always been used to being one of the boys. What I like about Jordan is that she's feisty and she has the respect of all the boys in her team. She did earn her position, so yeah, it's a much deserved respect.

Then enters Tyler "Ty" Green, Chace Crawford's twin, according to Jordan. So yeah, he's definitely hot. He also happens to be a quarterback btw. Anyway, for some reason they click. And yeah, the rest is history. Their relationship bordered on insta-love or rather lust which is definitely fine by me since let's face it a lot of relationships start with that. Call me a cynic but I don't really believe in love at first sight. I believe in lust at first sight though since I don't really believe in the fact that you can fall in love with someone you don't even know. Anyway, I did like Ty since he seemed to be Mr. Perfect and all but he can be a bit controlling.

Lastly, there's Jordan's best friend, Sam Henry. They've been friends since they were kids and they still have sleepovers but that's beside the point. Sam Henry or just plain Henry is also a part of Hundred Oaks Football team and thus making him a part of Jordan's team. I like him because he looks out for Jordan all the time and I can definitely relate to this one since he reminds me so much of my best friend. Ugh! I'm going around in circles I don't really know how to write anything here without giving away spoilers! Let's just say that he's a key character in the novel as well.

Overall, I think this deserved all the hype that it got last year. This is an awesome read and I managed to finish this in one day. I liked all of the characters from this book. Carter and JJ who also happens to be Jordan's friends and part of the football team. Vanessa, Ty's sister. Mike, Jordan's older brother and his friend Jake who always tries to hit on Jordan but fails miserably. Seriously, their scenes are just hilarious. Jordan's mom and dad. Even Carrie and Marie who are both linked to Sam. But I refuse to tell  you why their linked. Just read the book. Everyone is just awesome. I also love the fact that the boys from the football team are willing to beat up anyone who tries to mess with Jordan. It's very touching to be totally honest. I also love the fact that its plot didn't nearly revolve around the issue of plain old teenage love. It had deeper issues like respect for the opposite sex and gender equality which is just awesome. I love the fact that the author was able to incorporate these  serious issues while making it fun and easy to read. It's the type of book that would make you feel good. It's probably something you'd enjoy reading if you just want to kick back and relax. Anyway, I'm currently reading it's companion novel Stealing Parker. 

Rating: 5/5 stars

Waiting On Wednesday #10


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger’s most anticipated books.



 SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS:

Companion to Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker.

Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…

This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt…with her.

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…

Note: Mature themes, sexual situations, religious discussions.
  

Expected Date of Publication:  March 1, 2013 by Sourcebooks Fire

WHY I CAN’T WAIT 

I've read Catching Jordan and I'm currently reading Stealing Parker and for some reason her books make me feel good. It's like one of those feel good books that you just can't help but read and feel happy after. I love her writing style. The fact that she doesn't write annoying female characters is plus for me too. Jordan and Parker from both books are actually feisty and I love that in female characters. And don't get me started on the yummy book boyfriends. Man, she really does know how to create awesome characters. Anyway, I just can't wait to get my hands on this one. Might end up pre-ordering this soon.