BOOK REVIEW: Breaking Point (Article 5 #2) by Kristen Simmons

I recently got my hardback copy of Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons. I won it from a giveaway about a month ago and have been waiting for it  since then. I've read the first book and I was totally blown away so I was really looking forward to getting this one. Anyhow, the story takes off a few weeks after the events from the first book took place.

I must admit that it took me a while to finish this book. I have a lot going on at the moment and I had the night shift but then again I did finish it. This book is amazing. Probably one of the best dystopians I've read. And I have read a lot of dystopians. It's one of my favorite genre. I really liked the characters. None of them were annoying in anyway and that's a plus for me. I liked Ember even if I had a bit of a hard time understanding her reasons for doing whatever it is that she's doing. And as for Chase. Deym! He's as tough as nails and he's also hot to boot. Anyhow, I really enjoyed reading this novel. Probably as much as the first one if not more. It was fast paced and probably one of those books that you just want to keep on reading. 

RATING: 5/5 stars

Oh yeah, Kristen Simmons is just soooo awesome. You should tweet her. :)

BOOK REVIEW: As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce has been on my TBR list because a friend of mine, Jona, one day mentioned a book written by the same author. Naturally, I decided to check her out and found this and thought it was interesting. I didn't really buy this one since I wanted to check her Fairytale Retellings Series first but for some reason I always get sidetracked by other books. Typical. So yeah, just got around to reading this now since Jona gave me a copy. Thanks Jona!

For some reason, Viola annoyed me. I wanted to like her. I really did but she annoyed me. I get that her ex-boyfriend dumped her but they remain good friends but for some reason I didn't get why she kept on blaming everyone around her because she feels invisible or that she doesn't belong with anyone. She keeps on blaming everyone but herself whenever something goes terribly wrong. I really believe in the saying that you should always take responsibility for your own actions but for some reason that sorta slipped from Viola's mind. Don't get me wrong though. The novel was definitely amazing and I love all of the characters (Well, except for Viola.) and the storyline  is unique. But seriously, Viola kinda' ticked me off.

I did like Jinn and Lawrence though. Jinn is a genie and Lawrence is Viola's ex-boyfriend/best friend. I liked them both. Jinn is just so dreamy and everything that's awesome. Haha. And Lawrence is just Lawrence. I really don't want to spoil anything so let's just keep it at that. Some or rather a lot of scenes made my heart go out to Jinn and for some reason made me want to just curl up next to him and give him a hug or something. Bottom line is I liked the two boys in Viola's life. They kept her grounded and in their own way made her realize how much she needed to do something about her life instead of just going through life blaming everything on her break up with Lawrence.

Overall, this was a short and quick read. I liked almost everything about it. It made me laugh and feel giddy from time to time. A lot of the characters were just so amazing. I really liked Ollie and Xander as well. Viola was jealous of Ollie (She wasn't a bitch or anything at all.) for  an unknown reason and Xander was someone you could consider a loner or something in a high school social ladder but for some reason everything worked out for everyone in the end. Anyway, the concept of Caliban and jinn is a unique topic for me since this is a first and I have to say that despite my annoyance towards the heroine I actually enjoyed myself. I read this in a day since it's really short but it was enjoyable. I'd definitely read more from the author in the future.

RATING: 3.75/5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer

I finally got around to reading Scarlet by Marissa Meyer yesterday. And honestly, I think the agony of waiting for this book was worth it. I have to say that I loved this book probably more than the first. Anyway, the novel is told in multiple sides but they're all in the third person POV which is probably confusing? Honestly, I'm really bad at explaining technicalities using literary jargon. I am so bad at this. Anyway, new characters were introduced while there are also some of the old faces from Cinder.

And yes, I have it in hardback. Thank you Suzanne Johnson! Anyhow, let me start with the titular character, Scarlet. She also happens to be our Red Riding Hood in the retelling. Anyhow, I liked the fact that Scarlet was written as a strong, independent and feisty character. I'm really not a fan of lame heroines so I really love the fact that she did what she wanted to do. To hell with everyone else around her. She was determined to reach her goals and at the same time she had this vulnerability that made you want to take care of her even if she is being stubborn. I really did like her and her relationship with Wolf is just so smexy for some reason. 

Then there's Wolf. A Street Fighter who happens to be a very important part of the entire story. He may seem like a thug but once you get to know Wolf I'd bet all of my books that you'd soon end  up falling for  his wolfish (Pun intended.) charms. I really loved the way he interacted with Scarlet. He had this innocence that made him so charming despite being scary and burly. He's a bit of an enigma for me and for some reason that adds up to his charms. I loved Wolf maybe more than Kai. If you've been reading my reviews then by now you should know that I'm a sucker for troublesome guys.

And of course, who could forget Cinder. Yes, she may not be the titular character this time around but her and Scarlet's lives are bound to collide at some point. I got confused with Cinder from time to time but it is in a good way I can assure you. One minute she's doing something amazing and then the  next she's going crazy or something but then she goes back to doing something amazing and I just can't help but admire her. I really felt bad though since she and Kai didn't get any alone or even any together time in this novel. I guess we'll all have to wait and see in the upcoming books. But I did love her since what she did or rather what she's about to do took and takes a lot of guts but she's doing it anyway.

And lastly, Emperor Kai. I have to be honest here. I missed Prince Kai. The  boy who did whatever the hell he wanted because he was smitten by the lowly mechanic. Yes, there are still traces of the smitten boy from time to time but the Emperor is definitely more dominant now. I feel bad for him actually. I feel like he's just too young to be taking on all of these responsibilities all on his own. I just wish he could be carefree again. I hate Queen Levana for doing everything in her power to make Kai submit to her stupid demands. I wanted to strangle her so that Kai and Cinder can finally be together. Anyway, I just hope Cinder comes back in time to save Kai  if he should ever need it.

Overall, I really loved this novel as much as the first one if not more. I didn't really feel the Middle Book Syndrome since the novel didn't drag on and on. I really liked all of the characters except for the awful Lunars on Queen Levana's side. I also liked Captain Thorne. He reminded me of Flynn Rider from Tangled. He enjoys hearing himself talk and brag about stuff and yet he didn't really annoy me at all. From time to time I think he did keep Cinder grounded. Anyway, the plot of the entire novel kept me up. It is quite long after all, 452 pages and yet I didn't feel the need to put it down. I finished this in a day. It's one of those books that you just can't help but breeze through since there were no dull moments. The pieces of Cinder's missing memories were somehow pieced together even if there were still some lacking elements but we'll probably get to that as the novels are released. I love fairytale retellings and I can definitely say that this is one of the best that I've read. Marissa Meyer is a genius and I'd give this an easy 5/5 star rating if not more.

BOOK REVIEW: Leaving Paradise (Leaving Paradise #1) by Simone Elkeles

I finally got my copy of Leaving Paradise after month of waiting for it. I really loved Simone's Perfect Chemistry Series and when I love an author reading her other works is definitely a must. So I ordered this a month ago as soon as I finished reading Perfect Chemistry. The novel is written in alternating POV's between Caleb and Maggie.

I must admit that I'm still letting the story sink in. My God. This is probably one of her best work to date. I really got into it. It was about finding love in the most unexpected places, forgiveness and a lot more other things. I really liked the chemistry between Caleb and Maggie. Both of them are seriously screwed up after everything they've been through. The first 2 or 3 chapters in Caleb's POV made me think that he was such an ass for doing what he did to Maggie and I found myself feeling really bad for Maggie. She didn't deserve everything that's happened to her and the way her so-called friends treated her was just inexcusable. But I did think that she is a very strong person for going through life after everything that's happened. I really liked both Maggie and Caleb. Admittedly, I didn't fall in love with Caleb from the get-go but as the story progressed and as I started to get to know Caleb more I knew I was falling for him. Hard. Anyway, both are awesome characters and are very inspirational in their own way. I usually hate girls with insecurities but for some reason I really loved Maggie. I got her. For some reason, I truly understand where all these insecurities and barricades are coming from.

Overall, I was immersed in this novel. I don't really know if I was happy or sad or whatever. I have mixed feelings. There were moments that made my lips form a smile and my heart flutter. But there were also moments that broke my heart and made me cry. I was inspired. I was in awe. This is such a wonderful story that I can't even begin to describe how I feel about it. I liked most of the characters even if I did dislike some namely Kendra and Leah. I think both are really selfish and I just wanted to strangle them both. The revelation towards the end simply broke my heart. I was teary-eyed to be totally honest. I don't have enough words to describe how much I love this novel but I can confidently say that this is one is on the top of my all  time favorites. I just love all of her novels. I always finish her books in one day. I'd skip eating  and going on toilet breaks if I could. Haha. I'd give this an easy 5/5 stars. And I am a certified Simone Elkeles fan.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

BOOK REVIEW: THE DUFF: The Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger

I've been meaning to read THE DUFF for quite some time now since my friend and fellow blogger kept on insisting that I should. And because I am such an awesome friend I finally gave in. This isn't exactly my first Kody Keplinger novel since I've read A Midsummer's Nightmare late last year. Let's just say that I wasn't that impressed by it. But according to my friend, this is her best work yet so I decided to give it a shot when I finally had some time to squeeze this in. I'm glad I did though. I wasn't disappointed at all.

The DUFF in this novel is called Bianca Piper. She's a cynic and can come of as pessimistic every now and then and she's almost always in a foul mood according to her friends. Only a couple of people know who the real Bianca Piper is so she's usually being left alone. Not that she's a loner or anything. Anyway, being the DUFF does not mean that Bianca is ugly and fat. Though to be honest that was my first impression. I think Bianca is a very unique character. I actually liked her even if she did come off as stand-offish from time to time. She did whine a lot but she still managed to make me laugh the entire time I was reading. I find her interactions with Wesley Rush a.k.a. the man-whore hilarious. Anyway, I was a bit annoyed with her since she had a weird way of coping with stress. But hey! It is what it is, right?

Moving on to Wesley Rush, the man-whore/man-slut who Bianca hates a lot. The very first interaction between these two is the most priceless scene in the book. Seriously. Bianca is just hilarious. Imagine having a hot guy hit on you even if he is a bit of a jerk -almost forgot to mention the he coined the term DUFF for Bianca- then pouring a glass of cherry Coke all over him? Anyway, that seriously made me laugh. It got better and better from there. Anyway, both of them are f*cked up since their home lives are pretty complex but Hey! They found each other and that's just awesome. I really loved Wesley even if he defines the term man-slut on so many levels. I think he had a side to him that only a few people are allowed to see and that's what makes him all the more lovely as a guy. He made me swoon and laugh at the same time which is probably weird but still he made me see man-sluts in a different light. Haha.

Overall, I definitely agree with my friend that this is one of Kody Keplinger's best work yet. I loved all the characters in this novel. Bianca, Wesley, Toby, her pretty friends, Casey and Jessica. Seriously, they were all awesome. I love the fact that her friends didn't treat her any differently despite their differences. Their loyalty to each other is admirable. I just realized that being the DUFF does not necessarily mean that you're lacking physically. It is the way you perceive yourself as such. If you feel like you're a DUFF then you are one. Anyway, I really enjoyed reading this, definitely more than A Midsummer's Nightmare.There are a couple of lines there-mostly said by Wesley-that made me feel weak in the knees. That guy has a way with words. I wouldn't recommend this book to adolescents though since this had a lot of sex in it. Probably not ideal for hormonal teens since they might just end up getting pregnant or getting someone pregnant. Yes, it is set in a high school and we should all just face it. Highschool nowadays is just like that. Nothing is ideal but that doesn't mean that we should practice everything in this books right? Anyway, I'd give this an easy 5/5 stars.

BOOK REVIEW: Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry #3) by Simone Elkeles

I finally decided to write a review on Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles since I was able to finish it last night. To be honest, this might be my least favorite in the series but it's still better than other contemporaries so far.

To start with the, the reason why this became my least favorite is probably due to the fact that Nikki Cruz is the most frustrating  character I've ever read. I really wanted to pity or like her because of everything that happened to her in the past which led her to become the way she is but I just can't. Honestly, she was such a bitter character which turned her into the most cynical, pessimistic and definitely frustrating character I've read. I wanted to strangle her because of it. I really wanted to skip her chapters to be honest. Plus, the fact that she likes to stick her nose into her best friend's relationship is kinda' annoying really. She can't even give her best friend's boyfriend a chance because of her stupid beliefs even if she can't exactly prove her theories or whatever. I also think she's a racist and a hypocrite since I feel like every time she says "I'm American." is just a form of denial of her roots. Girl! You're Latina whether you want to admit it or not so yeah, whatever. Honestly, I think the only redeeming thing that she did happened towards the end and that's about it. I seriously wanted Luis to give up on her since she was just sooooooo frustrating. I wanted to pull her hair out or something.

We also have another Fuentes in the house and his name is Luis. The youngest brother is all grown up. I really liked him since he is a bit different from his brothers. He just had this triggering event that made him the way he is and got him into trouble. Anyway, I love the fact that he's just so cool and suave and the fact that he knows that he could get any girl that he wants is simply hilarious. I loved reading his chapters and is probably the only reason why I decided to finish the book in the first place. I really wanted to skip Nikki's chapters. Unfortunately, the novel wouldn't be complete without her POV and it would screw up everything. I love his interactions with everyone and his family values. His closeness to his brothers is something to envy as well.

For me, this is my least favorite among the 3 novels. The first and second books are definitely the best. I now think the Mexican family values are something to envy. They'd do anything in their power to protect their loved ones even if it means doing things you don't want to do from time to time. I honestly think that sometimes this isn't such a bad thing, you know? I love that Alex, Brittany, Carlos, Kiara and some more familiar faces were present in this third book. I think the conclusion of their stories is wonderful though. They all deserve to have their own happy endings after everything they've been through. Again, the development of the relationship between Luis and Nikki was written beautifully. It did border on insta-love though but other than that I think it was well-developed. I still don't like Nikki though. 

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry #2) by Simone Elkeles

As I have mentioned in my review of Perfect Chemistry, I managed to finish its sequel Rules of Attraction in the same day. And just because I feel like writing right now I'll post another review. The novel is written in the same format as its predecessor which means it's told in dual POV's. This time around Carlos, Alex's younger brother, and Kiara are the main focus of the novel wherein Alex and Brittany are side characters. It's picks up after two years from the previous novel.

To begin with, Kiara is the exact opposite of Brittany from the previous novel so it doesn't necessarily mean that it's just a copycat of the first one. Kiara is flawed and is most likely one of the least popular kids in school. She has a gay best friend called Tuck who happens to be so adorable btw. She has the perfect home life which is the exact opposite from Brittany's as well. Anyway, enough introductions. I really liked Kiara's character. I think she's one of those people who really needs to be educated on being bad. I do get the fact that she collaborated with Tuck to prank Carlos in the novel but other than that the girl is a saint. She always looks out for the welfare of everyone and she's just so lovable, down to earth and adorable. She does need a little help in the wardrobe department but other than that she's an awesome girl. The girl does not even have dark thoughts until she met Carlos and her world is turned upside down.

Moving on to Carlos. To be honest, I disliked Carlos a bit during the first few chapters of the novel. He had too much teen angst in my opinion. He lashed out at everyone even to those who are so nice to him and keeps on having these self-pity thoughts because of his Latino heritage (I honestly can't figure out why.) and his past while at the same time projecting a bad boy image which seems so contradictory. I really wanted to strangle him for being so mean to everyone. But as the story progressed I actually learned to appreciate him more. Though I'm still biased since I still can't get over Alex. But the fact that he had a change of heart made me love him towards the end. I think he developed into a well-written  character towards the end.

Overall, I also enjoyed this as much as the first one. I love the bickering between the characters though I still enjoyed Alex and Brittany's more since it was always two sided. There were times when Kiara is just stunned because she's intimidated by Carlos or something but other than that I enjoyed getting to know the younger Fuentes and Kiara. I enjoyed the parts where they were interacting in any way. I also appreciate the fact that Simone Elkeles does not seem to be a fan of the insta-love concept. That's just too stereotypical for YA novels nowadays. I like relationships that are well developed. It makes it more real to me. I love her writing style too. I can't explain what it is but I never came to a point there I got bored as I read. Again, an easy 5/5 stars for me.

BOOK REVIEW: Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1) by Simone Elkeles

It took me an entire year to be convinced to read Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles but I am now a certified Simone fan. Honestly, I feel awful that I didn't get to read this earlier. Anyway, I actually finished this and Rules of Attraction in one day. So yeah, that made me lose sleep. It is told in dual POV's, Alex and Brittany's.

First of all, we have Brittany Ellis. She's "Little Miss Perfect| (Well, at least she pretends to be.) and everyone wants her or simply be her. She has the typical jock boyfriend who is an ass a lot of times and a home life that's far from perfect. Anyway, she's always managed to keep her guard up. She has always been able to maintain her facade until Alex Fuentes enters the picture. Honestly, I actually pitied her for having to pretend all the time. It's pretty exhausting and it will one day catch up with her. I really admired her for her love for her sister, Shelley though. I can't imagine sacrificing your own happiness for the sake of your loved one like that.

Then there's Alejandro "Alex" Fuentes. I never knew how sexy Latinos can be (I must admit that they've always been intriguing to me.) until I met Alex. *fans self because he's just too hot to handle* I really, really, really love the bad boy persona that he is projecting. He's dangerous and totally bad-ass. And as some of you might know, I have a thing for bad boys so yeah, he's pretty much up there in my Top Book Boyfriends. I really enjoying getting to know him despite his flaws and the fact that he values his family enough to give up everything is really admirable. The guy just made me want to take long cold showers since he is simply too hot to handle. Haha.

Obviously, I enjoyed reading this a lot since I managed to finish this and its sequel in one day. And yes, I didn't get enough sleep because of it. I loved Alex and Brittany's scenes together. They weren't the typical lovey-dovey couple that you'd just love to hate. The steamy scenes were awesome as well. I do love the fact that Simone Elkeles did not write this with the insta-love concept in mind. The development of their relationship was written beautifully and I just can't help but feel so happy for the both of them. This definitely deserves a 5/5 star rating from me.

BOOK REVIEW: The Pledge (The Pledge #1) by Kimberly Derting

I started reading The Pledge by Kimberly Derting a few days ago and honestly I got bored with the first 4 chapters I think and ended up putting it on hold for a day and decided to read Shatter Me again. Just to be ready for the release of Unravel Me. Obviously, dystopian is my favorite genre. Well anyway, after finishing Shatter Me again, I decided to give this one another try and I'm so glad I did.

To be honest I felt like Charlie lacked personality during the first few chapters. Probably the reason why I almost gave up on the book. But as the story progressed I think her character developed beautifully. I started seeing the personality that was lacking at the beginning. I love the fact that she somehow breaks minor rules to be able to help others. I felt really bad for her whenever she got reprimanded for 'being so obvious' with her gift. It is hard enough to listen to people who talk trash in your face even if you can't understand them but it definitely is harder to listen to them when you do. I salute her for having that awesome self—control. If I were in her place I would have talked back and eventually reveal myself in the process.

Then there's Max. I find him alluring even in he was just full of mystery in the beginning. I liked the fact that the mystery behind him was dragged on towards the middle of the book. It actually kept me hooked since I did find him intriguing. It was actually Max who kept me glued to the novel as the story progressed. I did think that his relationship with Charlie was a bit cliche. I felt like the development of their relationship bordered on insta—love which made it cliche for YA's nowadays. But whatever. He did intrigue me and by the end of the book I just wanted to be Charlie and have Max.

To be honest, the book started a bit slow for me. I did put it on hold for a day but resumed and ended up finishing it in a couple of hours. I love the suspense, the mysteries and the connections of everything and everyone. A lot of the revelations made me say WTF?! Seriously? or Whoa. I think it's just awesome when books make me say these things. The surprise factor definitely amped up this book. I do appreciate the fact that there weren't any love triangles since that would definitely be too cliche together with the insta—love. Anyway, even if it did start a bit slow I ended up reading this in a day when I started again. I couldn't put it down towards the middle and I will definitely read The Essence once I get my copy. 

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Article 5 (Article 5 #1) by Kristen Simmons

As some of you might know I'm a big fan of the dystopian genre and majority of my library consists of dystopian paperbacks. I got my paperback of Article 5 by Kristen Simmons a week ago and finally got to reading it last weekend and finished it today. So yeah, I'm still in the process of letting everything sink in. I've been meaning to read this since last year but just couldn't get around to doing so since there weren't any paperbacks yet and hardbounds are really pricey so yeah I opted to wait for this one. I might not wait for the paperback of Breaking Point anymore though. Haha.

To start with I have this love-hate relationship with Ember, the female protagonist. The first few chapters made me feel so bad for her. Especially when they arrested her mom and everything. I think I would've reacted worse. I can't imagine that being done to me and my mother. But then during the middle part of the book I just can't help but be annoyed by her. Don't get me wrong. I like her but there were times when she just kept on getting frustrating and everything. I know she still doesn't trust Chase and she's been through a lot but she just refuses to listen. And she couldn't even defend herself at that point in the novel so yeah, she kinda' puts Chase and herself at risk most of the time. But towards the end when she found out about everything (I won't say what that everything is so as not to spoil the book. Let's just keep it at "everything". Haha.) I felt really bad for her again. In the end though, I ended up admiring her. She certainly did a lot of growing up and I think she's one of those characters that had a good character development.

Moving on to Chase Jennings. The boy Ember loved and also the MM who arrested her mother. I loved his protective side even if FBR seriously left him broken. I love the fact that he's a kick-ass character who knows how to defend himself and Ember and think even if he is under pressure. And that's why I love male characters more even if I am a girl in real life. He was rational even if he is kinda' brutish. Well, he is a trained FBR officer so yeah, I guess that goes with the package. Anyway, I think his life story-scratch that. Ember and his- story is just heartbreaking. But their scenes together just made me want to root for them from the very first page. 

More or less, I really enjoyed reading this book. I couldn't exactly put it down even when I felt so sleepy since I was still reading this at 3am in my bed. It was fast paced and full of action, drama and romance. The world Kristen Simmons created scared the crap out of me though. I can't imagine living in a world where my rights are revoked and only a certain number of people had the power to make decisions for you. I felt bad and it made me actually love our world right now. A world where we have rights and everyone is treated as almost equal citizens. Let's face it. Sometimes people with money are treated better than those who have less. Anyway, this opened my eyes to how our society today is so much better than what could possibly happen if people keep on starting wars and chaos everywhere. I'd recommend this to those people who enjoy awesome dystopian novels. This is probably one of the best I've read so far and I can't wait to get my hands on Breaking Point. 

 Rating: 5/5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles #1) by Gena Showalter

First of all, Alice in Zombieland has been in my TBR list since last year. I just didn't bother reading it until now. I have no idea why but I actually had it in iBooks for quite some time now. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect from this one since this is my first zombie book. Not exactly a fan of the gory and decomposing monsters. Thank you very much. What got my attention was the mash up between the classic Alice in Wonderland and the zombies. Our "Alice" in this case  is Alice "Ali" Bell.

 

I have to be honest here. Ali annoyed me the moment she opened her mouth in the book. She was immature and petty and just plain spoiled in some ways. She didn't bother listening to anyone and she just kept on going without even having a plan or a back up plan. Honestly, I like feisty females but in this case I just felt like she just kept on rolling without even using her brain. She almost made the book unbearable for me and I almost did not bother finishing this one. I did like the fact that she's not as helpless as other heroines from other paranormal novels that I've read. I think the fact that she knew how to defend herself in some ways might've helped me to like her even a little.

And of course, with a heroine comes a hero who everyone would adore especially the female readers and his name is Cole Holland. Honestly, one of the good things about this book was Cole. He is probably my ultimate bad boy at this point and as most of my readers know I love bad boys. I think Cole's possessive/ borderline dominant streak is something I find sexy. Plus, the fact that he's one kick ass fighter helps.

Overall, I did enjoy most of the novel especially towards the end. I think Ali grew up at some point. Probably because she had to go through a lot of things. The writing style and the story itself isn't terrible at all. I think it was just Ali herself that did it for me. She truly annoyed me. I did love Ms. Showalter's unique take on the zombie concept being in the spiritual realm. It wasn't really what I was expecting. Yeah, they were still decomposing and ugly I guess but they weren't like the typical zombies who ate BRRRAAAAAIIIINNNNSSSS for dinner. I'd also have to give the side characters some credit. I actually loved them more than Ali. Her friends Poppy and Wren annoyed me though. I felt like they were just there when you were at the top of the food chain but once you're ate the bottom then they just disappear from your life completely. Whatevs. The book did leave a lot of open questions like: What is the connections of Cole and Ali's visions to whatever it is that's going on around them? Why is Ali the way she is? Where does Justin (one of the side characters that I still can't put my finger on. A potential love triangle maybe?) stand in all this? There's definitely a lot more and I guess that's what the upcoming books are for. I didn't really enjoy reading this as much as I thought I would. But to be fair it wasn't a total bust or anything. I did manage to finish it even if Ali seriously annoyed me. I'm giving this a 3/5 star rating. And I'm definitely reading the next book if that's what you're wondering.