BOOK REVIEW: Graceling (Graceling Realm #1) by Kristin Cashore

I finally finished reading Graceling by Kristin Cashore yesterday. And yes, I liked it in some ways but I have to admit that it took me a while before I actually finished it. It started a bit slow for me and I have this love-hate relationship with the heroine Katsa. Got this book for only 150php, btw.

First of all, I really wanted to like Katsa very much. I did like her in some ways. She was kick-ass and is definitely one tough cookie. I really like the fact that she's a better fighter than everyone else around her. Unfortunately, she's also one helluva pessimist and I feel like she has this angst every now and then. I really did want to like her but for some reason she's somewhat in between. I still have mixed feelings until now.

And then, there's Po. Oh, how I love Po. He really is Prince Charming. The guy just made me swoon one very scene. I think he's the reason why I actually decided to finish this book. I just love the guy. I just feel so awful because of what happened towards the end but whatever. There are still Fire and Bitterblue. A lot of things can still happen.

Overall, the book is a decent read. It started a bit slow for me but I did manage to push through. I think the second and third part of the book made up for the slowness of the beginning. I would definitely read the other two novels when I get my hands on them. I'd give this a 4/5 stars.

BOOK REVIEW: The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah R. Miller

Wow, it's been a while since I last created a blog post. I've reviewed books every now and then but I haven't exactly been updating my blog. Sorry about that my readers. I've read a couple of books and have reviewed them on Goodreads though. Anyhoo, I literally just finished reading The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller a couple of minutes ago and I just had the sudden urge to actually update my blog. I got my copy a couple of weeks ago and I have to say that I did like this. It was a very quick read. The story revolves around a girl named Maddie btw.

First and foremost, I have to admit that I have this love-hate relationship towards Maddie. There are times when I actually find myself sympathizing with her. Other times, I felt like she was just too shallow for her own good. I sometimes feel like she didn't really give the people around her enough credit to actually like her despite her geeky side. Anyhow, I think she made up for her misgivings towards the end so yeah, in some ways I appreciated her. Haha. I did find Logan adorable. Haha. Oh yeah, weakness for hot geeky guys.

Overall, I really loved this book. It wasn't exactly a spectacular read or anything but it was enough to actually entertain me and give me a good laugh. I did have a bit of a hard time understanding some of the RPG terms but other than that I actually enjoyed it. I loved most of the characters except for Kelsey and Rayann who were both bitches. I'd give this a 4/5 stars though.

Stacking The Shelves #20

         

   

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 a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or from the library, review books and of course ebooks!

Got a couple of books this past month. I haven't exactly been buying that much since my TBR is still very high at the moment. I did order a few from TBD so yeah, I still have some pending orders.

     Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) by Rachel LaFevers

 If I Should Die (Revenants #3) by Amy Plum

                       How My Summer Went Up In Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

        

        From top to bottom:

One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern

South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami

Goddess (Starcrossed #3) by Josephine Angelini

The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah R. Miller

Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits #1) by Katie McGarry

The Collector (Dante Walker #1) by Victoria Scott

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

Apollyon (Covenant #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Not in the picture)

                                               That's it. What did you guys get?

        

BOOK REVIW: If I Should Die (Revenants #3) by Amy Plum

It has definitely been a long long time since I last wrote a proper review and I must say that I actually missed it. Anyhow, I'm so sorry for not updating my blog but here I am now. I recently finished reading Amy Plum's If I Should Die and I must say this is one of those books that you wouldn't want to put down. Anyhoo, the novel is told in Kate's POV again.

Got this from The Book Depository a few days ago. I was just so excited to get this one since this is one of my favorite series. I had this happy-sad moments when I finished reading it. This is definitely my favorite in the entire series. I think Kate developed into an awesome character as the story progressed. I didn't expect the ending though. I was clutching my chest halfway through the book. I really didn't know what to expect. And Vincent as usual made my heart melt every now and then. I love the fact that Kate's and his love is one of those epic love stories that you wouldn't forget for a very long time. 

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this. It was definitely very entertaining and unputdownable. I was really excited for this one and had it pre-ordered a couple of months before its release. It had a bittersweet ending though with deaths on both the Numa and Bardia sides. The events in the book were very unexpected for me but all in all it was just awesome in every way. Two thumbs up Amy!

Rating: 5/5 stars

UPDATES

Kinda' been busy lately and my computer has been busted for quite some time now. But I do promise that I will update this blog as soon as I can.

And yes, I am still alive. Hi everyone!

BOOK REVIEW: Tiger's Quest (The Tiger Saga #2) by Colleen Houck

You guys have no idea how much I missed writing reviews! I finally managed to finish Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck. I think it took me two weeks to finish reading this. Not that it was awful or anything. On the contrary it's as awesome as the first. I just couldn't squeeze it in since my schedule has been pretty tight recently. Anyhoo, the story picks up a few months after the events from the first novel took place.

And I'm so sorry for being too lazy to actually take a picture of my paperback. Haha. Anyhow, this would be a quick and rushed review since I still have to go to work in  about two hours but don't worry I'll try to make sense of whatever it is I'm trying to say. So to start with, I had mixed feelings with regards to Kelsey on this one. I really have no idea why she's acting the way she is. I know she's in love with Ren and everything but why does she have the urge to actually entertain the possibility of having Kishan as her other half as well. I feel like she's using the brothers as the heir and the spare which is a bit disappointing for some reason. I really feel like both brothers deserve to have their happy endings and Kishan definitely does not deserve to be the spare if ever Ren is not at her disposal. Anyhow, I have this love-hate relationship with Kelsey right now. My heart did go out to her towards the latter part of the book.

Moving on to the brothers, Ren and Kishan, for some reason I had a very hard time deciding who I should side with. Haha. I like them both and my dilemma is who should end up with who. Everything is very unpredictable at this point. I really hope the get their happy endings. I think both of them deserve to be happy. I can assure you one thing though both guys are definitely swoon-worthy.

Overall, I must say that I still enjoyed reading this even if Kelsey did manage to annoy me from time to time. I think she's very lucky to have both  brothers at her disposal. Both of them  love her and I think she should just let  go of the other one if he doesn't have a chance at all. No one deserves to be the spare. The mix of the romance with the adventure aspect of the novel allowed me to enjoy it  even more. I think this deserves another 5/5 stars. Well done Colleen  Houck.

Stacking the Shelves #18

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 a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or from the library, review books and of course ebooks!

Got a couple of books this week.

The Colossus Rises (Seven Wonders #1) by Peter Lerangis

Tiger's Quest (Tiger's Saga #2) by Colleen Houck 

  

Tiger's Voyage (Tiger's Saga #3) by Colleen Houck

Tiger's Destiny (Tiger's Saga #4) by Colleen Houck

Aaaaaaand... 

Some swag (signed stuff) from JeanBookNerd.

Thanks so much!

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. :)

Stacking the Shelves #17

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 a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or from the library, review books and of course ebooks!

My laptop has gone AWOL on me so I'm leeching from my cousin's. Anyhow, I got a couple of books from TBD, TOR Teen, Fullybooked and Booksale.

From Tor Teen and JeanBookNerd Breaking Point (Article 5 #2) by Kristen Simmons

From Booksale Graceling by Kristen Cashore

From FullyBooked Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare

From TBD Legend (Legend #1) and Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu

So what did you guys get this week?

BOOK REVIEW: Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare

I know this deserves a proper review but as I've mentioned in another review I wrote a few minutes ago my laptop's gone AWOL on me. But I've just can't keep it to myself how awesome this book is. This would probably be my favorite among the three. I really enjoyed reading this. It made me cry a lot. I didn't want to finish this and yet at the same time I had this urge to just keep on going. I'm definitely going to miss Tessa, Will, Jem and all of the characters that I've come to love. The ending was certainly very unpredicatable and I see a possible cameo of certain characters from TID to TMI. This novel also answered a lot of questions that has bugged me from the moment I started reading both TMI and TID. And I honestly can't wait for the finale of TMI next year. I think this had a very bittersweet ending. The epilogue actually made me cry. Anyway, I soooooooo love this book and I'd give this 10/5 stars if only I could.

PS: Yeah, I know. I'm kinda' late in reading this and all. It did take me a while to get my hands on a copy. That's how in demand it is until now. I will definitely write a proper review soon.

RATING: 5/5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Things I Can't Forget (Hundred Oaks #3) by Miranda Kenneally

The third Hundred Oaks novel, Things I Can't Forget is probably my least favorite in the series. I have yet to replace Catching Jordan in my top Hundred Oaks novel and to be honest I'm a bit disappointed with this book. I think it lacked the charm that the first two novels had. 

Personally, I couldn't really relate to the heroine Kate. I had problems with her attitude and she somehow irked me. It actually took me a while to finish this .I think the heroine was overly dramatic and too annoying for my taste. It did have an awesome  story line and I did love the fact that Will, Parker, Jordan and Sam made cameos. I also liked the love interest. He was sweet and awesome and he actually made the book more lovable.

Overall, it was still a decent read. Probably not as awesome as the first two but still a decent read.

RATING: 3/5

BOOK REVIEW: Tiger's Curse (The Tiger Saga #1) by Colleen Houck

I know, I know. this has been out for quite some time now but it took me a very long time to pick Tiger's Curse up. Why did it take me this long to pick this up? Anyhow, I'm glad I started this series now because I don't think I can wait that long to finish this series. Anyway, the novel is told in the heroine, Kelsey's, POV.

I have to admit that I have this love-hate relationship with Kelsey. I like her most of the time but towards the end I think her insecurities got the best of her. Honestly, this girl has zero confidence. I have no idea why she keeps on putting herself down but she always does. Especially towards the end. Anyway, I think Ren and Kishan made up for whatever hatred I have towards Kelsey. I seriously fell in love with Ren and Kishan. I don't even know who I want more. Haha. I think both brothers have their own unique appeal and for some reason I'm finding it difficult who to like more. I just feel awful about not starting this as soon as it got published.

Overall, I really enjoyed the merging of the romance and the adventure aspect of the novel. I couldn't put this book down. I didn't even want to go to work because of it. I loved all of the characters. Mr. Kadam, Ren, Kishan and yes, even Kelsey. I told you we have this love-hate relationship thing going on. I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on the second book. Off to find a copy somewhere. Now I know why it's always out of stock in our local bookstores.

RATING: 5/5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Saving June would be my first Hannah Harrington novel. I was actually very excited to read this even though I'm not really a big fan of tearjerkers. I'm actually a very happy person but from time to time I also want to get in touch with my emotional side. Anyway, the story is told in Harper, June's younger sister's, POV.

This was a very quick read for me since it was only 200 something pages and to be honest it was really well-written as well. The story starts of during June's funeral and is narrated by Harper. I really loved Harper. She appears to be really unemotional with regards to her sister's unexpected death but deep inside she was really hurting. She feels like she has to fill her sister's shoes now that she's gone, her family is falling apart and for some reason she feels so lost so she decides to do one last thing for her sister. Her best friend Laney and Jake, a friend of June's, decides to accompany her on this road trip that she decided to go to. Anyway, I really enjoyed the road trip aspect of the story. Kinda' reminded me of Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson and Two*Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt. I loved all of the characters. Harper was strong and very loyal to her friend. The same goes with Laney. And the fact that she tried to be strong for Harper even if she was going through some stuff as well really touched me. As for Jake, seriously Jake is such a dream boat. He hid some things that I guess he shouldn't have but he is just so dreamy. I just can't find it in my heart to dislike him.

Anyhow, I don't really want to spoil anything so I'll just keep this short. The novel is a very quick read. It was written in a way wherein the more depressing or rather emotional aspect of the story was turned into something a bit happier. I really loved reading it. The only person I probably hated quite a bit was Aunt Helen. I think she likes sticking her nose in other people's business too much. I know she wasn't trying to be evil or anything but sometimes too much is just too much. The novel wasn't just about love and all the simple crap. It was much more deeper than that. I think the issues tackled in this novel are really relevant in our society today. Anyway, I would definitely read more from Hannah Harrington.

RATING: 4/5 stars

Stacking the Shelves #16

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 a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or from the library, review books and of course ebooks!

I got a couple of books this week. :)

Tiger's Curse (Tiger's Saga #1) by Colleen Houck

Things I Can't Forget (Hundred Oaks #4) by Miranda Keneally

Never Too Far (Too Far #2) by Abbi Glines

Fallen Too Far (Too Far #1) by Abbi Glines

Flirting With Maybe by Wendy Higgins

What did you guys get?

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

Admittedly, I've been looking forward to reading Soul Screamers Volume 2 by Rachel Vincent for quite some time now. I've ordered this from The Book Depository last month. Unfortunately, they sent me a damaged copy so I had them re-ship my book and it finally arrived about 2 weeks ago. Anyway, this is another omnibus edition and I have to say that this cover is what got me to start the series in the first place. It's sooooooo gorgeous, right? And yes, this is a very, very thick book.

MY SOUL TO KEEP

Let me start with My Soul to Keep which is the third book in the series. If you've read my previous review then you might have already gotten the idea that I am in love with Nash. So yeah, I am still but for some reason I got a bit confused with him in this installment. Maybe not enough to make me fall out of love but just a enough to let Tod squeeze in. I really liked Tod more in this novel. He was really protective towards Kaylee and for some reason I find guys who act like big brothers or something really attractive. Anyway, I don't really want to spoil this book that much but it is enough to hold my interest even if Nash did confuse me from time to time. There were certain parts that made my heart break but other than that I really enjoyed reading this.

RATING: 4.5/5 stars

MY SOUL TO STEAL

Moving on to the fourth book which is My Soul to Steal. The story picks up a couple of months after the events from the previous book. Nash and Kaylee's relationship are quite complicated at this point then especially when an ex-girlfriend (Sabine) enters the picture. Admittedly, I got frustrated with Kaylee 75% of the book. I felt like she was just taking advantage of Nash and his current state. I get that Nash did something terrible. He's sorry and his trying to get better. And I get that Kaylee is disappointed right now but I felt like she had a hard time letting go and making decisions. I really wanted them to be happy and all but Kaylee can't even find it in her heart to forgive Nash. Maybe not trust. After all trust needs to be earned but I just felt like she should've been there for him when he needed her the most. I think Sabine helped Nash at some point. I did like her quite a bit even if she wasn't exactly Little Miss Perfect. I really wanted Nash and Kaylee to be back to the way they used to be but Kaylee simply irritated me. Her grudges are just too out of place for me. Don't get me wrong. I still enjoyed reading this book. Especially the parts with Tod in it. He was just soooooo charming. I still think this is an awesome book even if Kaylee annoyed me a bit.

RATING: 4.75/5 stars

REAPER

Reaper is a novella told in Tod's POV.  This would have to be my favorite part of the omnibus. I really enjoyed getting to know Tod even more. This novella tells us how Tod ended up becoming a reaper. I have to say that this novella made me fall in love with Tod even more. I think his story is truly heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. His love for his family knows no bounds and I truly believe that the life he is currently living is something that he deserves. I don't want to spoil this but this is definitely my favorite part of the omnibus. I could read this again and again.

RATING: 5/5 stars

Stacking the Shelves #15

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 a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or from the library, review books and of course ebooks!

I only got one book this week since I still have a ton of reading from my previous hauls. Plus, I've been really busy at work since I got rotated to another floor I didn't really have the time to go out and get some books but I did manage to order some from The Book Depository.

The Goddess Inheritance (The Goddess Test #3) by Aimee Carter

I got an ebook as well from the author, Bella Forrest. She messaged me through  my Goodreads account and asked me if I wanted to review her book. Thanks Bella!

A Shade of Vampire (A Shade of Vampire #1) by Bella Forrest

So, what did you guys get?

BOOK REVIEW: The Goddess Inheritance (The Goddess Test #3) by Aimee Carter

I've had The Goddess Inheritance on pre-order since December and I finally got it about 2 days ago. And yes, I finished this a few hours before I decided to write my review. Anyway, I think this is probably the best book in the entire series. The story is told in Kate's POV and picks up nine months after the events from Goddess Interrupted took place.

I can't even begin to describe how much I love this series especially this book. I think this is my favorite  among the three plus The Goddess Legacy anthology. First of all, I really love Kate. My gods! I  can't imagine the hardships that she went through for the duration of her pregnancy and the fact that Calliope was such a bitch made me want to just take her away from everything. I really loved ho strong and grown up she seemed compared to the Kate in the second book. She was much more confident and believed in Henry which is quite a feat from the Kate in the second book. I think being a mother forced her to grow up  and I really, really loved her even more because of it. And the mystery regarding her biological father was somehow unexpected for me but in a good way.

Then there's Henry. I also liked Henry more in this novel. I really felt the love and strong connection between him and Kate. The events in the first few chapters made my heart skip a beat though and I almost cried or something but then I had to keep going so yeah, that was it. I'm just glad that things turned out the way they did. I think being a father did him good. He finally realized that it's about time to show his love for his wife and family. I just love Henry.

Overall, I really think this is the best way to conclude the series. I would miss these characters and the surprising deaths at the end simply stunned me for awhile. For some reason, I feel like there could be a possibility of a spin-off because of those deaths. I can dream, right? The appearance of some characters intrigued  me quite a bit. I really don't know what to feel about Cronus though. For some reason, I'm finding it difficult to hate him. I think he just needs a friend or  something. there were times that he tended to be a manipulative ass but then again there were times when he seemed a bit human or something. I think the appearance of Rhea gave the battle a bit of twist towards the end. I will surely miss these gods and goddesses even their pettiness. Hermes was lovable as always. Diana, the best mother for Kate even if she did have her misgivings. I can't even find myself hating Ava or Walter for their faults. I think this is one of the best books I've read this first  quarter of 2013. It was definitely a page turner. I finished this in one day after all. I think the ending was written beautifully but for some reason I still feel like that there is a possibility for a spin-off in the future.

RATING: 5/5 STARS

Waiting on Wednesday #13

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

My pick of the week would be The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller 

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS:

On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

Expected Date of Publication: May 7th 2013 by Entangled Teen

WHY I CAN’T WAIT:  

Just because there's the word NERD there. :)

BOOK REVIEW: The Glimpse (The Glimpse #1) by Claire Merle

So, The Glimpse took me a week to finish. Yes, it took me that long because I had a change of pace in my work are and schedule. And for some reason, my brain power has been very odd lately. Meaning I'm a bit slow on the uptake.

Sorry about the ugly picture. I am seriously very lazy at the moment since I just got home from work but for some reason felt like writing my review since I really need to stimulate my brain cells after 8 hours of duty. Anyway, the novel's main protagonist is called Anna. For some reason, I really liked Anna. I don't know why. I just do. Maybe because she likes to get what she wants even if it means defying all odds. Though she tends  to make rash decisions and all the typical girl stuff. I did want to smack her every now and then for being indecisive. Oh well, typical love triangle dilemma. 

The two guys in the novel, Cole and Jasper are very different. One of them is a Pure while the other is just an ordinary citizen who happens to be very "unstable" according to psychiatrists. Anyway, I don't really want to say more because I don't really want to spoil the novel. But you'll be surprised to know the how's and why's of their connection to each other. 

Overall, I enjoyed the novel but not as much as I wanted to. Maybe because it started a bit slow for me. Nothing really went on during the first half of the novel but things started to turn around at the middle so yeah, I did have to get past the first half before I started enjoying it thoroughly. I do find the Pures and Crazies concept very intriguing. Especially for a medical personnel like me who has a background with psychological disorders I did enjoy this quite a bit. It just started quite slow but other than that I enjoyed this. I would definitely read the next one. The ending seriously made me say WTF?!

RATING: 3.5/5 STARS

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.

Stacking the Shelves #14

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 a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or from the library, review books and of course ebooks!

I'm so excited to post my Stacking the Shelves this week since I got a lot of awesome books from The Book Depository. Yey! I read books randomly so some of these may or may not have been reviewed yet. 

Leaving Paradise (Leaving Paradise #1) by Simone Elkeles (Paperback)

Return to Paradise (Leaving Paradise #2) by Simone Elkeles (Paperback)

Simone is just AWESOME. She writes the most AWESOME books ever.

Inside (Insider #1-2) by Maria V. Snyder (Paperback)

Thanks Mom for this one. I know this has been out for quite some time now but the omnibus edition  is not available locally so I had to order it from TBD with my Mom's card. :)

Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer (Hardbound)

Thank you Suzanne Johnson for this one. This is part of the $100 book spree from her River Road Giveaway last December.

Saving June by Hannah Harrington (Paperback)

Soul Screamers Vol. 2 : My Soul to Keep • Reaper • My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent

The Glimpse (The Glimpse #1) by Claire Merle

I also forgot to post a couple of ebooks that I got two weeks ago. I already read one of them.

  Play With Me by Piper Shelly

Foolish Games (Foolish Games #1) by Leah Spiegel

Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Beauty from Pain (Beauty #1) by Georgia Cates

Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

If You Stay (Beautifully Broken) by Courtney Cole

That's about it. What did you guys get?

 

BOOK REVIEW: Return to Paradise (Leaving Paradise #2) by Simone Elkeles

I finally decided to make a review of Return to Paradise after 3 days I think. I finished reading this a few days ago and it got  me all mixed up. I was teary-eyed for quite some time and honestly I just needed the entire story to sink in. Gosh! Simone Elkeles is really awesome isn't she? How does she come up with these wonderful stories that really tear into out hearts?

First of all, I admire Maggie for growing up and becoming  more independent and less needy in this novel. She's one strong girl and I just admire her for that. She had a lot of growing up to do and I'm just glad that she finally learned how to stand up for herself and to actually fight for what she wants. I think the trip that reunited Caleb and Maggie is something that the two of them truly needed.

And as for Caleb. Hmm. Seriously, the guy is either unlucky or he just makes a lot of wrong choices. Anyway, he has an awesome heart. I think he needed Maggie to keep him grounded  most of the time. Maggie needed him in the first novel but he needed her more in this one. Everything just seemed so difficult for the both of them. The guy has a good heart. I guess he just feels like he can't really depend on anyone since his entire family was just so messed up. Anyway, I still think Caleb is such a dreamboat.

Overall, this is another one of Simone's awesome novels. Deym! She needs to write more. I just loved everything about this novel. The introduction of new characters were just so awesome and was much needed. I love the fact that Julio, who seemed so misguided when he first appeared in Leaving Paradise had a very important role in this one. Even Lenny who seemed like a douche from the very start contributed something. Everyone seriously had a role in making everything right and for some reason this made it all the more awesome. No annoying characters  here! I'm just really happy that they all got the ending that they deserve and that Caleb was able to start all over again. Anyway, Simone never fails to impress me and this is another two thumbs up for me She got me crying, smiling, laughing and everything. The steamy scenes between Caleb and Maggie were to die for as well. An easy 5/5 stars.

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: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

I finally finished reading Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion earlier today. Honestly, the reason why I decided to read this novel is because I really loved the movie adaptation. Sadly, I didn't really enjoyed the novel as much as the movie.

So for some reason 200+ pages took me a week to finish. I don't really know why. I'm usually a very fast reader but somehow I really couldn't make myself finish this in one sitting. I think it took me a week to get through to this. I was pretty much excited about getting my hands on this particular book since I just loved the movie. Don't get me wrong. It wasn't that bad or anything but it wasn't as funny as the movie. On the contrary it was kinda' depressing. I did like the author's unique take on zombies. It was refreshing for some reason since they weren't portrayed in the traditional sense.

I really liked 'R' though. His narration throughout the entire novel made me cringe and then warmed all at the same time. I don't know. Reading from his POV made me think that zombies definitely have hope. 

Anyway, I will have to admit that I definitely enjoyed watching the movie more so I might not pick up the next book in the series. Rumor has it there's going to be a part 2. But who knows. Anyway, the writing wasn't particularly bad it was just probably somewhere in the middle. Not that bad but not that good either. But the story had potential. It had its ups and downs. It didn't confuse me quite a bit since there were times when the POV suddenly shifts from 'R' to Perry but other than that it was just okay. I didn't particularly dislike or like Julie either. She wasn't as kickass as she was in the movie but I did love Nora. She was hilarious!

RATING: 3/5 stars