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.

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.

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

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

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

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: 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

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

HALLOWED (UNEARTHLY #2) BY CYNTHIA HAND

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

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

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

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

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

RATING: 3.5/5 stars

RADIANT (UNEARTHLY #2.5) BY CYNTHIA HAND

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

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

RATING: 4/5 stars

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 5/5 stars

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