Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

                                          Book: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
                                          Pages: 338
                                          Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal/Fantasy
                                          Source: Library

Short Synopsis: The last time Juliette touched someone, a little boy had died. She swears it was an accident, but has been locked away in a institution so that she would no longer hurt anyone. Can she survive what The Reestablishment has in store for her?

My Thoughts: A very appealing novel, but it seemed a bit too much Marvel comics for my taste. 

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.
--From Goodreads

A very fast paced addicting read, Juliette is a girl who is a danger to society, and herself. She has a special power. The ability to kill a human being with just the touch of her hands. She doesn't know how or why she has this power, but she knows that she is lethal. Juliette never wanted to hurt anyone. Juliette is a very likable character, and I found to be rooting for her throughout the novel. She has an interesting "gift", but it felt a little too X-men/ The Hulk for me. 

And then, one day, a new prisoner is put into Juliette's cell. She has no idea why they gave her a cell mate, but they both find out that it takes time to trust the other. I enjoyed reading the build up and relationship between Juliette and her cell mate, Adam. And then Juliette learns that Adam isn't who he thought she was. And though she seems to forgive Adam for what he did, Juliette is also plummeted into another world with a man named Warner, who wants to treat Juliette as a weapon, but in turn promises to take care of her. At times, I found Juliette to have a dash of Stockholm Syndrome when it came to Warner, and wasn't really a fan of it. 

Overall, it was an interesting read, but I found some of the scenarios a bit too unbelievable. Juliette has powers that can kill with just a touch of her hands. And she also has the ability to smash through concrete when she really wants to. She sounds like a hybrid of Rogue from X-Men, and the Hulk. And I wasn't a fan of the writing style either, as it got a bit annoying at times with the constant strike through of intentional words. In general, I liked the story enough, but I'm not quite sure if I'd follow through on this series.

Would I recommend this book: Eh

Rating: I give this book a 3/5.

Review: Taken At Dusk by C.C. Hunter

                                              Book: Taken At Dusk by C.C. Hunter
                                              (Shadow Falls #3, May contain spoilers)
                                              Pages: 380
                                              Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
                                              Source: Library

Short Synopsis: Kylie still struggles with her feelings between Derek and Lucas, but she's more determined to find out what she really is, and if she has other family members involved in her life.

My Thoughts: I love reading this series. With familiar characters, I'm always dying to find out what's next in store for Kylie.

Step into Shadow Falls, a camp for teens with supernatural powers.  Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.
Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean.  But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever…and not always for the better.
Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together.  Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever imagined.
--From Goodreads

This is a series that I enjoy reading. I love Hunter's writing style, as though her novels are spread out, Hunter makes it easy to follow along to, and has review scenes without making it too obvious. In this installment, there's a lot happening in Kylie's world. She feels as though Derek has abandoned her, and so Kylie decides to give Lucas a shot at being together, even though she still has feelings for Lucas. It was cute reading how protective Lucas was of Kylie at times, and how awkward it can be when two guys are falling for the same girl. Aside from the boy drama, Kylie also has a moment with Lucas' grandmother, as Lucas' grandmother warns Kylie that if she doesn't turn out to be a werewolf, Lucas' pureblood line, may be in danger.
Aside from all the relationship drama, Kylie also has a moment where she thinks she has found other family members, from her father's side, and can finally find answers to what she really is. But things go awry when Burnett finds out that the couple claiming to be Kylie's grandparents, might in fact be impostors, hired by Kylie's enemies.
And if things weren't worse for Kylie, she is even more determined to find out once and for all, what she really is. Everyone else knows what they are, and Kylie is frustrated by the second. She has powers where she can see, talk, and help spirits find their way, she also has healing powers unlike anything else, but she also has hints where she might be a shifter. With everything that's going on, I loved reading what Kylie was going through, and the ending left me craving for more. I can't wait to read what happens next.

Would I recommend this book: Yes!

Rating: I give this book a 4/5.

Teaser Tuesday!

Hey there. It's another posting of Teaser Tuesday. Hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading, this week's teaser is...

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.
She can’t.
She used to think her problems were all in her head.
They aren’t.
She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.
She’s wrong.
In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?
--From Goodreads

My Teasers: "I studied my brother. His posture was relaxed, his arms draped casually over either side of the patterned black and gold armchair. Daniel would never believe the things that were happening to me, the things I could do, were real--aside from Noah, who would?"
--P.g. 140-141, "The Evolution of Mara Dyer" by Michelle Hodkin. 

To play along with Teaser Tuesdays, you:


• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Be sure to leave your links so I can read your fun teasers too! Thanks for stopping by :)

Top 5 Monday Rants

Hey fellow readers! It's another posting of Top 5 Monday Rants! Hope your weekend was more eventful than mine :)

So, here we go!

1) I don't know about you, but I hate getting spam mail. And it seems to be accumulating everyday! Do you know how many e-mails I've gotten that sound something like: "Attention! Your e-mail has won X amount of dollars! To claim your prize, please give out all your personal information!" It really doesn't say that, but you get my drift. And if any of those e-mails were actually legit, I'd be a billionaire by now. Sigh. One can only dream right? I've been forwarding all my spam to spam@uce.gov, which seems to be helping some, but I still get a butt load everyday.

2) Has anyone seen that show Honey Boo Boo? I personally haven't, but have seen clips from ET tonight, and can't believe those people actually have a reality tv show. I can't believe the behavior of that little child, and the fact that she gets away with it. I'd be so embarrassed if I acted like that when I was younger, in public, let alone on live tv. What has reality shows come to? *Shakes head*

3) I recently found an article that stated that Amazon can and will delete and close your whole kindle account without any explanation. I know that there are two sides to every story, but that is just pretty scary. For more info on that article, you can read it HERE

4) Is anyone going to see the last Breaking Dawn movie? I've seen all of them up until this one, and will probably see this one eventually. I wasn't much of a fan of Breaking Dawn part I. Hopefully the last one will be better. I personally still love the first movie, Twilight out of all of them.

5) The Hurricane Sandy that's supposed to hit the east coast looks pretty scary. I remember what it was like when Hurricane Katrina hit, and am not in any rush to relive any of that again any time soon. I hope everyone in the east coast makes it out okay.

That's it for my weekly Top 5 Monday Rants! Hope you all have a good Monday :)

In My Mailbox!

Hey readers! It's that time again for In My Mailbox. Hosted by The Story Siren, this week I got...

For Review:

Stalk Me -- Jillian Dodd (e-book sent from author for review from AToMR)

From Library:

The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #2) -- Michelle Hodkin

The Secret Circle, The Hunt -- Aubrey Clark.

That's all the books I got this week. I'm still trying to recover from my pile of books from last week. So many books so little time. Be sure to leave your link so I can see your awesome goodies too. 

Review: Starkissed by Bryanna Gabrielson

                                                    E-book: Starkissed by Bryanna Gabrielson
                                                    Pages: 196
                                                    Genre: Young Adult, Romance
                                                    Source: Bought

Short Synopsis: Sydney Kane's whole world is suddenly turned upside down when Grant West, famous movie star kisses Sydney, and everything changes.

My Thoughts: I bought this on a whim, and absolutely loved this cute, fun, and fast paced read.

Kissing movie star Grant West may be every teenage girl’s dream, but when it happens to Sydney Kane, it’s nothing but a nightmare. Sure he’s cute, but having her face plastered all over celebrity gossip blogs is not something she’s interested in. Now cheerleaders are trying to befriend her, reporters won’t stop calling, and her mother keeps chasing her with a curling iron so she won’t be caught by the paparazzi with flat hair ever again.
Forgetting Grant is all Sydney wants and Colin, the guy she’s had a crush on since seventh grade, seems like a pretty good way to do it. Then Grant shows up at Sydney’s door begging for a second chance and the more she gets to know him, the more she isn’t sure she wants him to go away. But with Grant in the picture, Colin is backing off and she definitely doesn’t want that. Everything is a mess and Sydney doesn’t know what to do, who to choose, or how to make those pesky cheerleaders leave her alone. She only knows one thing for sure, being STARKISSED isn’t a dream come true at all.
--From Goodreads

I loved reading this novel. Sydney is not your average girl that goes along with the popular crowd, or is one to easily fawn over major celebrities. Her family is known for its successes, and Sydney always feels like the odd one out. It isn't until she visits her sister in New York, when everything changes forever. As Sydney tries to meet up with her busy sister for dinner one night, she bumps into movie star Grant West, and has no clue who he really is.
Once the whole story comes out that Sydney and Grant are together, everyone wants a piece of the fame. And everyone treats Sydney like she's someone different, and continually try to use her, to get to Grant. And though I was curious as to how they story would go, I disliked all the secondary characters in this novel, how they seemed really aggressive in wanting their own fifteen minutes of fame. How one character, Michelle, who didn't bother spending any time with Sydney before, now stuck to Syndey like glue. Even Sydney's father, who wasn't a fan of Grant seeing Sydney, but couldn't help but notice that his restaurant was even more packed than before, in hopes of seeing Grant. In this novel, we get to witness what it's like being used, and to be used, by those we care about, and those who have never paid any attention before. Gabrielson teaches readers that just because someone's famous, isn't all that it's cracked up to be, and we see how people's behavior's changes. I loved how Syndey told everyone off at school, and her crush, and that she was willing to fight for Grant, when things went sour. Overall, this was a fun, cute, read and one that makes people think how your life would change if you were involved with a celebrity too.

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 4/5.

Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

                                          Book: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzaptrick
                                          Pages: 394
                                          Genre: Young Adult, Romance
                                          Source: Library

Short Synopsis: Samantha Reed would always watch the Garrett family next door, and secretly wished to be a part of their lives. It isn't until Jase Garrett climbs up next to Samantha and everything changes. 

My Thoughts: A very lengthy read, that definitely had its moments, but there were some things that I had disliked about the novel too.

A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another
“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”
The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?
A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.
--From Goodreads. 

Hm. How should I start off with this one? First it felt like it took me nearly ages to complete. It didn't hold my attention as well, but I found it likable enough to keep going. One thing that kind of bugged me was the behavior of some of the characters. First is Samantha and Jase. They supposedly watch each other all these years, and no one does anything about until now? Seems a bit odd if you ask me. 

Aside from the weird stalker behavior, their relationship seemed to progress rather quickly. Especially when things got a little heated between the two, and they've only known each other for a short time. 

Some other major characters that come into play are Samantha's mother, Grace, and her so called boyfriend/advisor Clay Tucker, and Samantha's best friend Nan. I mention these characters first, because Fitzpatrick does an excellent job of making the reader dislike them. First Grace is a very hypocritical character. She disproves of the Garrett's as they seem to multiply like rabbits, and are very untidy and the opposite of Grace, but at least the Garrett's have a way more moral attitude than Grace, when it comes to doing the right thing. I wasn't a fan of how when Grace did something terrible, and was a major accident, she tried to cover it up like nothing happened, until Samantha did something about it. 

And then there's Clay Tucker. Though he always seems nice enough, and kind, you never really know what's going to happen, and he gets on your skin like a rash. And lastly, Samantha's so called best friend, Nan. I hated how things ended their friendship, and kind of felt like it was a cop out on the author's point, almost as if she were trying to say, 'you can't have everything.' Overall, a lot happens in this novel, as Samantha, a very colorful character gets to know the loud, big, family next door, as she realizes things aren't all black and white, but finds a place where she belongs, with the Garrett's next door.

Would I recommend this book: Meh.

Rating: I give this book a 3.5/5. 

Teaser Tuesday!

Hey fellow readers! It's another posting of Teaser Tuesdays. Hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading, this week's teaser is...

Step into Shadow Falls, a camp for teens with supernatural powers.  Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.
Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean.  But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever…and not always for the better.
Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together.  Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever imagined.
--From Goodreads

My Teasers: "She heard rustling at her feet, accompanied by a rattling noise. Uncovering her face, she looked down. Her breath caught. She lurched back as the eagle used his sharp beak and talons to attack the snake that lay a few inches from her feet."
-- P.g. 28, " Taken At Dusk (Shadow Falls #3) by C.C. Hunter.

To play along with teaser Tuesdays you:


• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


Be sure to leave your link so I can read your teasers too!

Top 5 Monday Rants

Hey everyone. Since the last Top 5 Monday Rants seemed to be so popular, I've decided to keep it going. Starting off with...

1) Last Monday, a jerk of a neighbor was hosting a party on my street, and there must have been no where to park. So, as I was going out of my driveway, some idiot parked halfway blocking one side of my driveway, and my other side of the driveway had a truck on the other side. Thankfully a kind enough neighbor steered me out, as I had to drive sideways otherwise I would have been stuck, and I hate to admit, but I am the worst driver ever. My dad later went home and the van was still blocking the driveway. He kindly knocked on the door out of respect and kindly asked them to move the van. As my dad was heading back towards work, the owner of that house who was hosting the party, got his own car out, blocking my dad, and threatening that he'd beat him up if he ever knocked on his door again. He called the cops, but they never showed, which I'm guessing that family had friends in "high" places. Needless to say, I will never be going to that neighbor and asking to borrow a cup of sugar, or anything else for that matter. And this is not the first altercation we've  had with this particular neighbor.

2) Aside from the drama, the weather over on the west coast seems to be changing dramatically. Summer has officially ended, and it's time to drag out those long sleeves, sweaters, and jackets. I actually enjoy listening to the rain, but hate adding on the layers.

3) Halloween seems to be around the corner. It's fun seeing what type of costumes everyone comes up with. Unfortunately for me, I'm one of those neighbors that like my privacy, so I will be hiding from the trick or treaters. lol. Don't tell me, you've never done that before ;)

4) Anyway, on to the more fun stuff. I think my latest addiction is the TV show Elementary, and green tea. First, I have to say, I have never read or watched any version of Sherlock Holmes, but I am loving this new series. I'm not sure how I feel as Lucy Liu playing Watson who is supposed to be a guy, (That much I know) but it has an interesting twist. And as for the green tea, my sister got me hooked when she came, and I absolutely love the stuff!

5) And lastly, the last presidential debate airs today. Anyone going to watch before you make your final decision? Or do you already know who you're going to vote for? It'll be interesting to see what topics come up in this last debate, and who knows what else.

Anyway, that's it for the top 5 Monday rants this week. Hope you have a good Monday :)

In My Mailbox!

Hey fellow readers! It's a posting of In My Mailbox. Hosted by The Story Siren, this week I got...

For Review:

Echo (Fated #2) -- Alyson Noel.

That's all the books I got this week, which was more than expected. Special thanks to St. Martin's Press for sending the book. Be sure to leave your link so I can check out your awesome books too :) 

Review: Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram

                                           Book: Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram
                                           Pages: 395
                                           Genre: Young Adult, Romance
                                           Source: Bought

Short Synopsis: Ellie has been obsessed with the new boy that moved into town. But when a string of murders start cropping up, Ellie can't help but wonder if the new boy, Seth, might actually be the killer.

My Thoughts: I loved this novel. Though a bit unrealistic at times, it was still a fun, entertaining, and fast paced read. 

Hockey-obsessed tomboy Eleanor Westley has never been the object of a guy's affection before. So when the hottest boy she's ever seen moves in across the street and starts treating her like she's the center of his universe, naturally she's going to be a little skeptical. But everything starts to make sense when girls who look just like Ellie start dying all around the city. Obviously the new guy is the killer, and of course he only likes her because he wants to slice her into tiny pieces. Right? The more Ellie gets to know Seth the more she's convinced he's a psychopathic killer. Problem is, he's the sweetest psychopathic killer she's ever met. Not to mention he's brutally hot. No matter how hard she tries, she can't help but fall for him. Will Ellie find true love, or will her summer of firsts turn out to be a summer of lasts?
--From Goodreads

Ellie is far from the average girly girl. She loves anything to do with sports, and is willing to take on any guy that rubs her the wrong way. But when a new neighbor moves into town with a boy named Seth who is about Ellie's age, she's in for the ride of her life. I loved reading how Ellie is different than most main characters, and isn't afraid to be tough, and knows how to handle herself when it comes to guys. But all that changes when she meets Seth. 

Seth is an enigma. He knows self defense moves, has a handle on knives, and knows a lot of information that most people don't. He is also very protective, especially when it comes to Ellie. And in some instances, though Seth seemed very sweet at times, but I also felt that he was a bit too creepy, and understood where Ellie was coming from. It was also very sweet and entertaining to read how Seth continually tried to win over Ellie's heart, but nothing he did seem to work, and yet gave further evidence to Ellie, to think that he was an actual killer. 

And though I get that sisters can act this way, I wasn't too fond of Ellie's older sister, Angela, who thought she knew how to handle the situation with Ellie. But it was also interesting to see how when the time came, Ellie did go to Angela for advice when she needed it, and the two had a bond and understood each other, when things got rough.

It was an interesting way how the author wrote the string of the killings made it look coincidental to Ellie's profile, without making it look too obvious. The ending was very unexpected, and the culprit was the least likely individual. Overall, I enjoyed this novel and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 4/5. 

Review: Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry

                                          Book: Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry
                                          Pages: 392
                                          Genre: Young Adult, Romance
                                          Source: Library
                                          *May contain spoilers

Short Synopsis: Ever since Echo's accident with her mother, she's been through horrible trauma leaving her to become an outcast and gossiped about in school. It isn't until she meets a boy named Noah, who starts to bring back normal into her life.

My Thoughts: I felt that the first half of the novel was extremely slow for me, but I'm glad I stuck through because I absolutely loved it in the end. 

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.
Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.
--From Goodreads

Written in a two person point of view between Noah and Echo, we experience what it's like to be the center of not so great gossip, the outcast of the school, and one who isn't expected to become much of anything. Though it did take some time getting used to, I enjoyed reading the hardships and the drama of both the main characters, Echo and Noah. 

Echo is a young girl who has recently experienced a horrible incident with her mother and has repressed memories of the event. She is also dealing with a very controlling father, and a step mother who used to be her babysitter, and is now pregnant with her soon to be sibling. And on top of it all, Echo has scars on her body from the incident which Echo hides. I liked reading how Echo was a shy, goody two shoes type of girl who does anything and everything people tell her to do, especially her father, and as issues arise and Echo begins to remember, we see a change in her attitude and confidence. Once Echo starts to remember certain things from that horrible day, she slowly starts to break out of her shell, and becomes more daring. I wasn't a fan of the character Grace, as she tried to manipulate Echo into doing the "right thing" and telling her who she should and shouldn't be with, just to gain more popularity, and was glad that Echo stood up for herself in the end. 

It was also interesting to read about Noah as well, who hangs out with stoners, but wasn't always the way he was. Everything changed the day his family's house went up in flames along with his parents. Noah and his brothers are separated due to the fact that child services does not see Noah as a fit parent to raise them, and Noah is willing to do everything he can to get them back. And though I couldn't even imagine to begin to know what it's like to be separated from someone you love, I was still a bit furious at Noah for not seeing that he was ripping his brothers away from a nice stable home. 

It was also entertaining to read how both Noah and Echo come together through their troubles, as they try to help each other out. I wasn't a fan of how Noah suddenly wanted to marry Echo as their relationship grew, and not realizing the words he was saying that put Echo in that weird situation. Overall, besides the slowness of the pace in the beginning, I enjoyed reading this novel. I wasn't a fan of the character Beth very much, so I'm not sure if I'll continue with the sequel, which features her story. 

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 4/5. 

Review: Entice by Jessica Shirvington

                                             Book: Entice by Jessica Shirvington
                                             (Embrace #2)
                                             Pages: 439
                                             Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Angels
                                             Source: Sent from Sourcebooks Publishing

Short Synopsis: In this thrilling sequel, everyone has secrets. With new Grigori enforcements to help prepare for the upcoming events, Violet doesn't know who to trust. Most of all, her own partner, Linc. 

My Thoughts: It took a bit to warm up to, but after awhile, I really got into the story, and couldn't put it down.

CONSEQUENCE HAUNTS EVERY CHOICE
Violet Eden is Grigori - part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengence of exiled angels.
Knowing who to trust is key but, when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even Lincoln. The only thing Violet does know: Phoenix's hold over her is more dangerous than ever.
The race to find the one thing that could tilt the balance of power brings them all to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed.
Enticed (now retitled ENTICE) is the second compelling book in The Violet Eden Chapters.
ENTICE will be available in the US from September, 2012!
--From Goodreads. 

I enjoyed the first novel, and couldn't wait to devour this one. I love reading about the main characters, Violet and Linc, and the triumphs and trials that they both experience. It was also interesting to see new characters come into play like Spence, Zoe, Nyla, Rudyard, and Griffin's partner, Magda. It was interesting to see how Violet and Lincon reacted to the new Grigori group. 

This novel was mostly focused on the issues of trust, and the fact that Pheonix, Violet's enemy, is trying to get his hands on something called the Scriptures. The group doesn't really know what it's about yet, but they try to figure everything out about these Scriptures, and try to formulate a plan to keep them away from Pheonix. 

Meanwhile, with the new group of Grigoris settling in, everyone is trying to be somewhat civilized, but everyone has trust issues. And things don't get much better for Violet when Linc and Magda go off on secret missions, leaving Violet completely in the dark. Violet makes friends with Spence, and together, they spy on the pair, leading them to trouble in more ways than one. I wasn't a huge fan of Linc and Magda going off in the beginning, and felt that Linc should have at least told Violet the basics of what was going on, even if he wanted to protect her. The two major characters that I was suspicious the most   were Magda and Rudyard because of what Rudyard did to Violet the first time that they met. There isn't much of an appearance of Phoenix through out the novel, but he was mentioned a lot in conversations, until the end. I also wasn't a fan of how even though Violet no longer trusted Phoenix and was not with him, Phoenix still had a special hold on Violet. The ending was very shocking, and I can't wait to read what happens next. 

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 4/5. 

Teaser Tuesday!

Hey everyone! It's another posting for Teaser Tuesday! Hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading, this week's teaser is...

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.
Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.
--From Goodreads

My Teasers: "Echo reminded me of the statue of a saint my mother had once placed in her flower garden. Arms outstretched, seeking an answer from a God that hated us both. "Maybe I'll find normal again.'"
--P.g. 138, "Pushing The Limits," by Katie McGarry. 

To play along with Teaser Tuesday you:


• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Be sure to leave your link so I can check out your teasers too!

Top 5 Monday Rants

Hey everyone. I wanted to start something new on this blog called Top 5 Monday Rants. It's a post about what's been going on through out the week, or what's been on my mind recently. Just something that I am trying out. Feel free to comment, and let me know if you guys like it, and I will try to post regularly! :)

So, on to the list!

1) My sister helped dyed my hair this past weekend because I wanted to try something new. I'm not too thrilled with how it turned out, and fortunately, it's not a permanent situation like a tattoo or anything. Here's what I look like now:

I don't know if you can tell, but my hair used to be black, and is now a bit more reddish-brown, and is a bit more brighter than in the picture.

2) My sister came home to visit for awhile before she started her new job, but unfortunately she left this morning, and though I'm excited that she just recently landed a new job, she won't be able to have more time for visits later on.

3) I've started my millionth diet this beginning month, and have had some progress, but it's so frustrating! It's a whole lot more easier to pack on the pounds than loosing them! lol.

4) I've been thinking about joining NanoWriMo this upcoming month. Don't know if I'll succeed, but it sounds like something fun, that I've heard other people do. If you've had experience in this, feel free to let me know how your experiences went.

5) Lastly, I am still in a major reading/reviewing slump, which is very unfortunate because I've got books stacked up the wazoo that I need to get on stat. I need to find a way to get out fast. It's pulling me in like quicksand. lol.

Anyway, that's it for my first Top 5 Monday Rants. If you like this post, feel free to let me know, so that I'll keep it in as a regular posting for this blog. Feel free to also post a comment if you've totally hated it, and think that I should keep everything book related on this blog. Thanks for stopping by! :)

In My Mailbox!

Hey book lovers! It's another posting of In My Mailbox! Hosted by The Story Siren, this week I got...

For Review: 

The Spindlers -- Lauren Oliver sent from Harper Collins (Unsolicited)

From Library:

The Game of Triumph-- Laura Powell

Pushing The Limits -- Katie McGarry

Struck -- Jennifer Bosworth 

Something Like Normal -- Trish Dollar

My Life Next Door -- Huntley Fitzpatrick

Taken At Dusk -- C.C. Hunter

Shatter Me -- Tahereh Mafi 

Auracle -- Gina Rosati 

Bought: 

Bright Young Things -- Anna Godbersen.

That's all the books I got this week. Be sure to leave your link so I can see your awesome book pile too :)

The Dream Slayers by Jill Cooper Guest Post

Hey fellow readers. Today I am happy to present to you, Demon Royale, from the Dream Slayers series by Jill Cooper, in honor of its release on October 10th, hosted by A Tale Of Many Review Tours. Here's a little more about the novel:

In Dream Slayer Natalie Johnson is a day dreamer who creates a world of fantastical adventures.  Her dreams create chaos in the real world as everyone’s nightmares, deepest fears, manifest around them. When it’s over she discovers her real power, strength, but people suffer along the way.
And some die.
I had setup a platform for a series about two kick butt heroines. I know where they will end up in Book three and ultimately where the series will end. But how do I get them there?
Initial I had a kick butt plot setup where Natalie springs into action, kills a lot of demons, saves her friends from sacrifice, and eats a lot of pancakes. It was great, it was exciting. My husband loved it, but I wasn’t sure.
It was missing something.
I wasn’t sure what it was missing at first. It seemed like a logical step in Natalie’s progression. She’s learning to fight and figuring out who she is; her relationship with her boyfriend, and along the way she saves the world. Again.
But there was no compassion for the fallen. No remorse for the damage and death she had caused in the first book. I realized I had focused all her attention on learning to fight, to become an effective undead killer, and I needed to put that focus on her emotions.
So I kept some aspects of the plot I loved (like the pancakes, demonic squirrels) and I started over. In Dream Slayer, Natalie had never questioned her destiny because there wasn’t time. The city was at stake! There was evil all around.
Now in this highly personal novel for Natalie it gives her the opportunity to mourn the lost and gives her the chance to decide, ‘is this what I really want’? Is she comfortable being a hero, a leader?
While there is still a lot of danger, evil, and the world is again at risk, it is a smaller journey for Natalie as she comes to grips with her life and the past choices she’s made. As she gets sicker and she begins to lose strength, she always loses resolve. When you’re the hero with no one else to reside on what should she do? What would you do?

Jill Cooper has also graciously hosted a giveaway on her blog. To enter, please follow along with this link: http://jillcooper.drupalgardens.com/content/dream-slayer-free-weekend-plus-50-contest

Review: Underworld by Meg Cabot

                     
                                         Book: Underworld (Abandon #2) by Meg Cabot
                                         Pages: 318
                                         Genre: Young Adult, Greek Mythology
                                         Source: Library
                                         *May contain spoilers

Short Synopsis: While Pierce is staying in the Underworld to get away from the Furies, everyone back home assumes she has gone missing or worse. 

My Thoughts: Not one of her best series, and was pretty slow paced in my opinion. I wasn't too fond of this story. 

Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.
Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead.
Not this time.
But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.
Her captor, John Hayden, claims it’s for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they’ve come back as Furies, intent on vengeance…on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.
But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there…and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.
And unless Pierce is careful, this time there’ll be no escape.
--From Goodreads. 

Maybe it's just me, but I felt that the pace of this novel was fairly slow. I love Meg Cabot books, but I wasn't much of a fan of the first in this series, Abandon, and I wasn't much of a fan of this second novel either. 

None of the characters in this novel was appealing to me at all. First there was Pierce who couldn't seem to make up her mind about her so called boyfriend, John. The majority of the novel felt like she was trying to convince herself that he was a good guy, though she has major insecurities. And when Pierce finds out why John is so tormented by his past and family, even though it is a big deal, she completely forgives him. 

Then there's John. He makes Pierce as a prisoner so to speak, but says she's free to roam about, except in restricted areas, and hates that she goes through his personal items. If she's completely locked away, what else could she do? I'd be bored out of my mind too. 

Then there's Alex. It kind of felt like he was a whiner the whole entire time. "Oh, poor me, poor me." And when Pierce tries to help him, he doesn't want it, and Pierce still continues to be concerned for him. And when Pierce finds him on the brink of death, he still didn't seem very grateful in the end. I usually don't care for minor characters, but for some reason, the minor characters annoyed me as well. The plot wasn't as engrossing as I hoped it would be. The whole time it felt like she was just focusing on Alex and the Furies, who didn't seem all that threatening. Overall, it was an okay read, just not my cup of tea. I'll probably continue with the third since it's Meg Cabot, but I'm not expecting much out of it. 

Would I recommend this book: Eh

Rating: I give this book a 2.5/5. 

Review: Death And The Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones

                          E-book: Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones
                          Pages: 320
                          Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
                          Source: Sent from St. Martin's Press                                                     

Darynda Jones, author of The New York Times bestselling series that began with First Grave on the Right, brings us Death and the Girl Next Door, a thrilling Young Adult novel garnering high praise and early buzz from major authors.
Ten years ago, Lorelei's parents disappeared without a trace.  Raised by her grandparents and leaning on the support of her best friends, Lorelei is finally beginning to accept the fact that her parents are never coming home.  For Lorelei, life goes on.
High school is not quite as painful as she thinks it will be, and things are as normal as they can be.  Until the day the school's designated loner, Cameron Lusk, begins to stalk her, turning up where she least expects it,  standing outside her house in the dark, night after night.  Things get even more complicated when a new guy—terrifying, tough, sexy Jared Kovach—comes to school.  Cameron and Jared instantly despise each other and Lorelei seems to be the reason for their animosity.  What does Jared know about her parents?  Why does Cameron tell Jared he can't have Lorelei?  And what will any of them do when Death comes knocking for real?  Thrilling, sassy, sexy, and inventive, Darynda Jones's first foray into the world of teens will leave readers eager for the next installment.
--From Goodreads

There's a lot of hype when I first heard of this novel. When I first spotted the cover and the title, I knew I had to at least check it out to see what it was about. And check out that awesome summary. I knew I had to get it. 

But as I started reading, I just wasn't a fan of some of the issues involved. I really did try to read it, but after the third time of putting the book down, I just had to loose interest in it all together. 

My first issue was with Lorelei. She seemed too trusting on certain people, and didn't think to stop and maybe ask what was going on with others. When she first meets Jared, it felt like she immediately wanted to be his friend. That's fine and all, but later when Cameron and Jared are battling each other, she still wanted to be on Jared's side and felt sorry for him, even though he attempts to kill Lorelai. And as a reader, I was also a bit confused if he did in fact kill her, why was Lorelai still walking around and talking? Cameron was a bit of an oddity as well, as it seems like he stalks Lorelai but is really after Jared. And why does Cameron so easily accept the role that he is apparently born to do? In general, after a 138 pages in, I just didn't connect with the characters, the plot, and was really confused with it all.  

Would I recommend this book: No

I give this book a DNF.

Teaser Tuesday!

Hey fellow readers! It's a posting of Teaser Tuesday! Hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading, this week's teaser is...

Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.
Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead.
Not this time.
But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.
Her captor, John Hayden, claims it’s for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they’ve come back as Furies, intent on vengeance…on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.
But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there…and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.
And unless Pierce is careful, this time there’ll be no escape.
--From Goodreads

My Teasers:
"Of course," I murmured. "You were only protecting yourself."
His gaze grew bitter. "Well, not everyone saw it that way," he said. "It turned out there were more men on board who supported the captain's plan -- dangerous as it was -- than didn't. I insisted that since I'd been the main istigator, I was the one one deserving of punishment --"
--P.g. 190, "Underworld," by Meg Cabot.

To play along with Teaser Tuesday, you:


• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Be sure to leave your link so I can read your fun teasers too. :)

Review: Minder by Kate Kaynak

                                              Book: Minder by Kate Kaynak
                                              Pages: 195
                                              Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
                                              Source: Sent from Spencer Hill Press 

Short Synopsis: Maddie had always known she was a bit different than the other kids. It isn't until an accident forces Maddie to use her "special" gift, leading her to a school filled with kids with all kinds of special powers just like Maddie.

My Thoughts: A bit mushy at times with the "Intsa-love" attraction, but an interesting fast paced read with the resemblance of X-Men. 

Sixteen-year-old Maddie Dunn is special, but she needs to figure out how to use her new abilities before somebody else gets hurt. Ganzfield is a secret training facility full of people like her, but it's not exactly a nurturing place. Every social interaction carries the threat of mind-control. A stray thought can burn a building to the ground. And people's nightmares don't always stay in their own heads. But it's still better than New Jersey--especially once she meets the man of her dreams...
--From Goodreads

My Thoughts: A bit different than the usual paranormal read, we first meet the main character, Maddie, as she is abducted by three men. When they try to harm her, Maddie "uses" her gift, leaving all three men dead. She then meets a Dr. Williamson who tells her she has a special gift and must learn to control her powers which can be taught at a school called Ganzfield, for gifted individuals. 

It was interesting to read the different types of powers each student had. How Maddie could "read" people's thoughts, how another student named Cecelia could manipulate people's thoughts, and how a boy named Trevor was telekinesis and could move things with his mind. Each student at Ganzfield had a unique gift, though some more common than others, Maddie also discovers that though Ganzfield is a special place, the school is like any other with social hierarchies and bullies. 

I found it a bit odd and interesting that the individuals with powers also had to take a dose of a drug that had been invented called dodecamine, to help enhance their special abilities. And without the effects of the drug, the individuals with these special gifts would return as normal, regular people. 

I enjoyed reading the relationship between Maddie and Trevor, but at times felt that they grew a bit too fast too soon. They also had a bit of an "Insta-love" and some moments were a bit too mushy for my taste. I also found it a bit odd that Maddie and Trevor were the only ones given a special treatment of being together in the church when everyone else was separated, just because their powers proved to be more lethal than others. All in all, it was still a very enjoyable novel, and I look forward to reading the continuance of this series.

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 4/5. 

In My Mailbox!

Hey fellow readers! It's a posting of In My Mailbox. Hosted by The Story Siren, this week I got...

For Review:

(e-book) Flash Point -- Nancy Kress from Netgalley 

From Library:

Underworld (Abandon #2) -- Meg Cabot. 

That's all the books that I got this week. Be sure to leave your links so I can see your awesome books too! :)

Review: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare, pushing aside thoughts of Alex, pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school, push, push, push, like Raven taught me to do.The old life is dead.But the old Lena is dead too.I buried her.I left her beyond a fence,behind a wall of smoke and flame. 
Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.--From Goodreads

My Thoughts: I don't know what it is about this novel. Everyone seems to love it but me. It took me three tries to read the first novel, Delirium. I love the summery for both of these novels, but when I'm actually trying to read through it, I find the pace very slow and difficult to complete. For this novel, I wasn't a fan of the constant back and forth of the "Then" and "Now" sequencing. I didn't like how it kept on switching from present tense to past tense. Another thing that kind of put me off was the certain form of switching the narration tense as well. At times to me as a reader, it felt as if we were watching things unfold right along with Lena the main character, and then at times it felt like Lena was the one narrating. So the form of the narration threw me off a bit on the story as well. Overall, it just felt like there was too much going on at once. I will probably pick it back up again later, but for some reason, I'm just not that big of a fan as everyone else seems to be.

Would I recommend this book: Eh

Rating: I give this book a DNF. 

Are You A Picky Reader?

Hey fellow readers! I've been in a bit of a reading/reviewing slump recently so I decided to do another post. I'm not sure if I've posted on this subject before or not, so feel free to let me know if I have. But recently I've been reading a lot of novels that have too much of a certain issue and not enough information, or too much information and not enough action.
So, that got me thinking, am I a picky reader? I don't know. I hate to think that I am. The novel I'm reading right now is very romance filled, and sometimes it just seems to drag on, and doesn't give too much elaboration on what happened in the past. And in some novels I've read in the past, there seems to be less romance when I want it, and more of a history lesson than a novel.
Maybe I'm not making too much sense, but when reading a novel, do you as a reader sometimes get frustrated by not having enough of either romance/ or an explanation / or maybe you're just craving more action? Do you ever get frustrated with the author and think, why did they do that? Do you ever have imaginary arguments with the author or the characters involved in the novel?
Sometimes my brain gets picky and thinks that too much of a good thing can be an overkill in a novel, and too less of one thing can wreck a novel too. And lately I've also been reading a lot of popular books that people really seemed to love, but I'm the odd one out and didn't love it as much as others. Has that ever happened to you as a reader? Like you feel like you're the only weird one because everyone else adored it? With novels like those, I usually tend to not post my reviews in other places, for fear of backlash. Anyway, I seem to be blabbing on, so I think I'll stop for now, and would love to read some of your reactions to these situations.

Review: Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings

                                  Book: Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings
                                  Pages: 282
                                  Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
                                  Source: Sent from Strange Chemistry Publishing

Short Synopsis: Julie Richardson is not your average fifteen year old girl. She's a witch with special powers. After dealing with a poltergeist, Julie must face an ultimate evil that is trying to end her life.

My Thoughts: An action packed adventure, filled with paranormal ghostly elements, mixed with a hint of witchy powers.

Julie Richardson is a fifteen year old with magical powers. She and her best friend Marcus do everything together. That also includes hunting down poltergeists in a neighbor's home. Julie and Marcus try to help their neighbor one day, when elements of a paranormal ghost seem to erupt from the house.
Julie manages to capture the ghost and contain it, and bring it back to her mother, who is also a witch, to help deal with the issue. As Julie questions the entity, it explains that it was ripped from its place of rest and not because it wanted to.
Things get out of hand quickly, as Marcus and Julie discover that there is a larger and more powerful entity coming after Julie. As Julie and Marcus are at school one day, they experience something majorly paranormal. Julie's mother becomes ill, due to a spell, and the clock is ticking for Julie to make things right. Julie and Marcus must try to find out who is after her, how to defeat this entity, and how to get Julie's mother back, all before it's too late. 

A very interesting read. I enjoyed reading how the ghost world is mixed in with witches, and their powers. It's definitely not your average ghost story, and I fell in love reading about Julie and her adventures with Marcus.

This is not your average paranormal read. Julie is a strong, independent, and caring main character, who will do just about anything for those she cares for. Marcus is an interesting, unique supportive character, that is completely loyal to Julie. With the charisma of these two characters combined, Poltergeeks is an intriguing story. 

As soon as Julie is thrust into a paranormal adventure, intuition takes over, and Julie does just about everything and anything to attack the situation head on. I loved reading about the relationship between Marcus and Julie, and it was cute reading how jealous Julie was when Marcus started to receive attention. 

The ghost aspect of the story was very different than what I usually read, and I felt that it was unique how Julie was able to contact certain spirits. The culprit behind the attacks was the least likely person suspected, and I love how this novel ended. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 3.5/5.