Review: The Prey by Andrew Fukuda

                                          Book: The Prey (The Hunt #2) by Andrew Fukuda
                                          Pages: 322
                                          Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Dystopian
                                          Source: Sent from St. Martin's Griffin                                                              *Will Contain Spoilers

Short Synopsis: Gene and the gang are traveling by the river to escape the hunters. They encounter a missionary which house hundreds of humans, and as they continue to stay at the missionary, they find that not all is as it seems.

My Thoughts: I absolutely enjoyed this novel. I wasn't a fan of The Hunger Games, as this series is compared to, but felt that this novel had all the elements The Hunger Games was missing.

For Gene and the remaining humans—or hepers—death is just a heartbeat away. On the run and hunted by society, they must find a way to survive in The Vast... and avoid the hungry predators tracking them in the dark. But they’re not the only things following Gene. He’s haunted by the girl he left behind and his burgeoning feelings for Sissy, the human girl at his side.
When they discover a refuge of exiled humans living high in the mountains, Gene and his friends think they’re finally safe. Led by a group of intensely secretive elders, the civilization begins to raise more questions than answers. A strict code of behavior is the rule, harsh punishments are meted out, young men are nowhere to be found—and Gene begins to wonder if the world they’ve entered is just as evil as the one they left behind. As life at the refuge grows more perilous, he and Sissy only grow closer. In an increasingly violent world, all they have is each other... if they can only stay alive.
--From Goodreads.

First off, I find Gene's point of view to be very refreshing. Most novels are in a girl's pov, and the fact that this novel is written in a male's pov was very interesting. Gene is a loyal and caring individual that cares for the group of humans he leads along. As things get strange for the group and they discover the missionary, Gene is adamant that the group stick together, even though everyone else wants to explore the new territory. I also found Gene to be the realist of the group, as he asses each situation and tries to figure out a solution in which most can survive. I also found Gene to be very brave, as he's always the first to sacrifice himself to watch out for the group and as he makes sure that everything is safe.

The most annoying character I found to be was Epap, who thought nothing but himself and the feelings he had for Sissy. But as Sissy was treated horribly by the missionary, Epap did nothing to stick up for her. 

The missionary itself was a strange place to read about, as the females are given copious amount of rules, with demerits for their behavior, and the elders are the only male in the missionary who rule over everyone. I found the elders to be very creepy, and like Gene, very suspicious, as there was clearly something off about the place, and they had more information than they were willing to give. I also felt that the Civilization that the elders were talking about was obviously not what they were describing at all, and hope for an escape seemed less and less likely. 

The ending was very 'oh my gosh'. The connection that Gene makes about him and Sissy is very jaw dropping, and I absolutely can't wait for the last in the trilogy. I can't wait to find out what happens next and to read more discoveries in Gene's world. Fukuda definitely has a way with words, and knows how to spin a tale leaving you wanting more. 

Would I recommend this book: Yes! 

Rating: I give this book a 4.5/5

Review: Send Me A Sign by Tiffany Schmidt

                                          Book: Send Me A Sign by Tiffany Schmidt
                                          Pages: 384
                                          Genre: Young Adult, Romance
                                          Source: Library

Short Synopsis: Mia has always had a perfect life, but when a deadly illness threatens it along with the perfect family she's strived so hard to achieve.

My Thoughts: A very heartwarming and sad story about realization and acceptance. I couldn't put this book down. 

Mia is always looking for signs. A sign that she should get serious with her soccer-captain boyfriend. A sign that she’ll get the grades to make it into an Ivy-league school. One sign she didn’t expect to look for was: “Will I survive cancer?” It’s a question her friends would never understand, prompting Mia to keep her illness a secret. The only one who knows is her lifelong best friend, Gyver, who is poised to be so much more. Mia is determined to survive, but when you have so much going your way, there is so much more to lose. From debut author Tiffany Schmidt comes a heart-wrenching and ultimately uplifting story of one girl’s search for signs of life in the face of death.
--From Goodreads

An addictive novel, Send Me a Sign is a very touching tale and reading what Mia had to go through was very moving. 

Mia always strives for excellence. The perfect grade, the perfect family, and being a member of the cheerleading team, life couldn't get any better for Mia. But Mia discovers that she has cancer. Leukemia. And though she tries and fights for her life dealing with treatments and chemo, there are just some days where Mia feels too tired to do anything else. And on top of it all, Mia is torn between two guys. Ryan, who keeps wanting to be her boyfriend, but Mia has doubts, and Gyver, her best friend whose been there forever, and helps her from the beginning of her illness. Mia must get through dealing with her illness, and choosing the right guy for her.

Though I loved the story and the uniqueness of it all, I really disliked most of the characters. First, I disliked Mia and the fact that she was stringing along both guys through her problems. It was obvious that she had feelings for Gyver, but Mia felt insecure about letting Ryan go. All of Mia's friends felt superficial as well. And the way Mia handled her situation of not telling her friends about her illness until the last minute, was definitely not the way to go. 

I also felt that Mia's mother was in fact very selfish. Every time Mia wanted to tell her friends about her illness, Mia's mother finds a way to tell her to keep it a secret. The whole family felt like they were in denial of Mia's illness, and wishing that everything was perfect. The only redeeming character I felt, was Gyver, who stuck through with Mia from beginning till end. Even when they were fighting, if Mia needed Gyver's help, he was always there to give it. 

In general, I loved the story, but some of the characters fell a little flat. A very emotional story, one that you have to be in the right mind frame for. 

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 3.5/5.

Review: Undeadly by Michele Vail

                                           Book: Undeadly by Michele Vail
                                           Pages: 272
                                           Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
                                           Source: Library

Short Synopsis: Molly Bartolucci always knew her family was different with special zombie-raising abilities, but when she is granted reaping abilities by the god Anubis, things get out of hand, and is shipped off to Nekyia Academy to control her new powers.

My Thoughts: The novel flowed through fairly well, but I wasn't a fan of the names, and some of the terminology was a bit confusing.

The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird...
Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper—and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath. Within days, she's shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite boarding school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath.
Life at Nekyia has its plusses. Molly has her own personal ghoul, for one. Rick follows her there out of the blue, for another...except, there's something a little off about him. When students at the academy start to die and Rath disappears, Molly starts to wonder if anything is as it seems. Only one thing is certain—-Molly's got an undeadly knack for finding trouble....
--From Goodreads

I'm usually not a fan of zombie novels, but one was a bit different. Fun, and original, I kept wanting to know what was going on. With an addictive writing style, Undeadly was hard to put down.

Molly knows that her family isn't the most normal one in town. With special zombie raising abilities, trying to get eaten by a zombie is just another day at the office. But then Molly gets a dream, meeting Anubis, and grants her special reaping powers. And if things couldn't get worse, Rick, the guy that Molly likes, gets into an accident, and Molly uses her special reaping skills to save him. Clearly Molly needs more training with her special powers, and must attend Nekyia Academy. But as Molly starts her first day there, students mysteriously start to die. Molly must learn to get her powers in control, and find out who or what is killing students before it's too late. 

Though the writing style and story flowed through well enough, I wasn't a fan of how immature Molly acted at times. Yes, she's only supposed to be sixteen years old, but the seriousness of her situation and what she was going through, didn't really fit well with the language that Molly seemed to be giving out. 

I was also a bit confused on the reaper terminology and the different kinds of reapers. I think there are supposed to be five different kinds. Does there really have to be that many? 

I also disliked the whole Rick situation. Molly should have known from the get go that something was wrong when Rick came to visit Molly at Nekyia Academy, and seemed to be staying there indefinitely. 

I enjoyed the playful banter with Molly and Rath, and was hoping that they'd become a couple, as Rath had even given Molly a cute nick name, "Brown Eyes." Overall, it was a pretty entertaining fun read, and I can't wait for the next in the series.

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 4/5. 

Teaser Tuesdays!

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

For Gene and the remaining humans—or hepers—death is just a heartbeat away. On the run and hunted by society, they must find a way to survive in The Vast... and avoid the hungry predators tracking them in the dark. But they’re not the only things following Gene. He’s haunted by the girl he left behind and his burgeoning feelings for Sissy, the human girl at his side.
When they discover a refuge of exiled humans living high in the mountains, Gene and his friends think they’re finally safe. Led by a group of intensely secretive elders, the civilisation begins to raise more questions than answers. A strict code of behaviour is the rule, harsh punishments are meted out, young men are nowhere to be found—and Gene begins to wonder if the world they’ve entered is just as evil as the one they left behind. As life at the refuge grows more perilous, he and Sissy only grow closer. In an increasingly violent world, all they have is each other... if they can only stay alive.
--From Goodreads

My Teasers: "'Her name was Ashley June. Like me, she survived in the metropolis by pretending to be one of them." The words flew out quickly as if pent up for too long. "We'd known each other many years without realizing we were both the same. Until a few days ago, that is, while we were both at the Institute. When our true nature were discovered, she gave her life to save me."
--P.g. 63, "The Prey," (The Hunt #2) by Andrew Fukuda.

To play along with Teaser Tuesdays, all you have to do is:


• 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 you link so I can check out your awesome teasers too! :)

Top 5 Monday Rants!

Hey fellow readers! It's a posting of Top 5 Monday Rants! On to the list!

1) I seriously HATE telemarketers! During the beginning of last week, a number called my cell phone 50 times in a row in the span of an hour. I looked the number up online, and a lot of people had complained that it was a telemarketer saying they won a cruise. I registered my number for the do not call list, but there should be a law on how many times a telemarketer can call in a day. And then that same number also had the nerve to call again the next day. Thankfully I figured out how to use auto reject on my cell. But seriously!

2) The whole last week I was sick. I apologize if there was any misspellings on my posts or on my tweets. I forgot what it was like to be sick, and it literally felt like death. Even as I am writing this post, I am still recovering, but I am way better off than I was at the beginning of the week.

3) I've been reading a lot of novels recently where the main female character seems rather pathetic when encountered in a relationship. There were at least two novels where the main female character was worrying too much about a certain aspect of the relationship, that they forget to eat, and one of them fainted because of it. I just don't understand why that is an appealing factor in women. I'm sorry, but if I haven't eaten all day, I don't care who you are, but my appetite's going to come first. Am I right?

4) Did anyone hear about that attempted school shooting in Texas? I'm not sure if anyone was actually killed, but I know at least three people were injured. Anyone else sick and tired of these crazy psycho mass shootings? It's about time someone do something about stricter gun control laws.

5) All last week everyone's been talking about the Notre Dame scandal with Manti Te'o and the fake girlfriend story. And even though he claims that he had no idea that it was in fact a dude calling him, and that he had no part in it, it still seemed pretty fishy. I don't know the full details of the story, but how could you not confirm the person you were talking to was in fact a girl? That's why online relationships don't really seem real to me. Sorry.

Anyway, that's it for my top 5 Monday Rants. Hope you all have a good Monday :)

In My Mailbox!

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

For Review:

The Prey (The Hunt #2) -- Andrew Fukuda (Special thanks to St. Martin's Griffin)

From Library:

The Darkest Minds -- Alexandra Bracken

The Perks of being a Wallflower -- Stephen Chbosky.

That's all the books I got this week. Be sure to leave your links so I can check out your books too! 

Review: Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard

                                          Book: Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard
                                          Pages: 545
                                          Genre: Fiction, Romance
                                          Source: Bought

Short Synopsis: Julia Mitchell is a graduate student with a sordid past. She enrolls in a course required for her studies, and finds out that it is taught by a Professor Gabriel Emerson. Together, they go on a whirl wind adventure that neither ever dreamed.

My Thoughts: A bit lengthy, I'm still torn between liking it and loving it. 

Enigmatic and sexy, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well respected Dante specialist by day, but by night he devotes himself to an uninhibited life of pleasure. He uses his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm to gratify his every whim, but is secretly tortured by his dark past and consumed by the profound belief that he is beyond all hope of redemption. When the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student, his attraction and mysterious connection to her not only jeopardizes his career, but sends him on a journey in which his past and his present collide. An intriguing and sinful exploration of seduction, forbidden love and redemption, "Gabriel's Inferno" is a captivating and wildly passionate tale of one man's escape from his own personal hell as he tries to earn the impossible...forgiveness and love.
--From Goodreads

Those who were fans of 50 Shades, might gravitate towards this novel. With a tortured main male character and a female with a horrible past, Gabriel's Inferno brings the student-teacher relationship to a whole new level. 

Gabriel is a professor with a history of drug abuse, an affair gone awry, and a black sheep of the family. Gabriel at times can be a bit demanding, and bossy, but as the relationship with Julia progresses, he seems to genuinely care for her. He constantly showers Julia with gifts, and has a strong jealous side. I found Julia to be a bit on the pathetic side. She has a horrible past that almost consumes her. She also constantly hopes for Gabriel's approval, and is so concerned about their relationships that she neglects to take care of herself on multiple counts. Julia is like a walking door mat, as she rarely stands up for herself, and allows people to constantly hold her as a target. I also disliked a minor character, Professor Singer, who has a history with Gabriel, and propositioned Julia. 

I wasn't a fan of all the Dante references though it was also a major part of the novel. I found that though it was a major part of the story, it also took away from Gabriel and Julia's story, and at times was a bit confusing, as Gabriel constantly calls Julia as Beatrice. 

It was interesting to read how Gabriel and Julia handled their relationship, and with the factor of Paul, Julia's only real friend and minor competition to Gabriel, makes things a bit more interesting as well. I'm still a bit on the fence with the whole Paulina and Maia thing, but I'm still curious as to where the story will go. Hopefully the sequel, Gabriel's Rapture, will be more exciting.

Would I recommend this book: Eh

Rating: I give this book a 3.5/5

Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

                                            Book: Angelfall by Susan Ee
                                            Pages: 255
                                            Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
                                            Source: Library

Short Synopsis: Penryn's sister is abducted by angels when she notices the group of five angels beating one angel. With the help of the angel Penryn saves, she must do whatever she can to find and bring back her sister. 

My Thoughts: Was first recommend through Camille Picott, and I absolutely adored this series, and can't wait for the sequel.

It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.
Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.
Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.
Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.
-- From Goodreads

Susan Ee creates a world where angels are feared, and a war is brewing about. Penryn is a strong, independent character, that cares deeply for her sister. Her main mission is to look out for her family, and to get her sister back home and safe. But along the way, she starts to have caring feelings for Raffe as he struggles with living in the human world, and having his own species turn against him. 

The story was very good, but I kind of wished that there was a bit more of a background story. Maybe I missed it, but it wasn't very clear why Raffe was cast out from his group. I also would have liked to read a bit more about why the angels were taking people, who was giving orders to the angels, and maybe a little background history of the war brewing about.

When Penryn and Raffe encounter the camp, the fight scene with Penryn and another fellow camper shows that Penryn is strong enough to hold her own. Most authors would write in the main male character to swoop in and save the day. I found it entertaining and intriguing that the author made it where Raffe was taking bets to see if Penryn would win or not. 

The romance was very annoying to me. There is an obvious strong attraction to both main characters, but neither act upon it. Raffe has his reasons because angels are not allowed to be involved with humans. There is a lot of tension between the two, and through out the whole book, I kept thinking, 'just kiss already!' In general, I know it sounds like I didn't enjoy it, but it was still a very entertaining read, and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel. 

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 4.5/5. 

Review: Flash Point by Nancy Kress

                                            Book: Flash Point by Nancy Kress
                                            Pages: 400
                                            Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
                                            Source: library

Short Synopsis: Amy is a guardian to her ailing grandmother, and fifteen year old sister. She is desperate for money, and auditions for a TV show which she has no clue what it's about. She gets a great surprise and an adventure she never expected.

My Thoughts: I was very disappointed with this and couldn't help but compare it to the Hunger Games. 

Reality TV meets a chillingly realistic version of America—and the fame game is on!
Amy had dreams of going to college, until the Collapse destroyed the economy and her future. Now she is desperate for any job that will help support her terminally ill grandmother and rebellious younger sister. When she finds herself in the running for a slot on a new reality TV show, she signs on the dotted line, despite her misgivings. And she’s right to have them. TLN’s Who Knows People, Baby—You? has an irresistible premise: correctly predict what the teenage cast will do in a crisis and win millions. But the network has pulled strings to make it work, using everything from 24/7 hidden cameras to life-threatening technology to flat-out rigging. Worse, every time the ratings slip, TLN ups the ante. Soon Amy is fighting for her life—on and off camera.
-- From Goodreads

This novel did have some potential, but overall, it felt like a let down to me. With a disappointing ending that could be easily predicted, and a contradictory main character and not really believable scenarios, I was hoping for something a bit different after reading 400 pages.

In this novel, Amy is desperate for an income to provide for her family. She overhears a conversation from some girls about an audition and decides to check it out. She is elated to discover that she's one of the lucky few to be selected with a high pay and medical benefits for the family.

As she and a select few enter the show, the scenarios that the TV show comes up with are manipulative at first, and conniving, and Amy wants to quit. The show tells her that she is free to do so, but she must give up her winnings and return the money that was given, and no medical treatment for her family.

So Amy is forced to stay on the show and as the scenarios get even more dangerous, it becomes a game of fighting for her life.

Okay, first off, Amy bugged me a lot. I understand that she was doing what she thought was best for her family, but then she says, "I quit" twice. But then, when things get even worse, she somehow manages to get her act together? And don't get me started on Amy's sister, Kaylie. I found Kaylie to be selfish, insensitive, and annoying at times.

There is a love triangle involved, with Amy liking Cai, and Rafe liking Amy. I was annoyed with the fact that Amy never once said anything about her liking Cai, but Rafe made it perfectly clear that he had feelings for her, and she brushed them aside, until the end.

I wasn't as impressed with the science fiction scenes, as it was mostly chalked up to "advance technology." And when the show actually decided to use footage of the fire and rallies as part of their game, it just didn't seem very believable. Overall, the book did have some potential, but I was expecting it to be a bit better.

Would I recommend this book: Eh

Rating: I give this book a 2.5/5.

Teaser Tuesdays!

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

Enigmatic and sexy, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well respected Dante specialist by day, but by night he devotes himself to an uninhibited life of pleasure. He uses his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm to gratify his every whim, but is secretly tortured by his dark past and consumed by the profound belief that he is beyond all hope of redemption. When the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student, his attraction and mysterious connection to her not only jeopardizes his career, but sends him on a journey in which his past and his present collide. An intriguing and sinful exploration of seduction, forbidden love and redemption, "Gabriel's Inferno" is a captivating and wildly passionate tale of one man's escape from his own personal hell as he tries to earn the impossible...forgiveness and love.
--From Goodreads

My Teasers: "Finally, she had fallen in love with Gabriel Emerson when she was seventeen. Perhaps it could be explained by their intense connection, or the way he looked at her, or the feeling when he invoked when she was in her arms. Whatever the true basis for her crush, she had fallen for him and fallen hard."
-- P.g. 290, "Gabriel's Inferno," by Sylvain Reynard.

To play along with with Teaser Tuesdays, all you have to do is:

• 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 check out your awesome teasers too. :)

Top 5 Monday Rants

Hey fellow book lovers! It's another posting of Top 5 Monday Rants. This week's topic is: Books into movies that I'm excited to see. I've been seeing a trend in the movie business lately, and they all seem to be snatching up books and making them on the big screen. It's fun seeing your favorite books come to life, but if it's not done right, it could end in a disaster, and you'd have a lot of angry fans. Hopefully that won't be the case with these. On to the list. In no particular order:

1) Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. Yes, I know originally this was a child's fairy tale, but the movie looks like it'd be an awesome action flick, and I love the twist that they're adults that hunt witches. I can't wait to see where the story goes.

2) Second is Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stol. Now admittedly, I was not able to finish the book, but the movie looks awesome. I really did try to read this book twice, but for some reason, I always get stuck in the same place. I'd definitely go see the movie though.

3) The Mortal Instruments by Cansandra Clare. I'd read the first three books and loved the idea. I'd stop reading the series because it took forever to get the latest book out, and by then, I'd forgotten the plot. But it is a good series, and I'm excited for the movie version too.

4) Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake. I actually just caught wind of this one, and was first seen through Kate at Reading Under The Willow Tree. You can see more about her post and the article HERE. Apparently it might get picked up and produced by Stephenie Meyer. If they ever do get around to making the movie, hopefully they'll do it justice.

5) Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion. Now I haven't read the book yet on this one. I'm anxiously waiting my copy at the library. And those who know me, know that I'm not a fan of zombies, but the movie looks promising and funny. Hopefully it'll be just as good.

That's it for my Top 5 Monday Rants. Hope you all enjoyed it, and happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! :)

In My Mailbox!

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

From the library:

Undeadly -- Michele Vail

Send Me A Sign -- Tiffany Schmidt

The first 3 Stephanie Plum novels in one

One For The Money, Two For The Dough, Three To Get Deadly--

Janet Evanovich 

Bought:

Gabriel's Inferno -- Sylvain Reynard

Forbidden -- Tabitha Suzuma

That's all the books I got this week. Be sure to leave your link so I can check out your awesome reads too. Have a great weekend! :)

Review: Love Unscripted by Tina Reber

                                         Book: Love Unscripted by Tina Reber
                                         Pages: 592
                                         Genre: Fiction, Romance
                                         Source: Gifted

Short Synopsis: Everything changes for Taryn Mitchell one day when famous movie star A-lister Ryan Christensen walks into her pub, and life becomes a whirl wind adventure for the both of them.

My Thoughts: Wow! There is absolutely no words to describe this awesome thrill riding story. I loved it! 

Ryan Christensen just wanted to be an actor. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever think that accepting a role in an unknown film would toss his career into overdrive. His new fame has cost him dearly; anonymity is no longer an option. His fans stalk him, the paparazzi hound him, and Hollywood studios all want a piece of him. Despite all of that, Ryan Christensen craves the most basic of human needs - to have love in his heart and privacy in his life.
Taryn Mitchell, the story's protagonist, is a realist. She's been feigning contentment, running the family pub in Seaport, Rhode Island, while quietly nursing her own internal heartaches. Her feet are fairly glued to the ground and she doesn't buy into all the hype that has descended on her tiny, coastal town. In her world, men are safe if they're kept at a distance.
Fate has other plans for these two when their paths cross one sunny afternoon. A group of female fans has attacked him, leaving his shirt torn, his face cut, and Ryan in obvious distress. Bonds between them form from the most dramatic of circumstances while jealousy, insecurity, and the stress of his celebrity life try to tear them apart.
Through all the tabloid lies, secrecy, and pressure, can Taryn's peace and Ryan's high-profile insanity live together in harmony?
-- From Goodreads

This novel seems to be one of those love it or hate it ones, with the mixed reviews I've seen, but to me, I felt like I was on a whirl wind roller coaster, reading the ups and downs of Ryan and Taryn's relationship, and wanting to find out what happens next. 

Though I'm sure this isn't the first and last novel to be made about celebrities having a relationship with regular people, I couldn't put this one down. Though this was a very lengthy read, I enjoyed the writing style, and the crazy situations that both main characters were thrown in. 

Ryan Christensen is a very talented and popular movie star filming his latest movie Seaside, and while taking a break, he is catapulted into a sticky situation. To escape crazed fans and paparazzi, Ryan runs into Mitchell's Pub.

Enter, Taryn Mitchell, owner of the pub, and has never seen a Ryan Chistensen movie, but feels an urge to protect Ryan from the crazed public, and together, they form a close knit relationship, that both hope to survive from the threats and brutality of the real world.

I have to admit, there were times that I didn't agree with Taryn and what she felt. As situations like a crazy stalker who stalks both Ryan and Taryn to an attempt to break up the couple, I just wished that Taryn would have been a bit stronger in supporting Ryan, and believing him more, than the evidence presented. Reber also does an excellent job of hating the character Suzanne, and Kyle for the things that they pulled because they both had feelings for one person in the relationship. 

I also enjoyed reading the playful banter and the conversations that developed with Ryan and Taryn, and their friends. It's been a long time since a book made me grin, and this one did it on multiple counts. The ending was very emotional, and I am dying to get my hands on the sequel, Love Unrehearsed. 

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 5/5. 

Review: The Ivy Lessons by J. Lerman

                                            E-book: The Ivy Lessons by J. Lerman
                                            Pages: 244
                                            Genre: Fiction, Erotica
                                            Source: Bought

Short Synopsis: Sophia is one of the lucky few to win a scholarship to the elite acting school called The Ivy, in London. She can't believe her luck. And as she starts to learn valuable lessons that help her acting career, she also becomes involved with Marc Blackwell, one of the most well respected and youngest actor.

My Thoughts: Very 50 Shades of Grey-ish, but with different and unique elements thrown into the picture. 

Teacher, plus student, equals a passion forbidden
When Sophia wins a post-graduate place at Ivy Drama College, she can't believe her luck. The college is owned by one of the most well-respected young actors in London, Marc Blackwell – who not only founded the college, but teaches the students.
Known for his strict classes and belief in discipline, Marc has a reputation for being arrogant and aloof, yet Sophia soon finds herself drawn to this cold, fascinating young man.
Soon, Sophia is embarking on a journey of sexual discovery that promises to explore all that is forbidden between teacher and student.
-- From Goodreads

I was a bit surprised by this novel. Though there are very similar qualities to the 50 Shades of Grey, I still found this novel quite enjoyable, and I kept wanting to find out more. In this novel, Sophia is one of the lucky few to receive a full scholarship with room included to an elite acting school in London. Sophia uproots her life and learns valuable acting lessons as well as meeting the famous and well respected actor, Marc Blackwell. Students become jealous of Sophia as Marc seems to be paying extra attention to Sophia. 

As Spohia continues with school, she can't help but be drawn to Marc and his darkness, as Sophia always manages to see the good in people. They become involved in a physical relationship, and Marc suddenly seems to start breaking all his rules. But as the two become even more closer, feelings become muddled, and Marc is having a tough time separating his private life and the relationship between a teacher and a student. 

Sophia is as innocent as it gets as she becomes fascinated by Marc's world. She's heard rumors that Marc is cold and mean. But she knows that deep down, Marc still has good in him. And though she knows it's forbidden to have a student/teacher physical relationship, she becomes enthralled with him. 

Marc is a brilliant actor who has a lot of acting experience under his belt, and has built a school to teach students his craft. He never thought he'd be in this position and that he'd be so taken with Sophia. With two parts mysterious and dark, and one part romance, The Ivy Lessons brings readers to a whole new meaning with a teacher and student relationship. 

Though Marc and Sophia's relationship seemed wrong, I kept wanting to find out more of Sophia and Marc's world, and what would happen next. Marc has a very troubled past as he deals with his druggie sister and sordid history. It was interesting to see if they would get caught, and what the two felt for each other as their relationship grew. It was a bit odd to me that Marc would not experience full happiness and connection with Sophia when they were sleeping together, and blaming it on the fact that he needed to be in control. Overall, a very entertaining novel about forbidden relationships, and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 4.5/5

Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

                                           Book: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
                                           Pages: 391
                                           Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
                                           Source: Library

Short Synopsis: After winning the hunger games, Katniss and Peeta return home with a victory lap through out the districts. But things aren't all that great as there are threats of a rebellion and Katniss must keep up the image of her relationship with Peeta for the sake of their families.

My Thoughts: Slightly better than the first however, I was furious when Katniss had to go back into the games.

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.
In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before...and surprising readers at every turn.
-- From Goodreads

I wasn't really a fan of the first novel, as it just wasn't my type of read. However, after watching the movie, I knew I had to read the second. In this installment, Katniss and Peeta are thrilled that they have survived the Hunger Games. But not everyone believes they are madly in love. Katniss now must convince President Snow of their real love for each other, or their family members hang in the balance. And if things couldn't get any worse, there have been reports that Districts are starting to rebel against the Capitol. And on top of it all, Katniss discovers that there is a Quarter Quell, with slightly different modifications, and Peeta and Katniss now must train for the upcoming competition. With the Quarter Quells, all bets are off, and Peeta and Katniss must try to survive yet once again. 

I actually enjoyed the first half of this novel. It was different from the first, and entertaining. I enjoyed reading Peeta and Katniss's relationship and what they had to do to keep everyone happy. Both had gone through a lot since the hunger games, and there was a closeness they shared that wasn't the same with Gale. I wasn't a fan of the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale, and was frustrated with Gale. I felt that Gale had spent so much time with Katniss and he obviously cared for her, but he didn't really express his feelings for her. I think that if Gale had at least told Katniss he was in love with her, Katniss might have actually run away with him. 

Truth be told, I also wasn't really reading the second half of the novel, as I hated that Katniss and Peeta was once again thrown in the similar situation as the hunger games. I was surprised that there wasn't a rebellion from the players themselves against the Capitol, since they had to compete once again. The ending was very 'Oh My God' but I'd just wish things had turned out differently for Peeta and Katniss.

Would I recommend this book: Eh

Rating: I give this book a 3.5/5

Teaser Tuesdays!

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

Reality TV meets a chillingly realistic version of America—and the fame game is on!
Amy had dreams of going to college, until the Collapse destroyed the economy and her future. Now she is desperate for any job that will help support her terminally ill grandmother and rebellious younger sister. When she finds herself in the running for a slot on a new reality TV show, she signs on the dotted line, despite her misgivings. And she’s right to have them. TLN’s Who Knows People, Baby—You? has an irresistible premise: correctly predict what the teenage cast will do in a crisis and win millions. But the network has pulled strings to make it work, using everything from 24/7 hidden cameras to life-threatening technology to flat-out rigging. Worse, every time the ratings slip, TLN ups the ante. Soon Amy is fighting for her life—on and off camera.
--From Goodreads

My Teasers: "Do Something? Was Violet crazy? The blonde girl had taken an admirable risk to protect that baby, but during an armed robbery the best thing to do was lie still, follow orders, hope to not get shot..."
--P.g. 74, "Flash Point," by Nancy Kress

To play along with Teaser Tuesdays, all you have to do is...


• 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 fun teasers too :)

Top 5 Monday Rants!

Hey fellow readers! It's another posting of Top 5 Monday Rants!

1) Is it just me or do the days seem a little longer, but the nights seem a little colder? What's up with the freezing weather lately? At night I always feel like my fingers and feet are the first to go. Is it just me or does this year's winter seem worse than last year's? Wishing summer would just get here already...

2) Have you ever discovered a new author or book and you can't stop thinking about it? Even after you've read it? And then you compare every other book you've read to that book or the author? 50 Shades of Grey was like that for me. I recently discovered a new book Love Unscripted by Tina Reber, and absolutely loved it. I'm looking forward to the sequel, and now am on a hunt for novels that have that similar style.

3) I've been so frustrated with Amazon lately. I recently bought a book through that sight. I didn't realize the novel was UK based and would be shipped out from the UK. But I waited for 5 days and the book still did not ship out. When I e-mailed the seller, they replied that they could not locate the item. Why do sellers say they have that item yet they can't find it? Amazon did cancel my order, but it felt like false advertising to me, and I had to go through a lot of e-mails to finally get it cancelled. It also taught me a lesson that I should pay a bit more attention to where they ship it out from, even when it's printed in the fine print. I was wondering if anyone else had similar problems on Amazon?

4) I've been feeling a bit blech recently. I think I have a case of procastinationitis. Anyone have any good recommendations for getting rid of procrastination? What do you guys do when you need to get out of a slump?

I guess that's it for my top 5 Monday Rants. So technically it's just a top 4. Hope you all have a great Monday :)

Review: Dark Return (Seeker #2) by Taryn Browning

                                   E-book: Dark Return (Seeker #2) by Taryn Browning
                                   Pages: 85
                                   Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
                                   Source: Sent from Tour hosted by SupaGurl Tours

Short Synopsis: As Janie continues her seeker duties, she discovers that Kai's ex-girlfriend from when Kai was a vampire has returned, trying to reclaim Kai and to turn him back to what he once was.

My Thoughts: A very entertaining story, I kept wanting to know what was going on in Janie's world, and what Kai was going to do next.

Janie Grey is dedicated to hunting the undead, an inherited duty passed down from her Cherokee ancestors and generations of powerful Seekers before her. Then, there's Kai. He's like no one she's ever met - cocky, fast, skillful, infuriating and gorgeous. Not only has he become a valuable asset in her fight against the growing population of the vampire/demon hybrid known as Daychildren...
She's unwittingly fallen for him.
Just when Janie thinks she's learned everything there is to know about Kai's mysterious past, there's a newcomer to Baltimore. Someone who will do anything to make sure Janie loses Kai forever.
Darkness returns in Fall, 2012...
--From Goodreads

A unique read of vampires, otherwise known as Daychildren, and as a Seeker, it's Janie's job to hunt them down. Janie is a strong, independent character with special powers. In this latest series, aside from her job as hunting down the daychildren, a new old daychild has come to town.
Kai's long time ex-girlfriend Leah has come rushing into town, and is wreaking havoc, and she wants Kai back to the way he was. As a daychild. A monster. And Leah is willing to do just about anything to get what she wants.
First, Leah captures Albania, Janie's friend, and the witch that helped turn Kai to what he is now, and threatens Albania to do what she wants, or Leah will turn Albania's brother into a daychild. It's up to Janie to get Albania back, and to keep Kai the way he is, before things get worse.
I enjoyed reading this book. Though it took a bit to get back into the story, it's an action packed story, leaving you curious for more. The story line is an intriguing one, as most don't think of turning one back into the vampire, aka daychild they once were where most stories would only focus on turning individuals into one in the first place. There are a lot of twists in this story and it kept you guessing till the end, what Leah was up to.
In this series, we also get to know more about Kai's past, and what he was involved in. We also witness how Kai tries to right Leah's wrong, and do what he can to help Albania and wreck Leah's plan. The ending was a bit emotional, and the only thing I didn't enjoy was the fact that it ended too quickly. Overall, an interesting story, and I can't wait for the next in the series.

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 4/5.

Giveaway:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

In My Mailbox!

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

From the library:

flash Point -- Nancy Kress

Angelfall -- Susan Ee

Gifted from my awesome sister: 

Love Unscripted -- Tina Reber

Bought:

E-book: The Ivy Lessons -- J. Lerman.

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

Review: The Secret Place by Melodie Starkey

                                  E-book: The Secret Place by Melodie Starkey
                                  Pages: 276
                                  Genre: Young Adult
                                  Source: Was free on Amazon through kindle

Short Synopsis: Ever since the death of their parents, Trey has always been the one to take care of his baby sister, Emma. But he has feelings for Emma that should not be, and the town starts to take notice of the two siblings.

My Thoughts: A very disturbing read, yet I still couldn't not read what happened next. A lot of twists and turns, but I felt really sorry for the main character, Emma.

In the small Oregon town of Hutcherson, Emma Anderson is a complete misfit. Artistically gifted but prone to slipping off into her fantasy world, her only friend is her older brother, Trey. After an accident kills both of their parents, Trey takes charge of raising Emma. When Trey marries, the siblings' happiness is hampered by Trey's wife. A series of painful misfortunes drags Emma to the edge of the abyss. Fortunately for her, Jeremy Greiner, the great grandson of the local "witch," is there to rescue and protect her when she hits rock bottom, and sticks by her through her worst ordeal. The Secret Place chronicles a young woman's passage through the dark world of incest, rape, and mental illness, emerging on the other side a whole, strong individual.
-- From Amazon

I bought this book on a whim mostly because it was free on the Amazon kindle, so I decided to give it a shot. Boy, was I in for an adventure. In this novel, Emma and Trey are both orphans after their parents experience a tragic accident. It now becomes Trey's job to raise Emma. But things take a different turn for the two siblings when Trey starts to have feelings and care for Emma in a different way. For awhile, Trey starts to sleep with Emma and the two become the gossip of the town. Emma is constantly picked on in school and ostracized, but the town doesn't do much to help her.

Then Trey meets a girl named Jodi, and the two establish a relationship and after awhile, become married. But Emma and Jodi do not always come to terms. Then Emma becomes interested in a boy named Paul. But Emma also becomes pregnant. While pregnant, an unfortunate event happens, and Trey dies. After some time passes, Emma then is attacked by a group of boys and looses her baby. Emma's good friend Jeremy comes into play, and tries to help Emma in any way he can. Emma tries to get her life in order and things get even crazier. 

Wow. This novel was a big load. There's a lot of action, drama, and adventure. I wasn't too fond of the incest situation going on with Emma and her brother Trey, but everything else was very drama filled. And it seems that everything that gets thrown in Emma's way, Emma always tries to bounce back fighting. 

I really disliked Trey, as no matter how he felt about Emma, he really should have stopped. I felt that what happened to Trey was a cop out on Trey's part, and he should have stuck through to help Emma if he really cared. I hated Jodi and what she was doing in Emma's life. Emma should have stuck up to Jodi on some issues. At times I wanted to slap Emma for not kicking Jodi out, or doing something. 

I disliked how relationships were done and felt that Emma was too free with her feelings.

I also was displeased with what happened to Emma after her confrontation with Paul. Out of all the horrible things that happened to Emma, the thing that happened to her through Paul is the thing that does her in? Overall, this novel was an okay read, and very drama filled. 

Would I recommend this book: Eh

Rating: I give this book a 3/5. 

Review: Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult

                                            Book: Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult
                                            Pages: 434
                                            Genre: Romance
                                            Source: Bought

Short Synopsis: Jack, a man that has just been released from prison, decides to make Salem Falls his new home, and meets a string of interesting people. As his new life continues, he manages to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, and is once again convicted of a crime.

My Thoughts: Though I enjoyed her writing style, I felt that it was a bit too The Crucible-esque. 

A handsome stranger comes to the sleepy New England town of Salem Falls in hopes of burying his past: Once a teacher at a girls' prep school, Jack St. Bride was destroyed when a student's crush sparked a powder keg of accusation. Now, washing dishes for Addie Peabody at the Do-Or-Diner, he slips quietly into his new routine, and Addie finds this unassuming man fitting easily inside her heart. But amid the rustic calm of Salem Falls, a quartet of teenage girls harbor dark secrets -- and they maliciously target Jack with a shattering allegation. Now, at the center of a modern-day witch hunt, Jack is forced once again to proclaim his innocence: to a town searching for answers, to a justice system where truth becomes a slippery concept written in shades of gray, and to the woman who has come to love him.
--From Goodreads

I enjoyed Picoult's writing style, and the story line was very addicting, but I just wish it was a bit more unique. In this story, Jack, is just released from prison. He had no where to go, and decided to make Salem Falls his new home, while trying to forget his past. 

While in Salem Falls, he stumbles upon a diner and meets the owner, Addie, who gives Jack a new job for helping her with a situation. The story also follows three girls, Gillian, Meg, and Chelsea who practice Wiccan. As Jack finally starts to get his life back in order, he stumbles across the three girls doing something they should not have been doing. And now, Jack is once again, convicted of a crime he claims that he did not commit, but has no recollection of what really happened. 

The writing style was very different than I was used to, as there were multiple little stories combined that all centered around the one main story, and was an interesting read. I loved reading about Jack and Addie's story. Addie is a character that automatically trusts people after helping her out of a jam, and continues to remain loyal. Jack is an innocent man with an unfortunate incident, which occurs twice.

The girls all bugged me the most. I guess there was bound to be a bad guy, and Gillian was it. She's the leader of the group, makes all the decisions, and thinks she's better than everyone else. Her friend Chelsea is a little better, but doesn't really do much, and is more like a walking doormat, while Meg goes along with Gillian's plans, but doesn't really get a say in things either. You tend to feel a bit sorry for Meg because she's the girl that's always picked on, but what she does later on, you quickly tend to feel the opposite about her. 

I disliked how the whole town went against Jack because of what happened in his past. I know I wouldn't feel comfortable with someone who had a history like Jack, but I wouldn't treat him the way he was treated by the town. The town was quick to judge when they had no idea what really happened in the past and that had nothing to do with them. I was absolutely annoyed with the ending, when though Jack did receive a happy ending, the person that really deserved to be on trial, got off scott free. Overall, it was an okay read, but I just wish things turned out a bit differently. 

Would I recommend this book: Eh

Rating: I give this book a 3/5. 

Teaser Tuesdays!

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

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.
In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before...and surprising readers at every turn.
--From Goodreads

My Teasers: "I've already stowed my bow and arrows in a hollow log in the woods. Although time is ticking away, I allow myself a few minutes to sit in the kitchen. It has an abandoned quality with no fire on the hearth, no cloth on the table. I mourn my old life here."
--P.g. 7 "Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

To play along with Teaser Tuesdays, all you have to do is:


• 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! :)