Tuesday, May 31, 2011

White Cat


So, I literally just finished reading White Cat By Holly Black and I am not sure how I feel and to be fair I really wasn't sure what I wanted from this book when I picked it out at the library... So I guess I was a blank slate... but lately I have been on a book low and I need a high.. not meaning I haven't read any good books, just meaning I haven't read enough GREAT books and I feel like this is depressing me into not like other books as much as they may deserve. Although, I did enjoy Please Ignore Vera Dietz and Demon Glass A LOT. Those weren't enough to satisfy me, I guess.

White Cat is about a family of curse workers. Curse workers are normal people who are born with powers that can affect people by their touch. So in this world which is basically modern day America but instead of Mob Families you have Criminal Curse Worker families and in this world being a worker (good or bad) is illegal and to try and prevent being worked.... Everyone wears gloves.  So the main character Cassel grows up in a family of workers and con artists and although he is a great con artist, he is not a worker. So, he spends most of his life feeling like he his on the outside looking in when it comes to his family as workers, since they are so secretive about the going ons of the family business.

As far as the book goes I did enjoy it, I liked how original the idea was and that was most definitely refreshing, but at times.. I felt it was hard to keep up with and I just couldn't fully get lost in it. It was just missing the extra umph of writing in my opinion. However, although at times I was uncomfortable will the darkness of the book, I think Black did a great job at balancing that and keeping the book still YA friendly. In the end I would most definitely read the second book in series and see if it can suck me in even more.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

In My Mailbox (8)


Library
A Kiss In Time By Alex Flinn
White Cat By Holly Black
DemonGlass By Rachel Hawkins
Rumors By Anna Godbersen

Gift
A Place of Yes By Bethenny Frankel

"Bought"
Bright Young Things By Anna Godbersen
Eclipse By Stephenie Meyer

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Demon Glass


Demon Glass is the 2nd book in the what I believe would be the Hex Hall Series By Rachel Hawkins and although I didn't give the 1st book an amazeballs review.. the book was still intriguing enough for me to  want to read the next book and I am most glad I did! 


[SPOILER ALERT If You Have NOT read Hex Hall and want too,  this part of the review will give some shockers away]
Demon Glass follows Sophie as she copes with the fact that the person she loves is actually a demon hunter and the fact that Sophie herself is in fact not a witch but a Demon. After, a few troubling issues at Hecate... Her Dad requests that she move to England and live with him and the council for the Summer. Jenna joins the trip, as well as the hunky groundskeeper Cal. Soon there ensues a love triangle, a little spy work to solve a demon farming mystery and so forth.
[END SPOILER]

Anyways, maybe that wasn't a spoiler.. but Hey! I don't want to risk anything! Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the book. I definitely enjoyed it more then the first one. Although still cheesy in ways and kind of predictable. I feel that Hawkins definitely found more of her own voice in this book... and the cliffhanger was perfect. I felt so much more invested in the characters this time around and towards the head I was really worried for them. As far as the cliffhanger mentioned.. I did not see it coming... I for some reason felt that their would only be two books and the story would end there, so I was shocked when it ended with an opening for a third book... which I am  more excited then ever to read!  I want to know more!

Friday, May 27, 2011

The Wedding Girl


Boy, did I ever learn not to pick a book by its cover with this one! I mean this obviously won't detour me from buying books just because I like their title and cover, but it is a disappointment when a book with both, falls short on the whole story line.


The book is about Milly who when she is 18 marries a man named Allan spur of the moment, ten years later she is engaged again and about to get married to a wealthy handsome man named Simon and have the wedding of the century. Until someone from the past comes back into her life and threatens to tell the secret that she was in fact married before and never got divorced. Yea, that really is the plot.

It has potential and unfortunately the story didn't really progress to more then a bad soap opera. I really wanted to like the book and since I have enjoyed her books in the past I was sad that this one was not one of those books.. but to be honest I just found the book dry and annoying with twists that weren't exactly shocking, but disturbing. Ok, disturbing is harsh.. they just weren't "OMG I can't believe it!" they were more "Really? That is weird..." I also, found it hard to really emotionally love the characters... although I found easy to hate a one. Particularly Simon; who's constant whining, insecurities and outbursts drove me insane!

To some readers, I am sure this book may appeal to you... it could definitely become someone guilty pleasure summer vacay read... it just wasn't mine and it wouldn't be a book I recommend to my fairweather reading friends.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Want Want Want Wednesday (9)

Want Want Want Wednesday is My Own Personal weekly Meme that I do, which is similiar to TBR, Waiting on Wednesday, etc. Except it is really ANY books you want to read or own, or whatever you just want them
= )

Devoted By Hilary Duff

OK, So.. I have already pre-ordered this book, like I was waiting to pre-order the second I heard there was a release date, and then I waited a month or so till it was actually a confirmed book on amazon and then I pre-ordered it! Seriously, cannot explain how stoked I am for this book. Minus the cover. I am not happy with this cover at ALL.. I mean I like some cohesion in my book covers, when it comes to series and the first book Elixir; has is deep purple with a flower on it (I believe an Orchid) So.. this cover isn't working for me. Anyways, for those who don't what the series is about... It is about a girl name Clea who is 17, after her father goes missing, she starts seeing a man appearing in all the photos she is taking, after at first being creeped out, she soon finds herself drawn to this individual. This leads her on a journey, that turns into a fight against destiny, search for her father and much much more. Oh and yes, it is written by THAT Hilary Duff. But don't be discouraged by that at all!

Uncommon Criminals By Ally Carter

This is another book that I almost pre-ordered, but it comes out in late June.. So I decided to wait. Also, back to cohesion.. this book cover/series has it! Sorry, for that side note. Anyways, I am excited to see what Kat and the family are up to do next. What their next heist/con will be. AND I am DYING for Kat and Hale's romance to heat up! 





Still Missing By Chevy Stevens

Still missing is a story about a 32 year old realtor who is abducted, while showing a home. The story is about her life living with her abductor, escaping, coping and trying to catch the abductor.   I want this book, mainly because I like books about real hard hitting stuff that happens every day and the psychological way it affects people.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

My Book Boyfriend (4)

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme Hosted By The Unread Reader . Where we talk about the men we love in literature and swoon over them.

My Book Boyfriend is W.W. Hale the V from Heist Society 

Why I "Love" Him...

  • Nickname: Hale
  • Handsome
  • Cunning
  • Protective
  • Rich, so he steals to feel something


Who I Would Choose To Play Hale..

Actor: Dave Franco
Swoon-Worthy Quote

“Dance with me.”
 “What?” she asked, but his arms were already going around her waist. He was already holding her tightly against him.
“Dancing. Come on. You can do it. It’s a lot like navigating through a laser grid. It requires rhythm.” He moved her hips to the beat of the distant music. “And patience.” He spun her out slowly and back toward him. “And it’s only fun if you trust your partner.” The dip was so slow, so smooth, that Kat didn’t know it was happening until the world had already turned upside down and Hale’s face was inches from her own.
 “Count me in, Kat.” He squeezed her tighter. “You should always count me in.” [204]

Please Ignore Vera Dietz


 Please Ignore Vera Dietz is a book I stumbled upon at the library and did a quick mental flash to seeing the book on peoples blogs.. meaning it was familiar.. Which was good enough for me to pick it up. Then I read the back of the book and the whole best friend dying, and hating him, while knowing all his secrets, that need to be told... that whole concept seemed intriguing to me. So I checked the book out = )

 And I wasn't disappointed. I have seriously been waiting a long while to read a book that was hard for me to put down! Not saying that the books I have read recently aren't good, I just haven't read anything special recently. And this book is just that SPECIAL. Now, I did find the book to make me feel a little uncomfortable, but I feel this may have been the authors intention. I think that may have been the state of mind she wanted you to be in. I could be wrong though. It's just some of the subject matter is quite dark. I mean anything to do with animals dying, is REALLY hard for me to love, or even get over and to be honest I am not over it. It is just the way the book is written. The tone is so perfect and different and it changes from sad, to angry to funny.. seamlessly. Towards the end I will say it gets a little old, but it comes full circle and is a needed ending in my opinion.

If you are a reader who has been waiting for a special book, and can handle some dark material then you will enjoy Please Ignore Vera Dietz very much. Overall the book also has a great message to it.. actually a few great messages to it.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Beastly


As I have said many times before, I wanted to read Beastly before the movie came out. Which obviously.. the movie has already come out. However, I still held out of watching the movie, before I read the book and to be honest I am glad I did. Also, to be honest.. I expected this book to be simple. Nothing special.. I guess, I felt like the book and the movie would be exactly the same and that it would not be too intriguing. I was greatly wrong.

So for those who don't know it is a modern take on Beauty and The Beast and the book is more true to the original story line, while (from what I can tell ) the movie takes some artistic liberties which I'm sure are fine, I was just picturing the book, to be similar to what I have seen in the movie trailer. The only actual modern thing about the book  is that it takes place in modern America. But other than that it is pretty close. Like he is an actually beast. Not just a greatly disfigured human. The one thing I didn't really like was the use of IM/Chat Room talk that is used in between chapters. I feel as if it wasn't needed (although it was amusing) and I think it may have dated the book.

Overall I was greatly pleased, by the book. While staying true to the story line and playing homage to important part of the story... Flinn was still able to make the book and story her own. If you weren't sure if you wanted to read this book, I think you most definitely should.. Although, I do warn that the ending is kind of cheesy.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Want Want Want Wednesday (8)

The Magnolia League By Katie Crouch

The South. Secret Society. Voodoo. ENOUGH SAID.








The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie Antoinette By Carolyn Meyer

I absolutely love Carolyn Meyer's writing and the Young Royals series. I find them to be a pretty truthful and accurate account of history (or at least what we assume is). I have enjoyed reading the 4 books based on Tudor woman and cannot wait to see her take on the salacious Marie Antoinette, as well as the French Court. 







Russian Winter By Daphne Katolay

Nina who is a former Russian ballerina, looks back at her past in Russia. Which is filled with love, betrayal and hope. I don't know why but it was really the title the made me want this book, there was something so intriguing about it. As I read more on the plot, it seemed even more interesting to me. It involves secrets, Stalin's rise and jewelry that holds the key to a secret.






PS This Is My 100th Post , Since I began blogging = )

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Heist Society


Heist Society totally rocked my world! It was pretty much what I expected but was better, I found myself wrapped up in the story. I am most definitely disappointed that I didn't pick this book up sooner! Heist Society is about this 15 year old Con Artist name Katarina Bishop, who has left the game for a normal life at boarding school, until someone frames her Dad in a heist and Katarina has to clear is name. It reminded me a lot of Oceans 11 Jr. Anyways, with the help of friends and family she assembles a crew and they travel all around the world to execute the perfect heist and clear her Dads name.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book my only problem with it is I would have preferred Katarina to be 17, she just appeared to come off older.. So I was always a but put off when reminded of her and the rest of the crews young age. My feelings are quite mixed on her relationship with Hale. I REALLY want them to be together, so I was disappointed when it didn't happen, (better happen in the 2nd book though) but at the same time, I am happy it was instant love type thing either.  I could most definitely see this being turned into a TV Movie and if so I think I would cast Selena Gomez or Nina Dobrev. Anyways, it is an enjoyable read for anyone who like YA Books. I cannot wait to read the next book.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Want Want Want Wednesday (7)

The Goddess Test By Aimee Carter

Although I have read "meh" reviews on the book, I am still interested in reading it and that is mainly because I like the  whole Goddess, Greek Mythology, YA concept .








 Demon Glass By Rachel Hawkins

Although, I wasn't in LOVE with  Hex Hall, I was intrigued and entertained enough to want to read Demon Glass and see where the story goes. Plus, I have to know what happened to Archer.







Abandon By Meg Cabot

Ok, I know nothing about this book and honestly I don't care. It was written by Meg Cabot which is automatic awesomeness.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Throwback Tuesday (1)

On the spur of the moment, I decided to create Throwback Tuesday, which allows me to write a review on books I have read in the past. I am aware that this list may not last long, since for a year this blog consisted of "Throwback" Books. However, Every once in awhile I remember a book, that I enjoyed reading and I think about how I would want to blog about it, but I am not sure if I should, since I hadn't recently read it. So this is my solution. PS if this blog comes out funky, It is most likely a mix between the fact that I am on Percocet and my lack of proof reading my blogs before posting them.


I had been wanting to write a review on this book for awhile, but I kept forgetting the name of the book; which is slightly ironic, given the theme of this book. Now that i can finally remember the title and now that I created my own little platform to allow myself to blog about it; I am happy.   Anyways, I wouldn't say There's No Place Like Here is a phenomenal life changing book, but it is a great little gem.

The book follows Sandy Shortt and her present life, as well as flashbacks of her past. Sandy is a Missing Persons detective in Ireland, who has always been obsessed with finding missing things, whether it was her other sock or her the little girl in her neighborhood who went missing when she was a child. While investigating another missing persons case, Sandy soon finds herself in the place where all missing things go, "Here". While in "Here" Sandy finds a bunch of things that disappeared in her life and a few people who she had been investigating their disappearance. However, Sandy isn't sure how to get out of "here" either. 

The book wasn't a hard read, but it definitely cute, endearing and at times heart breaking. Ahern did an amazing job at writing an original book and plot. If you need a book that will make you laugh, smile and even cry, but overall make you think a little and make you feel good... then this book is most definitely a book you need to read.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Hex Hall


I had heard a lot of positive buzz on Hex Hall, and the sequel to the book Demonglass. Especially, since I was going to see her at Hicklebee's back in March and purchase her book, get it signed and all the fun stuff, that is seems every book blogger does, but me. Not that I don't want to, they just seem to fall on the most inconvenient days for me. Anyways, with all the positive buzz, I was happy to stumble upon this book, when I visited the Library.

The premise of the book is pretty simple, human "witch" named Sophie Mercer, exposes herself (her magic people!) to humans a few too many times and gets sent to a reform school for other magical creatures, known as Prodigium. While there she is asked to join another witches coven headed by the uber bitchy, pretty, typical mean girl character Elodie, and becomes close to her roommate Jenna who happens to be a Vampire. Quickly, Sophie learns that, Jenna's friend and previous roommate Holly was murdered. To make matters even more fun.... Holly was apart of Elodie's Coven and most of the school thinks it was Jenna who killed her. Sophie struggles to learn about the magic world and how to properly use her powers, while being tormented by Elodie for being so pathetic and to make matters worse Sophie has began crushing on the school heart throb and bad boy, who also happens to be Elodie's Boyfriend. Soon another student is attacked and the school is on high alert trying to figure who has committed the crime, as well as everyone blaming Jenna and all that fun stuff.

I am going to be honest I wasn't instantly in love with this book. The book isn't exactly TOO original, although yes, it does have a new-ish spin on things. I also, felt Hawkins.. was trying to sound a little too much like Meg Cabot, which I felt didn't work for this book.. it wasn't awful, it just felt like she was trying too hard. Overall, though as I read the book did get better and is a nice simple, cute, easy read. I would definitely recommend this book to a younger audience, because although not completely a juvenile book, I felt all in all it had that vibe. So, if you looking for a quick summer read, or a book for your next book report then this book will work out perfectly. I also noticed, that on both book covers, there is a black cat, but in this book their is no black cat... I don't really understand that but who knows. I am excited to read Demonglass, because Hex Hall did leave a lot of set up for this book to be phenomenal and out shine the first one.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Spotlight Sunday (7)

I haven't done one of these in awhile!!! In honor of Mother's Day I decided to Spotlight a Blogger who is a Mom herself and also in my opinion has a GREAT Blog!


I thoroughly enjoy reading her blog and I think you will too, So PLEASE go and stop by, read and follow. Yeah?!

In My Mailbox (7)



Library
Please Ignore Vera Dietz By AS King
Beastly By Alex Flinn
Heist Society By Ally Carter


SORRY, for the sucky volume quality I was having mic trouble.