The Last Little Blue Envelope (Little Blue Enevelope, #2)

Summary:

"Ginny Blackstone thought that the biggest adventure of her life was behind her. She spent last summer traveling around Europe, following the tasks her aunt Peg laid out in a series of letters before she died. When someone stole Ginny's backpack—and the last little blue envelope inside—she resigned herself to never knowing how it was supposed to end.
Months later, a mysterious boy contacts Ginny from London, saying he's found her bag. Finally, Ginny can finish what she started. But instead of ending her journey, the last letter starts a new adventure—one filled with old friends, new loves, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Ginny finds she must hold on to her wits . . . and her heart. This time, there are no instructions."

When The Last Little Blue Envelope came out I was quite stoked to read it and finally get an ending to Ginny's story and although, I am happy to get an ending. I am not necessarily  happy with the book.  I felt it dragged on and really just plateaued. I was constantly waiting for the story to pick up, for their to be a big turn around, a really exciting or dramatic moment and there wasn't.

I liked the book, I did and it was quick and witty, as any Maureen Johnson book should be. BUT as a sequel, they book just didn't cut it for me. I personally think, had Maureen Johnson just combined The Little Last Blue envelope with 13 Little Blue Envelopes and made it a two parter. I would have preferred it more. The momentum from Part 1 would be freshly with me to carry on the less dramatic Part 2. Since she did not do that, they momentum of the excitement for 13 Little Blue Envelopes was lost on me.  It was not a bad book, just not exactly what I wanted from the story. Curious, if anyone else felt this way too?

Far Far Away

Summary:

"It says quite a lot about Jeremy Johnson Johnson that the strangest thing about him isn't even the fact his mother and father both had the same last name. Jeremy once admitted he's able to hear voices, and the townspeople of Never Better have treated him like an outsider since. After his mother left, his father became a recluse, and it's been up to Jeremy to support the family. But it hasn't been up to Jeremy alone. The truth is, Jeremy can hear voices. Or, specifically, one voice: the voice of the ghost of Jacob Grimm, one half of the infamous writing duo, The Brothers Grimm.
Jacob watches over Jeremy, protecting him from an unknown dark evil whispered about in the space between this world and the next. But when the provocative local girl Ginger Boultinghouse takes an interest in Jeremy (and his unique abilities), a grim chain of events is put into motion. And as anyone familiar with the Grimm Brothers know, not all fairy tales have happy endings....
Young adult veteran Tom McNeal (one half of the writing duo known as Laura & Tom McNeal) has crafted a novel at once warmhearted, compulsively listenable, and altogether thrilling - and McNeal fans of their tautly told stories will not be disappointed."

Far Far Away is literary beauty with such string writing. However, I believe the summary is misleading. I was hoping to get a magical adventure. Far Far Away is more of a mystery a story of warning. Which I guess is clever, since that is the point of the Grimm Fairy Tales.  As mentioned the book isn't really a fantasy, since it takes places in modern times, but in a fictional town and with very tiny magical elements. Although, a slow story and slightly drawn out Far Far Away is an enjoyable read and one I would recommend. I believe it is a book that you need to be in the mood to sit down with your cup of tea, cuddle in a blanket sitting by the fire to read. 

Beautiful Lies

Summary:

"Rachel and Alice are an extremely rare kind of identical twins—so identical that even their aunt and uncle, whom they’ve lived with since their parents passed away, can’t tell them apart. But the sisters are connected in a way that goes well beyond their surfaces: when one experiences pain, the other exhibits the exact same signs of distress. So when one twin mysteriously disappears, the other immediately knows something is wrong—especially when she starts experiencing serious physical traumas, despite the fact that nobody has touched her. As the search commences to find her sister, the twin left behind must rely on their intense bond to uncover the truth. But is there anyone around her she can trust, when everyone could be a suspect? And ultimately, can she even trust herself? Master storyteller Jessica Warman will keep readers guessing when everything they see—and everything they are told—suddenly becomes unreliable in this page-turning literary thriller."

Quick and Easy Review

It is hard to say what exactly my feelings are about this book, as a psychological thriller, the book definitely worked, and  I feel is the only thing the story had going for it, which almost makes you excuse the fact that a lot of things don't really add up or make sense. Pretty much, the concept of the stigmatic twins and the serial killer is a good one, but doesn't have enough of a logical depth to them. It was almost like you read one story and then jumped to another at the end, that mildy tied into the beginning.  The Story is also pretty predictable.. I knew who the killer was in the beginning and as the ending came around I knew, what the author would do. Although, still unsure HOW that happened. My final thought is the book is a mess, yet still intriguing. Feels more like a low budget horror movie though. 

The Scorpio Races

Summary:

"It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die. 
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them. 
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen"

Plot: The plot is a unique one and it holds a steady pace through out the whole book. I mean man killing horse from the sea is not a story line I have heard of in a book. And Definitely leans more towards the Adult part of Young Adult.

Characters: I liked both the main characters. They can through clearly, were different yet compatible and in general like able characters. Most the characters in the book can through like that too.

Pros: Unique and intriguing. Some romance.

Cons: Death, too much death for me, not sure where it was going.

Final Thoughts: For me this book grasped me right away, but I didn't know how I felt about it and even as I am done I still don't know I feel.  A lot of the time I was reading the book to see for it was going, not in a bad way... just curious. Like I said the plot was very steady and there was a connection where the main characters could either be platonic or romantic and it wasn't until that was clear where it was, that the book took a new meaning. But to me it ended short. Like I finally got really built up and invested in the story and it ends and as me saying "wait that is it?" If this book turns out to be a series, then I think the way it ended is fine, but if not then I am a little let down. I also think the book had a small direction, but I didn't live up to it. I don't all I say is I wanted MORE. At the same time I REALLY did like this book. My only other problem is I  can't handle animal death or cruelty in books. I just can't. If this is a series though, I will continue to read it.


Thank You To Big Honcho Media for giving this book to me for Review and The Scorpio Races is officially Published and For Sale Today!

Masquerade (Book 2 , Blue Bloods)

Summary:

"Schuyler Van Alen is starting to get more comfortable with her newfound vampire powers, but she still has many unanswered questions. A trip to Italy in search of her grandfather only serves to make things more confusing. What secrets are the leaders of The Committee hiding? Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the famous Four Hundred Ball. In true Blue Blood fashion, the ball is totally fab, complete with masks—and hidden behind this masquerade is a revelation that will change the course of a young vampire’s destiny."

Plot: And the plot just keeps getting better and better! De La Cruz has an awesome way of transitioning thoughts and characters, while staying on the original dialogue. It is genius! The whole plot line is getting better, with twist and turns and plenty of progression.

Characters: There was a lot more focus of the development of the adult characters. Which I did like. And the development of Oliver's role, which in book one he was just kind of there and whiny and annoying, he has grown on me since.

Final Thoughts: I am ignoring the Pros and Cons, cause I feel the Pros come off quite well and that there aren't any cons to the book. I am SO in love with this book, SO much that I bought a box set of the 1st 3 books and the fourth book seperately cause I am THAT sure that I will LOVE this series. I have had a few books that I have enjoyed reading and cannot wait for the next book, but rarely (if the series is available already) have I finished a book and couldn't even wait until I got the next book. Even though, I can go and get them at the library (which is where I got the 1st 2) I wanted to OWN them. That is how sucked into this series I am and it is only book 2. I think for me, it is definitely the historical factor. I am a sucker for any book that can creatively add history. But not only do they have history but De La Cruz made it Paranormal. Then she add the forbidden love and this very modern take on the whole scenario. It is just book GOLD!

Death By Boredom

I am aware that this play and screen play is a classic.. I realize it has won many awards... but frankly I just couldn't get into it.. maybe it's because the book was TOO dated for me.. or maybe it was just the fact that it was a book that I had to read for school. I tend loose interest in books, if I have a set date I have to read them by.. i guess it cause it takes the fun out of it for me. Overall, I quit reading the book half way through and really have nothing nice to say about the book and do not recommend it. I am sure some people will disagree with me and that is fine, but I found no reason to want to finish reading this book.

Currently Reading: How To Be Single By Liz Tuccillo