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Friday, August 29, 2014

Forgotten Friday: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

This meme is about books that have been pushed aside while others have gone viral and made into movies. It can be old books, new books, any book that never got its (or enough) time  in the spot light.


This book is gripping, creepy, and a little romantic. I received this book as an ARC and I was really surprised by how much I liked it. Sci-fi, really isn't my thing, especially when the details are really graphic. This book is a huge exception for me, because of how well it was written, and no matter how much you're terrified it makes you want to know more. It's the type of book that Joey Tribbiani would put in the freezer haha.



Synopsis as taken from Goodreads.com: Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

You guys can check out my full review to this book by clicking the link below. 

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Sublime by Christina Lauren ARC Review (MAJOR SPOILERS)



Sublime by Christina Lauren
Paperback, 318 pages
Published by Simon & Schuster
Expected Publication Date: October 14, 2014
Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository |
Rating: 2/5 Stars

Synopsis: True love may mean certain death in a ghostly affair of risk and passion from New York Times bestselling duo Christina Lauren, authors of Beautiful Bastard. Tahereh Mafi, New York Times bestselling author of Shatter Me calls Sublime “a beautiful, haunting read".

When Lucy walks out of a frozen forest, wearing only a silk dress and sandals, she isn’t sure how she got there. But when she sees Colin, she knows for sure that she’s here for him.

Colin has never been captivated by a girl the way he is by Lucy. With each passing day their lives intertwine, and even as Lucy begins to remember more of her life—and her death—neither of them is willing to give up what they have, no matter how impossible it is. And when Colin finds a way to physically be with Lucy, taking himself to the brink of death where his reality and Lucy’s overlap, the joy of being together for those brief stolen moments drowns out everything in the outside world. But some lines weren’t meant to be crossed…

Before I say anything other about the book, I have to say that suicide is a serious and terrible thing. The fact that this book romanticizes suicide, is not only disturbing, it's dangerous. There are so many people who contemplate taking their own lives and this book makes it sound like a good idea. 

A tragic romance story from the POVs of both lovers. It's a YA novel, but it read more like a romance novel with all the raunchy scenes and vague details. It was like reading the movie Ghost but the couple are teenagers, and they never knew each other before our heroine died. I liked it, but I didn't love it. If you think about what I said above, it made it really hard to like this book because of how disturbed I felt.

Strengths/Likes: 

1) I found the descriptions of Lucy and Colin's feelings for each other really moving. When they were talking about sex or having sex anyway. I'm not against sex, but it seems like that's mostly what their relationship was based on.

2) I generally really liked the writing style of the novel, it had good emotion and flow. The dual POVs were definitely separate voices and people. The whole book was well written. 

3)  Jay was really funny and a well written character. I wish I knew more about him. 

Weaknesses/Dislikes:

1) As I've already mentioned, romanticizing suicide is a dangerous and terrible thing. One of my favorite books, Tryst that I featured in my Forgotten Friday meme is a similar story. He's a ghost, and she's not, but both of them are in love and can't be together normally but she doesn't kill herself to be with him or ever considers that to be an option. But in this book, Colin repeatedly puts himself into a position that could kill him, and in the end does so on purpose to be with Lucy because she's gone for three weeks. 

What makes this even more disturbing is how his best friend Jay and his lover Lucy consider his actions as just an ordinary "extreme sport" until Colin's final act. It's horrifying.

2) Details. Or I should say, lack of details. There weren't enough details about the world of the dead. Since it was known that there were other Walkers like Lucy, there should have been encounters with them in the world beyond the lake. There should have been more details about the other couple in the book in the same situation. There should have more details about what exactly Lucy was and their purpose. Especially since there had been several ghosts around. 

3) I didn't like that all of the scenes of Lucy and Collin being together "for real" that all they did was have sex. It seemed like that's all they wanted, that's not love, that's just sex. When apart, their feelings were written beautifully but the fact that the most of the time they were together and they just had sex made it seem like they just thought the other was really hot. 

4) The characters of Maggie and Dot were almost identical in personality and in voice, I had to remind myself over and over 

Favorite Quotes/Moments: 

1) "So they caught this guy because of you?"

He shrugs. "I think so. That's what the article said, anyway." 

She feels her smile form on her face and spread down into her chest, where she never feels hollow when she's with him. "I may have only a pocketful of memories about anything useful, but I do know one thing." 

"What's that?"

"You were my Guardian first, then."

His grin matches hers, but it has a distinctly cocky twist to it. "I like to think so."

2) "Colin and Lucy go to school, he works when he's scheduled, and they spend long nights cocooned in his blankets and wrapped around each other so close that he can't tell where he ends and she begins. But it's not the same.

He tells her she's more than he ever hoped for.

He tells her that he's in love.

He asks her to never leave.

But she does."

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Book Boyfriend: Tobias Eaton aka "Four" (The Divergent Trilogy)

So I've seen this meme floating around many book blogs, but initially I got the idea from Reading Lark and they got this meme from The Unread Reader. I've enjoyed the meme so much that I will also be joining in on the fun on Wednesdays. Welcome to Book Boyfriends everyone!


Appearance: 

  • Age 18
  • Dark Hair
  • Dark Blue Eyes
  • Built like a solider
  • Tattoos of the five factions along his spine


Why He's My Book Boyfriend: He's not a man of beautiful speeches, but of small moments and tiny gestures that allude to his real feelings not just about his significant other but about his entire life. I want him as my book boyfriend because I think he's strong, supportive, and his awkward tendencies are charming, even when he's being a bit of an asshole.

Actor to be my Four:

I completely understand why they chose Theo James as Four. The actor has to be built like a soldier (and can fight like one), who's young, and can act at the same time, it's not an easy bill to fit. But if I had to pick someone other than Theo as Four I would choose Tyler Hoechiln.


Quotes from and about Tobias: 

1) "You belong here, you know that?" he says. "You belong with us. It'll e over soon, so just hold on, okay?" 

He scratches behind his ear and looks away, like he's embarrassed by what he said.

I stare at him. I feel my heartbeat everywhere, even in my toes. I feel like I'm doing something bold, but I could just as easily walk away. I am not sure which option is smarter, or better. I am not sure that I care. 

I reach out and take his hand. His fingers slide between mine.

2) "What did you do to them?" I say.

"I deposited Drew at the infirmary a half hour ago," he says, "Peter and Al ran. Drew claimed they were just trying to scare you. At least, I think that's what he was trying to say."

"He's in bad shape?"

"He'll live," he replies. He adds bitterly, "In what condition, I can't say."

3) "I don't want to say this," he says, "but I feel like I have to. It is more important for you to be safe than right, for the time being. Understand?"

His straight eyebrows are drawn low over his eyes. My stomach writhes, partly because I know he makes a good point but I don't want to admit it, and partly because I want something I don't know how to express; I want to press against the space between us until it disappears.

I nod.

"But please, when you see an opportunity..."He presses his hand to my cheek, cold and strong, and tilts my head up so I have to look at him. His eyes glint. They look almost predatory. "Ruin them."

4) "Are you asking me to undress, Tris?"

A nervous laugh gurgles from my throat. "Only...partially."

5) "I don't..." I sound like I'm being strangled. "My family is all dead, or traitors; how can I..."

I am not making any sense. The sobs take over my body, my mind, everything. He gathers me to him, and bathwater soaks my legs. His hold is tight. I listen to his heartbeat and, after a while, find a way to let the rhythm calm me.

"I'll be your family now," he says.

"I love you," I say.


You guys can check out my full review of both Divergent and Insurgent by clicking the links below.



Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Shimmer (The Breathe Series) by Elena Dillon (some spoilers)


2/5 Stars
Details of the book:
ebook, 293 pages
Published by Mark My Words Publicity
Expected Release Date: August 28, 2014
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Synopsis: Book 2 in the Breathe Series:
Chandler Raines and her “dad” are on the run. Never staying in one place for very long. It’s just not safe. When they arrive in Lafayette, Louisiana, Chandler quickly realizes this is the place she wants to call home. Friends, a cute boy, and competitive cheerleading have her taking dangerous risks to have the life she always wanted. Risks she promised she wouldn’t take.
When her lies catch up to her, a decision has to be made. Stay or run? Will the evil that’s chased them for the last four years catch up to them? When Chandler’s past comes screeching into the present she’ll have to sacrifice everything to keep what she loves safe. But will it be enough?


Thank you Mark My Words Publicity for my ebook copy of this book


Better than Breathe but still not my cup of tea. The relationships in this book were better developed in this book than it's forerunner but essentially it was almost exactly the same as the first one. It's focused on the second generation of characters from Breathe but the same in all the other ways. Our protagonist, "Chandler" is on the run from the person who killed her mother, and in voice is and thought is the younger version of Jasmine. So, if you like Breathe and you want another book almost exactly like it, read Shimmer. 

Strengths/Likes:

1) I liked Logan, I found him oddly charming and funny. 

2) In Breathe, I thought that Jasmine and Easton didn't have enough of a development time in their relationship for me to buy into their love for one another, but in this book I felt that the author really gave her main couple in this book the proper time to develop.  

3) The flow of dialogue was better in this book.

Weaknesses/Dislikes:

1) As I've already stated, I felt that this book was almost exactly the same as Breathe. I know that it's part of a series and they should be similar but to me this was almost dead on. Especially since a lot of the same characters made an appearance. 

2) If you forget her outward appearance (and that she is good at tumbling), I feel like Jasmine and "Chandler" are the same person. They talk and think in the same way. They lie all the time, because they think it's the right thing to do. When I first started reading, I thought for sure that I was reading about Jasmine. I had to reread the beginning a couple of a times to figure out it wasn't her. 

3) The author waited too long to expose "Chandler's" backstory and exactly why they were on the run. It was almost by the end of the book before the reader is given the full explanation, and that made it harder to buy into her plight. 

4) There were a lot of other characters, with little side-plots and I didn't care or want to know about any of them. I was curious about Jasmine and Easton, but other than that I didn't care. They were under-developed and all sounded almost the same. 

5) It was difficult for me to read about these characters after reading Breathe because I first read them as junior high kids, and now their older, and being described as sexy and reading their about their make-out sessions. I felt like I was reading about little kids. I can't really hold that against the book, it's more of a problem of reading these two books back to back. 

Favorite Quotes/Moments: 

1) "About five minutes later, the talking in the other room stopped midsentence. And then I heard my dad say, 'Is that? Are those? Cookies? Chocolate chip cookies?' with wonderment in his voice. Every. Time. 

'Yes,' I said.

'I love you. You're my favorite daughter!' he called out. 

I peeked around the corner and scowled. 'I'm your only daughter.'

'I don't think that takes away from the fact that you're my favorite. I mean, if I had a hundred daughters, you would still be my favorite, so it counts.'

'Unless one of them made you better cookies.' I said.

'Well, yeah. Of course, then.' He shrugged.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Moronic Monday: Theon Greyjoy


Mondays, the worst day of the week. Despite the fact that it's the start of your school/work week, there is always something extra that just pushes it to the next level. That someone that just permanently keeps Monday at the top of most dreaded days of the week. That's what this meme is about. The one character that drives you mad with their stupidity. Their idiocy is the type that you can spot their impending train wreck from miles away, the type that makes you want to slam their heads into a desk repeatedly. Moronic Mondays are not for your loveable idiots, no, it's for the ones that you think they deserve every bad thing they get it.

When reading and watching The Game of Thrones series, I wanted to bash my head, better yet Theon's head into the nearest desk. I get that he is supposed to be this really troubled character with a lot of emotional issues due to his upbringing, but I had no sympathy for him. The Starks never treated him poorly, I'd wager that he had a better childhood with them then if he stayed on the Iron Islands. But he threw it all away.

He walked around like an entitled wanker with a chip on his shoulder, but he did nothing that deemed him worthy of praise or glory. He betrayed everyone around him because of his stupidity and paid for it all in the end. The way the book was written as well as the way the show as filmed, I think I'm supposed to feel bad for him. Something about despite how stupid he is, no one deserves that kind of hell but I don't feel that way. I'm glad that he's covered in the shit storm he created. He deserved everything he got, which is why he's this weeks' moron.


Saturday, August 23, 2014

Breathe by Elena Dillon ARC Review (SPOILER ALERT)


Breathe by Elena Dillon 
ebook, approx. 166 pages (for a Kindle according to Goodreads)
Smashwords Edition
Originally Published on November 21, 2012
Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository |
Rating: 1.5/5 Stars

Synopsis: Jasmine’s life isn’t normal for a 16 year old girl. It hasn’t been normal since the murder of her older sister, Daisy, two years ago. Her life is changed forever. The monster that murdered Daisy was never caught. That was the reason her family decided to move away from their hometown in Southern California, to start over. Hopefully in a place where the last name Rourke wouldn’t bring on staring or judgment or morbid curiosity.

In Lafayette, Louisiana things are quite a bit different but in a good way. Good manners, Cajun accents and a whole lot of Southern Hospitality all make her think things are going in the right direction. On top of that the most gorgeous boy she has ever met is interested in her. Her new friends are better than she could have hoped for even if she is worried about what they might think when they find out who she is. Life would be perfect if odd things didn’t keep happening. Creepy phone calls, texts, and flowers in her locker start adding up quickly to something terrifying. Could the Monster have followed them to Lafayette? Was he coming after her this time? Maybe she was just worrying unnecessarily…or not.


Thank you Netgalley and Mark My Words Book Publicity for my ebook copy of this book.


I was unimpressed and unmoved by this book. It wasn't that it was terrible but no matter how much I tried I couldn't get into it. The writing style was all tell and no show, which made it impossible to feel anything from the characters or the plot.

The story itself has such a commonplace plot that it needed something extra, something that made it stand out among the rest, and pull the reader in. Unfortunately, at least in my opinion, it failed to do that.

Strengths/Likes:

1) I am very critical when it comes to accents, and most of the time I don't think that they work because a lot of times author's think if they throw in a couple of words that it's believable that a character has an accent or speaks another language. But in this case, I found it very convincing that the story was set in the South and that most of the character's accents, especially Easton's was authentic.

2) The villain appearance wasn't "ugly, deformed, and awful" he looked like a normal person. I think since this novel is about stalkers and murders that people should know that they don't always look bad.

Weaknesses/Dislikes: 

1) As I already mentioned, this book was all tell and no show. Through her protagonist, Jasmine, the reader is told the ins and outs of all of her relationships through her own internal thoughts instead of interactions. There were interactions that later backed up her thoughts, but I already knew all about the relationship so I was bored when the interactions did happen.

Here's an example of the telling that carried on throughout the book:

"We had an understanding. Lily was pretty much off limits. She was too sensitive, so it was no fun to spar with her. He, of course, would still give her a hard time, but he was her twin and knew her limits far better than anyone. Caedan and I, we enjoyed our little battles. We gave no quarter and took no prisoners. We loved to find ways to torture each other. Punk'd had been our favorite show, and before Daisy died we had come up with some elaborate ways to get each other. It made my mother crazy, but in many ways it made us closer."

2) The dialogue was long and awkward. The characters instead of flowing conversation between one another when they spoke, they had long monologues that covered more than one subject. Here is an example:

"I was just trying to give her back the paper she dropped, and she acted like I was gonna attack her or somethin'. I don't know why she fainted. I didn't touch her--I swear. Why would that happen? I can't believe you caught her. That was awesome! Is she okay? Do you think there is something wrong with her?"

and

"If you aren't going to tell me, I don't have to tell you anything. You don't even care about me or anybody but yourself. He could be really bad, and you wouldn't even know it. I am telling Mom, and you are gonna be grounded! See if I care how you feel, Jas!"

3) There were random bouts of anger in this book that I didn't understand. Easton and his cousin's Chase aggression towards their "brothers" on the football team. Or Easton's fight with Jasmine over how she didn't want to be surrounded by the media again. I found it unsupportive and controlling. Maybe that was the point.

This one wasn't for me guys, hope you guys enjoyed it and helped answer any questions you may have had when looking up this book. 

Friday, August 22, 2014

Forgotten Friday: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

This meme is about books that have been pushed aside while others have gone viral and made into movies. It can be old books, new books, any book that never got its (or enough) time  in the spot light.


I got this book last Christmas, and I really enjoyed it. It's very similar to Tryst by Elswyth Thane in the way it's about a woman who falls in love with a ghost that inhabits an old house. It's different in the way that's it's not all about romance. It's about a widowed mother who is given a second chance of a life of her own when she moves into her new home that is inhabited by ghost of a sea captain. It's a really quick read (174 pages in my edition), and a realistic depiction of the difficulties of starting over on your own with all of the possible rewards.



Synopsis as taken from Goodreads.com: Burdened by debt after her husband's death, Lucy Muir insists on moving into the very cheap Gull Cottage in the quaint seaside village of Whitecliff, despite multiple warnings that the house is haunted. Upon discovering the rumors to be true, the young widow ends up forming a special companionship with the ghost of handsome former sea captain Daniel Gregg. Through the struggles of supporting her children, seeking out romance from the wrong places, and working to publish the captain's story as a book, Blood and Swash, Lucy finds in her secret relationship with Captain Gregg a comfort and blossoming love she never could have predicted.

Originally published in 1945, made into a movie in 1947, and later adapted into a television sitcom in 1968, this romantic tale explores how love can develop without boundaries, both in this life and beyond.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Trial by Fire (The Worldwalker Trilogy 1) by Josephine Angelini ARC review (some spoilers)


4.5/5 Stars
Details of the book:
ARC paperback, 374 pages
Published by Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillian
Expected Release Date: *September 2, 2014*
Where to buy your own: Amazon  | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository |

Synopsis as taken from Goodreads.com:  This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.

What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected. universes and dual POVs are becoming the new trend in YA novels, but this book shines above all the rest. 

Trial by Fire is written in the POVs of our protagonist Lily, her sister Juliet, and one of our bad guys, Gideon. I've never read a novel from the enemies perspective before and it was really interesting. It gave the book a wider scope for the happenings of the plot.

This is not the type of book that you can quickly read, it's a slow, enveloping, experience that immerses you into a extremely well detailed fantastical world where witches reign supreme. Trial by Fire is a new and exciting experience that I encourage everyone to check out!

Strengths/Likes: 

1) Our female protagonist is one strong woman. I'm not just talking about her supernatural elements, but her values are ones that should be mirrored in our society. She doesn't allow herself to be walked all over by anyone, but she doesn't feel the need to tear them down, but simply not allow herself to be pulled back into emotionally-harmful situations. I was in awe how she did not go running back to the first boy that broke her heart and she didn't give him a free pass.

No matter what she stayed true to herself. She allowed others to influence her but all in all she did what in her mind she believed was right and didn't bend to anyone's will.

 2) All the details in this book were simply incredible. There wasn't much too much where I felt that I was overwhelmed but not too little where I didn't understand what was happening. The way the world of the book was written reminded me of how J.K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter world except aspects of the modern world were still used in the magical world.

3) The struggle between Rowan and Lily is great. There was a real depth to their relationship and they did not just fall instantly for one another. Their spark wasn't instant, it had to grow, it was awkward, but really beautiful.

4) Even though I didn't find his character to be interesting, I thought it was really cool how one of the main POVs was from the enemy. The closest I have seen to this is in Lauren Oliver's Requiem, but it could be argued that Hana wasn't the bad guy. In this case, Gideon is the bad guy through and through, and the reader gets real insight to his mind, his plots, and it's really interesting.

5) Angelini created a new kind of intimacy between her characters when it came to their magical involvement. There wasn't need for the classic illustrations of affection, instead she connected her characters emotionally through their souls. Through their memories, the way they shared their feelings for one another is extremely unique to me.

Weaknesses/Dislikes: 

1) I didn't really like Juliet's POV. It made sense to use her, to be able different between the protagonist and her parallel counterpart but they were so short and boring in comparison that I wanted to skip past them.

2) The main thing that confused me was Lillian, although her reasonings are explained at the very end of the book, to me it's not enough to make sense of all of her heinous actions. Or how she became so ill.

3) I wasn't very interested in the secondary characters in the book, I understood their function but I didn't buy into their little plot lines. The bond between Lily and her claimed men is cute but I'm not especially attached to them with the exception of Rowan.

Favorite Quotes/Moments:

1) She'd never seen a dead body before. He was so still, and he looked smaller, barely the size of a child. Lily heard herself hiccup and realized that she was crying.

"Shh," Rowan breathed. He squeezed her shoulders and tilted his face towards hers. "Look at me."

Lily gulped a few times and tried to control herself. When she met Rowan's eyes, she was surprised to see that they were soft instead of angry.

"I'm going to let anything happen to you. Okay?" He ran a hand across her face, brushing her wet cheeks dry.

2) Lily's first break-up I think is groundbreaking (at least for our current younger generation). I don't want to write it here and spoil it for everyone but it made me want to be a stronger person, and I think it sends an important message to all people. This same theme is repeated again with Rowan's exchange with Nina. It's so empowering and and awesome.

3) "Lily sat up and saw a glass of water on the bedside table. A tiny card was propped up against it. It said, Thirsty? in bold uppercase letters. Lily realized that she'd never seen Rowan's handwriting before. She started at it, sipping her water, memorizing every swoop and cruve.

She swung her legs out of bed and noticed that she'd somehow struggled out of her robe while she slept. Rowan had left a stack of clothes on the floor next to her, with it's own accompanying card that read Naked?. Lily laughed quietly to herself and got dressed."

4) "Is she here?" Gideon looked over Rowan's shoulder and saw two sets of dirty dishes on the table . "Apparently, she is. I'm surprised. It's not like you to leave a mess."

"We had better things to do than the dishes."

5) Rowan turned and rushed back to the desk, opened the drawer and lifted his hand to take them. A whimper escaped Lily in anticipation of the agony to follow. Rowan's head turned, and he looked at her, his eyes narrowed.

"He didn't touch--"Rowan saw the terrified look on Lily's face. "He did." Rowan took a steadying breath. "I won't hurt you."


 I hope you guys enjoyed this one!

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Book Boyfriends: Noah Shaw


So I've seen this meme floating around many book blogs, but initially I got the idea from Reading Lark and they got this meme from The Unread Reader. I've enjoyed the meme so much that I will also be joining in on the fun on Wednesdays. Welcome to Book Boyfriends everyone!


Stats: 
  • He's British, so he's got the hot accent. 
  • Gray-blue eyes
  • Dark chestnut hair that sticks out every which way
  • Five o'clock shadow
  • Generally always looking like he just rolled out of bed. 
Why He's My Book Boyfriend: 

I'm not attracted at all to his outward appearance, but it's his personality and the way he is with Mara (his love interest) that wins me over. One his own he's charming, witty, flirty, and funny. But with Mara he's more than that, he's attentive and supportive. Despite how much she pushed him away, knowing that she's a ticking bomb, he still stayed by her side. Mara is the type of girl that most people would run to hills from, with all of her problems but he sticks by her no matter what.

Actor to be my Noah:
I think that Heath Ledger from 10 Things I Hate About You perfectly embodies Noah. Their style, attitude, and personality matches almost exactly. Except well, Heath was an Aussie but oh well.


Quotes from about and Noah: 

1) “If I were to live a thousand years, I would belong to you for all of them. If we were to live a thousand lives, I would want to make you mine in each one.”

2) “You want me as much as I want you. And all I want is you."
My tongue warred with my mind. "Today," I whispered.
Noah stood slowly, his body skimming mine as he rose. "Today. Tonight. Tomorrow. Forever.”

3) “You're the girl who called me an asshole the first time we spoke. The girl who tried to pay for lunch even after you learned I have more money than God. You're the girl who risked her ass to save a dying dog, who makes my chest ache whether you're wearing green silk or ripped jeans. You're the girl that I--" Noah stopped, then took a step closer to me. "You are my girl.”

4) “You can't hurt me the way you think you can. But even if you could? I would rather die with the taste of you on my tongue than live and never touch you again. I'm in love with you, Mara. I love you. No matter what you do.”

5) “I knew Noah worshipped Charlie Parker and that his toothbrush was green. That he wouldn't bother to button his shirts correctly but always made his bed. That when he slept he curled into himself and that his eyes were the color of the clouds before it rained, and I knew he had no problem eating meat but would subtly leave the room if animals started to kill one another on the Discovery Channel. I knew one hundred little things about Noah Shaw but when he kissed me I couldn't remember my own name.”


Ugh, I can't wait until The Retribution of Mara Dyer  comes out, I feel like I've been waiting forever. Until then, you guys can check out my full reviews of both The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and The Evolution of Mara Dyer. Hope you guys will check out those books, you won't regret it =) 

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky #3) by Veronica Rossi (Spoiler Alert)

5/5 Stars
Details of the book:
Hardcover, 389 pages
Published by HarperCollins Children's Books,
a division of HarperCollins
Published on January 28, 2014
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository |

Synopsis: The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do—and they are just as determined to stay together.

Within the confines of a cave they're using as a makeshift refuge, they struggle to reconcile their people, Dwellers and Outsiders, who are united only in their hatred of their desperate situation. Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. Then Roar arrives in a grief-stricken fury, endangering all with his need for revenge.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble an unlikely team for an impossible rescue mission. Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival--he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

In this final book in her earth-shattering Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

This book was absolutely AMAZING! It was funny, sexy, dramatic, and filled with action. From page one, I couldn't put it down. This was the best ending to a trilogy that I have ever read. I finished this book a long time ago, but I still find myself picking it up randomly and reading over my favorite parts.

I'm very fortunate to have read so many books recently without any flaws. Into the Still Blue definitely falls into that category. The plot was great, but what really was all the relationships. More than just Perry and Aria but their relationships with the other characters in the book. They are real gems.

Relationships: This book--actually this trilogy--gives a well developed and honest depiction of what strong relationships look like. Instead of writing the couple as just loving and sugary sweet, there were problems, insecurities, and they were fragmented. Yet somehow they still held together and worked out the problems. It was refreshing.

My favorite thing about Perry and Aria, they are such a power couple. They both bring something to the relationship, neither of them is dragging down the other. Aria is not a Mary Sue, she's strong, intelligent, in her own right. She's right there keeping up at the top of the strong characters in the book. In my opinion, she could rub shoulders with characters like Katniss Everdeen and Tris Prior.

I was really happy with the introduction of Aria's father, it wasn't cliche, it wasn't an instant connection. It was real, and honest, and a little brutal. In a word, perfect.

Favorite Quotes/Moments: 

1) "But then Aria stepped into the chamber.

Perry lurched to his feet so fast that his chair fell backward. He took the ten paces to her in a flash, bumping his head on the low ceiling, knocking his leg into the table, moving with less coordination than he had in his entire life."

2) "You're the only one who knows the Hovers," Aria continued. "You're the expert. You should also tell us everything you know about your father's plans with Sable. Every one of us needs to know as much as possible."

Soren scowled. "You're kidding me."

"Didn't we just agree this wasn't a laughing matter?"

"Why should I trust them?" Soren asked, as if there were no Outsiders there.

"How about because you don't have a choice?"

Soren's furious gaze went to Perry, who was actually watching her, his lips pressed together like he was fighting a smile.

3) "A full hour passed before the tent fell quiet again. Perry was covered in legs and arms and blankets, so hot that sweat dampened his shirt. The shoulder he'd dislocated a month ago ached beneath the weight of Aria's head, and Talon was snoring right into his ear, but he couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so good."

4) "Is that what you wanted?" he asked.

"It's, um... much better."

Bending, he kissed the smooth skin just beneath her ear. "How's this?"

"I don't know...Try again?"

He smiled and wrapped his arms around her, gathering her close. Ahead of them, the lights from inside the Hover filtered through the trees--her world, blending with his. "You really want me to talk?"

Aria leaned back, letting him take her weight. "Yes."

"You're going to hear a lot about my favorite subject."

"Hunting?"

He laughed. "No." He slid his hands to her hips, feeling muscle and solid bone, and then back up, over the curve of her waist. "Not hunting." Every part of her drove him mad, and he told her so, whispering in her ear as she rested against him.

5) "You know I'm here," he said. "I'll do whatever I can."

"Will you come see them with me tomorrow? Maybe if we talk to them together it'll help."

"Done."

Aria smiled, then her gaze traveled to his waist. "Perry, did you know your pants are falling down?"

"Yeah." He didn't have to look; he could feel them sliding down his hips. "I, uh...I took my belt off to make you feel comfortable."

"You took your belt off to make me feel comfortable?"

He nodded, trying to hold back a laugh. "I worked it out in my head and this would be more natural."

"Your pants falling down is natural?"

He grinned. "Yeah. If they fall any further, it's going to be very natural."

She laughed, her gray eyes shinning as she she shook her head. "So nice of you to think of me."

I hope you guys liked this review. For more books and quotes check out my instagram here

Monday, August 18, 2014

Moronic Monday: Aspen Ledger

Mondays, the worst day of the week. Despite the fact that it's the start of your school/work week, there is always something extra that just pushes it to the next level. That someone that just permanently keeps Monday at the top of most dreaded days of the week. That's what this meme is about. The one character that drives you mad with their stupidity. Their idiocy is the type that you can spot their impending train wreck from miles away, the type that makes you want to slam their heads into a desk repeatedly. Moronic Mondays are not for your loveable idiots, no, it's for the ones that you think they deserve every bad thing they get it.


One of the biggest douches I have ever read about is Aspen Ledger. For all three books, I was hoping that if America didn't get with Maxon that she never went back to Aspen. His first speed bump was when America made him dinner, and he flipped out? I mean, who does that? My girlfriend made me a homemade dinner, spent her time and money on it, what a bitch. I get that he wanted more for her, but he didn't have to act that way.

Upon entering the palace his stupidity put both of his and America's positions at stake. One of my favorite moments is when America tells him that she's not choosing either one of them at the moment, she's choosing herself. Aside from the fact that I think that this a great moment for America as our protagonist, but because Aspen didn't deserve anything from her. He had no right to expect that after tossing her away, she would crawl back the minute he was there. After that, I think it was beyond idiotic how he was always around her, talking and lecturing her. First of all, there was no way for him to understand anything she was going through, but he felt that he had the right to lecture her. He is beyond ridiculous. Which is why he is my moron.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Accession (Sarath Web #1) by Terah Edun ARC Review


Accession by Terah Edun
eARC, 203 pages (according to Goodreads)
Published by Terah Edun and All Night Reads
Release Date: August 5, 2014
Buy it: Amazon
Rating: 1/5 Stars

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Katherine Thompson wasn’t trained to rule a coven. That was her sister – perfect, beautiful Rose. But when a mysterious plane crash kills off the heir presumptive of the Sandersville coven she has no choice.

After stepping in to fill her sister’s shoes, Katherine realizes she didn’t have a clue – faery wars, depressed trolls and angry unicorns are just the beginning.

For centuries, her family has served the high Queens on both sides of the Atlantic but it is a well-known rule that mid-level witches stay away from high-level Queens.

But when Katherine’s youngest cousin vanishes without a trace in the Atlanta court and no one wants to investigate, Katherine decides to step into the darkness on her own. She will soon discover that nothing, especially in a queen's court, is as it seems.

Thank you to Netgalley and All Night Reads & Terah Edun for this eARC copy of Accession. 

Looking at my reviews lately, it feels like I go from one extreme to another. A book is really good, or it's horrible. Unfortunately, this falls in the latter of those two. This book had so much going on, there were singing trolls, dark faeries, bitchy witches, inebriated unicorns, and evil were-peacocks.  Despite all of that, this book had no apparent plot to be found. It was like it was written from the seat of the author's pants.

With all of the different things going on in this novel, there was a lot of potential but the whole thing was a mess. It starts off with princess Katherine out on the double date from hell with her bitch of a sister and heir to their mother's throne, Rose. Then suddenly she dies, and I thought the plot would focus on her sister's death and her killer, but instead it seemed more about Katherine, who gets mad at every little thing, and her encounters with other mystical creatures. There was no plot line that had any continuity. The book ends at an odd place, the end seems to happen when there is still a fourth of the book left but it continues on to force a sequel. 

Main issue are the characters in general. Since there was no obvious plot, all that was left were the characters. There were a bunch of random characters, so many that it was hard to discern who was important and who wasn't. It seemed as if each character had the same level of detail as one another and were just as present in the book as the main characters (who I assumed were the main characters). 

What made more difficult to figure out who was more and important or what was going on was Edun's writing style. The book is written in third person, and even though it's mainly told from Katherine's POV it randomly jumps into the mind of other characters. In addition, it seemed like the author over used her thesaurus. Some of the words she used didn't match the diction of her characters and often couple words in a row that meant the same thing.   

Accession had a lot of contradictory details. The best way to fully describe this is by the following excerpt: 

"No, I don't think you do," Cecily said in exasperation. "They're not just physically addicted, they're dying.

Katherine's eyes were still trained on the mass of individuals gathered below their king. "That's not possible." 

She didn't bother turning around to debate the point. There was nothing to do debate. 

Still Katherine said aloud, "The faerie people don't get sick. They don't get headaches or ailments. They are in perfect health from the day they arrive to the day they leave." 

"I didn't say they were dying, Katherine," Cecily pointed out. 

And this type of mistake was repeated multiple times. 

Finally, the book did a lot of telling, instead of showing. There was no development of the characters, any time a new character appeared, Edun told the reader their entire background and how much the protagonist hated almost each and every one (for no apparent reason).  

I think that pretty much wraps up this review, I hope you guys enjoyed it =)

Friday, August 15, 2014

Forgotten Friday: Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook

This meme is about books that have been pushed aside while others have gone viral and made into movies. It can be old books, new books, any book that never got its (or enough) time  in the spot light.

Synopsis as taken from Goodreads.com: 

Will

Maybe I'm too late. Maybe Zoe's dad stole all her fifteen years and taught her to be scared. I'll undo it. Help her learn to be strong again, and brave. Not that I'm any kind of example, but we can learn together.

When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can't run fast enough.

Zoe

Maybe it'll take Will years to come to terms with being abandoned. Maybe it'll take forever. I'll stay with him no matter how long it takes to prove that people don't always leave, don't always give up on you.



Nobody but Us is a beautiful, tear-jerking, story of two teens in love running from their broken homes. There is no fantasy, no dystopian society, just love. The book is written in the dual POVs of our lovers Will and Zoe, and Kristin Halbrook writes both of them with such well-developed personalities and voices. From the first page, Halbrook enthralls you into their story. Once I opened it, I couldn't put it down. If you guys like the movie Remember Me or Robert Sparks novels (and their movie adaptions) check this book out. 

You guys can check out my full review of this novel by clicking here

Also, check out my instagram for pictures and quotes from the books I read and bookstores I visit.




Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Book Boyfriend: Alex Sheathes

So I've seen this meme floating around many book blogs, but initially I got the idea from Reading Lark and they got this meme from The Unread Reader. I've enjoyed the meme so much that I will also be joining in on the fun on Wednesdays. Welcome to Book Boyfriends everyone!


Alex was the other character I was struggling with when I was picking my first Book Boyfriend. If I never read The Grisha Trilogy, I would have picked Alex first.


Stats:
  • Amber Eyes
  • Golden Brown/Auburn Hair
  • Tall, and athletically built
  • Tan skin
  • 19 years old
  • Great Listener
  • Good Kisser
  • Charming & Funny
  • Romantic
  • Vulnerable

Why He's My Book Boyfriend: 
I love the way he loves Lena, which is passionately, wholly and irrevocably.  We see throughout Delirium, that he is a great listener. He listens to all of Lena's stories of her family and life, without judging. Instead of pushing her, he's supportive and patient. Never once had he brought up the idea of Lena missing her cure date (to be cured of the disease called love) until she brought it up herself. 

Everything he does with Lena is incredibly romantic. All the times he spends with Lena at 37 Brooks, especially when he cut out the rotted ceiling so they could see the stars. The first time that they danced. When he took her to the Wilds, and recited poetry to her surrounded by candlelight while under the stars.

From the beginning, being with Lena was and proved to be a huge risk on his life. That didn't matter to him, all he wanted was to be with, protect, and care for the one he loved. Lena is all that matters to him,  she is what he fights and lives for and while reading Delirium, all I wanted was to be her. 

Actor to play Alex: I know that he's too old for the part now, but Ryan Phillipe is who I picture as Alex. Physically, they look similar and I know from movies that he played in such as Breached and Stop-Loss that he could easily be Alex. 

Quotes & Moments: 

1) "The first time I saw you, at the Governor, I hadn't been to watch the birds at the borders in years. But that's what you reminded me of. You were jumping up, and you were yelling something, and your hair was coming loose from your ponytail, and you were so fast..." He shakes his head. "Just a flash, and then you were gone. Exactly like a bird."

I don't know how--I hadn't intended to move and hand't noticed moving--but somehow we've ended up face-to-face in the dark, only inches apart.

"Everyone is asleep. They've been asleep for years. You seemed...awake." Alex is whispering now. He closes his eyes, opens them again. "I'm tired of sleeping." (Delirium)

2) "Hey." I nudge him gently. It's an incredible thing, how you can feel so taken care of by someone and yet feel, also, like you would die or do anything just for the chance to protect him back. "I know the rules. I've been living here longer than you have."

He cracks a smile then. He nudges me back. "Hardly."

"Born and raised. You're a transplant." I nudge him again, a little harder, and he laughs and tries to catch hold of my arm. I squirm away, giggling, and he stretches out to tickle my stomach. "Country bumpkin!" I squeal, as he grabs out and wrestles me back onto the blanket, laughing.

"City slicker," he says, rolling over on top of me, and then kisses me. Everything dissolves: heat, explosions of color, floating." (Delirium).

3) "Eventually she came. She appeared suddenly, exactly like she'd done that day--she stepped into the sunshine, she jumped, she laughed, and threw her head back, so her long ponytail nearly grazed the waistband of her jeans.

After that, I couldn't think of anything else. The mole on the inside of her right elbow, like a dark blot of ink. The way she ripped her nails to shreds when she was nervous. Her eyes, deep as a promise. Her stomach, pale and soft and gorgeous, and the tiny dark cavity of her belly button." (Alex: A Delirium novella)

4) "How did I love her?

Let me count the ways.

The freckles on her nose like the shadow of a shadow; the way she chewed on her lower lip with she was thinking and the way her ponytail swung when she walked and how when she ran she looked like she was born going fast and how she fit perfectly against my chest; her smell and the touch of her lips and her skin, which was always warm, and show she smiled. Like she had a secret.

How she always made up words during Scrabble. Hyddym (secret music). Grofp (cafeteria food). Quaw (the sound a baby duck makes). How she burped her way through the alphabet once, and I laughed so hard I spat out soda through my nose.

And how she looked at me like I could save her from everything bad in the world.

This was my secret: she was the one who saved me."  (Alex: A Delirium novella)

I'll probably be posting some more quotes on my Instagram, you guys can look me up by my username:brittanysbookrambles)

Monday, August 11, 2014

Moronic Monday: Juliette Ferrars



Juliette actually made me walk away from this trilogy. I own Ignite Me but I have yet to read it. For a long time I thought I was just being too harsh on her considering her tough lifestyle but I couldn't stand how she strung both Warner and Adam along in Unravel Me. 

I couldn't take her feelings for anyone seriously after reading Unravel Me. I understood why she broke up with Adam, but why give him hope, and then go be with Warner shortly after? How could hide the fact that Warner is able to touch her from him? She said she loves him, but she kept a huge secret from him, gives him hope for the future, and then goes off with Warner.

Then she has the gall to toy with Warner's feelings as well. I am not a Warner fan, but I don't like how she played with him either. The way she shoved him away from her and lecturing him? I just wanted to smack her.

To me, Juliette doesn't understand what loving someone really means and I can't take that kind of character seriously.

Maybe someday I'll get around to finishing this trilogy but because of Juliette, it won't be any time soon.

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Shimmer (The Rephaim # 3) by Paula Weston Review

Shimmer (The Rephaim #3) by Paula Weston
Format: Paperback, 391 pages
Publisher: Text Publishing (June 4, 2014)
Expected Release for the USA: March 8, 2016 (published by Tundra Books)
Gaby thought her life couldn’t get more complicated.

She’s almost used to the idea that she’s not the nineteen-year-old backpacker she thought she was. She can just about cope with being one of the Rephaim – a 140-year-old half-angel – whose memories have been stolen. She’s even coming to grips with the fact that Jude, the brother she’s mourned for a year, didn’t die at all.

But now Rafa—sexy, infuriating Rafa—is being held, and hurt, by Gatekeeper demons. And Gaby has to get the bitterly divided Rephaim to work together, or Rafa has no chance at all.

It’s a race against time – and history. And it may already be too late.