Book Review: Awakened by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

Synopsis: Neferet is in the midst of becoming the biggest and badest High priestess of the dark.  She has now entangled Kalona as her consort and will do anything to destroy Zoey now that Zoey is back from the other realm.

Book Review:  While I like the series in general, I did not like the Zoey vs Kalona vs Neferet angle.  I think it is because I am bored of Zoey taking her sweet ass time to take control of the situation and kick Kalona and Neferet's butt.  I understand Zoey lost her consort but she's got real big problems to solve, like save the world from darkness!

Okay I feel better now.  I just needed to vent because Zoey's storyline with Stark is a bit slow for me.  On the other hand, I really like Steve Rae and Raphaim angle.  I enjoyed how they were now given access to be together but only if Raphaim is serious about leaving his father behind.

I can always count on Aphrodite.  She's still mean, clean and with her man, Darius even if she appeared so many times in the book.

Bottom Line: Neferet is still laying low and acting really nice so don't be expecting much action from her.  As for Zoey, same deal. 


 Nothing Special

Book Review: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Hi everyone.  I made some time to finish a few books and I'm very excited to share my thoughts with all of you. 

Synopsis: The Lovely Bones is about a fourteen year old girl who decides to follow a elderly neighbor to a "secret hideout" to only be brutally raped and murdered.   The family is torn apart from the crime and not sure if they will ever be the family they once were.

Review: The book follows the girl's soul through the tragic scene and the aftermath that is her family.  You are given a front row seat into the moments where the mom and dad begin to show signs of "I'm lost and don't know what to do".  This is where you think the family could somehow unite but unfortunately, very slowly everyone begins to drift apart.  While the little brother is too small to understand, it is the middle sister who becomes the glue of the family only to quietly suffer while stepping into mother role.

The most interesting deal with this book is that while you see the family cracking, you see this whole perspective from the fourteen year old.  She is in this forever state of "her version of heaven".  The heaven is brilliantly described by the author.  Her heaven every now and then changes according to her attachment to her family.

As for the crime and who done it, that is a big part of the book, but I don't want to spoil that.

The book, while a bit scary for me because of the topic, I still decided to give it a chance.  I wanted a difference pace and subject matter and it was very moving.

I recommend you not read the book before you go to sleep.  It only leaves a feeling of dread and sorrow for the young protagonist.   





Bottome Line:  The author paints a rich and wonderful heaven, but back at the family's home, tragedy is always one step away.  Great book, great change of pace and I do recommend this book for older readers especially because of the subject matter.


 
WORTH READING

Book Review: ***Spoilers***The Hunger Games Book Series by Suzanne Collins

Okay, I give. It's true. I finally read The Hunger Games Trilogy. I know. I should have done it along time ago when I saw Team Peeta and Team Gayle. But my first thought was these guys must be riding the coat tale of team Jacob and Team Edward. It took a whole year to understand their stories. And I love them for that.

The trilogy of the Hunger Games was such an intense read and looking back on it, the movie I felt was as true as it could be on screen compared to the first book. That is what actually got me to read the trilogy.

About a year ago, when Elizabeth and I were blogging like crazy, I would see on some of my favorite book blogs, team Peeta or team Gayle, and I just thought, who are these characters for crying out loud? Well my friends, I am up to speed and awaiting Catching Fire.

Book Review: The Hunger Games was a great start to the trilogy. Peeta was written as a sensitive guy with balls of steel. I like that. Katniss was very Heroic and with this intense look and a heart of gold. Gayle, I still didn't quite understand but then he didn't really have a big part in it.

I disliked Haymitch for a good while but I felt he had maybe gone through something more horrific than the hunger games. I don't know, slowly though I began to dislike him less and less throughout the book. I wasn't too keen on his drinking habit or his sarcasm.

I was really charged after I finished The hunger games because I was awaiting some happy go lucky moment with Katniss and Peeta, which, bummer, didn't happen. Which brings me to Catching Fire. Wow, I did NOT expect a second hunger games. Nor did I expect a lovely Finn. I did, however, feel for Katniss. She wasn't sure she even liked Peeta, to end up planning to marry him. I can only imagine this dilemma when you are being blackmailed by the capital's president.

As for Mockingjay, when I read the last few pages, I was left with a very sad and heavy heart.  Sad because Katniss and Peeta still had nightmares like real people do when having fought in a war. I mean the ending was very real of what people in war go through. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the ending wasn't as happy as I wanted it to be, you know? Where the guy gets the girl, and they marry and they have a happy ever after. Peeta and Katniss still suffered, they still had to deal with traumas but they did take it day by day and eventually began a family. But it sounded very difficult and very real. Suzanne Collins mentioned somewhere that her father talked alot about war and there effects and she really brought that to life in her books and on the big screen.

Bottom Line: The Hunger Games Trilogy was a very intense read, entertaining and left a very strong message about war and the effects on the human spirit.

WORTH READING

The next Book Review might be Awakend or Lovely Bones, which ever one I finish first. See you then.

Book Review: A 13 to life book series by Shannon Delany

I distinctly remember a beautiful blue cover catching my eye as i searched for new books to read on the main page of barnes&noble. I had just got off from a Twilight high and was ready for something more; something great. Two years later, I hit barnes&noble with my brand new son, 7 months now and a complete cutie pie, I remembered the beautiful blue cover. Instead of buying the first book, I bought the series. And boy was I NOT disappointed.

Shannon Delany is a wonderful, creative and completely refreshing author in her 13 to life book series.

Jessica Gillmansen and Pietr Rusakova is the new couple to beat...Edward and Bella, eat your heart out...Jessica and Pietr sizzle like no other couple in high school you've EVER encountered.

And Max, forget about it. He's the macho brother you want around and the boyfriend you want to be with forever!!

I can't forget, Alexi, Amy, Cat, Sarah, and oh my...Derek.

So when I say refreshing, I mean it. The characters are fascinating and compete for you attention, Shannon Delany makes them come alive.

13 to Life is a wonderful series everyone will enjoy.

I don't want to give anything away. It has to be a complete suprise to the reader so pick up your copy from your local library or book store and read it NOW.


LIKED IT (A LOT)!

Keep your eyes and ears open for the fourth installment to 13 to life by Shannon Delany.  (see ticker above)

Wonderful baby boy

Hi everyone! My husband and I want to share some wonderful news. On April 4, 2011 at 7:47pm, we welcomed our newest member to the family, Isac Alejandro.

Seeing his face every morning is a blessing and so rewarding. I can't believe I have this wonderful baby boy;) At the same time, we are pooped and sleep deprived. And so with that, I regret to inform you all that I will be out of commission for a few months with the book blog...until I get a better handle on my newest job, being a mommy.

Thanks to you all for your patience and we wish everyone happy reads!!

Blog!

Hi guys!! It's Elizabeth here and I just wanted to do a quick post for you guys to please please please check out my new blog about My Life Changing Journey! To check it out, go to this link

I've been super crazy busy the last few months but just want to say that I am in love with Lara Adrian and Sherrilyn Kenyon...I just can't stop reading these two authors!!

Teen Fiction Coming Soon!

Hi everyone!  Here's a quick look at some great reads I can't wait for.

I'm a huge fan of The Chronicles of Nick so I will be getting my hands on book 2 and as for Becca's Fitzpatrick's third book, I'll be all over it. I love Patch and Nora's explosive chemistry ;)

I'm sure I've missed other books coming soon but if you have a book that you think I'd just love to read and it's soon to come out, tell me about it. I want to hear what you have to say.

Happy Reads!

Invincible: The Chronicles of Nick (Hardcover - Book 2)
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Release: March 22, 2011


The Red Gloves (Curse Workers, Hardcover, Book 2)
Author: Holly Black
Release: April 5, 2011


Passion (A Fallen Novel, Hardcover - Book 3)
Author: Lauren Kate
Release: June 14, 2011


Silence (Hardcover - Book 3)
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Release: October 4, 2011

Book Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Synopsis:
Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy, Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

Book Review: Crescendo was a book that I felt really anxious about reading even before I turned to read the first page. I remember the way Hush, Hush had me feeling, I just wasn't sure I wanted to go through it again. Nevertheless, I made the choice to chug along; Patch and Nora's story got the better of me ;)

Well to my suprise, I got into my reading groove almost immediately. So the hook in the beginning was pretty great. As for the meat of the story (Nora, Patch and Marcie) I really began to dislike Patch all over again, like in Hush, Hush. I began to think he was a total jerk and was guilty of everything Nora accused him of. And as for Marcie, I felt Vee, as Nora's best friend, should have stuck up for Nora in many instances.

I was pleasantly surprised to read that Nora decided to take care herself as well as Marcie.

As for the book as a whole, there were very interesting plot twists that had me saying "oh" and "no way", the pages turned themselves.

Crescendo as done it again for me. Patch was literally on the end of my boot to kick to the curb until Becca Fitzpatrick sprinkled her charming words on him, that my whole impression of him warmed up.

Bottom Line:  This love story was really great to read and just as dark as Hush Hush if not a little darker. New characters emerged and took some of the spotlight from Nora and Patch. I am a true fan of Becca's and I can't wait to read the third installment "Silence" to be coming soon.

LIKED IT.

Bloodlines spinoff of Vampire Academy By Richelle Mead

Last week Elizabeth brought to my attention an article spilling some info on Richelle Mead's new spinoff series and I was really excited to share it with all the Vampire Academy fans. Click here for the article.

Note: This title will be released this Summer(Hardcover).


The video below has Richelle explaining the way she feels about the end of Vampire Academy. It's very interesting, check it out.





Vampire Academy also has a graphic novel coming out in August 2011. Take a quick look at Richelle Mead's blog for the graphic. It's amazing.

Don't forget to comment. Let me know what you think about the graphic novel and the new spinoff.

Happy Reads!

Book Review: The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

Pages: 258
Published: (Hardcover)2010

Synopsis:Madison Kasparkova catches her boyfriend of two years, making out with the hottest yet stuck up girl in school and decides that karma is taking too long to punish them both. She along with her best friends, Angie and Jade, embark on a Karma club journey to right all the wrongs ex-boyfriends and snotty girls have done to them. Little do they know that Karma will always catch up to them, whether good intentions are behind the deeds.

Book Review:The Karma Club was a great book to read, a book I think everyone could relate to. Who hasn't had a broken heart or felt like throwing rocks at a person who seems to get away with snide remarks and sketchy actions. Jessica Brody brought the message of Karma to the forefront and gave some very entertaining examples of how young people can misinterpret how Karma works.

The main character, Madison, is a senior in high school with the perfect boyfriend and a good person overall. But her rage over her boyfriend's cheating really gets her going over the edge. That part was very engaging and had me flipping the pages.

The books language captured the essence of a chatty teenage girl and it got a bit old that I'd skim the chatty parts. Nevertheless, I was very interested to see how Jessica Brody wrapped up the idea of the "Karma Club" getting caught and how Madison and her friends were going to turn their actions around.

Bottom Line: The Karma Club was entertaining to read and it made me think twice about rushing Karma myself.

LIKED IT!

Book Review: Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Hello everyone. And welcome to the last Book Review for Vampire Academy (For Rose and Dimitri's epic love story, that is.) I am so excited to show you the book trailer I didn't even know existed. Where have I been? you might ask. Well let's just say, I righted my wrong and am now up to date.



Would you cast these actors for the upcoming Vampire Academy Movie? Why or why not? I want to know. So don't forget to comment.



Now, to the book review:

Rose Hathaway, is locked in Moroi jail after being framed in the cold-blooded murder of the Moroi Queen. The punishment for this crime is immediate execution. At the same time, she is faced with the challenge of somehow locating princess Lissa Dragomir's lone remaining relative, her secretly existing illegitimate sibling. Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice. Now, with Rose on trial for her life and Lissa first in line for the Royal Throne, nothing will ever be the same between them.

Book Review:I've never been more terrified and elated to read the last book in a book series as I was with Vampire Academy. To know that once I finish the last page, I would no longer be filled with glorious, gut wrenthing anticipation for the next chapter in Rose and Dimitri's epic love story. But all good things must come to an end.

Richelle Mead did a fantastic job really bringing her main character, Rose, full circle with Dimiitri, Rose's love interest. Spirit Bound, the 5th book in the series, left the readers hanging with Dimitri's character in anguish over his feeling for Rose, his renewed transfromation, and his loyalty in question. So, with Last Sacrifice, Mead, had no choice but to tie up some pretty big loose ends. And I love her for that. Note: Some loose ends in this book are for the spin off I heard..Yay, spinoff!

Her game in the beginning was to get Rose out of the pickle she was in, in a very action packed, conspiracy kind of way, that really set the tone for the rest of the book, only to shove Rose right into that romantic pickle, we as readers couldn't wait to devour. When I say romantic pickle, I am talking Rose, Dimitri...and Adrian. Yes, a delicious, mouth watering, and crunchy pickle it was.

Then of course, there were some ends that had me saying, what? ...to easy. But it is what it is and I had a great time with it anyway.

Here is what I am getting at. I could not, would not, put the book down. I have never loved a book series so much to almost tear up. And as for the movie that is in slow motion at the moment, well it needs to get made pronto. I want others to know and love Rose and Dimitri's story and I do.

LOVED IT!