Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Review: Consume by Melissa Darnell


Tristan Coleman has survived the change from Clann magic user to vampire, much to Savannah Colbert's joy—and despair. By changing the Clann's golden boy and newly elected leader, even to save him from death, she has unleashed a fury of hatred and fear that they cannot escape.

As the Clann and the vampire council go to war, Tristan and Sav face a new threat—a fracturing of the all-consuming bond they share. To fight for peace, they must forge a new trust and risk everything to take down their deadliest enemy, even as they must run for their lives. Soon they will learn that some bonds are stronger than love—and some battles cannot be won without sacrifice.

My Review:

It's the end of a series. So sad. I remember reading Crave and Covet and thinking that these books were sooooo good! Tristan and Savannah were friends, who weren't friends, who wanted to be more than friends and everything was just so cute! But then something got kind of twisted in Consume. 

According to Goodreads it took me almost 3 months to read this book. THREE MONTHS! I'll admit, I've sat on books for longer (not literally because that is some major book abuse). However, I remember reading the first two in less than a day each. So what went wrong in this one?

First off, the book was all over the place. The time was totally whacky, because at least in the first two Savannah and Tristan were in school and there was some sort of seasonal background there. In Consume it's just really hard to keep track of what day/month/year it is. And then the romance in this book just felt a lot cheesier than it ever felt in the first two.

Those things said, it was still a good read. It summed up every plot line, maybe a little too neatly at some points, but it still worked. I loved the beginning scenes, that I can't tell you about because there's some major spoilage involved. And Emily, Tristan's sister, is such an awesome character. She may be in a tough spot, but she's going to stand up for herself and what she believes in and I love that about her.

All in all, it was good. It filled in the holes that were left from books 1 and 2 and I'm satisfied with the end result. I'm still a little sad that this witch and vampire combo is over though. But, they're still gonna look super pretty on my shelves! :)


*Note: I received a copy of this book to review from Netgalley. This in no way altered my opinion/review.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken


When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

My Review:

So I'd heard about this book from other bloggers and reviewers. It was gushed over A LOT. However, I don't think it lived up to the hype. Don't get me wrong, it was a good book, but that was just it, it was a good  book, nothing more.  

The premise of the book is awesome! Teenagers who have powers and a dystopian universe, sounds like reading heaven. And for the most part it was pretty nice. As I got further into the story, I found some things that kind of angered me though. For one, Ruby is supposed to be 10 years old when her entire life changes. Her education was supposed to have stopped there. BUT she still talked and acted like a normal teenager. She used larger words than even I know at some points. It was kind of irritating.

The characters in the story were definitely lovable. Ruby was totally mistreated, like most of the characters were, and you just want her to find her happily ever after, but that would make a super boring series. Liam was... Liam. He's sweet and kind, but he totally fights against "the man" with every thought. Chubs was probably my favorite character, sure he's a tad abrasive at times, but he reminds me of what I would act like in that situation, like a realistic, rational human being. And Zu and her obsession with pink was totally adorable!

For me the plot didn't have enough movement in it. They traveled from place to place, but it kind of just seemed like they jumped from these places, there was no real description (I totally hope that makes sense.). Also, the most frustrating thing about this story was that there were parts of the action that I couldn't follow because it seemed like pieces were left out. If you read it, or have read it, take a look at the part where Ruby slips with Liam there or even just any action scene.

All in all, this book probably would have been better if I hadn't thought that it was going to be such a fantastic read. But since it was only $0.99 on Amazon (it's gone up now), I think it was worth the buy.


*Note: I purchased a copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Friday, October 11, 2013

My New District ID

Just thought that I'd share the awesomeness...

Here's my new Catching Fire District ID:


When The Hunger Games came out they actually sent these babies to you. Now, I have to find a way to print this out like an actual card. Darn.

If you haven't done yours yet just set up an account here and it will take you through everything.

So TTFN and "May the odds be ever in your favor."

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: The Shadow Prince

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week, what's really got my pages in a twist is...


Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.

Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.

Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds.

Release Date: March 11, 2014

Hmm... Another Persephone/Hades story. HECK! YES! I love mythology and having it come together with high school and cute boys is the cherry on top of my double-book-sundae (I don't know what that means any more than you do.). I'm not too terribly thrilled over the cover. I like pretty dresses on my myth books, but I'm sure the content is superb!

What book are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Autumn Rose by Abigail Gibbs Cover Reveal

Fans of Dinner with a Vampire (The Dark Heroine #1), I'm very excited to show you a certain book numero dos that you may have been dying to see. Here's the cover to Autumn Rose by Abigail Gibbs:
  Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound Books-A-Million iBookstore Image Map
Autumn Rose (The Dark Heroine #2) by Abigail Gibbs

In book two of her breathtakingly magical series, Abigail Gibbs draws us even further into the dangerous and romantic world of the Dark Heroines.

Autumn Rose lives in a sleepy seaside town in the southwest of England, but buried deep under the surface of her quiet life are dark secrets. Her grandmother is dead, murdered eighteen months before, and the whirling social scene of London in which she was brought up is a world away. Even worse, at her new school she is shunned and condemned-all because of the swirling marks on her skin that prevent her from blending in the crowd.

But the appearance of a handsome young man at her school-who has the same curious markings as Autumn Rose-sends her world into turmoil. Suddenly the marks are cool and Autumn is thrust into the limelight, but her sudden popularity brings danger as her secrets threaten to come to light. Plus, there is the fact that Autumn keeps dreaming of a human girl who is about to be seduced by a very dark Prince… and Autumn must figure out how to save her before it is too late.

Release Date: January 28, 2014

Abigail Gibbs was born and raised in deepest, darkest Devon, England. She is studying for a B.A. in English at the University of Oxford and considers herself a professional student, as the real world has yet to catch up with her. Her greatest fear is blood and she is a great advocate of vegetarianism, which logically led to the writing of her first novel, Dinner with a Vampire. She splits her time between her studies, stories, and family, and uses coffee to survive all three.

 Dinner with a Vampire (The Dark Heroine #1) by Abigail Gibbs

One moment can change your life forever...
 
For Violet Lee, a chance encounter on a darkened street draws her into a world beyond her wildest imaginings, a timeless place of vast elegance and immeasurable wealth – of beautiful mansions and lavish parties – where a decadent group of friends live for pleasure alone. A place from which there is no escape...no matter how hard Violet tries.

Yet all the riches in the world can’t mask the darkness that lies beneath the gilded surface, embodied in the charismatic but dangerous Kaspar Varn.

Violet and Kaspar surrender to a passion that transcends their separate worlds – but it’s a passion that comes at a price...


It's been so long since I've delved into Violet and Kaspar's story. I'm seriously going to have to re-read this. Anywho, what do you think of the new cover? 

Saturday, October 5, 2013

My Favorite 2014 Covers (So Far)

 2014 is a few months away, but already there are some gorgeous covers popping up from various publishers. I've been eagerly anticipating some of these books, and I can't wait to stroke their marvelous beauty like a crazy, deranged cat lady - only with hundreds of books instead of kitties.

So here they are:

 
This entire trilogy has been absolutely beautiful! I mean can anyone honestly tell me that they hate the cover of this book?! No. They cannot.

Release Date: January 21, 2014


I LOVE Derting's books. Her Body Finder series didn't have the best covers, they were pretty simple, but this series! EEK! They're gorgeous! Now if I can just get my stubby little fingers on a copy of The Essence I'll totally be ready for this bad boy.

Release Date: January 7, 2014


 I admit, I wasn't very impressed with this cover at first. But, I read a comment about the girl's hair. And HOLEY RUSTED METAL, BATMAN! It's DNA! How visually stunning!

Release Date:  January 28, 2014


He. Has. A. Tattoo. Yum. This cover is so simple, but it's so flippin' amazing! The white and the red! And the author's name! Because, let's be honest here, anything that has Armentrout's name on it is something I'm going to read, even if the cover looked like poop.
 
Release Date:  February 25, 2014

Alienated by Melissa Landers

It's cool colors on top and warm colors on bottom. It's lovely. There's stars and flowers and a hot guy and fluffy clouds and a hot guy. The only thing that I don't like about this cover is the girl's pants. Why? Because when you first look at it, it kind of looks like she's not wearing any. *GASP!*

Release Date: February 4, 2014


Was I terribly thrilled about this cover at first? No. I'm not a super huge fan of inanimate objects on covers. However, this one grew on me. Quickly. I'm not sure what it is that got me to like it. If it's the lighting, the colors or the author. All I do know is that I will be buying it.

Release Date: April 15, 2014


"That's all folks!" What's your favorite cover of the year 2014?

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: Crash Into You

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, what's really got my pages in a twist is...

 From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane.

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

Release Date: November 26, 2013

So this post is mostly for myself because I keep thinking that this comes out in 2014 since Dare You To came out this summer. Nope. Anyway, I love that cover and if there wasn't feet on it I would totally dig it even more!

What book are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

A Little Too Much Cover Reveal


In the follow-up to Lisa Desrochers’ explosive New Adult novel A Little too Far, Alessandro Moretti must face the life he escaped and the girl he loved and left behind.

Twenty-two year old Hilary McIntyre would like nothing more than to forget her past. As a teenager abandoned to the system, she faced some pretty dark times. But now that’s all behind her. Hilary has her life on track, and there’s no way she’ll head back down that road again.

Until Alessandro Moretti—the one person who can make her remember—shows up on her doorstep. He’s even more devastatingly gorgeous than before, and he’s much too close for comfort. Worse, he sees right through the walls she’s built over these last eight years, right into her heart and the secrets she’s guarding.

As Hilary finds herself falling back into love with the man who, as a boy both saved and destroyed her, she must decide. Past or future? Truth or lies?

 Release Date: November 12, 2013 
 

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Thursday, September 26, 2013

Is it Possible to Miss Your Books? Answer: YES.


So, I'm not at home right now. I'm actually 2 1/2 hours away from home. Ick. 

See, this is where I'm at right now: 


Yay! MSU! 

But... And it's a big BUT. I live in a tiny space. And guess what doesn't fit? These guys: 


(I miss the other two too. I just don't have pics. XD )

I've got about twelve or so books with me that I haven't read yet, but it's just not the same.

Is there anyone else out there who's finding life difficult without your storybook friends?

Monday, September 23, 2013

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick Cover Reveal


From the author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.

Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

A magnetic, push-me-pull-me romance with depth, this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti.

I seriously adored Fitzpatrick's My Life Next Door so I'm super excited for this one! And that cover is GORGEOUS! I love the purple and the water and EVERYTHING!