Review: Crossed

Crossed
By: Ally Condie
Published by: Dutton Books
367 pages




My Must have playlist:

What its about (from goodreads):

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

What I thought:

Okay, I'm having a hard time trying to come up with words for this review, for a few reasons. 1. I'm really trying to think of a way to show how I feel with out spoilers. and 2. I'm little bit confused on how to feel.

I loved the first half of the book.  All the passion and excitement from Matched carries over. As you follow Cassia on her Journey to find Ky you can't help but cheer for a reunion.  The setting is amazing and written beautifully, it feels like your right there with them.

The second half of the book though... I don't want to say I didn't like it because I'm holding out faith for the characters I love. However I feel like we went through a lot in this book just to take ten steps back. I'm holding on to a belief that it will turn out in the end of book 3.  But I was left feeling a bit lost. There were also a few points where I had to check the chapter heading half way though the chapter to see whose POV I was currently reading.  I know its really hard to write first person and multiple POV's.  I did enjoy getting to know KY better though.

I think if you liked Matched you should for sure read this! Just be prepared for the end.

I give this book:

Really big news and why I've been MIA lately.

Well I have big news!  but you have to check out my other blog for all the info.!  and welcome to my new followers!  can't wait to read your reviews!

SO CHECK THIS OUT FOR BIG NEWS!

Follow Friday

 

Today's Question is something new, an activity. We want to see what you look like! Take a pic with you and your current read! Too shy? Boo! Just post a fun pic you want to share.

Happy Friday!!

Ally Condie, Brodi Ashton, and Bree Despain, OH MY!

Last night was the release party for Ally Condie's Crossed. She was adorable as always as she talked about her book, the setting and the characters.  I'm soo excited to read this book.  I just need to finish one very pleasant distraction that I'll tell you about in a minute.

I went to Ally's Launch party with a group of my regular book lover friends. And we of coarse went to cheese cake factory after. It was a ton of fun:)

Brandi, JaCee, Sheree, Ally Condie, Me, and Jenn

Also at the Launch we saw Brodi Ashton.  Who if you didn't know I've been a bit stalker like towards all things concerning her book or blog.  I love her!  and she is so cute in person too! That distraction I mentioned above is that for 6 days I am in possession of an Everneath ARC. I'm so in love with it already and extremely sad to have to give it away on Monday. But its worth sharing!  I get to post my review on January 2nd. So look for that and if you don't know what this book is you should look it up, buy it on January 24th and check out this book trailer!



And we saw Bree Despain. Who of course everyone loves already! but have you seen the cover of her of her new book?  Look for it in stores in March!

SO PRETTY

A bit behind

Okay I know I'm behind on a few things!

1.) I have read Lola and the boy next door and it is really amazing! I don't currently have a review because sometimes life is crazy but I will do it.

2.) I haven't been blogging much at all not here or over at When Did This Become My Life? but There is a reason for that.  One I'll share next month on the aforementioned blog.

3.) Crossed comes out NEXT WEEK!!! have you seen the book trailer? Check it out:



4.) The release party for Crossed is at Kings English on Nov. 1st at 7pm.  Will you be there?  if so say Hi to me!! and I promise to blog the event!

I'll get caught up soon I promise!  Thanks for hanging in there!

The re-read and Waiting On Wednesday

Have you ever had a book you felt like you could read over and over again?  For me that book is Anna and the French Kiss.  I just finished reading it again the other day.  I'm so over the top excited for Lola and The Boy Next Door.

What Lola is about:

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door

I just love feel good, happy books. What book are you most looking forward to? And which book could you read over and over again.

Anna Review

Review: All You Desire

All You Desire
By: Kirsten Miller
Published by: Penguin group
423 pages







My Playlist:

What its about:

Haven Moore and Iain Morrow have been living a blissful life in Rome, an ocean way from the Ouroboros Society and its diabolical leader. But paradise is not to last. The mysterious disappearance of Haven's best friend, Beau, sends the pair running back to New York, where they encounter the Horae, an underground group of women who have spent centuries scheming to destroy Adam Rosier. Only they can help Haven uncover the secret to Beau's whereabouts in one of her past lives. But their help comes at a price: Haven must infiltrate the Ouroboros Society, charm Adam Rosier, and lure him into a trap. It's a plan the Horae believe will save the world-but Haven and Iain fear that it may destroy the happiness they've been chasing for two thousand years.

What I thought:

This is the 2nd book in the eternal ones series.  I really enjoy the story line and the first half of this book was easier to read for me than the last half. The thing had the most difficult time with is the character development in this one. Haven can't seem to make a choice for the life of her.  She can't seem to decide who to trust or how things really happened even when it seems pretty obvious. Although you can't blame her for not trusting a guy who has kept bodies that once belonged to her locked away for years.  Not that he is who I was even hoping she'd trust.  It also drove me nuts that she was out partying and wasting time through out the entirety of the book.

 And Beau.... I'm pretty not happy with this character.  I really liked him in the first book but I think he took a fall from the stupid and bad choice tree. But at least he can make a choice I guess.

I still think the story is brilliant and if you liked the first one I wouldn't discourage you from reading the second book by any means.  But it has serious middle book syndrome.

Twilight Phenomenon

With the Breaking Dawn movie fast approaching I've been thinking a lot about rereading Twilight and just about the story in general.

When everyone started reading Twilight I wondered hmmm what is that about? When I heard it was about Vampires forever stuck in high school I thought, Um okay why? But I'm a sucker for reading. So I eventually gave in, just before the first movie came out. and I couldn't read them fast enough, or too many times.

I can't really explain what it is about these books.  Or about this story. It's like I feel like I should be living it.  I'm one of the crazies! How did I get there???

When Coke first came out it really had cocaine in it. With something like that you could easily become addicted. 

So I'm wondering is twilight like Coke? Did they lace the pages of Twilight with hallucinogens to make you feel like it was real?  Or maybe They sprayed on the Oxytocin hormone (you know the one associated with love). Whatever it is, it makes me want to run away with Edward (Don't worry I'd never leave the Hubs for reals) Or write a fabulous love story (Which never matches up) Or work on the movie set as anything they may possibly need. (Yes Mr. Pattinson I can get you coffee or paint your house or thread a movie for you.) But I'm totally addicted.

Do you feel this way too?

Friday!

Its Friday!!! Hello all!  The Question this week is:

Q. If you could change the ending of any book (or series), which book would you choose? And, why?

A:  This seems crazy hard for me for some reason. I don't know if I'd change any because I Love seeing where authors go with things. Sometimes I want to know more and miss certain characters.  For example I love the way Richelle Mead ended the Georgina Kincaid series but I will miss Carter a ton! I could read books just about him!

Review: Succubus Revealed

Succubus Revealed
By: Richelle Mead
Published by Kensington Publishing Corp.
277 Pages
$15.00 (Paperback)






My Must have Playlist:

What its about:

Georgina Kincaid has had an eternity to figure out the opposite sex, but sometimes they still surprise her. Take Seth Mortensen. The man has risked his soul to become Georgina's boyfriend. Still, with Lucifer for a boss, Georgina can't just hang up her killer heels and settle down to domestic bliss. In fact, she's being forced to transfer operations...to Las Vegas.

The City of Sin is a dream gig for a succubus, but Georgina's allies are suspicious. Why are the powers-that-be so eager to get her away from Seattle—-and from Seth? Georgina is one of Hell's most valuable assets, but if there's any way out of the succubus business she plans to take it--no matter how much roadkill she leaves behind. She just hopes the casualties won’t include the one man she’s risking everything for...

What I thought:

..... *Stares at screen unsure what to say*.... I could not have imagined a more perfect end for Seth and Georgina.  I kind of knew the direction it was going in at the end of Succubus Shadows, but WOW.  This was the most perfect end to a series.  I'm so sad for this to end but so happy for the way it ended up.  It was intense from start to finish!

I adore Carter!  His role was amazing in this series and I think I will miss him the most.  Can we get a Carter spin off? :) I'm still so speechless,  I really want to live in this world and be friends with all of these people!

I know shortest review ever but I just want to pretend like I'm there a little longer.

My dream cast

Waiting on Wednesday

What its about:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

 

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

Why I'm excited:

I'm excited for Brodi Ashton's Everneath on so many levels.  I think I found Brodi's blog about a year ago and I never miss a post now. It's always entertaining!  I think the concept of her book is beyond intriguing and will be fun to see how it pans out.  And best of all..... her book comes out the day before my birthday! Which is January 3rd 2012 if you're wondering.  But you can also sit and watch the pretty countdown on the my sidebar like I often do if you want :)

Follow Friday

 Q. In some books like the Sookie Stackhouse series the paranormal creature in question "comes out of the closet" and makes itself known to the world. Which mythical creature do you wish this would happen with in real life? A:  I keep waiting for Vampires to be real. and the Authors of vampire books to be vampires! They're just preparing us for whats out there.

Im a bad book blogger

Okay.... I've been a bad book blogger.  I haven't done reviews in a long time.  Well except for the one I just did.  Here's the thing, I've been spending a lot of time over at Once Upon A Distraction.  If you haven't checked that out you should!  Also we would love to get some guest bloggers over there if you've written a short story and would like to share it, just look for our contact info on the blog!   I'm going to try to be better at blogging here. and hopefully get some more reviews up and maybe some giveaways if possible.

In the meantime, what books are you looking forward to?

My top favorite contenders right now are:

1. Crossed by Ally Condie
2. Lola and the boy next door by stephanie perkins
3. Everneath by Brodi Ashton
4. The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
5. Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead
6. The Savage Grace by Bree Despain

Speaking of the Savage Grace By Bree Despain did you hear the news.  We're sad about the release date change but excited about touring and it will be easier for me to get time off in March for a release party.  As long as the party isn't the 9-12 of March I guess... I'm planning to go to Vegas.  Well if it is hopefully that tour will bring her close to home again!

Bloodlines

Bloodlines
By: Richelle Mead
Published by penguin group
421 pages
18.99 (hardback)






What its about:

I wasn't free of my past, not yet.

Sydney's blood is special.  That's because she's an alchemist-one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires.  They protect vampire secrets-and human lives.  But the last encounter Sydney had with vampires got her in deep trouble with the other alchemists.  And now with her allegiances in question, her future is on the line.

When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway.  But what unfolds is far worse.  Jill Dragomir-the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir-is in mortal danger and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the unlikeliest of places: a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California.  The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires.  And now she has to live with one.

The Moroi court believe Jill and Sydney will be safe at Amberwood Prep, but threats, distractions, and forbidden romance lurk both outside-and within- the school grounds.  Now that they're in hiding, the drama is only just beginning.

What I thought:

Okay I don't have a playlist for this one yet.  I read it in less than 12 hours and when I read books fast I tend to not think of much else.  I'll get one put up later I promise.

Well... Its Richelle Mead.  I think she has done it yet again.  Her mind is an amazing place!  I love how many stories she's able to create and bring to life. I think she's a great author.

I loved this book.  It doesn't have the sexual tension you find in the VA series... Yet.  I can feel coming on, but I love Sydney.  I was very interested in her in the VA series and I'm loving being in her head.  Oh yeah... I can't deny that I'm beyond excited to have Adrian back in my life! I can't wait for the rest of the adventures in the Golden Lily which is supposed to release on June 19th 2012.

So If you haven't read VA do it!  then read Bloodlines.  It's a spin off so I'd start at the beginning for it to make sense.

and I give this book an easy:

Dream Casting

So I'm re-reading the Georgina Kincaid series by Richelle Mead and was thinking about who I saw playing the characters and thought I'd share a few with you :)

Georgina: Kate Mara

Seth: Jim Sturgess

Cody: Hunter Parrish

Roman:  Jesse Williams

Jerome: John Cusack (DUH)

Doug: Sung Kang

Carter: Josh Holloway.

Peter: Callum Blue

 What would you do?

Want to win a BEA prize pack?

Look What it inculdes!!!

Go check out First Novel club's Book fort and giveaway here

Forever Book Trailer

Have you seen this Trailer yet?  I'm so excited for this book!  Check it out!  and when your done go buy the amazing song  here.  and now for the Video!




Are you as excited as I am?

Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss
By Stephanie Perkins
Published by Dutton Books
372 Pages
16.99 (hardback)








My Must have Playlist:

What its about:
Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all . . . including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Stephanie Perkins keeps the romantic tension crackling and the attraction high in a debut guaranteed to make toes tingle and hearts melt.

What I thought:

I want to take this book to dinner.  I want to read it over and over and over again.  I think every single girl everywhere should read this book before leaving home for the first time. I seriously want to cuddle with this book.  It leaves you feeling happy and in love.  I had goosebumps! 

Anna's Character is beautifully developed and I want to be her friend. She feels so real.  All the feelings she has when she leaves home the first time are feelings everyone feels, which makes it easy to associate with her.  She was easy for me to relate to since I work at a movie theater and love movies as well.  So beautifully written.  I adore St. Clair I don't even have words for how great and real he seems.  He's not Perfect but he is. 

I love the descriptions of Paris.  I was there just a year ago on my honeymoon and it felt like I was back there.  I wish I could write with as much attention to detail and beautiful scenery.  I know I'm coming off super cheesy in this review but I can't say I LOVE IT enough.   

I've skipped a bunch of reviews lately but I just feel like the world needs to hear about this one.  Go buy it!  for real. Right now!

My super long absence and Matched giveaway

Well I Know I've been missing from the book blogging world for a little bit.  I'm sorry!! I'll honestly probably only be reviewing books I feel pretty strongly about for a little while.  the reason being is I'm working on my own writing more and more and buying a house.. its nuts!! anyway if you are interested you can check out some of my short stories and short stories by my writing partners as well here. 

And you can enter to WIN a signed copy of Ally Condies Matched here!

Thanks readers!!

Review: Matched

Matched
By Ally Condie
Published by Penguin Group
366 Pages
17.99 (hardback)




My must have soundtrack:

What its about:

In the Society Officials Decide.
Who you LOVE, where you WORK. when you DIE.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It's hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate.  So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one...until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.  Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path no one else has ever dared follow--between perfection and passion.

What I thought:

I picked up Matched and before I knew it I was on page 186.  This book is so engrossing right from the start you'll lose all track of time reading it.  I started it at work and for once I actually didn't want to leave work because I'd have to stop reading.

When we first meet Cassia she is all trusting and innocent to how the world works.  As we follow her journey through Matched we see her grow in leaps and bounds.  She learns what it is to love to lose and to choose for herself. 

I fell in love with Xander immediately and cheered for their Match.  It was almost heartbreaking to meet Ky but I fell for him pretty quick too.  This is one of the roughest love triangles I've read, its hard to choose between two guys who seem so amazing.  All through the story you see just how much Xander cares for Cassia, and the extremes he'll go through to protect and help her.  Ky holds back so much in his life but he can't hold back with Cassia, he wants to share with her things he won't share with anyone else.

The storyline is easy to follow and fun to read.  I have serious cover envy, the cover is simple but fits the tone of the book perfectly!  I can't wait for Crossed which comes out November 1st.  And rumor has it Ally may be doing a tour in February and she'll be doing a stop in Salt Lake City! Can't wait to meet her!  To see if she is coming to your city and when keep checking here

Congrats to Ally to being number 3 on NYT best seller list that is so exciting!

I give this book: