Hope's Bookshelf

Review: Vendetta by Catherine Doyle

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 17:57:00 +0000

Sorry for my absence last week! I run a small crochet business, and I had some commissioned items that I needed to finish up, which didn't leave me any time to get posts up!

Summary:

When it comes to revenge, love is a dangerous complication.With a fierce rivalry raging between two warring families, falling in love is the deadliest thing Sophie could do. An epic debut set outside modern-day Chicago.

When five brothers move into the abandoned mansion in her neighbourhood, Sophie Gracewell's life changes forever. Irresistibly drawn to bad boy Nicoli, Sophie finds herself falling into a criminal underworld governed by powerful families. As the boys' dark secrets begin to come to light, Sophie is confronted with stinging truths about her own family, too. She must choose between two warring dynasties - the one she was born into, and the one she is falling in love with. When she does, blood will spill and hearts will break.

Summary from Goodreads.

Information:
Is this part of a series? Yes, this is book one.
Pages: 352 pages
Publisher: Chicken House Ltd.
Release Date: February 24, 2015
Source: Bought

Review:

I have been waiting to write this review, because I don't know how to say what I want to about VENDETTA. Overall, I really enjoyed this story.

I picked up VENDETTA while using the rest of my Barnes and Noble gift cards in February. I had not heard anything about this book, but the premise seemed good, so I bought it (something I never do!). I am glad I picked it up. I started reading it the next day, and totally avoided everything I was supposed to be doing to read this book.

Doyle sets up a great story. While it can be very predictable at certain times, there are also moments that will surprise you. There are characters that you will love, characters you will love to hate, and characters that will just plain really confuse you.

My favorite part of this story was the way Doyle creates her characters, and how you see them grow and change throughout the novel. The book picks up the pace really fast, and right in the beginning you are introduced to five lovely, hot Italian boys (and if you needed a reason to read, there is one all on it's own). From the very beginning, these boys will leave you wondering about them and their life.

The writing in this book is great, the characters are great, and this is a book I really enjoyed. I can't wait for next year for the second book to see how the novel continues!

Grade: B+

Anna

Review: Me, Him, Them, and It by Caela Carter

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Summary:

ME is Evelyn Jones, 16, a valedictorian hopeful who's been playing bad girl to piss off THEM, her cold, distant parents. HIM is Todd, Evelyn's secret un-boyfriend, who she thought she was just using for sex - until she accidentally fell in love with him. But before Evelyn gets a chance to tell Todd how she feels, something much more important comes up. IT. IT is a fetus. Evelyn is pregnant - and when Todd turns his back on her, Evelyn has no idea who to turn to. Can a cheating father, a stiff, cold mother, a pissed-off BFF, and a (thankfully!) loving aunt with adopted girls of her own help Evelyn make the heart-wrenching decisions that follow?

Summary from Goodreads.

Information:
Is this part of a series? No.
Pages: 310
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: February 26, 2013
Source: Library
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads

Review:

This book had a very interesting premise to it. It dealt with teenage pregnancy, which is something that seems to be more popular in YA books right now. However, where Carter is different from other books, is the fact that for most of the book, the main character deals with whether or not she should go get an abortion behind her parent's backs.

I feel like the topic of abortion is one of those taboo topics in YA books, and just really is not discussed. However, Carter does it very tastefully. She also is very tasteful in dealing with the topic of how the baby's father is acting and what he is thinking, etc.

This book would have been ten times better if the characters were written better. The main character was hard to connect with, and that makes it hard to read a book. However, even with this minor issue, you do see growth among all of the characters in this book as it goes on, which is why I did not mark down the character section even more in The Short Version.

The writing was okay. At some points, I thought the writing could have been a little better to get the point across. There were times where I felt like I did not understand what was happening in a scene.

Overall, this book has some minor issues, but it is by no means horrible. It is a very good book about a taboo topic in YA literature.

Grade: B-

Anna

I was in no way, shape, or form paid for this review.

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Today I am waiting on.... The Heir by Keira Cass.

Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon’s heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn’t expect her Selection to be anything like her parents’ fairy-tale love story. But as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she always thought.

Summary from Goodreads.

I can't wait to read this book! I read the first three Selection books last summer in just a couple of days, and this seems like it will be a great addition to the series. Once it gets closer to the release date, I will definitely be pre-ordering this!

The Heir will be released on May 5!

What are you waiting on today?

Anna

Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Summary:

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Summary from Goodreads.

Information:
Is this part of a series? Yes, it is book one in the Red Queen trilogy.
Date published: February 10, 2015
Pages: 385
Publisher: Orion
Source: Bought
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads

Review:

Where do I even begin with the review of Victoria Aveyard's RED QUEEN?

I loved it. I loved the characters, I loved the setting, I loved the story. Aveyard is going to be one of my new fantasy authors!

The world Aveyard creates is great. I felt like I was in Norta with Mare as the story was occuring.

The plot has twists and turns like crazy. While I could follow some of the twisting, I didn't predict everything that happened in this story. This, sadly, does not happen much anymore with how many books I have read! I love a book that can surprise me. There are also points in this book that will make you so angry you will want to throw this book against the wall!

I can't think of much else to say about this book other than you should get your hands on a copy! This is going to be one of my favorites 2015, and I can't wait until next January to get my hands on the next book!

Grade: A

Anna

I was in no way, shape, or form paid for this review.

Review: Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Summary:

After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking. A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.

Summary from Goodreads.

Information:
Is this book part of a series? No.
Pages: 342
Publisher: Walker
Release Date: April 15, 2014
Source: Library
Goodreads | Amazon

Review:

I started this book, and read a chapter, then the book sat for a week. I honestly don't know what I was thinking. Once I picked it up again, I was hooked. Emery Lord knows how to write a young adult contemporary.

While the description makes it sound like it could go so, so wrong (I mean, teenage country star on tour?), this book goes in the right direction. There is a mix of romance, drama, cute heart stopping moments, sexual tension... and the list goes on! It is like Lord has an outline for the perfect young adult contemporary.

I honestly don't think I could find something I don't like about this book. I fell in love with all of it, especially the characters. I wanted the story to continue just so I could spend some more time with them.

This is Lord's first book, and wow... I can't wait to see what she does next. Emery Lord is a name to watch in the young adult community. Open Road Summer is one of the best books I have read in 2014!

Grade: A

Anna

Waiting on Wednesday (2)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Today I am waiting for... All the Rage by Courtney Summers.

The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. Because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town, the truth about him has cost her everything—friends, family, and her community. Branded a liar and bullied relentlessly by a group of kids she used to hang out with, Romy’s only refuge is the diner where she works outside of town. No one knows her name or her past there; she can finally be anonymous. But when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party, and news of him assaulting another girl in a town close by gets out, Romy must decide whether she wants to fight or carry the burden of knowing more girls could get hurt if she doesn’t speak up. Nobody believed her the first time—and they certainly won’t now — but the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear.　

With a shocking conclusion and writing that will absolutely knock you out, All the Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women after an act of sexual violence, forcing us to ask ourselves: In a culture that refuses to protect its young girls, how can they survive?

Summary from Goodreads.

All the Rage will be published on April 14 by St. Martin's Griffin.

What are you waiting for today?

Anna

Review: Better Than Perfect by Simone Elkeles

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Summary:

A fresh and fun repackage of Wild Cards, Better Than Perfect launches a romantic new series from NY Times bestselling author Simone Elkeles.

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. So when her older sister comes home after abandoning her ten years earlier, with her hot new stepson in tow, Ashtyn wants nothing to do with either of them. Then she comes up with a plan that would finally give her the chance to leave, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and get the future she wants?

Summary from Goodreads.

Information:

Part of a series? Yes, it is book one in the Wild Cards series.

Pages: 352

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers

Release Date: October 1, 2013

Goodreads | Amazon

Review:

I just finished this one yesterday and have thought long and hard about how I wanted to write this review with so many thoughts running through my head. I love Simone Elkeles. I fell in love with her writing with Perfect Chemistry, which was sent to me to review - and I thought I would hate. After that, I devoured the rest of the Perfect Chemistry books, and also the two Paradise books. So it is easy to say that I went into this book with high expectations, and they were somewhat let down.

Now, when I go into one of Elkeles books, I expect there to be fluffy not-quite-real romance in them. They are in all her books, and let me tell you, I do enjoy that. I love the fluffy-ness of them. But at the same time, there is always a bit of the book that is so serious that it makes the stories more than just a fluffy romance novel. I was disappointed with the serious aspect of this book.

I felt like Elkeles could have gone more into Ashtyn and Derek's issues. They both have problems. I felt like there needed to me more focus on Derek's relationship with his stepmother. In the beginning, he hates her, and then suddenly at the end, he doesn't mind her - but nothing throughout the story led me to believe that anything in their relationship had changed. This is what really bugged me about the book. There needed to be less focus on Derek and Ashtyn's romance, and a little more on how these family issues are magically being solved.

Derek and Ashtyn - most of the time - were easy to like. However, as with any Elkeles book, there are times when you just want to throw the book at the wall for the decisions the characters are making. However, there were moments where I just didn't feel like I was connecting with them.

Overall, I would still recommend this book to others. It still has a good story in it, even if it was more romance than I preferred. However, if you want to read Elkeles at her best, go for the Perfect Chemistry books or the Paradise books.

Grade: B+

Anna

Weekly Wrap Up (2)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Weekly Wrap Up is a post in which I tell you what I read the past week, what was posted on the blog, and what I hope to read in the next week. Some of these will be blog posts, and others will (hopefully) be vlogs!

What I Read This Week:

1. Fault Line by C. Desir

And of course, I read my two history textbooks, my Inclusive Teaching textbook, and my Calculus textbook!

I had a really hard time with Fault Line at the beginning. I had set it aside for a while because I didn't know whether I wanted to finish it or keep going. Once I got to around page 60, it got a little better and I finished it really quick yesterday.

What I'm Reading Now:

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

What I Hope To Read Next Week:

I hope to finish Red Queen and read at least one other book next week. I am taking classes at two different colleges this semester, and one of them is on spring break next week, so I will have a little extra time on my hands!

How was your week? Did you read anything good? What are you reading now?

Anna

Review: The Last Echo (The Body Finder #3) by Kimberly Derting

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Summary:

In the end, all that’s left is an echo.

Before, Violet's morbid ability to sense the dead led her to uncover dark murders and long-buried secrets in her small town. Now that she's working with a special investigative team, Violet hopes she can help even more people - whether by saving a life or catching a killer.

Although she's relieved to finally be honest about what she can do, her instant connection with her mysterious partner, Rafe, is both confusing and unsettling, and their unique bond creates tension with her boyfriend, Jay. When she discovers the body of a college student murdered by "the collector," Violet refuses to give up on the case. With her own relationship on the line, Violet doesn't realize that the serial killer is looking to add to his collection and that she may have caught his eye. Will the life Violet has to save be her own?

Summary from Goodreads.

Information:

Part of a series? Yes! It is the third of four books in The Body Finder series. Click here for my review of book one, The Body Finder. Click here for my review of book two, Desires of the Dead.

Pages: 358

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: April 17, 2012

Source: Bought

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Review:

Kimberly Derting is an amazing author. She found an interesting mystery topic that I have never heard of at all. Usually by the third book of a series, my concern is that I won't be as "in love" with the series or characters as I was before. With the Body Finder series, I don't think I will every have to worry about that. The writing is great, the characters are great, and Derting manages to keep me coming back for more with these books.

This book is great, and the series in general is great, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book!

Overall: Great third book in the series! This is one of my favorite series.

Grade: A

Anna

I was in no way, shape, or form paid for this review.

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Today I am waiting for.... Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anna Blackman.

This is the sequel to Prisoner of Night and Fog, which I read over the summer.

Here is the summary from Goodreads:

The girl known as Gretchen Whitestone has a secret: She used to be part of Adolf Hitler’s inner circle. More than a year after she made an enemy of her old family friend and fled Munich, she lives with a kindly English family, posing as an ordinary German immigrant, and is preparing to graduate from high school. Her love, Daniel Cohen, is a reporter in town. For the first time in her life, Gretchen is content.

But then, Daniel gets a telegram that sends him back to Germany, and Gretchen’s world turns upside-down. And when she receives word that Daniel is wanted for murder, she has to face the danger she thought she’d escaped-and return to her homeland.

Gretchen must do everything she can to avoid capture and recognition, even though saving Daniel will mean consorting with her former friends, the Nazi elite. And as they work to clear Daniel’s name, Gretchen and Daniel discover a deadly conspiracy stretching from the slums of Berlin to the Reichstag itself. Can they dig up the explosive truth and get out in time-or will Hitler discover them first?

Click here to add to your Goodreads page!

What are you waiting for today?

Anna

Review: After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven Wedel

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Summary:

Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her.
Filled with heart-pounding romance, paranormal activity, and rich teen characters to love-and introducing an exciting new YA voice, Steven Wedel-this novel is exactly what Carrie Jones fans have been waiting for. Meet your next obsession.

Summary is from Goodreads.

Information:
Is this part of a series? No
Pages: 305
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Source: Sent for review when I was still blogging.
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Review:

After Obsession was a quick read. While I had some issues with the novel, I still found it enjoyable. I'm going to do this review in a list format since it will help get what I'm thinking put into this review easier.

Liked:
1. The premise of the story. It was original, and something I haven't seen in many, if any, young adult books.
2. The cover! It's absolutely adorable!
3. Aimee and Alan (the main characters). They were totally enjoyable and likeable.

Didn't Like:
1. The way the plot moved. Some places it seemed like it moved too fast, others it seemed moved too slow.
2. Some of the writing seemed a little bit choppy. I'm not sure what could've been done to fix this, but it just seemed really choppy to me in places.
3. I was expecting it to be a lot more scary and creepy. I wish it had been!

Overall: After Obsession is still a book to check out, even though I thought it was just an okay read.

Grade: C

Anna

I was in no way, shape, or form paid for this review.

Weekly Wrap Up (1)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 21:25:00 +0000

Weekly Wrap-Up is a weekly post that discusses what I read, what I hope to read in the next week, and possibly other book-ish things.

Read This Week:
1. Finale - Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush, Hush #4) (This is a re-read for me.)
2. Miracle - Elizabeth Scott
3. Vendetta - Catherine Doyle
4. Willow - Julia Hoban (Also a re-read.)

I also read the normal textbooks: two history textbooks, my calculus book, and my inclusive teaching textbook.

What I Hope to Read Next Week:

I started to read Fault Line by Christa Desir last night, and I hope to finish this one. I also hope to read one to two more books, though I don't know what they will be yet!

In Other News:

I went to Barnes and Noble on Monday and spent the rest of my Christmas gift cards. I got two new books, and four ones that I had read before, but did not own because I had an ARC of them. I got:
1. Vendetta - Catherine Doyle
2. Red Queen - Victoria Aveyard
3. Perfect Chemistry - Simone Elkeles
4. Rules of Attraction - Simone Elkeles
5. Willow - Julia Hoban
6. Hate List - Jennifer Brown

What did you read this week?

Anna

Review: Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 14:15:00 +0000

Summary:

Kendall loves her life in small town Cryer's Cross, Montana, but she also longs for something more. She knows the chances of going to school in New York are small, but she's not the type to give up easily. Even though it will mean leaving Nico, the world's sweetest boyfriend, behind.

But when Cryer's Cross is rocked by unspeakable tragedy, Kendall shoves her dreams aside and focuses on just one goal: help find her missing friends. Even if it means spending time with the one boy she shouldn't get close to... the one boy who makes her question everything she feels for Nico.

Determined to help and to stay true to the boy she's always loved, Kendall keeps up the search--and stumbles upon some frightening local history. She knows she can't stop digging, but Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried....

Summary is from Goodreads.

Information:

Part of a series? No

Pages: 233

Published: February 8, 2011

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Source: Bought

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Review:

Lisa McMann never ceases to amaze me. I read the Wake series and I loved them. The writing was something so new, so fresh, and just so different from anything I've ever read. Cryer's Cross was no different.

Now I will admit, as embaressing as it is, that I totally can't do anything dealing with horror. Halloween scares me (masks... EEEK). I watch scary movies behind the comfort of a pillow and only watch when I KNOW there's no chance I can get scared. Yet, I decided I needed to read Cryer's Cross. And I'm definitely not disappointed that I read it.

McMann brings us a setting that is creepy in itself: a rural farming down in Montana that is only home to about 200 or less people. I mean, it's one of those towns you rarely see - everyone knows everyone, and there's still a freaking one room schoolhouse! Then add in students mysteriously going missing without a trace and a new bad boy and you've got a wonderful story.

I loved the characters. Kendall was a great main character. She has OCD, which is really hard for a lot of people (including me) to understand, but McMann writes about it in a way that makes it easily understandable.

The storyline is something very original that I have never seen or even heard about before. It was very spooky and mysterious. There were a lot of plot twists. I didn't see the ending coming at all. I hadn't even thought of it as a possibility, it was kept in the dark so well.

Cryer's Cross is a great mix of romance, action, adventure, mystery, and horror that will leave readers awed at the end, wondering what the heck happened. If you didn't read the Wake series because you weren't a fan of the sparse writing style, I would still recommend this one to you - this one does not have that sparse writing like her other novels.

Overall: Great! Totally recommended by me.

Grade: A+

Anna

Hello, all!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 19:14:00 +0000

Hello!

It has been a while since I announced that I would not be posting here anymore. Since August of 2011! Since that time a lot has happened in my life!

Since I first posted that Hope's Bookshelf would no longer be here, I have been missing book blogging so much. I have still been active on Goodreads, and I have been somewhat active on Twitter, but I miss the community that I felt apart of when I was blogging here on Hope's Bookshelf.

After thinking about it for the past week, I have decided to come back to the blogging universe again.

I am not promising that my posts will be as frequent as they were at the height of this blog.

I am hoping to do 3+ posts a week to get started, and see where it goes. I am not going to promise this every week. I am in college currently, with full 16 credit semesters, so things can get overly hectic, which results in less reading happening by me.

I am hoping that once I get back into the swing of things, I won't regret this decision. I hope that I will be able to keep this up and not get too overwhelmed with adding the blog back into my life. And I hope that there are still people reading this!

Things will be slow to get updated, probably, but I will be doing my best.

Just a note: I plan to keep the name of the blog - Hope's Bookshelf - the same. But, as most of you know, that is not my real name. I don't feel the need to go by Hope anymore, as my Twitter/Goodreads/everything else does not have that name attached to it anymore. I will be signing posts as Anna this time around.

I hope you all have a great day, and are as excited with this news as I am!
(Although I am sitting here nervous that this will not be taken well, or that nobody is even reading/following this anymore!)
Anna

I Am Sad To Announce...

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 01:52:00 +0000

...that Hope's Bookshelf will soon be no more.

I am getting to the point that reading lately seems like a chore, instead of a fun hobby. I want to get myself back to the point where reading is fun again, and the only way I think I can do this is to stop this blog.

There will be a few more posts within the next month. There will be some blog tour posts and some author interviews that I already agreed to that I won't back out of.

If you want to still read my reviews, go to my goodreads page. I will be reviewing all of the books I read - including all of the review books I have now - on my goodreads.

So, a few posts of author interviews and blog tours, there will be no more posts on Hope's Bookshelf, but I will be keeping the blog up so people can read the old posts that I have on here.

It's been a great two years, guys! I hope to see all of you on my goodreads page.

Contest Winners!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:35:00 +0000

Listed below are the contest winners for the Bloodlines swag!

The ultimate grand prize winner is:
Ronda C!

The following people also won Bloodlines tattoos:
Kelsey F.!
Mable L.!

Your winnings will be mailed to you within the next week. :)

Review: Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:31:00 +0000

Summary:

Luis Fuentes has always been sheltered from the gang violence that nearly destroyed his brothers’ lives. But that didn’t stop him from taking risks—whether he’s scaling a mountain in the Rockies or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis can’t stop looking for the next thrill.

Nikki Cruz lives her life by three rules—boys lie to get their way, don’t trust a boy who says “I love you,” and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Her parents may be from Mexico, but as a doctor’s daughter, she has more in common with her north-side neighbors than the Latino Blood at her school. Then she meets Luis at Alex’s wedding, and suddenly, she’s tempted to break all her rules.

Getting Nikki to take a chance on a southsider is Luis’s biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by Chuy Soto, the new head of the Latino Blood. When Chuy reveals a disturbing secret about Luis’s family, the youngest Fuentes finds himself questioning everything he’s ever believed to be true. Will his feelings for Nikki be enough to stop Luis from entering a dark and violent world and permanently living on the edge?

Review:

Simone Elkeles is one of my favorite authors. Whenever I see that she has another book coming out, I immediately go and pre-order it because I just have to read it. The Perfect Chemistry series is a favorite series of mine.

I absolutely fell in love again with this novel. Simone Elkeles is a genius. I'm not even kidding. The way she writes makes you fall in love with the characters. While reading these books, I laugh, cry, and get so mad I want to throw them against the wall. (And I have to say, I did almost throw this one against the wall a few times lol.) I get so connected to these characters that I never want the story to end.

Chain Reaction is a must read for any young adult reader. My only hope is that Simone Elkeles will continue on the Perfect Chemistry series with the Fuentes' brothers children, because I definitely do not want this series to end anytime soon. As you can tell, this one is a definite recommendation from me. You just can't go wrong with Simone Elkeles... I am anxiously awaiting her next novel already.

Grade: A+

Week in Perspective (4)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:44:00 +0000

What I Read:

1. Sweetly - Jackson Pearce (finished)
2. The Unwanteds - Lisa McMann
3. One for the Money - Janet Evonovich
4. Chain Reaction - Simone Elkeles
5. The Shattering - Karen Healey (started)

What I Posted:

On Monday, I posted a contest for some Bloodlines swag. Don't forget to enter - you only have until Monday!

On Tuesday, I posted a review for Sweetly by Jackson Pearce.

On Thursday, I posted a review for Between by Jessica Warman.

Review: Between by Jessica Warman

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:07:00 +0000

Summary:

Elizabeth Valchar --- pretty, popular and rich --- wakes up the morning after her 18th birthday on the yacht where she’d been celebrating with her closest friends. A persistent thumping noise has roused her. When she goes to investigate, she finds her own drowned body is hitting the side of the boat. Liz is dead. She has no memory of what happened to her, and can only observe in horror the fallout of her death.

She’s also soon joined by Alex Berg, a quiet boy from her high school who was killed by a hit-and-run driver. The two keep each other company, floating in and out of memories and trying to piece together the details of what happened to each of them.

In her regular life, Liz was a runner. It wasn’t abnormal for her to run 8-10 miles per day. But as memories from closer to her death begin to surface, Liz finds that she’d been running much more than normal, and that she’d all but stopped eating. Liz’s mother, who died when Liz was nine, had battled with anorexia as well, and those around her worried that Liz was following in her mother’s footsteps. But something more sinister was consuming Liz from the inside out..

Review:

I don't know where to start with this review. This book was awesome. I mean, really, really awesome. I don't know why I didn't know about this book sooner or why I didn't read it sooner!

Liz is one of those main characters that you love to hate. She is one of those "popular" girls. What makes this different is that after she dies, she gets stuck with someone she and her crowd used to make fun of. Yeah, major twist in the story there! She is written wonderfully and by the end of the novel, you will be sympathetic toward her.

The plotline was very unique. I was really happy with it. If a book can have a few twists and turns in it that I don't see coming, it's wonderful. This book had many of those twists and turns. I figured out only one of them toward the middle of the book, but besides that, I was as clueless as Liz. I still can't get over how unique it was and how it was presented, as far as the timeline of it goes. I don't want to get into any spoilers, but it was just wonderful.

Though the subject is a serious one, this is a nice, fast read that everyone will enjoy. I am recommending this to everyone. Get your hands on it as quick as you can, it really is wonderful!

Grade: A+

Review: Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:01:00 +0000

Summary:

SWEETLY is a modernization of Hansel and Gretel and a companion book to SISTERS RED.

Twelve years ago, Gretchen, her twin sister, and her brother went looking for a witch in the forest. They found something. Maybe it was a witch, maybe a monster, they aren’t sure—they were running too fast to tell. Either way, Gretchen’s twin sister was never seen again.

Years later, after being thrown out of their house, Gretchen and Ansel find themselves in Live Oak, South Carolina, a place on the verge of becoming a ghost town. They move in with Sophia Kelly, a young and beautiful chocolatier owner who opens not only her home, but her heart to Gretchen and Ansel.

Yet the witch isn’t gone—it’s here, lurking in the forests of Live Oak, preying on Live Oak girls every year after Sophia Kelly’s infamous chocolate festival. But Gretchen is determined to stop running from witches in the forest, and start fighting back. Alongside Samuel Reynolds, a boy as quick with a gun as he is a sarcastic remark, Gretchen digs deeper into the mystery of not only what the witch is, but how it chooses its victims. Yet the further she investigates, the more she finds herself wondering who the real monster is, and if love can be as deadly as it is beautiful.

Review:

A little while ago, I read and fell in love with Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, which is the companion novel to Sweetly. I had very high expectations for Sweetly because of how much I loved Sisters Red. And I have to say, I was a little bit disappointed with this one.

The thing that really hurts this book is the pacing of it. If this book didn't have a pacing issue, it would be wonderful. However, the first 200 to 250 pages are extremely slow. A few events happen during this period, but not enough to make you want to keep reading and find out what happens. It wasn't until around page 200 that I really started getting interested in the storyline and actually wanted to keep reading to find out what happens.

Like I said, besides the pacing issue, this book is wonderful. It has the same effects as Sisters Red, with the sister element, the romance element, and a paranormal element with the werewolves. The sister element in this novel is different, however there is a brother in this novel. Grentchen and Ansel are extremely close and it is a nice example of a brother/sister relationship.

The romance element was good - once it kicked in. Since the pacing wasn't the greatest in this novel, it took a while to kick in. However, once the romance started showing up, it happened so fast in some cases that it was like, "Waiiiit! Slow down! Where's this coming from?!" Even with this, I loved the romance aspect of the novel.

And now onto the paranormal bit. As in Sisters Red, Jackson Pearce keeps up with traditional Fenris storytelling, and I love that. While I don't think the werewolves show up as much in this novel as they do in Sisters Red, they still play an extremely important part in the novel, and it's a wonderful part in the novel.

Overall, if you read and liked Sisters Red, I recommend reading this novel. If you like modern retelling of fairytales, I also recommend this novel. Just go into remembering that the pacing is slow and it will take a while to get into it.

Grade: B-

Contest: Bloodlines swag!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:43:00 +0000

So, to brighten up a dreary Monday, I have a contest for you!

It is for some Bloodlines swag, and there will be multiple winners!

The grand prize winner will win:
-The Vampire Academy tote bag
-The rose
-One Bloodlines tattoo

There will be five follow up winners who will win one Bloodlines tattoo, each.

To enter:
-You must live in the United States.
-You must be 13 years or older.
-You must fill out the form below completely.

The contest will end in one week on August 29th and winners will be posted then.

Good luck!

Here's the form to fill out:

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Cover Love (3)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:45:00 +0000

Cover Love is a weekly feature in which I share with you the cover of an upcoming book I have found and have fallen in love with.

This cover is gorgeous. I just finished this book this week (look for a review soon!) and I love how the cover matches up with the book nicely. What do you think of it?

Review: The Duggars: 20 and Counting!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:34:00 +0000

Summary:

The Duggars: 20 and Counting! is a behind-the-scenes look at the supersize family that fascinates millions of television viewers around the world. From Idaho to Istanbul, people want to know how Arkansas parents Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar efficiently and lovingly manage seventeen (soon to be eighteen) happy, homeschooled children without going into debt -- or losing their minds!This, the Duggars' first book, is an entertaining and enlightening collection of stories, photos, recipes, tips, traditions, and practical ideas designed to answer the questions of the curious, such as:

- Why do you have so many children?- How do you provide for your family financially?
- How do you handle mealtimes? Transportation? Laundry? Birthdays?
- How are your children so well behaved?
- Why do all your children have names that begin with J?

Since their first documentary broke viewership records on the Discovery Health Channel, the Duggars have appeared in American and international news media, sharing their rock-solid faith and their overriding belief that "children are a blessing from God." In these pages, Jim Bob and Michelle share their story, beginning with their own childhoods. They reveal how their growing-up years shaped their philosophy of parenting. It continues with tales of their big, busy family, whose televised documentaries and frequent appearances in news shows and newspapers have created an international following.
The Duggars share, with humility and humor, the family routines and guidelines they've learned through biblical study and trial and error -- ideas that can help make your home a place of peace, love, and support:

- Financial lessons for debt-free living- Organizing systems for a clutter-free home
- Homeschooling methods and schedules
- Training tips for little ones
- Relationship builders for older children
- Favorite Duggar family resources
Reading The Duggars: 20 and Counting! is like visiting this big, busy family right in their home: fascinating, inspiring -- and fun.

Review:

I really don't know what my fascination with this family and how it runs is. We got rid of our cable a few months back - and yet I still watch re-runs of this show on youtube. (Very pathetic, I know.) It's just such a huge family - most families can't run with only two kids, so how can this one run so well with nineteen of them? (And only one out of the house.)

This was a very good book, in my opinion. Jim Bob and Michelle explained how they met, fell in love, and married (Michelle was only seventeen!). It also explained their choice in having such a large family.

I found it very interesting how they make their own laundry soup. It is a great way to save money (we're making our own in my household now), and it lasts a while.

The receipes that were included also looked really yummy! I have noticed a lot of people saying that they eat like crap, but come on... a lot of us eat stuff like that. It's yummy, and quick to make. And, look at their kids - I don't think they are suffering from it at all. They are all looking very nice and healthy.

So, overall, I loved this and recommend it. :)

Grade: A+

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:45:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I am waiting for Bewitching by Alex Flynn.

"It is the story of Kendra and her first 300 or so years of life. In Bewitching, Kendra ponders whether to help out a modern day plain-looking stepsister, while also reflecting on her experiences in the 1666 British plague, the court of Louis XV, and on the Titanic."

---And that's all we get! Between that and the cover it's going to be hard to wait until February 14, 2012 to read this one!

Trailer Tuesday: Legend by Marie Lu

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Legend will be released by Penguin Young Readers on November 29. What do you think of this trailer?