The Sagacity Quest

A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

2015-05-01T03:00:00.000-07:00

A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

Published: June 05, 2012

Publisher: Poppy

Synopsis: Whitley Johnson's dream summer with her divorcé dad has turned into a nightmare. She's just met his new fiancée and her kids. The fiancée's son? Whitley's one-night stand from graduation night. Just freakin' great.

Worse, she totally doesn't fit in with her dad's perfect new country-club family. So Whitley acts out. She parties. Hard. So hard she doesn't even notice the good things right under her nose: a sweet little future stepsister who is just about the only person she's ever liked, a best friend (even though Whitley swears she doesn't "do" friends), and a smoking-hot guy who isn't her stepbrother...at least, not yet. It will take all three of them to help Whitley get through her anger and begin to put the pieces of her family together.

****

Kody Keplinger did it again! She wrote another amazing contemporary that I enjoyed, and I believe everyone is going to enjoy. A Midsummer’s Nightmare is the second best book I’ve read from Kody, my favorite being The Duff. This book came very close to being a favorite, but not quiet.

Whitley is an outsider. She drinking a lot, parties a lot, and hooks up with guys just for only that night. She’s an interesting yet challenging character I’ve ever read. Things get worse when she learned that her father is getting married, and they won’t be spending their summer alone, just the two of them.

I felt for Whitley. She’s a gentle, nice person on the inside, but living with her angry mother and not getting to see her father regularly have left her to become the person she is. I wanted her to be happy. And there is Nate. He’s the guy she slept with at Graduation night, and her soon-to-be step-brother. Er. Yeah! I really liked him though. Sometimes he can be a jerk, but I liked him.

Bailey, Whitley’s soon-to-be step sister, and Harrison (you might know him from The Duff) made this book even more entertaining. I loved Bailey’s flighty and always happy attitude, and Harrison’s fashion advice and sense of humor. I also liked that we get to see Wesley and Bianca in this book, which was a plus. The person I didn’t like in this book is Whitley’s father. He’s selfish, mean, and heartless guy. He’s ridiculous, I didn’t like him whatsoever.

Overall, I truly enjoyed A Midsummer’s Nightmare. I have no doubt that everyone is going to love it as well. I highly recommend you check this book out right away, if not you’ll be missing an amazing book from an amazing author.

Rating: 4.5/5 (Recommend it)

April Wrap-Up and May TBR

2015-04-28T03:00:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!

Its the end of the month, and this is when I talk about the books I've read in April. However, in the month of April, I didn't read any book. Its been a crazy month and I wasn't motivated to read at all. So, this post is manly about the books I am planning to read in the month of May. School is almost over and I am planning on making up for not reading in April during May (after finals).

I'm going to move the two books I was planning to read in April to my May TBR. I'm planning to read alot more than two books, but I don't know what I want to read, so I'm just going to pick whatever I feel like reading.

Books I would like to read in May:

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks (currently-reading)

Confess by Colleen Hoover

That is it for me. If you guys have done your wrap-up and TBR for April and May, please leave the link down below and I'll definitely check it out.

Happy Reading!

Tempest by Julie Cross

2015-04-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

Tempest by Julie Cross
Published: January 17th 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Synopsis: The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

****

This novel has a very cool plot. I’ve heard about time travelers but I’ve never read books about them. For my first time traveler’s book, I’d say this one was a great pick. I knew—even before reading the first page--that I was going to like this book, and I liked it. Very much.

Jackson is a time traveler, and at first, he didn’t take it seriously. It was because he only can time travel for hours or two days … and only for fun. That’s until Jackson and Holly were attacked by two guys, and when Holly got shot that he went back two years back when he panicked. Now he doesn’t know how to go back to 2009 and save holly because she was still alive when he jumped. What was he supposed to do other than settle in 2007, but still trying to find away to go forward to save Holly.

I liked both Jackson and Holly; they were likeable. Their relationship is cute and sweet. Throughout the book, we can see Jackson feelings develop, which was great. I didn’t love the romance in this book because it was lacking the romantic tension that I love and was expecting. Holly and Jackson have a relationship in 2009, but I really liked reading about Jackson trying to get to Holly and win her. I really liked the romance but didn’t love it. I have hope that the second book might offer what this book is missing.

And finally, for our sake, we get to read a book told from a guy’s point of view. That’s the first thing I loved about this book. We don’t see a lot of books told from guy’s point of view, and I found it very refreshing.

Overall, it’s kind of slow at some points of book but I didn’t mind it, since it picked up quickly. I really enjoyed this book. Tempest is more than time traveling. It’s about family, love, and losing someone you love/care about. I’m really impressed with Julie Cross writing style and the way she captured Jackson’s voice. I really liked Cross’s sense of humor; it kept me entertained, I was chuckling while reading this book. The ending is so sad; it almost made me cry. I need book two right now.

Rating: 4/5 (Recommend it)

Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith

2015-04-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith
Published: December 27th 2011
Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Synopsis:
Kiss
What Leah did—only she really shouldn’t have—one hot night at a country club party.

Crush
What Leah has—only she really shouldn’t have—on the guy with the green eyes, the guy who is not her perfect boyfriend, the guy who does not fit in her picture-perfect life, the guy her sisters will only mock and her mother will never approve of. Not in a million years.

Collide
What happens when everything you always thought you wanted—having cool friends, being class valedictorian and homecoming queen—runs smack into everything it turns out you really do want.

Kiss. Crush. Collide.
For Leah and Porter, summer is only the beginning.

****

I did not care for this book. When I first heard about Kiss Crush Collide and how the synopsis put it as a book for those who are a fan of John Green, Simon Elkeles and Sarah Dessen, I thought, “fantastic.” I love both Simon Elkele’s and Sarah Dessen’s books. Even though I’ve never read John Greens books, I’ve heard amazing things about him and I love his YouTube videos. So who wouldn’t be sold to a book of awesome collective authors in one book, Right? Well, I was sold. Big time.

I had a lot of expectation for this book that I was so disappointed when I read it. I was so confused at the beginning of this book, because Leah started talking about something and she’d rushed through the parts too quickly and start other topics. And I love dialogues in books, and this one has almost nothing. Leah wasn’t likeable or realistic character for me. I found her to be very obnoxious, spoiled and annoying. I liked Duffy, and I think I’d have liked him more if I got to see more of him in this book. We don’t really know a lot about Jon Duffy, I mean we don’t know his feeling for Leah or anything. Forbidden love is always an interesting plot for a book to me, but in this book everything was a lackluster. Speaking of forbidden love, Jon and Leah relationship? Forbidden love? Hells no, I don’t think her parents even mind or care that she dumped her rich jerk boyfriend for Duffy.

Overall, Kiss Crush Collide was very disappointing. It just wasn’t for me I guess. This book had potential, could have been so much better and more interesting … but nada.

Rating: 1/5 (Give it a try, but DEFINITELY borrow it!)

The Breakup Artist by Shannen Crane Camp

2015-04-25T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Breakup Artist by Shannen Crane Camp
Published: December 8th 2011
Publisher: Sweetwater Books

Synopsis: Breaking up with someone is a major pain-unless you can hire someone else to do it for you! And Amelia demands top dollar for her professional break-up services. Everything's business as usual until David, one of the boys she's been hired to dump, throws her for a loop. Now she must decide if David's intentions are genuine, or if there's something sinister behind his flirting.

****

It’s a really cute book. It’s a fun, easy, cute and quick read you don’t want to miss. I was in the mood for a great YA chick-lit that are easy, fun and just a book that will put a smile on my face—and The Break-Up Artist just did that. From the moment I started reading, I was sure I’d love it.

Amelia has lived most of her life as an outcast and she loved it. She doesn’t have a friend or any social life for that matter (she doesn’t even have relationship with her mother), and she was happy with it. She breaks up people for fifty dollars—I admire this girl. Fifty dollars just to break you up with your boyfriend/girlfriend? That’s business but that’s beside the point. But when she met David and he didn’t like what she does, he threatens to destroy her business. Amelia and David started with love/hate relationship but turn into only love relationship. I really enjoyed seeing Amelia reaction to her relationship with David; she was like a girl on a Christmas day, that’s how excited she was to start a relationship with him. I fell in love with both Amelia and David; they both portray a high school teen. I loved Amelia change of fashion every week/day. And David … aww! he’s so cute, nice and caring. I really liked him—I think I like him more that Amelia. He really cares about Amelia and helped her with her issues.

The Break-Up Artist comprises a lot of topic such as: first love, how your parent’s relationship might affect your understanding of relationship, and how hard it is to break up with someone without breaking their heart. I didn’t know this book would have all of those topics included, and it surprised me. I was able to see Amelia grow throughout the book. She learned about relationships and love. Shannen did an amazing job capturing most of teen’s relationship with their boyfriend/girlfriends. If you are in the mood for a sweet and cute book … this is for you. The Break-Up Artist is the perfect read for everyone.

Rating: 4/5 (Recommend it)

Follow Friday #6

2015-04-24T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Feature & Follow is hosted by Parajunkee of Parajunkee's and Alison of Alison Can Read.

Question of the week: How did you come up with your blog title and address? Does it have a special meaning for you?

Answer: My sister actually came up with my blog title. I asked her how she came up with it, she said she doesn't remember. It was along time ago (4 years). I had this blog since 2011, I deleted it in 2014 for personal reasons, and just started it back up. But the title and address is the same.

Leave me a link of your Follow Friday, and I'll be sure to check it out!

Happy Reading!

Until Next Time by Amy Lignor

2015-04-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

Until Next Time by Amy Lignor
Published: February 1st 2012
Publisher: Tribute Books

Synopsis: How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.

When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.

From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart.

****

I didn’t know what this book was about other than it’s being an angel book. I didn’t know what to expect when I first started it. (To be honest, I’d never have picked this book if I haven’t been contacted by the publisher to do a blog tour.) I thought it would be the typical angel book. But I was wrong. This book was REALLY good. I’m happy to have read it.

This book started out great and it kept getting better and better. The take on angels in this book is very fascinating. It’s true that I don’t read a lot of angel books and few of the angel books I read were good, but this one was different ... in a good way.

The characters in this book are very likable, funny, and quirky. Until Next Time was written in third POV, so it was easy to see what they were thinking, and it was easy for me to relate to them. However, I had a problem with Daniel/Matt, the main character. I didn’t really like him. His attitude, clinginess and anger made feel unease. I wasn’t able to relate to him, and it was really hard for me to see what his intentions were. Emily/Elizabeth, on the other hand, is a really strong character. Even when things were hard when she is on Earth, she didn’t gave up.

The other reason why I really enjoyed this book was Faith and Charles. They really made this book fun. Also, Jason is another side character that I liked. He’s caring, sweet, and well mannered. I really liked him. And okay, I do not like love triangles, and there is love triangle in this book…kinda. However, the love triangle in this book is great. Amy wrote it in a way that I found myself fascinated by their relationship instead of choosing sides.

Overall, Until Next Time was a quick, easy, really fascinating read. I read it in one day. I recommend you check it out.

Rating: 3.5/5 (Recommend it, but borrow it)

Waiting on Wednesday #5

2015-04-22T03:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Here is the book I'm waiting on this Wednesday:

The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent
Release Date: June 09, 2015

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.

****

I have not read anything by Rachel Vincent, but I have heard great things about her books. I'd like to pick this up and see what the hype is about her books. Plus, the cover is gorgeous.

Let me know what book(s) you are waiting on this Wednesday!

Happy Reading!

Somebody to Love by Kristian Higgins

2015-04-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

Somebody to Love by Kristian Higgins
Published: April 24th 2012
Publisher: HQN Books

Synopsis: After her father loses the family fortune in an insider-trading scheme, single mom Parker Welles is faced with some hard decisions. First order of business: go to Gideon's Cove, Maine, to sell the only thing she now owns—a decrepit house in need of some serious flipping. When her father's wingman, James Cahill, asks to go with her, she's not thrilled...even if he is fairly gorgeous and knows his way around a toolbox.

Having to fend for herself financially for the first time in her life, Parker signs on as a florist's assistant and starts to find out who she really is. Maybe James isn't the glib lawyer she always thought he was. And maybe the house isn't the only thing that needs a little TLC.

****

Kristina Higgins did it again. I’ve read almost all of her book, and I adore every single one of them; Somebody to Love is another addition to that pile. It was a fun, quick, sweet romance book that everyone should check out.

If you read Higgins’s The Next Best Thing, you would want to read Somebody to Love; I read The Next Best Thing last year and loved it. Anyway, I’m bringing up The Next Best Thing because the main character in Somebody to Love is Parker, and she was a side character in The Next Best Thing. Do you remember her? Lucy’s best friends? Ethan’s son mother? The children’s book writer? Ring a bell? I hope so.

Parker has always been happy with her life, as a single mother raising her son and writing children’s books. Until, her father lost all of Parkers money, leaving her with none. Now Parker has to put her career on hold and leave her son with his father to go to the coast of Maine, to reinvent her aunt’s house, and sell it by the end of the summer. And she’s not very happy to get help from JamesCahill, her father’s attorney and the guy she have history with.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked Parker in The Next Best Thing, but I like her more in this book when I get to know her more. She’s a carefree, funny character. Her relationship with her father is nonexistent, and it was very sad. I liked James; he was sweet, charming. The romance between James and Parker was great. I was also very happy to see Lucy and Ethan in this book.

Overall, Somebody to Love is about family, love, and discovering who you really are. It’s a great adult contemporary everyone would enjoy.

Note: I would recommend you to read The Next Best Thing before reading this one. Somebody to Love would ruin the ending of The Next Best Thing for you (if you’re planning to read it).

Rating: 4/5 (Recommend it)

All These Lives by Sarah Wylie

2015-04-20T03:00:00.000-07:00

All These Lives by Sarah Wylie
Published: June 5th 2012
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Dani is convinced she has nine lives. As a child she twice walked away from situations where she should have died. But Dani’s twin, Jena, isn’t so lucky. She has cancer and might not even be able to keep her one life. Dani’s father is in denial. Her mother is trying to hold it together and prove everything’s normal. And Jena is wasting away. To cope, Dani sets out to rid herself of all her extra lives. Maybe they’ll be released into the universe and someone who wants to live more than she does will get one. Someone like Jena. But just when Dani finds herself at the breaking point, she’s faced with a startling realization. May be she doesn’t have nine lives after all. Maybe she really only ever had one.

****

All These Lives is a very interesting book. I really enjoyed it. Our main character, Dani, is a character that every woman will love. She’s sarcastic, funny, and a loving person (even though she tried to hide it). The author did an amazing job creating such a character.

Dani thinks she has nine lives, and her twin, Jena, is a cancer patient. So Dani thinks she can save her sister by giving her one of her lives. The journey Dani go through to save her sister is dangerous, yet she willed herself to do everything in her power to save Jena. I liked Dani, sometimes she can be too much, but I liked her. I liked her voice and what she represented. Jena and her parents also played a great role in this book. I enjoyed seeing the family relationship before Jena was diagnosed with cancer and after.

This book might deal with cancer and cancer patient, but it’s not all the book talks about. It’s about the people around the cancer patient, what they go through when their loved ones are diagnosed with cancer. I really liked that aspect of the book, it gives a glimpse of what people go through when a person they know and love is diagnosed with cancer.

To be completely honest, I don’t have any clue about the genre of this book. So don’t go into this book thinking it’s only contemporary because it’s not - well at least I don’t think it is. The nine lives theory made this book seem like a part paranormal.

All in all, All These Lives by Sarah Wylie is a great book. I truly enjoyed it, and I recommend it.

Rating: 4/5 (Recommend it)

Until I Die (Revenants #2) by Amy Plum

2015-04-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

Until I Die (Revenants #2) by Amy Plum
Published: May 08, 2012
Publisher: HaperCollins

Synopsis: Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

****

Warning: this review might contain spoilers for those of you who have not read the first book.

After reading Die for Me a few days ago and loving it, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy of Until I Die right away. And I was grateful I didn’t have to wait till it comes out, even if it was only for a few weeks.

Until I Die was much better than the first book. As I mentioned on my review, the beginning of Die for Me was slow, but Until I Die was fast paced from the start. I loved it. I’ve said this before and I’m going to say it again, the setting is in the beautiful city of Paris, which is amazing. When you add that to the unique plot, incredible characters and heartwarming story, you got yourself one hell of a book.

I was very happy to be back to the world of Kate and Vincent. I adored both of them in a way I never had other characters. We find out more about them, their relationship has developed since the last book, and we get to learn about the Revenants more in depth. To be honest, sometimes, while reading I found myself looking forward new info about their history, it’s intriguing. I was also happy to see other characters from the first book: Ambrose, Jules, Georgia, and Charlotte. They made the book more fun and just fabulous. We also get to meet new characters: Violette and Arthur. They all were the icing on the cake.

The main plot of this book is Vincent and Kate trying to find a solution they both can live and be happy with. It was touching to read about what both Vincent and Kate put themselves into to have a great future together. I loved both of them from the beginning and reading Until I Die made me fall in love with them even more, if that’s possible.

Until I Die ends in a major cliffhanger. (Ugh.) I don’t like cliffhangers, but I was very impressed how Plum pulls it off. I can’t wait to read book three and the last book, I believe, in this trilogy. Amy Plum won my heart with both her debut novel and the second book in this trilogy. She created a unique world and beautiful story that every paranormal fan would enjoy.

Rating: 5/5 ( Recommend it; so buy it, devour it, love it!)

Clean by Amy Reed

2015-04-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

Clean by Amy Reed
Published: May 08, 2012
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Synopsis: You’re probably wondering how I ended up here. I’m still wondering the same thing.
Olivia, Kelly, Christopher, Jason, and Eva have one thing in common: They’re addicts. Addicts who have hit rock bottom and been stuck together in rehab to face their problems, face sobriety, and face themselves. None of them wants to be there. None of them wants to confront the truths about their pasts. And they certainly don’t want to share their darkest secrets and most desperate fears with a room of strangers. But they’ll all have to deal with themselves—and one another—if they want to learn how to live. Because when you get that high, there’s nowhere to go but down, down, down.

****

Amazing. I loved it. Clean is a book about five teenagers who are drug addicts.

Olivia: a girl who has eating disorder in addition to drug addiction. She wants to be a child her mother wants her to be—which is perfect. To try to make her mom happy, she starts to take pills her mother gave her so she can lose weight. I felt bad for Olivia and there are parents who want their kids to be perfect in everything. That is impossible.

Kelly: an older child and when the little ones come along, she was forgotten. So, to fill the hole of being alone, she started to hang out with the wrong crowd. I’m really surprised that her parents didn’t pick up on any signs she was unhappy and that she uses drug until she did something big.

Eva: I believe she is one of the girls I really felt sorry for. She lost her mother and her father stopped paying attention to her. As Kelly, she wanted to feel wanted so she joined the wrong group of people. But what I learned from Olivia and her father was that people have different way of grieving. Eva wanted her father to be there for her, to grieve her mom with her but her father wanted the opposite—he wanted to grieve alone.

Christopher: the geek guy who wanted to fit in. He finally made friend but his friend ended up being the wrong one. There are people who are just like Christopher in real life.

Jason: the tough guy. Even though he doesn’t seem to care about other things, he is a sweetheart. His story is the worst: his father didn’t give a crap about his own son, he even provides him alcohols and he was an abusive father. Jason’s part of the story shows the consequence of using drug and the results will surprise you when you read this book.

I found this book really interesting and I thought this book related to teens well (whether drug addicts or not). The one quality that makes this book interesting is that the five teenagers are from different social group/cliques. I liked that the book is an example of the fact that drug doesn’t choose its victims. This book covers some tough topics: the difficulty of communication, family challenges and altogether being a teenager. It gave me much more insight on a lot of issues teens go through. If you or anyone you know dealt with addiction on any level, you will feel for these teenagers.

Rating: 5/5 ( Recommend it; so buy it, devour it, love it!)

Follow Friday #5

2015-04-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Feature & Follow is hosted by Parajunkee of Parajunkee's and Alison of Alison Can Read.

Question of the week: Here is €/£/$100,000. Buy something. Anything at all! What would be the first thing you choose, and why?

Answer: oh. Tough question. I would like to say I'd buy a ton of books and have a wall built in bookshelves. But I'm a college student, so if I am being relastic, I'll pay off my loans/debt. But of course, I would buy some books as well. It is a must, right?! Well... I think it is.

Leave me a link of your Follow Friday, and I'll be sure to check it out!

Happy Reading!

Perfect Chemistry series by Simone Elkeles

2015-04-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

Perfect Chemistry series by Simone Elkeles
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Synopsis:
Perfect Chemistry
When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created 'perfect' life is about to unravel before her eyes. She's forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for: her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect.
Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

Rules of Attraction
Carlos Fuentes doesn't want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him in Boulder, Colorado. He wants to keep living on the edge, and carve his own path-just like Alex did. Unfortunately, his ties to a Mexican gang aren't easy to break, and he soon finds himself being set up by a drug lord.
When Alex arranges for Carlos to live with his former professor and his family to keep him from being sent to jail, Carlos feels completely out of place. He's even more thrown by his strong feelings for the professor's daughter, Kiara, who is nothing like the girls he's usually drawn to. But Carlos and Kiara soon discover that in matters of the heart, the rules of attraction overpower the social differences that conspire to keep them apart.
As the danger grows for Carlos, he's shocked to discover that it's this seemingly All-American family who can save him. But is he willing to endanger their safety for a chance at the kind of life he's never even dreamed possible?

Chain Reaction
Luis Fuentes is a good boy who doesn't live with the angst that his big brothers, Alex and Carlos, have always lived with. Luis is smart, funny, and has big dreams of becoming an astronaut. But when he falls for the wrong girl.
Luis enters a dark world he's never known, and just when he thinks he's got life all figured out, learns some disturbing news about his family that destroys his positive outlook on life. Will that Fuentes bad boy streak come out with a vengeance and lure Luis to live on the edge like his new girlfriend and his own father?

****

I’ll be reviewing the whole series in here. This review may contain spoilers. If you have not read the whole series, please read at your own risk.

Perfect Chemistry: Let me start by saying, Perfect Chemistry was my first Simon Elkeles book but it wasn’t my last. The whole book is just a wonderful read that shows you how much there is to learn about the hardship of life. I loved the main characters Alex and Brittany: both Alex and Brittany have responsibilities in their household to keep everything together. The other character I really loved was Paco; he sacrificed himself for the sake of Alex...but especially for the sake of Alex and Brittney's relationship. The storyline and the characters are great and witty. I don’t want to choose between the series, but I can’t help say that Perfect Chemistry is my favorite from the three books. Definitely a great read!

Rules of Attraction: Rules of Attraction certainly lives up to the bar that Perfect Chemistry set. I loved that this story is centered on Carlos and Kiara, but it also includes Alex and Brittany. Rules of Attraction will keep you engrossed until the last page. I found it very interesting how Elkeles was able to create different characters that deal with the same problems as Perfect Chemistry but still make readers want more. Kiara and Carlos are both very likeable characters. Also, I really liked Tuck. Rules of Attraction is a funny and quick book you don’t want to miss.

Chain Reaction: The plot is slightly similar to the other two books, but has a love/hate relationship that made it interesting. I also liked how each book is set about a few years after the previous one, and involves the original main characters, so we can see how the couples' relationships have progressed. I would love it if Simone Elkeles would write more books to this series about the sons /daughters of the three Fuentes boys.

Overall, there are parts that are predictable but this is still an incredible series! I love the cocky/sweet attitude of the Fuentes’s brothers. There are storylines that never get old and this is one of them. I’m sad it’s over but the Fuentes’s brothers are unforgettable!

P.S. I have heard that Simone Elkeles might be coming up with a 4th book for the series. I know I'll be reading it whenever it comes out.

Rating: 5/5 (Recommend them; so buy them, devour them, love them!)

Waiting on Wednesday #4

2015-04-15T03:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Here is the book I'm waiting on this Wednesday:

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Release Date: May 05, 2015

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's

Synopsis: When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

****

This book sounds fantastic. I have never read anything by Sarah J. Maas, but I have heard amazing things about her Throne of Glass series. So I am planning to pick up this one when it comes out.

Let me know what book(s) you are waiting on this Wednesday!

Happy Reading!

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

2015-04-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger
Published:September 5, 2011
Publisher: Poppy

Synopsis: Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

****

Who doesn’t love to read about battle of sexes?
I loved Kody’s debut novel The DUFF. So I waited anxiously for her second book to come out and I was so happy when I got my hands on a copy.

SHUT OUT is a wonderful story told in the fresh voice of Lissa. I absolutely loved the take on Battle of Sexes. I loved the main character Lissa: she’s fantastic, likeable, neurotic and bossy. I really enjoyed reading this book. I also liked Cash (on a side note: I really like the name.) I liked the fact that Kody brought up guys choosing football--or in this book rivalry--over their girlfriends. It’s realistic! It happens in real life--husbands choosing sport over their wives, boyfriends choosing sports over their girlfriends.

The one thing that really irked me about Lissa was why she even bothered with Randy at all--he was a complete jerk. The plot of this book might be the same as The Duff but it has a different concept. It was my second time reading about battle of sexes and I’ve learned good things so far.

While reading this book, I can’t help comparing the main character of The Duff, Bianca, and Lissa. It was really interesting to me because it felt like two different authors wrote those two characters, in my opinion. That’s how different the characters are. I liked the ending but I wanted the books to have more depth about battle of sexes, and not just Lissa not wanting Cash to win because of
her emotional feelings for him.

Overall, Kody did an amazing job and I would be reading more of her work. Plus, the cover is just pretty. I recommend this book for everyone.

Rating: 3/5 (Recommend it)

The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols

2015-04-13T03:00:00.000-07:00

The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols
Published: February 07, 2012
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Synopsis: Gemma can’t believe her luck when the star football player starts flirting with her. Max is totally swoon-worthy, and even gets her quirky sense of humor. So when he asks out her so-called best friend Addison, Gemma’s heartbroken.

Then Addison pressures Gemma to join the date with one of Max’s friends. But the more time they all spend together, the harder Gemma falls for Max. She can’t help thinking that Max likes her back—it’s just too bad he’s already dating Addison. How can Gemma get the guy she wants without going after her best friend’s boyfriend?

****

Jennifer Echols is one of my favorite YA authors out there. I just adore her books, and when I saw her new book, I was super excited and I already knew that I was going to love it. And I did. I loved it. It’s such a cute, fun love story that I devoured.

I really liked Gemma. She’s sweet, passionate, self-conscious, and a teenager. She’s a believable character. I also loved Max. He’s adorable. He’s sweet, honest, and very different. Max says/blurts out what comes to mind; sometime it’s good, and sometimes it’s not. I found him to be not your typical YA male character.

When you read a book, there is that one character that you don’t like very much. Well, that character for me is Gemma’s so-called best friend, Addison. I hated her from the first page. She’s controlling, annoying, and ungrateful snob. I was frustrated reading about her and how Gemma put far too much in Addison’s bipolar personality. Addison makes me cringe every time. I was so happy when Gemma did what was right and stand up for herself. Simply put: Addison is not a good friend.

Throughout out the book, we saw Gemma grow and found her own way. She starts to find what she wants and needs. That’s one thing I loved most about this book was the characters and how they were developed throughout the story. I loved The One That I Want. It’s a fun read that I recommend everyone to check out.

Rating: 4/5 (Recommend it!)

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

2015-04-12T03:00:00.000-07:00

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Published: June 14, 2012
Publisher: Dial Books For Young Readers

Synopsis: "One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."
The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

****

Oh! My! Gosh! Huntley Fitzpatrick (what a brilliant author, I tell you) is a new favorite author of mine and My Life Next Door is a new favorite Contemporary!

I’ve read this book almost two years ago when it first came out in 2012, and I’m just writing a review for it. And I’m surprised how much I still remember almost every single scene in that book. I love that kind of books, don’t you? You’ve read a book once and it just stayed with you for a long time? That’s My Life Next Door for me. I loved every single thing in the book.

Samantha Reed is smart, quiet and somewhat lonely. She’s a character that I connected with right away. I loved how she’s independent, mature and simply a good person. And I loved her more when she met Jase Garrett. Jase is sweet, caring, and also mature. They came from two completely difference households; even then they are so perfect for each other. I loved their friendship and their love story. I’ve read a lot of contemporaries about first love, but I truly loved the take on this book. Not only their relationship is based on being intimate with each other physically, it’s also emotional bond as well. We don’t see that often in YA contemporaries these days, so it was refreshing.

I’m very impressed by Fitzpatrick’s debut novel, and I’m so going to read her What I Thought Was True book as well us the second book (a companion, I’m guessing) in this series coming out this year.

I’m just going say that if you have not read this book you are missing out. I’m serious! This book is everything you’d want in a contemporary. It’s a charming, deep and real contemporary that you won’t be able to put down. So go head and buy it, borrow it or whatever, as long as you read it.

Rating: 5/5 (Recommend it; so buy it, devour it, love it!)

When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle

2015-04-11T03:00:00.000-07:00

When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle
Published: May 01, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Synopsis: What’s in a name, Shakespeare? I’ll tell you: Everything.
Rosaline knows that she and Rob are destined to be together. Rose has been waiting for years for Rob to kiss her—and when he finally does, it’s perfect. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who used to be Rose’s best friend. Juliet, who now inexplicably hates her. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy...and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t even stand a chance.
Rose is devastated over losing Rob to Juliet. This is not how the story was supposed to go. And when rumors start swirling about Juliet’s instability, her neediness, and her threats of suicide, Rose starts to fear not only for Rob’s heart, but also for his life. Because Shakespeare may have gotten the story wrong, but we all still know how it ends….

****

I’m going to start by saying that I’m a huge Shakespeare fan. I love his plays, even though almost all of them end up in a tragedy. So when I got When You Were Mine for a review, I was both nervous and excited to read it. I’ve never read a re-telling before, so being my first re-telling book, I didn’t know what to except.

Because I was very intrigued to find out what it’s about, I read this book as soon as I got it. It was such a quick, fun read. I was able to finish it right away. When You Were Mine is a great re-telling, and for my first re-telling, it was fantastic. I loved it. N0netheless, the characters were, to be honest, not my favorite. I admit. I usually dislike a book if I don’t like the characters, but in this book, the story had more pull on me that I kept reading. After a while I got used to the characters, and I was able to read it without the trouble.

When You Were Mine was a refreshing read. It’s good to be reminded of the greatest love story. It’s even better that we get to read this book from Rosaline--Romeo first love—POV instead of the story we all know told from the perspective of two star crossed lovers, I think. (It’s been a long time since I read it, so I don’t remember if it was in Romeo or Juliet’s POV.) Anyway, I only had one problem with this book and that it is the love interest. It’s plain. I didn’t like it.

All in all, When You Were Mine is a great summer read that I believe everyone going to love. Rebecca Serle did an amazing job with her debut of the re-telling of Romeo and Juliet.

Rating: 3/5 (Recommend it)

Follow Friday #4

2015-04-10T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Feature & Follow is hosted by Parajunkee of Parajunkee's and Alison of Alison Can Read.

Question of the week: Have you ever read a book you thought you’d hate but loved? Or vice versa?

Answer: Yes! To mention a few:

In Honor by Jess Kirby -> I thought I was going to love this book because it involves a road trip and romance, but I didn't. Gave it 2/5
Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead -> Because of the hype this series got, I was worried I'd not like it, but I LOVED it. I read the first 4 books straight in a week.
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi -> Of course everyone love this book, so I thought I would too. But nope... I disliked this book so much. Gave it 1/5
The Book Thief by Markus Zsuak -> The synopsis didn't interest me at all. But everyone seems love it, so I gave it a try. BEST BOOK I'VE EVER READ! It's one of my top favorite books of all time.

Leave me a link of your Follow Friday, and I'll be sure to check it out!

Happy Reading!

Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

2015-04-09T03:00:00.000-07:00

Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby
Published: February 28, 2012
Publisher: Walker Childrens

Synopsis: Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she’s called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn’t mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she’s sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.

****

How often do you get to read a book about paparazzi? A 16 years old girl paparazzo? I would say never. After reading the synopsis, my first reaction was this should be interesting. And it was. Very interesting, indeed. I loved it. It was a fun, easy, quick contemporary book--I was able to read it in one day.

Josephine or Jo is a very likable character. I really like her. She’s quirky, fun, and sweet girl with a goal to be a professional portrait photographer. She might not always like what she does, but she needs the money to go to college. Taking celebrities picture isn’t as dirty as her new job, a job that will cover the money she needs to go to the school she wants to go; going to rehab facility for undercover on a teenage celebrity, Ned Hartnett. A celebrity she has a crush on and has met before… even though he doesn’t remember her.

I liked Ned (if you read the book, you know who I’m really talking about). He’s nice. The romance between Jo and Ned is okay. The reason why I gave this book 4.5 instead of 5 was the romance. I didn’t hate but I didn’t love it either. It was okay. I didn’t jump up and down for it.

I thought Shooting Stars would be a typical contemporary book, and after reading a couple of chapters … I thought I figured it all out. Boy was I wrong! Shooting Stars surprised me with a twist I didn’t expect at all. I’m always good at figuring books really quickly, but not with this book. The twist was the icing on the cake. I didn’t know what to expect from it, so I just kept reading in awe.

Overall, Allison Rushby debut novel was amazing. I really liked the plot. It gives readers to a view in the life of a paparazzi; their work seems to take all of their time. The pace was good. I would recommend this book for EVERYONE.

Rating: 4.5/5 (Recommend it; so buy it, devour it, love it!)

Waiting on Wednesday #3

2015-04-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Here is the book I'm waiting on this Wednesday:

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
Release Date: May 05, 2015

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Synopsis: Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.The uber-popular Sarah Dessen explores her signature themes of family, self-discovery, and change in her twelfth novel, sure to delight her legions of fans.

****

I would read ANYTHING Sarah Dessen writes. Let's just leave it at that.

Let me know what book(s) you are waiting on this Wednesday!

Happy Reading!

The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker

2015-04-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker
Published: January 02, 2012
Publisher: Poppy

Synopsis: Fourteen-year-old Kentucky girl Ricki Jo Winstead, who would prefer to be called Ericka, thank you very much, is eager to shed her farmer's daughter roots and become part of the popular crowd at her small town high school. She trades her Bible for Seventeen magazine, buys new "sophisticated" clothes and somehow manages to secure a tenuous spot at the cool kids table. She's on top of the world, even though her best friend and the boy next door Luke says he misses "plain old Ricki Jo."

Caught between being a country girl and wannabe country club girl, Ricki Jo begins to forget who she truly is: someone who doesn't care what people think and who wouldn't let a good-looking guy walk all over her. It takes a serious incident out on Luke's farm for Ricki Jo to realize that being a true friend is more important than being popular.

****

This book was a disappointment for me. I was SUPER excited when I got it from my library since I was hearing great things about it on Goodreads. I guess I had high expectation, but The Queen of Kentucky was … vapid. It was really hard for me to keep reading it, to finish it.

Rick Jo or Ericka as she wants to be called is a 14 year old who acts like a 3 year old. Yes, she’s a teenager but that’s not an excuse. Luke is 14 too but does he act like Ericka? Nope, and don’t say it’s because he’s a guy. If you say that what about Candace? She’s the same age, same class with Ericka and a teenage. I’ve never met a main character I hated so much ever; I even hated her more than some villains. She’s a snobby brat, stupid, selfish and annoying. This book is filled with her complaints.

I kept reading this book because of Luke. I liked him more than Ericka. He’s so sweet, fragile and sad. It made my heartache to see him suffer in his own home. And it pissed me off to see Ericka complain because she doesn’t fit in while Luke is going through real life problems.

If it had been normal book size, I might have liked it, but it’s almost 400 pages. 400 pages of, I’m sorry I’m saying this but it was 400 pages of crap. On the bright side, the writing was okay.

The Queen of Kentucky could have so much potential but it lacked everything I wanted from a contemporary novel. I guess you can say it’s not my cup of tea. I do not recommend this book, but if you want to read this book, more power to you. I hope you enjoy it more than I did.

Rating: 1.5/5 (Give it a try, but DEFINITELY borrow it!)

Balthazar by Claudia Gray

2015-04-06T03:00:00.000-07:00

Balthazar by Claudia Gray
Published: March 06, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen

Synopsis: For hundreds of years, the vampire Balthazar has been alone-without allies, without love.
When Balthazar agrees to help Skye Tierney, a human girl who once attended Evernight Academy, he has no idea how dangerous it will be. Skye's newfound psychic powers have caught the attention of Redgrave, the cruel, seductive master vampire responsible for murdering Balthazar and his family four centuries ago. Now Redgrave plans to use Skye's powers for his own evil purposes.
Balthazar will do whatever it takes to stop Redgrave and exact his long-awaited revenge against his killer. As Skye and Balthazar stand together to fight him, they grow closer-first unwillingly, then undeniably. Balthazar realizes his lonely world could finally be changed by her. . . .

****

I don’t read a lot of vampire books; in fact, I only read 2 vampire books so far. So it was good to add a GREAT vampire book to the other 2 previous books. Balthazar is described as “one of the most beloved characters in Claudia Gray’s New York Times bestselling Evernight series.” It was a good line to get me started to read this book. I wasn’t even half way through when I found out why EVERYBODY seemed to like him because I ended up liking him too.

Balthazar is a hottie. Seriously! I loved everything about him. He’s so sweet, respectful, caring, charming, and just PERFECT! He’s doesn’t let himself get attached with anyone, and he’s been alone for over 100 years. He’s been leaving by one rule: no human. Until, of course, Skye waltz in his life. Other than little trouble relating to her, Skye was a great, strong female character; always putting on a brave face, even when there is a danger coming in her way.

Balthazar was a quick read even though it’s close to 400 pages; I was able to get through it easily. The romance in this book was amazing; Balthazar and Skye are perfect for each other. It’s written in third person with two POV: Balthazar’s and Skye’s. It’s a standalone book, and I did love the ending but I can’t stop myself from wishing it could be a series. I wouldn’t mind more of Balthazar and Skye.

If you haven’t read the Evernight series but want to read Balthazar, do so. Because I didn’t read it and I wasn’t confused at all. Gray has a way of describing details amazingly, and the story didn’t even bore me; she did a fabulous job with this book. I highly recommend this novel. And since I loved Balthazar, I can’t wait to start the Evernight series.

Rating: 4.5/5 (Recommend it; so buy it, devour it, love it)

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

2015-04-05T03:00:00.000-07:00

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic
Published: January 17, 2012
Publisher: HMH Children's Books

Synopsis: Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life. Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go. But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.

****

Do you know what you’d do if you have a little amount of time left to live?

Austen Parker does. Austen knows he doesn’t have a lot of time left, and he also knows the things he wants to do while he’s still alive. Never Eighteen is a short--204 pages--novel about a boy on a mission to help/mend things with people in his life—or used to be in his life--and do things he never done before. It is a story that I will remember for a long time. The story was heart-wrenching, especially at the very end.

I loved the friendship between Austen and Kaylee. It’s believable. Not just their friendship, the characters are believable and realistic. I felt for both of them: Austen because he is dying at a young age and Kaylee for seeing her best friend die. Never Eighteen is funny, heart-breaking, and poignant read. It would make you laugh, cry, and make you think about what life is all about.

Megan Bostic did an amazing job for her debut novel; she captured a heavy subject, which was well-written. It’s been a long time since a book made me cry—Bostic’s book made me cry. But, please, don't let this crying drama depress you enough not to pick this book. (In my experience, if it makes me cry, it means the book is really good.) A fair warning though: Just try not to finish it in a public place.

P.S. Even thought the age limit for this book said 12 and up, personally, I recommend it for everyone age 14 and up.

Rating: 5/5 ( Recommend it; so buy it, devour it, love it!)