Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Fetish by Tara Moss

Labels: , , , at 7:50 PM

Mak is young, beautiful- and in grave danger. An international fashion model, she arrived in Australia on assignment, only to find her best friend brutally murdered, the latest victim of a serial killer with a very deadly fetish. Before she knows it, Mak herself is caught up in the hunt for the killer .and trapped in a twisted game of cat-and-mouse. Who can you trust and where can you turn when you are the dark obsession of a sadistic psychopath? 


Fetish was the novel I had been looking for for a long time. What kind of novel had I been looking for exactly? A good mystery novel. Recently i have been getting into mystery novels and my cousin had been bugging me about reading this one, so I did. And I thank her so much for pushing me into reading this novel. It was AMAZING. Definitely a good mystery novel! There's three main things a good mystery novel needs.

1. A main character that can kick ass: Mak gives us just that. She doesn't run off the first chance she gets, she faces the killer and, let's face it, she has that stubborn and headstrong side that can annoy us but make us glad she was like that in the first place. We all want to read about a character that can stand up for herself and will not let anything get in her way.
2. A frightening killer: Yeah, that's what makes a mystery novel a good mystery novel. The killer did frighten me pretty much during the story. He was as psycho as we always imagined killers to be. I really did love how sometimes Tara Moss narrated certain chapters from his point of view (in third person of course) but I really do like to read not just what the main character's going through, but also what the killer's thinking, it's always good to end up the killer's POV unfinished so that it gives you that thrilling sensation.
3. A hottie willing to save the day: Who better than a sexy Aussie to do so? No more to be said here. I think we all get the point. 


It impressed me that Tara Moss wrote this novel so well. The terms she used and the way she shaped the killer into being a 'perfect killer' amazed me. The novel showed she had knowledge of what she was writing and she still managed to stick to a fictitious story by using facts and creating a plot that is actually believable to the reader. After all, that's what the author looks for when righting a novel isn't it? Well Tara Moss made an amazing job at that and made me get glued to that book for days. A huge bravo for this book, that is a huge "Yes! Read this book!" from me. 


How many stars?
5 stars
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Sunday, August 21, 2011

In My Mailbox #1

Labels: , , at 11:38 AM

I'm gonna start doing this more often. But for now I'm gonna post books I got in the last couple of weeks. I hope to post every time I get new books, but if for whatever reason I'm not able to, I will post in probably a monthly basis. 


So I got the following books from Jen (friend from GR)


   


I have to thank her because these books have been on my to-buy/to-read shelf forever and it was so considerate of her to send me those.


Girl In The Arena by Lise Haines: Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through.  Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family.  Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator.  Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him... For fans of The Hunger Games and Fight Club, Lise Haines’ debut novel is a mesmerizing look at a world addicted to violence—a modern world that’s disturbingly easy to imagine.


Possessions by Nancy Holder: The It Girl meets The Exorcist in this chilling, haunted boarding school tale New-girl Lindsay discovers all is not right at the prestigious Marlwood Academy for Girls. Ethereal, popular Mandy and her clique are plotting something dangerous. Lindsay overhears them performing strange rituals, and sees their eyes turn black. It doesn-t help that the school itself is totally eerie, with ancient, dilapidated buildings tucked into the Northern California woods, a thick white fog swirling through campus. There are hidden passageways, odd reflections in the windows at night, and scariest of all is the vast lake rumored to have captured the ghost of a girl who drowned many years ago. What Lindsay doesn-t yet realize is that Mandy and her cohorts are becoming possessed by spirits who have haunted the school for two hundred years. Spirits who want someone dead... And that someone is Lindsay

The Bar Code Tattoo by Suzanne Weyn: The bar code tattoo. Everybody's getting it. It will make your life easier, they say. It will hook you in. It will become your identity. But what if you say no? What if you don't want to become a code? For Kayla, this one choice changes everything. She becomes an outcast in her high school. Dangerous things happen to her family. There's no option but to run...for her life






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.  In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.


Rules of Attraction: When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.


Die For Me: When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent. Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.
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Saturday, August 20, 2011

Bitter End By Jennifer Brown

Labels: , , at 1:29 PM


When Alex falls for the charming new boy at school, Cole, a handsome, funny, sports star who adores her, she can't believe she's finally found her soul mate-someone who truly understands her and loves her for who she really is.
At first, Alex is blissfully happy. Sure, Cole seems a little jealous of her relationship with her best friends, Zack and Bethany, but what guy would want his girlfriend spending all of her time with another boy? But as the months pass, Alex can no longer ignore Cole's small put-downs, pinches, or increasingly violent threats. As Alex struggles to come to terms with the sweet boyfriend she fell in love with and the boyfriend whose "love" she no longer recognizes, she is forced to choose - between her "true love" and herself.


I didn't know what to expect of this book. I read the Hate List and it was a pretty intense book. What I really like about Jennifer Brown's books is that it's always pretty original topics. When someone thinks 'teen' they usually think of these words: sex, rape, love. But suicide? Bullying? Abuse? This book really got my attention. I have read books about sexual assault before, such as Speak, but never physical abuse. You know what I loved about this book? The way it gets to you. When I read what it was about I thought "I will never like the son-of-a-bitch that hits her" but those first few pages when Cole is actually nice and loving, I actually did fall in love with the guy! I mean seriously, he was so sweet and the guy we all dream about. I was actually feeling what the main character, Alex, was feeling. Even those first times when he started with small threats I felt bad for her....and then fell in love with him again. The book is also very realistic, no abused girl goes for help the first time. And you can see that the Alex is truly in love and has confused feelings. She doesn't want to turn her back on her friends but she doesn't want to leave Cole even after everything he's done to her because he's in love. The reader is a little confused as well, at least I was. One would think when dealing with an abuser one would say "Hell, I'm done with him!" But no, because when someone's in love the think they're gonna change. But they don't, and it takes for someone to hit rock bottom to realize it. That's what happened to Alex, she hit rock bottom. All I can say is that I loved this book's realism the way the writer reaches to the reader just by the way the main character narrates the way she feels about a guy. 
I give this book 5 stars!


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Sunday, August 7, 2011

RAK

Labels: , at 10:15 AM



RAK stands for Random Acts Of Kindness. It is an amazing program it is hosted by Book Soulmates (http://booksoulmates.blogspot.com/) Such a good idea, for everyone who loves books, especially for people like me, who have a really hard time finding them. This is my first month participating. 
RULES 


Sign up each month that you'd like to participate.


  • Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button :)
  • Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
  • If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.
  • *NEW* Please, once you receive a RAK, email or tweet me {Vanessa} so that I can update the Google doc. There are a lot of requests for this! 
  • *NEW* E-book participation is limited to files being gifted directly to a person from the e-book store. Amazon's Kindle Store is set up to allow this, as well as the Kobo store and we believe Barnes & Noble as well.
  • At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K! Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us :)
My RAK Wishlist
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My RAK Wishlist

Labels: , at 9:55 AM

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
Throat by R.A. Nelson
A Matter of Magic by Patricia C. Wrede
The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate
Embrace by Jessica Shirvington
Anathema by Megg Jensen
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Glimmerglass by Jenna Black
Book of Love by Abra Ebner
Unknown Magic by Evelyn M. Byrne
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
Die For Me by Amy Plum
Kept by Zoe Winters
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Firelight by Sophie Jordan
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Tuesday, August 2, 2011

A Stolen Life by Jaycee Lee Dugard

Labels: , , at 11:49 PM

In the summer of 1991 I was a normal kid. I did normal things. I had friends and a mother who loved me. I was just like you. Until the day my life was stolen. 
For eighteen years I was a prisoner. I was an object for someone to use and abuse. 

For eighteen years I was not allowed to speak my own name. I became a mother and was forced to be a sister. For eighteen years I survived an impossible situation. 

On August 26, 2009, I took my name back. My name is Jaycee Lee Dugard. I don’t think of myself as a victim. I survived. 

A Stolen Life is my story—in my own words, in my own way, exactly as I remember it.




This book is something I wouldn't normally pick up. But I wanted to know her story. I wanted to know Jaycee Dugard's story in her own words. The first thought that came to my mind since page one was "What a strong woman." I remember reading in a magazine about her spending 18 years in captivity. And when you read or hear that, it takes a while for your mind to process it, 18 years is a long time. And she endured it, had two kids in the process and she survived. When reading this book, I constantly had to remind myself that this wasn't fiction, that this was real. That all of the things in the book, especially in the first chapters, actually happened to a little girl. Some part of me wanted to believe it was all fiction, because then my stomach wouldn't turn whenever this man abused her. It seemed unreal to me that a person, especially at her young age, could survive all of that torture. But you see the way she writes and you have to believe it. I believed it. This girl had so much strength. Thinking about her story makes my stomach turn. Thinking about her being taken at such an innocent age, losing all those years, about her mother. It's all a swirl of emotions, even tears, I felt angry at Garrido, scared for Jaycee and her family, and generally angered at the world. I asked questions to myself like: why her? Why are people like Phillip Garrido allowed to live in this world. Why didn't anyone ever notice, 18 years and nobody did. And that was just a reader's reaction, I couldn't even begin to imagine how Jaycee Dugard felt. That's another thing, the whole book there's one thought that crossed my mind and everyone else's I'm sure. "If I were in that situation I would...." But that's the thing, it didn't happen to me, or you, just to her. And she found a way to survive it, in her own way, but she did. And in the end that's what counts. Jaycee Dugard found a way to survive and never lost hope. This book really makes you think, if Jaycee survived 18 years of captivity with a psycho, then why is it so hard for people who have normal lives to deal with every day things. From now on one phrase will always cross my mind. Jaycee Dugard survived those horrors, I can survive whatever's going on in my life. 
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Monday, July 25, 2011

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

Labels: , , at 9:47 AM

I had a life anyone would kill for.
Then someone did.
The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.
Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?


Where to start with this book? I have never read the Pretty Little Liars books, I watched like two episodes of the show, so I really didn't know what to expect of this book. And I didn't pick it up because it was being made into a show. But I did pick this book up in the bookstore over and over again and didn't buy it until now. First of all, wow. What a book. It had me hooked every single page. Literally every single page. As in I stayed up at night to finish the book because it had me. The narrator, the way the story was told was truly unique. How it changes points of view, but it doesn't at all. It's amazing how Sutton is an important character in the story but it's actually there in a couple of chapters. When reading you actually forget that it is her who is narrating the story, only when the she/he changes to an I you remember that she is there watching everyone. And I think it adds certain mystery to the book, apart from the killer's identity, is that Sutton doesn't remember anything. It was really clever what the author did here, she left unanswered questions so that people can't wait to read the next book. I call it clever...others might call it cruel.  And the game. Some may say pranks are for kids, but this book only shows that you are never too old for them, because as you get older, the game gets harder. In general, all I can say, is that this book was a big surprise for me. It had it all. Mystery, bitchiness in it's most pure state, ghosts and high heels. What more could you ask for?

How many stars?
5 stars
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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Labels: , , at 9:11 AM

MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands….


Okay, so first of all i have to thank Goodreads...or rather the people there, who pushed me and pushed me into buying and reading this book. It was my first adult book ever. That been said, knowing they won't beat me up for not giving them credit, let's get to the book. I know I have been saying how i have been missing a good book, but I read two good books in a row. The Dead-Tossed Waves and Darkfever. And both being opposites, I loved them both. But I'm gonna focus on Darkfever. I have read a ton of Fae books and none of them were even as good as this one. Not even close. This book was so original, all of it, the plot, the characters. I have never been to Ireland so I have to say the author did  a hell of a job in the descriptions. I could feel as if I was actually there. She had obviously some knowledge of the setting as well as the topic. The fae topic was extremely well developed, narrated and explained. Cause at first it was hard to understand some of the fae-related words, but she explains it pretty well. The narration was something I really had been missing. This book had me laughing every two pages. The narrator manages to be humorous without ruining the books dark mood. And last, but believe me, not least, Barrons. Oh...Barrons. You can't help but love that character. Yeah, readers (and the main character of the story) always fall for the jerks, but Barrons is the king of them all, we all want to be with him, even as cold as he is. In conclusion, I recommend this book for everyone looking for an amazing read. 


How many stars?
5 stars
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Sunday, July 10, 2011

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Labels: , , at 12:34 AM

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.




This book, despite being the second one of the series, didn't fail to make me love it. I mention the second book part before because many second books of the series have disappointed me. And it's always that famous saying that goes "Oh the first book was waaaay better than the second one." But that didn't happen with this book. What this book had that many books have failed to give me, and until now I hadn't realized I was craving it, was a good surprise. You guys know the surprise, that part of a certain book when you gasp loudly and just read that surprising part over and over again cause you just can't believe that it's true. Tat book gave me that surprise I was missing. I'm not gonna post what it is here cause I'm no big fan of spoilers. Also, I loved how this book had a different main character from the first book, but still managed to connect this book to the last one. It was really accurate how these two books were connected and I loved it. A part that I really consider important in a book, for me to keep reading it, is to have a hook at the end of some chapters. It is important for the author to keep you wondering. And by adding a hook at the end of a chapter they just make you want to keep reading. It happened when reading Hunger Games, and this book had it as well. As I have mentioned before, I happen to love dark books. This book (as well as the last one) happened to be a dark book but it always had that little light of hope that makes you want to keep reading and pray that things get better for the main character. Because, let's face it, in books, especially this books, it's the author's job to make the main character's life as miserable and complicated as possible. This book kept me hooked and I just loved it. I recommend it for everyone looking for a good read. Did I ever imagine myself saying all these about a zombie book? No I did not. Which is a really good sign. 


How many stars?
Five stars
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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

XVI by Julia Karr

Labels: , , at 9:19 PM


Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world—even the most predatory of men—that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past—one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.


All I have to say about this book is wow.  It surprised me how much I loved this book. I've only read a few Dystopian books and this one is definitely my favorite. Well, not only in the dystopian genre but in general, it's one of my favorite books.  The whole idea was really creative but simple at the same time, in a good way. I don't like the fact that dystopian movies/books sometimes overdo what the future might be like: everything destroyed, mankind slowly dying, all that scary s**t that scares all of us. Well this one took an actual world, and changed a few things. But there's one thing that remains true, that is not something that will happen in the future, but something that's happening today. Most of the people, especially teens, are ruled by whatever media says. And this book emphasizes on that point, that we all see but never really think about. I think a lot of us can relate to the main character, especially teens. Today we are pressured by media, and how we're supposed to act and look, and at what age we should have sex. The main character knows she doesn't have to act according to the government and society, but to what feels right. I liked the fact that there wasn't something supernatural or over the top included, it was pretty concrete and, well, normal. Another thing I loved and was missing in  other books. A good villain. Ed was an excellent villain and he's one of the things that made me want to keep on reading. Was he a demon? No. A vampire? Hell, no. A fairy? Those make good villains, but no. He was just a person, and a scary one at that. Julia Karr did an excellent job creating an antagonist and really brought me to the point of hating him. So, in conclusion, this is a really original, realistic and amazing book that will keep you hooked and will open your eyes to a world we do have today.
How many stars?
5 stars (with standing ovation)
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Saturday, June 18, 2011

A Little Something About Weirdness

Labels: , , , at 10:45 PM

So the other day there was this contest on goodreads in which you had to write the weirdest thing, so I thought: Why not write about being weird since I'm so good at it (at being weird :D) So here it is, a monologue about weirdness


You know when people say weird, what exactly does that mean. Yeah, sure, everyone can give you a definition for weird. Hell, even Paris Hilton can give you that definition. And I’ll recite it for you in a dialogue kind of way. 

You: Hey you! 
Random person: Who me? 
You: No dude, I’m talking to the wombat standing next to you, yes you! 
Random person: Dude, you’re so weird. 
You: Is that so?!? (you raise your eyebrows in a daring way) Give me a definition. 
Random person: Of what? 
You: Of weird idiot. What’s weird? 
Random person: (Gives you a ‘seriously?’ look ) Weird is someone or something who is not normal. 
You: Give me a definition of normal. 
Random person: :s :o :I 

And there you have it, no one knows what the definition of normal is, so by default, everybody in this sick and judgmental world is weird. Yeah eve you, person who is reading this and is thinking ‘pshh, I’m not weird’. Yeah, you are! You are freakn’ weird and you know it. 

Everyone’s weird in a way. Because normal doesn’t exist. People feed themselves this concept that they’re normal. But the truth is that we’re not weird. We’re special. Okay now, if your psychiatrist tells you you’re special then it’s a bad thing, stay away from the white jackets and blue pills. Those people do not want to help you, no matter what they say. Anyway, I mean special in a good way. And sure when I say special, I do mean weird. It’s just so that people who tend to get offended easily cope with the fact that they’re not normal. 

Anyway, every single person in this world has that one thing (or many things) that make him/her weird. Let’s call this the weird factor. Laughing randomly when you have a good memory: Not that weird. Record hyper videos and upload then to YouTube: Yeah, it’s pretty weird. Dressing your pets: now that’s just downright ridiculous. No offense to those who dress their pets, but they are, after all, pets. But we are all weird no matter what. 

The cruel reality of our existence is that normal does not exist. Why? Because we’re all different and can never agree on anything. I mean, isn’t that what has been causing all wars? Because people can’t agree because we’re all different, in conclusion, we can’t be normal. As an example, I’ll narrate this as specific as I can. 

You are walking through the hallways of the torture chamber everyone calls high school. People are behaving as animals as usual, and then you see the usual kid in the trash can and think, “Poor kid, when will he ever learn he need karate classes.” Then you enter your classroom and sit on your usual place where Barbie and her three wannabes are talking, playing with their hair, thinking if Brian will ask them to homecoming, same old shit. You tell them to move away and sit down. They look down at your outfit, let’s pretend that day you accidentally wore different shoes on each foot and colorful socks while wearing a bright yellow hoodie. That being said, let’s continue with the story. Barbie looks at you, her eyes practically scan every single part of your outfit. Barbie rolls her eyes, gives you a modest smile and turns to her wannabes saying ‘What a weirdo!’ And they all laugh as if that was the joke of the year. And somehow, she thinks you’re deaf, cause she’s said it loud enough for you to hear and obviously they think you didn’t. So you turn around and look at them the same way they look at you. And then you see Barbie’s blond hair and think ‘She’s a weirdo too. I bet people in Ethiopia would consider her weird because people there have no blond hair. You look at the sunglasses wannabe #1 is wearing and you think that people in Forks (yes, I’m using a Twilight reference, I am actually ashamed of myself) would consider her weird cause there is no sun there. And you see wannabe #2, wearing a mini skirt. And you think, ‘poor freak, they would probably cut her in half in some part of Saudi Arabia, because a girl wearing a mini skirt would be considered weird there. 

And you can always go on and on finding a ‘but’ in the way everyone looks or dresses and find reasons why those people aren’t normal. But why would you want to be normal? When you’re a kid don’t you love it when your mommy tell you you’re special (again, not in psychiatrist way, remember kids, say no to the blue pills). You know you do. And some of us really want to be unique in every possible way, and get called weird because of it. And you know what? Hell yeah I’m weird. Say it to the world! Hello, my name is (fill in the blank) and I’m a weirdo because (fill in with unusual life situation). When you’re walking down the streets, just being hyper and being you, and people say ‘Gosh you’re weird.’ Just smile, flip them off and say, ‘Yeah, I get that a lot.’ And accept the fact that you’re never going to be normal, ever. And I’m gonna go a little cheesy on this, but love yourself the way you are. Because normal doesn’t exist, and the sooner you accept that, the better. And remember if a psychologist or any other type of doctor says you’re weird, say no to the blue pills. 
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Sunday, June 12, 2011

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Labels: , , , at 10:50 PM

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.


I've been dying to read a good greek-mythology book. I've tried Percy Jackson, Abandon and other books but so far this was the one that I liked the most. I liked the pace of the book, it was perfect. It wasn't slow enough that I got bored or fast enough, each event in this book went at its own perfect pace and made the book entertaining since page one. The main character was pretty realistic, it's one of the only books I've read in which the main character doesn't actually believe what the hot guy says he is until she gets concrete proof. Believe me, it's pretty unrealistic when a guy goes: "Hey, guess what, I'm a god!" And the girl's like: "Okay, cool!" It's not real, no person in their right mind would believe it. Henry is a bad boy, and I know I say this a lot, but I'm a sucker for bad boys. But this one was different. He didn't fall head over heels for the main character until later in the book, which was also pretty original considering that in most YA books it's the other way around. The girl always plays hard-to-get while the boy chases her around like a lost puppy. The ending was extremely surprising, which is something that I have been missing in other books either. They were getting too predictable for me, but not this one, not at all. In the end, you're as confused as the main character is. So in general, this book was unpredictable, with an unexpected ending and believable characters. Sounds confusing? Just a little. Should you read it? Yeah, you should. 

How many stars? 
5 stars
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Friday, May 27, 2011

Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

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Some secrets shouldn't be kept...
Up until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary.
Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. She's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help--but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret.


I read Blue Is For Nightmares before reading this book and I absolutely fell in love with it. So when I saw another book series by the same author, I knew i had to read it. It's hard to read another book series by the same author because you can't help to compare them. Well when I picked up this book I didn't even think about comparisons. Since page one I loved it. I love books with the whole 'stalker' theme. Don't know why, call me weird, but i do. I've always loved a good mystery. So add this up: supernatural+mystery+stalking+hot bad-ass = AWESOME BOOK! I mean it, one of the best ones I've read in quite some time. It kept me guessing and guessing and it also kept me hooked. The plot was an amazing combination of a little bit of drama, and whole lots of mystery, romance and paranormal. The characters are likeable, they like to take risks and are headstrong, which was one of the many aspects I loved. I love the unpredictable truth about the stalker and the ending that is not quite a cliffhanger but it leaves you wanting more. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a good mystery and paranormal romance. 

How many stars?
5 stars

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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Labels: , , , at 8:46 PM

What if you knew exactly when you would die? 

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out. 

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home. 

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left.




What really called my attention in this book was the whole darkness with it. It kind of reminded me of The Forest of Hands and Teeth. This wasn't the typical happy story in which everything ends happily ever after. It was sad in its own way, and I loved it. The theme was creative, many futuristic books involve a world that's completely destroyed or overrun by technology. This book takes the world we still have today and adds a little future to it in a very creative way, by shortening the people's lives. This book really gets you thinking, like it says on the first line, what would you do if you knew exactly when you would die? If you think about it many people around you would be dead by now. That's what also makes it kind of sad that in the end you know who's gonna die and who's not. I loved the way Rhine narrated the story, it was realistic. And you could really notice that she wrote the truth of what she saw. And also, it's realistic the fact that not everyone likes her, because I hate those books in which everyone loves the main character. I always love the most anonymous character in almost every book I read. I fell in love with Jenna. She was this strong character who was in the middle, Cecily trying to please everyone, Rhine struggling to keep up acting like she was okay with everything and her, who hid nothing. There was one thing that made me kind of mad though, the fact that i almost fell in love with Linden, the fact that he wasn't really a bad guy but just naive, he didn't know any better, and I couldn't help but feeling sorry for him, and even liking him. If I had to use one word to describe this book I would use these: peculiar, brilliant, original and captivating. 


How many stars?
5 stars
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Sunday, April 10, 2011

Read-a-Thon, 24 hours

Labels: , , at 4:46 AM

I made it! WOOO, I can't believe I actually made it, but I did. I had such a blast, even during those times when I was falling asleep. And I'm happy because I got lots of reading done. I will definitely sign up for the next one :D


Now some read-a-thon questions;


1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
2am and 5am
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith, Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, Vampire Academy by Richele Mead and many others that would take too long to write
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
no, it was perfect, i had a blast
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
The trending topic on twitter, the cheerleaders, the mini-chalenges and the hosts
5. How many books did you read?
5
6. What were the names of the books you read?


Percy Jackson
8. Which did you enjoy least?
Tithe
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
yeah, come up with creative cheers, they inspire the reader more
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
Definitely participating again!






Thanks you for all the cheers and comments!! Now I'm going to bed right now cause I need my beauty sleep. Night!




Final outcome!

Books read:
Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers
Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Tithe by Holly Black
Spiked by Sandra Glover
Cryer's Cross by Lissa McMann 

*Didn't finish All Unquiet Things but who cares? I made it! 


Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers
Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Tithe by Holly Black
Spiked by Sandra Glover
Cryer's Cross by Lissa McMann 
7. Which book did you enjoy most?
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