Review: Rapture by Lauren Kate

Rapture by Lauren Kate

Fallen # 4

Release Date: June 12^th, 2012

Number of Pages: 448

Publisher: Delacorte Books books for Young Readers

Source: NetGalley 

The sky is dark with wings . . . . Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again. Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen. For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters. In the fight for Luce, who will win? The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.

I had discovered this series a while back, and I have to say that it feel strange to see it coming to an end. There’s one thing I do am happy about, it’s that this book provide a great ending, true to the rest of the series. I had been disappointed with Passion, but this book did made up for it. Was it love? No, it wasn’t. Was I satisfied once I finally put the book down? Yes, as most of the questions I had were answered.

I can’t say I didn’t see coming the truth about Lucinda. It was clear from the beginning why she was the one who could, in a way, save them all. I do have to say that I didn’t see coming the twist with Lucifer. I was expecting something a little different (featuring Cam. I missed Cam in this one. We clearly don’t see him enough.) We FINALLY learn how Luce and Daniel met, how they fell in love. That’s what really made me happy with this book, as it is what we were all hoping this book would be happy.

The ending brings a complete end to the series. There’s no really need for anything more after that, and that’s something that I’m really happy about. They do mostly get a happy ending, even though it isn’t every character we have grown to love that will live to see it. I didn’t feel that sad to see the story of Luce and Daniel end. I felt so disappointed in Passion, and having this book simply bring back the aspect that made me enjoy this series was enough. We get answers. We get closure. We get what we were waiting for from this series. Now, all we can do is wait to see what Lauren Kate will bring us next, with some new characters, and hopefully a new world.

This book will satisfy those who did enjoy this series. I found it to be a lot better than Passion, so if you still like this series even after Passion, you’ll be satisfied with the closure this book brings.

Review: For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Release Date: June 12^th, 2012

Number of Pages: 398

Publisher: Balzar + Bray

Source: BEA

It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology. Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go. But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever. Inspired by Jane Austen's "Persuasion", "For Darkness Shows the Stars" is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it. 

I had first tried to read For Darkness Shows the Stars when I first came back from BEA, and I had trouble getting into the story. I was a little confused with the letters that open the novel. It made me slightly uncertain about where the story was going, so I decided to put it down and come back to it later. After hearing everyone saying that once you got past the first few chapters this book is simply amazing, I had to pick it up again. And that was probably one of the best idea I had in a while.

When people tell you to keep reading even if you don’t get in this book at first, do it. I’m so happy to have kept reading the second time, because it didn’t take long until I was caught in the story. For Darkness Shows the Stars is inspired by Persuasion by Jane Austen, but if you haven’t read it, it won’t affect your appreciation of this novel. IT may though make you read Persuasion after! 

I really enjoy discovering the world Diana Peterfreund created. One of the main reasons why I was so intrigued captivated by the world is that we get to learn what they were told happen, how the world is. We don’t simply have to guess, because it is nicely presented in the novel, without feeling like it was forced. It always was nicely added to the conversation, or the letters.

One more thing I really like was the main character. Elliot North was such an interesting character to follow, simply because she was strong, and she spend most of the book trying to do what she thinks is right, even if it may go against what she was taught to believe. I liked how caring she was for those around her, even if they were thought to be below her. They were her people, and because of that, she wanted to help them as much as she could. That made me really like her, because it really showed us how good of a person she is, and how strong she was. Then, of course, I can’t forget Kai. I thought there were a real balance between those two, even if things can be so complicated on both side of this friendship. And I have to say the fact that the whole thing between those two started as a friendship when they were young was also a bonus.

One thing is certain, Diana Peterfreund did something not many authors could have done that beautifully. Using a well-known and really appreciated classic, as inspiration can be sometimes tricky, but she able to do it brilliantly. Even more amazing, she was able to incorporate a distopian setting AND some kind of Sci-Fi elements. I have to say, I’m utterly impressed by this novel, and I can only tell you to give it a shot, because I was far from disappointed.

Review: Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

Release Date: June 26^th, 2012

Number of Pages: 358

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Source: Simon & Schuster Canada

New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult and her teenage daughter present their first-ever novel for teens, filled with romance, adventure, and humor. 

What happens when happily ever after…isn’t?     

Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.     

And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.     

Delilah and Oliver work together to attempt to get Oliver out of his book, a challenging task that forces them to examine their perceptions of fate, the world, and their places in it. And as their attraction to each other grows along the way, a romance blossoms that is anything but a fairy tale.

I should probably start by staying that I haven’t read anything by Jodi Picoult before, meaning I can’t compare this book with her adult work. I have to say I was quite surprised to see this book appear in my mailbox, as it didn’t sound that much like something I usually read. Maybe that’s why I didn’t love this book, or maybe it was the fact that I found it to be somehow childish for YA (personal opinion.) I do feel like it will please younger readers, but to me, it just didn’t make the cut. Sure, it was a really cute story. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.

If there’s one thing though that I have to say really caught my eyes when I was reading it, it’s the illustrations. Those were only the sketches (making me really curious to see the final version) and I thought they were beautiful.

Now, to the story. The book has this fairy tale vibe, as the story within the story is one. We have Delilah, who’s complete in love with this book, and with the main character, Oliver. Delilah, who’s kind of a loner, is shocked when the charming prince she likes (she seems to fall for him because they have both lost their father. This seem like a strange reason for what seems to be insta-love) starts talking to her. One thing I did like about the book was that we got to see both Oliver’s and Delilah’s point of view. The fact that one is from the real world and the other from the fairy tale made it even more interesting to get both sides of the story.

In addition to the two point of view, we also get to read about the original fairy tale Oliver is from. I was happy to know what was going in Oliver’s world, as we wouldn’t learn the whole story otherwise.  One thing that did disappoint me was the ending. I felt it wasn’t realistic for even this fairy tale like novel (that means something, no?) I would just have preferred something different.

Overall, I think this book will charm a younger audience, especially those who enjoys the beauty of fairy tales. I’m quite curious to see the final copy of this book, as the art looks gorgeous, even just as sketches. 

Review: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Nevermore #1

Release Date: August 31^st, 2010

Number of Pages: 543

Publisher: Atheneum

Source: Bought 

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look. Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. 

Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind.

Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares. His life depends on it. 

I ended picking this book after receiving the sequel for review. I had heard some many great things about this book that it scared me a little to start it. Will I enjoy it as much as everyone else did? Will I be captivated by the world Kelly Creagh created? Well, the answer is easy: I did! I didn’t expect to be caught in the story as much as I did. I ended up reading it in one sitting, spending most of the day simply reading it, the hours passing not mattering. Luckily, I didn’t start it before going to bed. I may have spent an other sleepless night.

Now, Varen and Isobel are really two complete opposite. One is the popular cheerleader, the other the Goth boy. Isobel grew on me, as I didn’t like her at first. She seemed slightly superficial to me, but I did like her interaction with Varen, especially once she starts getting to know him. On the other, Isobel’s friends (or rather old friends) were kind of jerks. I mean, She’s stuck with someone for a school project, and they blame him? It’s not like it’s his fault. Brad is far from a good boyfriend. He’s an ass, to both her and most people he disagree with. The things he and Mark did to Varen were mean. Nikki kind of annoyed me at some point, especially at the beginning. Shouldn’t you take your best friend’s side instead of her boyfriend?

The Poe’s aspect of the book was quite interesting. I really enjoy having piece of his work in the book. After all, Edgar Allen Poe was a master of what he did. It was well incorporate into the story, first from in their assignment, then in the dark world Isobel is taken into. I really enjoy the mix of all the elements Kelly Creagh brought in the novel; you got some school drama, a little romance, some ‘monsters’ and many other things. It’s the mix of all those things that made the novel that captivating to me.

I’m already excited to start the sequel, Enshadowed, which comes out in August! Have you guys read this one yet? Are you excited for the sequel?

Review: Croak by Gina Damico

Croak by Gina Damico

Croak #1

Release Date: March 20^th, 2012

Number of Pages: 311

Publisher: Graphia

Source: Bought 

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby has sucker-punched her last classmate. Fed up with her punkish, wild behavior, her parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than that of shoveling manure.

He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach her the family business.

Lex quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated entirely by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next. Along with her infuriating yet intriguing partner Driggs and a rockstar crew of fellow Grim apprentices, Lex is soon zapping her Targets like a natural born Killer.

Yet her innate ability morphs into an unchecked desire for justice—or is it vengeance?—whenever she’s forced to Kill a murder victim, craving to stop the attackers before they can strike again. So when people start to die—that is, people who aren’t supposed to be dying, people who have committed grievous crimes against the innocent—Lex’s curiosity is piqued. Her obsession grows as the bodies pile up, and a troubling question begins to swirl through her mind: if she succeeds in tracking down the murderer, will she stop the carnage—or will she ditch Croak and join in?

I had received an eARC on NetGalley for this book a few months ago, but I never got around to reading. I always find it really hard to read ebooks, but when I saw it at my local bookstore (in all its SHININESS), I had to get it. This was a really good move, as I simply ended up DEVOURING it in a matter of hours. Why? Well, it is simply funny and creepy, a really great mix.

Now, I have to say that Lex was one of the reasons I really like this book. She’s an amazing character, as she was strong, fierce and slightly stubborn. She had a hell of an attitude! There was simply something about her that really made it easy for me to like her. Maybe it was also the way she acted with Driggo, her new partner. There was some really great tension between those two.

Now, after Lex gets expelled from school, having made a 180 from the A student she was to the now full of rage Lex she is, she is sent to her Uncle Mort for the summer. I don’t know why the parents really thought Uncle Mort was the best choice, as he is slightly creepy and doesn’t look like the strictest uncle in the common sense of the word. I found this also stranger since they hadn’t seen him in a while, but I won’t complain. The story wouldn’t be happening if they had done differently, right?

I have to say that I really loved the world Gina Damico created. Love the idea of the Grim Reapers; love the characters she had created. I’m already dying to read the sequel (which luckily I was able to find at BEA. Look for the review closer to the release date!) I have to say that I did guess who the bad guy was early on, but it still didn’t stop me from loving this book.

Overall, this book was simply addicting. It can easily be devoured in a matter of hours. I read it in one sitting, being unable to put it down. Definitely a book I would recommend to fan of paranormal books filled with humor. It was simply addicting.

Blogtour Review: Sirenz back in Fashion by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman

Siren back in Fashion by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman

Sirenz #2

Release Date: June 8^th, 2012

Number of Pages: 288

Publisher: Flux

Source: Authors

In Sirenz, boarding school roomies Meg and Shar learned the hazards of making a deal with Hades, Lord of the Underworld. The wearing of a Tiffany's diamond ring in Sirenz Back In Fashion reactivates their contract, they find themselves back in his employ as sirens. And things are a little different this time; Shar is whisked off to the Underworld to play hostess as the dark god attempts to win her affections, while Meg is stuck topside, obligated to send spoiled rich girl Paulina Swanson to the Underworld. Hot gods, mere mortals and the Underworld have their secrets. Will Meg and Shar ever ditch Hades, and keep their wardrobes and souls intact?

If you’re looking for a fun, smooth and entertaining read for the summer, the Sirenz series would probably be perfect for you. After all, this series is seriously funny as Hell (yes, pun intended, as bad as it is)

Meg and Shar are once again caught in one of Hades schemes. After Shar punts on a ring given by Hades (after being convinced to so by Meg, which surprised me, to be honest. When I read the summary, I was sure that Shar simply wanted the ring…) Hades is back, and he is taken the girls on another wild ride. Shar is shipped to the Underworld, to play as his hostess, and Meg is forced to do his bidding on earth, in order to save both Shar and her. Meg has to send Paulina to the abyss, and it ends up getting a little harder than she would expect. I have to say, Paulina’s addition was really great, as I really enjoyed her character (and the twist she brings). There is some great interaction between Meg and her.

Now, in the Underworld, we get some pretty hilarious scene between Hades and Shar. I have to say, I absolutely adore Shar in this one. There were so many amazing moment with her, I couldn’t stop laughing. I also have to say that there was some great interaction with Caz, who is always a really great addition the story (Please, pretty please, tell me he’ll be in book three! He HAS to be!) And I can’t not talk about Hades. Ah sweet Hades, you can be such a jerk, yet I still like you. You simply make me laugh too much for me to hate you. It doesn’t stop you from being a womanizer sometimes, but I don’t mind. Don’t stop being so hilarious.

Once again, Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman got me laughing for most of the books. If you’re looking for something to cheer you up, or simple a great and hilarious read for the summer, this is for you.

About the Authors:

Nat: When not playing with pointed objects, Natalie Zaman is usually writing. She lives in central New Jersey with her family and several fine looking chickens.

http://nataliezaman.com

http://nataliezaman.blogspot.com/

Char: Lover of sparkly things, Char doesn't have as many shoes as she'd like, but wouldn't have time to wear them anyway with her three boys, husband, cat with issues, demented squirrels and insistent characters all demanding her time. She is represented by Natalie Lakosil of the Bradford Literary Agency and is hoping to get all her characters into print just so they'll be quiet.

http://www.charlottebennardo.com/ 

http://charlotteebennardo.blogspot.com/ 

To visit more stop of the Blog Tour, chek out http://thesirenz.com/ !

Review: Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

Magic Most Foul #1

Release Date: November 8^th, 20122

Number of Pages: 317

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Source: BEA 

I was obsessed.

 

It was as if he called to me, demanding I reach out and touch the brushstrokes of color swirled onto the canvas. It was the most exquisite portrait I'd ever seen--everything about Lord Denbury was unbelievable...utterly breathtaking and eerily lifelike.

 

There was a reason for that. Because despite what everyone said, Denbury never had committed suicide. He was alive. Trapped within his golden frame.

 

I've crossed over into his world within the painting, and I've seen what dreams haunt him. They haunt me too. He and I are inextricably linked--bound together to watch the darkness seeping through the gas-lit cobblestone streets of Manhattan. Unless I can free him soon, things will only get Darker Still.

Darker still is a mix of both romance and mystery. Set in a Victorian era, this book is clearly inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, and other gothic novels of that time. The book was interesting. It had some strength and some weaknesses. I did overall enjoy it, but it was far from love.

One of the things I did like about the book is that it wasn’t about a young lady in distress. No, Natalie is the one trying to save Lord Denbury. That I like, especially since it is set in an era where women aren’t usually the heroes. No, Natalie is the only one who can save her beau, a man she is enthralled with from the moment she sets eyes on his painting. That did annoy me. Instant love can be a little annoying, since it is completely overdone these days.

One of the things that made me question Natalie’s character is how easily she seems to trust people. She trusted Lord Denbury as soon as she meets him, and same time with Mrs. Northe. Am I the only one thinking that Lord Denbury seems to fall for her so fast, yet their romance seems kind of boring? After all, he has been stuck there for a while. Wouldn’t he be looking to enjoy life more than fall in love? There is something about him that I don’t quite trust. I can’t really explain why, but there are little things that made me wonder if there wasn’t something else about him…

I find it hard to put words on how I felt about this book. If you’re looking simply for a gothic romance, you’ll probably enjoy it. Me? I was looking for something more. There was also the way the novel was written that got on my nerves. It was supposed to be in a diary format, but most of the time I felt like it was a regular first person narration. After all, I don’t know many people who would write dialogues in their diaries (Maybe I’m the only one that think that though, we never know…)

Review: In Too Deep by Amanda Grace

In Too Deep by Amanda Grace

Release Date: February 8^th, 2012

Number of Pages: 228

Publisher: Flux

Source: Bought 

From the author of "But I Love Him" comes a haunting novel about what happens to one teenage girl when a rumor of rape goes around her school. A Junior Library Guild Selection. 

There are books you love, there are book you don’t. It’s that easy. In the case of In Too Deep by Amanda Grace, I sadly didn’t like it. The book was short, too short in my opinion for all she tried to cover with the book. You have the main story, which is already kind of big, and you have to story with her father. The problem I had with the father part is that it felt a little disconnected of the book, like it was an unnecessary addition to the book.

Another thing that really hit me while I was reading this book was how little I believed the story. I just couldn’t believe that she didn’t realize what she was doing, and how she was destroying Carter’s life. He may have been a jerk, but no one deserves to get their life destroyed by someone’s lies.

The lies were one of the reasons why I really dislike Sam. I wanted to scream to her to wake the heck up for about 95% of the book. I also felt like we didn’t get to know enough about the characters. I wish the author could have gone deeper in the character. Maybe it would have felt more believable to me if she had done that. I do have to say that I really liked Nick as a character. It was one of the only characters that felt really interesting.

I do have to say that overall, I wish there had been more to the book than we got. There was something definitely missing from the book for me to really enjoy this book. If there’s one thing that I did like about the book is the ending. I thing Sam got what she deserved, and that it ended the way it should have ended. I do think many readers will enjoy it. It simply wasn’t right for me.

Review: Beautiful by Amy Reed

Beautiful by Amy Reed

Release Date: October 6th, 2009

Number of Pages: 232

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Source: Bought

When Cassie moves from the tiny town where she has always lived to a suburb of Seattle, she is determined to leave her boring, good-girl existence behind. This is Cassie’s chance to stop being invisible and become the kind of girl who’s worth noticing.

 Stepping into her new identity turns out to be easier than Cassie could have ever imagined… one moment, one choice, changes everything.  

Cassie’s new existence both thrills and terrifies her. Swept into a world of illicit parties and social landmines, she sheds her virginity, embraces the numbness she feels from the drugs, and floats through it all, knowing that she is now called beautiful. She ignores the dangers of her fast-paced life… but she can’t sidestep the secrets and the cruelty.

 Cassie is trapped in a swift downward spiral tinged with violence and abuse, and no one—not even the one person she thought she could trust—can help her now.

Am I the only one who thought this book was similar to the movie Thirteen, with Nikki Reed and Evan Rachel Woods? There was something in it that really reminded me of this movie. After all, Cassie goes from being a good girl, to being a ‘bad” girl, caught in a world of lies, drug, sex, alcohol and abuse.

This is not a light read, that’s for sure. There is something really troubling in reading about a thirteen-years-old going through all Cassie is going through. Your heart breaks while reading everything she is faced with, everything she does to leave her good girl images she seems to loathe at first. It’s really hard to stop reading, as you’re aching for her life to go easier. Most of her descent to hell starts when she meets Alex, the ‘bad’ girl of her school. She’s the one that introduce her to most of the drugs, alcohol and sex. I have to say that couldn’t believe this character (not as in ‘she’s unbelievable”, but more like “how can she do something like that AT THAT AGE!!”). Sarah, on the other end, was a character I wish Cassie could have spent more time with. I really wanted to know more about her. There was something heartbreaking about her too.

This book left me wondering were the world is going. Is it what we should expect for the future generation? Starting drugs, sex, alcohol and lies so young? That’s the one thing that really me unsure about the book. The fact that Cassie is only thirteen was really troubling, especially because I have cousins coming to that age. Amy Reed really took the story to the limit; never being shy of really describing what is going on. I wouldn’t recommend this book to a younger audience, as some aspect can be a little explicit for the thirteen-years-old that I know.

ARC Giveaway! The Blessed by Tonya Hurley

I have a nice little ARC of The Blessed by Tonya Hurley in need of a good home. Anyone interested?

Most of you know that I was at BEA last week, where I got myself an ARC of this book. When I came back, I was surprised to find a second ARC waiting for me in my Mailbox from Simon & Schuster Canada.

Thing is, I can’t really keep both. That would be a little selfish of me. This is why I’m giving my second copy away to one lucky reader (Sadly, this will be US-Canada only, as I’m slightly poor these days.)

Here is what this book is about:

Brooklyn teens Lucy, Cecelia and Agnes find themselves in the emergency room at Perpetual Help Hospital at the lowest point in their lives. Lucy, the superficial party girl; Cecelia, a drop out rock chick; and Agnes, a hopeless romantic. All rebels running from their lives and themselves, plagued by broken hearts and broken dreams. Enter Sebastian. Mysterious, compelling, seductive. He seems to bring each of them what they long for...

But in the battle for his heart, will they lose their souls?

Want to read it? Just fill the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck Everyone!

Review: Timepiece by Myra McEntire

Timepiece by Myra McEntire

Hourglass #2

Release Date: June 12^th, 2012

Number of Pages: 336

Publisher: Edgemont USA

Source: NetGalley

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...

 

Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?

 

Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results.

 

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

 

The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a nonstop thrill ride where every second counts.

I had been waiting for Timepiece ever since I had first read Hourglass. I had quickly fallen in love with the story Myra McEntire had created, and I was so excited to hear that Kaleb was narrating this book. When I saw that Edgemont had made an eARC of this book on NetGalley, It think I screamed. I was so happy to finally be able to read it. I have to say that I’m not a huge fan of reading on my eReader (I usually read my ebooks on my computer), but I simply couldn’t stop reading this one, even though my eReader always gives me an headache.

Let’s start with Em and Michael. I have to say that I didn’t like Emerson in this one as much as I did in Hourglass. I found her to be too much about Michael, all the time. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t as impressed with Michael as I had been in the first book (I really was mad at him for acting the way he did with Kaleb.)

Now Kaleb, on the other way, charmed me completely. I love the fact that we got to see what was going on in his head. We got to see that he is more complex than we may have thought in Hourglass. I found him to be so interesting. Of course, I can’t forget Lily, who really added something to Kaleb’s presence in the novel. I love how well she balance him, how she keeps challenging him all the time. I’m curious now to see if Kaleb will be narrating the third novel, or if we will get inside someone else’s head.

Myra McEntire’s writing was perfect for me. She was able to captivate me from the beginning, and I simply couldn’t put it down. There is something in this series that made me addicted. Another thing I love about this book is that it didn’t fall into the category of a “bridge” between book one and the followings. Many book number two feels incomplete to me, yet this one felt complete.

Overall, I’m in love with Myra McEntire’s novels. I’m already dying to read the next book, even though, it isn’t completely written yet. If you’ve enjoyed Hourglass, I do believe you will enjoy this sequel.

BEA: Highlights and Haul!

I’m back from New York! I was planning to do a big recap post, but I honestly have such a bad memory, I would probably forget half of what I did. Instead, before showing you what I got, I’ll tell you about some highlights of my week.

Monday:

Signing at McNally Jackson: I got to meet Andrea Cremer, Ally Condie, Marie Lu, Tonya Hurley, Adele Griffin and Michelle Hodkin. It was nice to meet these amazing authors, and listen to them speak about their books.

Tuesday:

Teen Author Carnival: I may have been completely dead tired, but the panel was really interesting. The first one was “From A Whole Other World” featuring Lenore Appelhans (can’t wait to read Level 2!!), Aimée Carter, Victoria Schwab, Michelle Zink, Jeri Smith-Ready, Gennifer Albin, Courtney Moulton, Leah Clifford and Scott Tracey. The second Panel I attended was “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger (Kick Ass Characters)” featuring Eliot Schrefer, Michelle Zink, Jeri Smith-Ready, Courtney Moulton, Gretchen McNeil, Siobhan Vivian, Aimée Carter, Stacy Kramer, Valerie Thomas, Barry Lyga, Lauren Oliver and Jackson Pearce.

Wednesday:

Children’s Book & Author’s Breakfast:  Chris Colfer charmed me at this event. He was funny, intelligent, and I loved his interaction with the other authors (like the Fifty Shades of Green). John Green was as amazing in reality as he is in his videos. Lois Lowry made me cry, with her amazing speech. Finally, I have to say I didn’t really hear Kadir Nelson’s speech, as I left a little early so I wouldn’t miss Sarah J. Maas signing.

(You can watch it here: http://www.livestream.com/bookexpoamerica)

Thursday:

(Waiting for the reveal)

The Cover Reveal of the new paperback of An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. Why is it in my highlights? Well, I was only a couple of feet away from him, so that made my day (yes, it is really easy to make me happy).

I had a lot of fun at BEA. I met so many amazing bloggers, and I got to meet some really great authors. I already can’t wait for next year,

Now, time to show you some of the books I got! (Sorry about the lack of links. It would take me forever, and I want to post this now.)

 The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer

Son by Lois Lowry

Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber (signed)

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart (signed)

Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale 

Recipe for Trouble: The Cupcake Club by Sheryl and Carrie Berk  (signed)

A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford (signed)

The Lost Code by Kevin Emerson (signed)

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab (signed)

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson (signed)

Scorch by Gina Damico 

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Prodigy by Marie Lu 

Crewel by Gennifer Albin 

Skinny by Donna Cooner  (signed)

The Blessed by Tonya Hurley  (signed)

Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear  (signed)

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green  (signed)

Skylark by Megan Spponer 

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole 

Black City by Elizabeth Richards 

The Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves

Henry Franks by Peter Adam Salomon

In A Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz 

Beta by Rachel Cohn 

Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr 

After Hello by Lisa Mangum  (signed)

Summer and Bird by Katherine Catmull 

What’s Left of Me by Kat Zhang  (signed)

The Revolutions of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano  (signed)

Hourglass by Myra McEntire  (signed)

Ferocity Summer by Alissa Grosso

Every day by David Levithan  (signed)

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian 

Ten by Gretchen McNeil (signed)

Origin by Jessica Khoury

A Fractured Light by Jocelyn Davies (signed)

Fathomless by Jackson Pearce (signed)

The Innocents by Lili Peloquin 

The Diviners by Libba Bray

The Darkest Mind by Alexandra Bracken

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner

Zom-B by Darren Shan

The Golden Door by Emily Rodda 

Drama by Raina Telgemeier 

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund (signed)

Falling Kingdom by Morgan Rhodes

Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (signed)

Undead by Kirsty McKay

Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate

Rift by Andrea Cremer (signed)

Venom by Fiona Paul

Entice by Jessica Shirvington

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry (signed)

Deity by J. L. Armentrout

Bought:

Tighter by Adele Griffin (signed)

Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley (signed)

Were you guys at BEA?

BEA+NYC: Update Day 1

Hi guys! I’m currently in NYC for BEA (I won't be online as much this week, because of that), so I thought I would update you a little about what is going on with me. Saturday I was flying to New York for the week. Things didn’t start so well, but I made it on time.

What happened? Well, first, my father was driving me to the airport, and he lives about an hour away from my place. One of my father’s dogs, Jack, decided that morning that it was the perfect day to run away. So when my dad was supposed to leave his place to pick me up, he couldn’t find Jack. That made him about almost an hour late to pick me up (10:50) and my flight was at 12:50. The airport is maybe 25 minutes away from my place.

Luckily, they’re almost no one traveling from Montreal on Saturdays, or so it seems. It only took me 20 minutes to go through everything. Then the flight was so smooth and everything (NOT). There was a lot of turbulences, and guess who was stuck in from of a kicking and screaming baby? Of course, me. The flight was only an hour, so it wasn’t that bad.

Once I had dropped everything at my hotel, I tried to do some shopping. My goal was to go to Paul Smith and The Strand. I ended getting lost trying to find it, so I didn’t make it to the Strand (I’ll probably go Sunday). I sadly didn’t buy anything for me, as I hate trying clothes on when there that many people in the stores (I hate waiting. That’s why I love shopping at stores where everything is refundable, as YOU CAN TRY AT HOME (like simons.ca in Canada)

I walked around New York for about four hours, which is something I love. I don’t know why, getting lost is my favorite way to discover a city.

I already can’t wait to see all the bloggers at BBC Monday. Are any of you in New York City for BEA?  Anyone wants to meet?

Stacking the Shelves (4)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews, inspired by In My Mailbox. It is a way for blogger to share the books we got during the week.

Here is what I got:

Sirenz back in Fashion by Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman (For Blogtour)

Thanks to Charlotte for this!

Bought:

Ruby Red by Kristen Gier

Croak by Gina Danico

On a Dark Wing by Jordan Dane

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

Variant by Robison Wells

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

I'm doing this really fast, as I'm still not done packing for BEA. What did you guys get this week?